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Ahmed and Ah Chua were known as 'mischief makes', not because they were really
wicked, but because they weren't. It was just that they liked fun and adventure.
"Whatever can we do with them ?" their parents used to say, "they are always up
to something and it is usually no good." They were twelve years old, and lived
in two adjacent flats on the top of a high-rise building overlooking the harbor.
At night, when they had eaten their rice, which they sometimes did and sometimes
did not, they used to watch from the high windows all the lights of the big
liners and small fishing boats in the harbor down below. It was exciting,
because they used to make up stories about the boats and to pretend that they
were sailing away into far and romantic places. One night, life for Ahmed and
Ah Chua seemed particularly dull. "let's get out of all this and go off in one
of those boats," said Ahmed, sick of the world by now.
"We can't do that," muttered Ah Chua. "You know that we are supposed to keep
an eye on baby Lim for your mother."
"Never mind about that. Let's go anyway," urged Ahmed. "Life's dull enough
and we haven't had any fun for ages."
Ah Chua, being weaker, was easily persuaded and so the two excited naughty
boys crept quietly out of the flat, down the outside steps, flight upon flight
and out into the busy street.
"We must get to the harbor," said Ah Chua. "Let's have a tri-shaw". They
found an old man who did not really want to take them, because he was just going
home, but Ah Chua finally persuaded him with an extra fifty cents. The harbor
seemed as busy as usual, when the two boys left the tri-shaw and started looking
for an empty boat.
"We're sure to find one," Ahmed whispered excitedly." Someone would have left
one unguarded for the night."
"But it's stealing," weakly murmured Ah Chua. "What if we are caught ?"
"It isn't stealing, because we'll bring it back and we won't be caught,
because we'll be too clever," was the reply.
Under the harbor wall, moored by the stone steps was just what they were
looking for : a newly painted sampan with its outboard motor glistening in the
moonlight.
"We'll take that, just for an hour or two," said Ahmed, and we'll leave some
money tucked under the seat for petrol. it won't seem so bad then."
They crept down the harbor steps, unseen because no fishermen or officials
were about just then. Ah Chua was the echoic and he started the engine. They
were soon gliding over the water, past the big liners that they had so often
seen from afar. They could even hear noises from them now, as the crew busied
themselves with jobs and the rich passengers went to and from the dining rooms
on board. On and on, passing big boats and little boats, until they were out at
sea and nearing one of the islands.
"Isn't this fun?" began Ahmed, when suddenly, a huge boom of what sounded
like a siren rent the air and search lights as if turned on by some giant magic
hand, played down upon the water from every direction. from the tall ships and
from the higher points on the islands, great beams of light were searching and
prying into the hidden corners of the sea.
"What is happening ? We must get home. We shouldn't have come. I told you
so." Ah Chua was almost crying. Ahmed was frightened too, and so slowly and
stealthily, they turned back weaving cunningly in and out between the beams and
trembling at the noisy sirens.
"Crouch low, keep hidden," whispered Ah Chua, as a huge searchlight played
round the dark waters within inches of their sampan. They held their breath
until the beam moved on. Trembling Ah Chua guide the boat, until they reached
the harbor. They tied it up quietly and quickly and then ran all the way home.
Luckily, their parents were still out and baby Lim was quiet in his cot. All was
silent and soon they were asleep too.
Next morning, Ahmed's father glanced at the papers, which he usually did
before going to his office. "They still haven't caught that escaped convict," he
said. "The biggest police search of the harbor ever known as last night," he
went on. "Many boats were searched, and many people illegally in charge of them
were arrested." He stopped and looked at Ahmed, "Time you were off to school."
Ahmed couldn't wait, "What a hair-breadth escape," he panted, as he met Ah
Chua hurrying on his way. |
