Chapter 10

"Where is Vik?!" Nury asked Nadera. "I don't know! I've been trying to call him...a futile effort" Nadera replied nervously, still trying to call Vikram. "Hmph...no puntuality...boys are boys!" Mrs. Mani complained. "English Nadera...English!" Baihakki commented. "Futile means producing no result or effect. In simple terms, Nadera can't reach Vikram" Deb explained. "That's my smart girl!" Firdaus cooed. Nadera glared at Firdaus. Legolas smiled. Just at that moment, Vikram arrived. "Where the **** have you been! We are already 15mins late! You know how precise our plan has to be!" Baihakki exclaimed. "Watch you mouth a******. You think its so easy to get a permit for a boat and to harbour it at a terminal? Easy for you to complain!" Vikram shouted back. Mrs. Mani gasped. "WOAH WOAH! Will you two calm down?! The more we fight, the more time we're wasting time. Lets hurry onto the boat. Lead the way Vik" Firdaus said. Legolas nodded in agreement. With a final piercing look at Baihakki, Vikram lead the way to the boat. After they were checked by the officers, there were onboard and ready to go.

"Start your engines!" Mrs. Mani shouted excitedly. There was a few seconds of deafening silence...and..."Urr....Vikram? U did hire a driver...didn't you?" Nury asked. Everyone turned to look at Vikram. They stared at each other when finally, Baihakki burst out. "EASY TO COMPLAIN YOU SAY! How stupid can u get?! U expect the boat to auto pilot all the way?!!" Colour was rising quickly in both Baihakki and Vikram's face. But this time, Vikram knew it was his fault. "Look..iii...i have driven boats in my movies before...i think i can handle this.." "You THINK? YOU THINK? Oh! So you THINK we will die!? Or you THINK we may have to swim the rest of the journey once the boat CRASHES!" Baihakki screamed. Before anyone else could react, Baihakki gave out a howl of pain. He fell onto the floor, his nose bleeding profusely. Immediately, Firdaus and Legolas held Vikram back; Zahira and Nury ran to Baihakki's aid. Nisa and Nadera were just rooted to the spot. "Nury, bring baihakki inside. There should be a first aid box somewhere inside. Vikram, i want you to drive the boat. Maybe i can help you figure out some controls....GO!" Firdaus commanded. Baihakki was pulled inside while Vikram stormed off to drive the boat. Legolas and Firdaus went to help Baihakki. Nisa and Nadera just stared at each other, and found their own seats. To try and lift the atmosphere, Nisa asked," Nadera...where's Mrs. Mani?". Just at that moment, Mrs. Mani returned. "Pew...the bathroom stinks...wat kind of cleaning service does this boat have?! Anyway, what did i miss? Are we leaving already?!" Mrs. Mani asked them. "Urm..nope...nothing at all...and yes, Mrs. Mani. We are leaving now" Nadera replied. The boat vibrated, the engine was turned on and the boat started moving at breakneck speed.

"VIKRAM! SLOW DOWN!" Nadera shouted. "WE ARE ALREADY LATE! PLUS, I WANNA SHOW DAT (the 'whoosh' of the wind blocked some words) DAT I CAN DRIVE A STINKING BOAT!" Vikram shouted back over all the noise. And Lo and Behold, in just 20mins, the gang were at Tatooine Desert. They all climbed out of the boat. They then pushed the boat behind a huge cliff rock to ensure it remained hidden. Mrs. Mani took out the map. "Urm..don't let the teachers do all the work!...Here! You read it!" Mrs. Mani exclaimed and passed the map to Zahira. Zahira fumbled with the map. Legolas took the map from Zahira, looked at it and started walking. The rest followed in silence; not Mrs. Mani who just has to talk. "Did you hit your nose on the bathroom basin? U forgot to wash the stains off". Nobody bothered replying and sensing the tensed environment, Mrs. Mani joined the march in silence. Legolas signalled to Baihakki.
'We're 'ere" Baihakki announced, pinching his nose in pain. They all looked around. It was really deserted. However, piles of rocks have outgrown from nowhere; everywhere, making it very easy to hide and to conceal themselves. "Now i know why no country once this land. It will take years to clear away all this stones...how do they grow like that?!" Mrs. mani exclaimed. "You must remember that this terrain is not only beneficial to us, but also to our enemy. So we have to be VERY careful and quiet. Remember our plans. Its 9.25. there's 5 mins left. Lets rest here, under this shade provided by the rocks" Vikram suggested. They all greatfully sat down. Baihakki was careful to sit as far away from Vikram as possible. They gang cuddled together and waited.
"It's 9.30" Deborah whispered. "Okay everyone, remember our plan. All of you have a copy of the map to their hideout? Who lost theirs?" Vikram asked. Nobody replied. "Very good. Okay, lets go. May God be with us." Vikram finished. With one last look at everyone, the gang split up into their groups; Vik and Nad, Nisa and Legolas, Zahira and Baihakki, Nury and Mrs. Mani.

"I don't understand what you're miming! Did u bring the letter pad like i told you too?"Nisa whispered to Legolas as they walked. Legolas took out the pad, scribbled on it and passed it to Nisa. "We are nearing. OH! Okay...sry about that...sigh...why did you have to lose your voice today?" Nisa groaned. Legolas shrugged and they both slowed down their paces as they neared their destination. "Senthil has done his job. Our path was clear of Ghazali's people. I wonder what awaits us at our mmmpph!" Nisa was muffled by Legola's hand and pulled to be concealed behind a rock. Putting his mouth to his lips, Baihakki pointed to a distance. Both peeked from behind the rocks. There were three muscular men wearing the same outfit; grey singlet and berms. "Oh...now i know why Senthil told us to wear Grey too. It help us blend into this terrain..." Nisa whispered. Legolas drew his thumb across his throat. "Yaya..we are suppose to get rid of them...but how? We can't go to them from behind. There are too little rocks over that side" Nisa groaned. Legolas put on his thinking cap. He looked around. There was a bird flying in the sky a short distance away from them. He quickly aimed an arrow at the bird. The arrow pierced through the bird and the bird landed on the hard sand with a thud.

" Did you hear something?" Asked Bill. "Well..i didn't hear anything, but i saw something black moving very fast over there" Brawk replied. "Hmm...maybe it was what Senthil warned us about. You two go and check it out. I'll stay here with the gun." Jack replied. The 2 agreed and trudged towards the bird. "Oh dear, we wanted to lure them one by one..how do we tackle two? Come on! You're the hunting expert!" Nisa whispered nervously. Legolas WAS an expert. He threw an arrow over a few feet away, behind a rock, and asked Nisa to hide near the rock. He then mimed the action of covering their mouths and pulling them down. Nisa shook her head in fear. "I cccan't do it!" Nisa stammered! The guys were nearing them. Legolas pushed Nisa towards the rock. Gathering all her courage, she crawled towards the rock and waited.
"Hey, look, its just a bird" Bill said. "A pierced Bird. Somebody's here...look! Over there! And arrow!" Brawk exclaimed and advanced quickly towards it. "Wait Brawk! I think it's a tra.." Before he could finish his sentence, Nisa jumped out, covered Bill and pulled him to the ground. Realising her mistake, she did something nobody would have done. Brawk, mesmerised didn't realise a rock flying towards him. He was hit on the head and he collapsed onto the floor. Not even bothering to see who threw the rock, Nisa quickly took out the cloth she was carrying and stuffed it in their mouths. She then took out the ropes, tied them to a stone and went to meet Legolas. Legolas was crouching over Jack, pulling out the arrow in his leg and tying him up the same way as the other 2. He then rolled him over behind a huge wall of stone, concealing him. "You threw the rock?" Nisa asked. Legolas nodded, then smiled cheekily at Nisa. "Swear to me you won't mention it to the rest?" Nisa asked. Legolas smiled...and just walked away. "Oi!" Nisa called. But that was the last thing she ever said or saw as she found herself falling into darkness....