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Chapter 2
Despite a twisted ankle,I couldn’t stop now. I’d come so far. Letting my brother down was not an option. We needed a life free of stealing. A life free of squalor and grime. A life free of worry and illness. The chance to make a difference and help other kids in need. Those thoughts rocketed me forward with hoppedsteps.
About one hundred feet ahead, fire burned on sconces mounted to the wall. Golden light spilled out from an opening in thetunnel.
The dread in my stomach turned heavy and thick like quicksand. From my surveillance of the cave, I hadn’t been able to determine if guards were posted in the treasure cavern. But I had discovered that every few hours, the guards took turns to replenish the sconce kindling in the treasure chamber and thetunnel.
What if guards happened to be in the chamber doing so when I entered? Then how would I complete my heist? The little voice in my head reminded me that I’d come so far, and I couldn’t give up now. Heart still thumping, I snuck up to the edge of the wall. I pulled out a compact mirror from my bag and angled it to see inside thecavern.
My breath hitched. Treasure filled row upon row of shelves. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds encased in rings, necklaces, and earrings all winked at me, urging me to try them on. Candelabras and small statues offered to take their place on my new dining table. Chests containing secret contents begged to be opened. Gods, I had never seen such wealth in mylife.
Fire scorched my veins. All this horde could feed the poor and starving people in Utaara. If only I could carry back more to help everyone who neededit.
Something scraped inside the cavern, alertingme.
I scanned with my mirror. Two guards. Brawny and probably lacking in brains. Dressed in standard-issue black pants, red sash, white vest, and turban. One took a leak down the opposite end of the cavern. The other wandered down the furthest row of treasure. Both carried curved swords capable of slicing me inhalf.
I swallowed the rock in my throat. With my injured ankle, I wasn’t fast enough on my feet to get in and out. But I’d be dammed if I’d come all this way, only to hurt myself then hobble back in agony with nothing to show for my painful journey. I didn’t have time to wait around all night for them to leave. My brother needed me. Looked as if Karim would have to do the honorstonight.
“Karim,” I said, my voice low and urgent. “Get the jewels,boy.”
Giving me a little squeak, he scampered off into the cavern, grabbing a necklace with enough rubies to make a queen jealous. He wrapped that and a pearl one over hisneck.
Yes!I did a fist pump. Those would fetch a fine price. Good thing I had taught him sowell.
He returned, gave me the items, along with a matching pair of earrings and abracelet.
Gods. Selling these would garner me enough cash to last alifetime.
I stuffed them inside my bag and fetched a bit of bread I’d been saving for this occasion. “Goodboy.”
He wolfed down his reward and went back for moretreasure.
I kept an eye on him in my mirror. On his next haul, he returned with a cone, fitted with bejeweled rings, and a hair clip set withjewels.
“Good boy,” I said, giving him another reward. “One more time,boy.”
Karim snatched the bread and went back for roundthree.
By now, the guard had finished his pee and was heading myway.
The other one admired a sack of coins, glanced around, and then stashed the pouch between the sash and hispants.
What a fool. No thief stole coins. They jingled and drew attention. But I’d keep that intelligence about them stealing while on duty up my sleeve in case I got into trouble. What would the sultan do if he discovered his guard had also stolen from hiscave?
Karim was trawling through a treasure chest when one of the guards stumbled down his aisle. Alarmed, the monkey dashed behind a stack of goldenplates.
The guard’s eyes widened as he spotted Karim. “Bring those back, you littlerat!”
My heart beat to each of Karim’s furious scampers towardme.
Upon reaching me, he launched up onto my shoulder and dumped his stash into mybag.
Pain blazed through my ankle and foot as I retreated down the darkened cavern. But I ignored the extreme discomfort. We had to get out ofthere.
“Where are you, you little wretch?” roared theguard.
Shadows stretched down the tunnel as firelight illuminated it from behindme.
