The Holy Sail by Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud Read Free Book Online Page A

something, he said, ‘The rabbi in Alexandria gave us a message to a vizier named
Khawaja
Attar in the kingdom of Hormuz, which he said was not too far from here. The vizier might assist me in my mission. He is the only person this side of the world that I can go to. I pray he receives me well. I have started feeling like a stranger in these lands.’
    He exhaled deeply, taking stock of the magnitude of the task entrusted to him. ‘Sofala could also be of significance. I was told it is somewhere along the east coast of Africa, but where exactly, I do not know! Manuel also wants to learn more about it.’
    Covilhã looked at the container that housed the secret map before he continued. ‘Thank the Lord that we were able to recover our goods from the harbourmaster in Alexandria. If the rabbi had not paid the duties and gotthem back, our mission would have ended before it even began.’
    Pointing at the goods that were with them in the room, he then said, ‘Take with you half of the goods we brought with us. This will be your insurance policy during your journey. You must sell as much as you need to cover your expenses, but you must also factor in the journey back. It’s fine if you want to trade what you have if you think this would earn you enough profits.’
    Paiva’s eyes twitched and his voice was that of a man who felt he was about to march into certain death. ‘I am afraid, Covilhã. Should I be risking my life for the sake of a legend? We may never meet again or return home, all for the sake of one maniac’s obsession!’
    Covilhã put his hand on his friend’s shoulder and spoke with more conviction than he felt. ‘Don’t worry. We will meet again. Remember, our future and the future of our people in Portugal depend on us succeeding in our mission. The state of the Jews in Portugal is tragic, but if we succeed, we might start being treated like citizens equal to the Christians. Think of the cross hanging from Moses’s neck: though this wise man is close to the king, he has to wear a cross to avoid being harassed because of his faith. I have seen with my own eyes an
auto-da-fé
where five men and two women were burned alive – two Jews from Beja and five Muslims from Alhama. It was a sight I do not wish to see again.’
    Covilhã’s gaze drifted away as he spoke to Paiva. He was trying to peer into the unknown trials and tribulations that awaited them. Their missions were not easy. Even failing was not easy.
    The next day, the pair started playing their roles as merchants, selling their goods and buying others, which they then sold again. They made thorough investigations at the port about the currencies used in trading; the points of origin for the goods traded and how much they were priced there; how long they stayed in the sea; who owned the ships; how shipping costs were estimated; and what risks were involved, and other matters they needed for their report.
    Several days into their stay in Aden, they decided to visit the rabbi in the city. The innkeeper told them the man lived near the synagogue in the Jewish quarter. Covilhã and Paiva made their way through the alleyways leading to their destination. They got lost several times, each time stopping to ask for directions. Aden’s alleys were mazelike, and reminded them of the Arab cities they had seen in Spain and Portugal: they must have started out as little more than makeshift paths carved out by people’s footsteps until they became passageways and arteries.
    They were now close to the Jewish quarter. A young boy wearing a multicoloured
kippah
ran out towards them. Two small, barely visible side locks of hair flowed down from under the dirty cap. The boy wore a tattered
izar
* reaching to his small knees. The rest of his body was bare. The boy cried out, ‘Do you seek the rabbi?’
    Covilhã smiled. ‘How did you know?’
    â€˜Many merchants who come