Sinbad and The Eye of the Tiger Read Online Free PDF Page B

plague.”
    Farah’s face came up, darkened by anger. “Not true! Balsora rules the city by day, but by night . . .” Her eyes darted toward the ports. “By night, fear rules Charak! People whisper of witchcraft.”
    Sinbad’s mouth was in a grim line. “How can I help?”
    She looked at him trustingly. “You will find a way! Oh, Sinbad—I prayed every day for your return.”
    The captain looked uncomfortable. “It has been almost a year,” he said, but the princess made a gesture as though that did not matter. “Then . . . then I was not willing to give up the sea . . .”
    Farah smiled. “Nor I my life at court . . .”
    He matched her smile. “Now I have decided to live on land—”
    “And I to live at sea!” she exclaimed with a laugh. They threw themselves into each other’s arms and Farah’s wine goblet fell unheeded to the deck.
    “I have returned to Charak to ask Kassim for your hand. Will you consent?”
    “Willingly!” she exclaimed. “But only . . .” she pulled back, her manner sobering. “But only when my brother is able to stand before you and give his consent. When he is himself again . . .”
    Sinbad frowned in puzzlement. “Himself?”
    Farah sighed. She tugged the blanket around her and began to speak. “After my father’s death . . . Allah protect his soul . . . the astrologers had decided that the first full moon would be auspicious for the coronation of my brother, Kassim.” She took a deep breath and let it out in a shuddering sigh. “On the day of the ceremony the procession began . . . but . . . even as the crown was placed on his head . . .” She broke off with a sob, unable to continue.
    Sinbad patted her back and whispered into her ear “Hush . . . hush . . . Lie back . . . Do not speak of it now.”
    Farah eased herself out of Sinbad’s arms and lay back on the wide bunk. In a small voice she continued. “It . . . it was the last time I saw him as the Kassim I’ve known all my life . . . young . . . handsome . . . a true prince.”
    Sinbad’s frown was of concern. “Has he fallen victim to the plague? Or an accident . . . ?”
    Farah’s voice was weak. “Worse than a thousand plagues . . .”
    Sinbad leaned over her. “But what happened to him?”
    She burst into tears, sobbing in anguish, and Sinbad awkwardly tried to comfort her. He looked around in anger and frustration. “How can I help?” he muttered to himself. “I’m only a sea captain . . .”
    Farah’s sobs lessened for a moment and her hand clutched at his wrist. “You’re . . . you’re more than that. You’re a brave man . . . and a man to trust.” The smile she gave him over her hunched shoulder was tremulous and melted Sinbad’s heart.
    He sighed and shook his head. “From what we saw . . . and fought . . . tonight . . . well, it takes more than a swordsman’s courage to fight witchcraft.”
    “You will find a way,” she said, her sobs lessening. Sinbad held her until she ceased to cry and fell asleep. All the while the bearded captain-adventurer wondered how he could keep her trust in his ability to “find a way.”

CHAPTER 4
    T he morning sea mist clung closely to the water. Overhead the sky was clear blue, but before him all Sinbad saw from his position next to the helmsman was gray mist. He glanced aloft at Ali, clinging to the highest shrouds. “Well?” he said loudly and the lookout shrugged expressively.
    “Fog, Sinbad, nothing but—hold! Wait a moment!” He pointed into the mist, which was thinning. They could hear the waves of the bay breaking on the beach before the city and in moments the high-walled town rose out of the mist in an almost ghostly manner. Sinbad saw a flaming arrow climb high in a blazing arc against the sky.
    “Signal arrow,” Ali shouted down. “They’ve seen us.”
    Sinbad nodded. The quay was to be seen now and the helmsman steered a true course. The mate shouted orders and the sails fell, to be gathered by the hard-working, well-muscled