Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

The three Europeans came to Sohar, luckily not for sightseeing.There is nothing in this city worth introducing to tourists.Flying around is enough: the streets are quite tidy, and the square is baked by the scorching sun; in the dry dog ​​days, there is only one river that can barely support thousands of residents; There is a large building, but it has no distinctive features. However, the Shah of Islam sometimes came here to recuperate for a few weeks. He was quite satisfied with this building and could not stay here. Despite its small size, Sohar is not insignificant on the Gulf of Oman coast, and its location is ideal.

The city is located at 54° 29' east longitude and 24° 37' north latitude. According to the direction given in the letter from Governor Kamilk, the small island should be found at the intersection of 28 minutes east of Sohar and 22 minutes north, which is 40-50 kilometers away from the coast. There are not many hotels in Sohar, only the camel caravan inn similar to the big cart shop.This is a courtyard, and each room has only one sleeping bunk. It may be more appropriate to say that it is a class room.The gallant interpreter brought Maester Antiphere, his nephew, and his friend to the inn.

"What a fortune to have met this helpful Arab!" repeated Gilda Tregman. "Unfortunately, he doesn't speak French, at least not Breton!" However, Jewell and Celek talked freely without language barriers. On this day, Jewell and the captain of the barge were very tired from the journey, and they just wanted to have a good meal and sleep for a few hours.It was impossible, however, to persuade Pierre to accept this common sense.When he came near the small island, his desire was even stronger, for fear of missing the opportunity... He wanted to rent a sailboat immediately! ……rest!Now, it is close to Yingchi——he can't wait to step a few miles and set foot on the alluring bay island.

In short, this will be a thrilling scene. How anxious and tense Joele's uncle is, it can be said to be crazy.However, he finally calmed down...At this time, caution is required.The panic will arouse the suspicion of the police in Sohar... Besides, the treasure will not disappear within 24 hours... "Would the treasure was buried there!" said Gilda to herself. "If it doesn't exist at all or if it's stolen, my poor friend will surely go mad..." The good barge captain was not unreasonable in his fears. Please don't forget that if Antiphere's hope fails and all previous efforts are wasted, it will definitely affect Savuk.Although the impact on them is not the same, but the consequences are unimaginable.Fake Najim would be pissed too, and Boo Omar would be pissed off.He was as distraught as the St. Malo man.It can be affirmed that there were at least two passengers in the inn where the caravan stayed that night, and they stayed up all night.One is anxiously waiting for dawn to rent a boat; the other wants to use a lot of money as a bait to hire more than 20 desperadoes and try to rob the treasure on the way back to Sohar.

Dawn announced the arrival of the memorable day of March 28. It seems that we must find ways to use Selick.The relationship with the Arab is naturally none other than Jeulele.However, the Arab became more and more suspicious, and spent the night in the courtyard of the inn that day. Jewele asked Selick for help, but also felt a little embarrassed.The three foreigners, to be precise, the three Europeans, just arrived in Sohar yesterday, and today they are in a hurry to find a boat—for sightseeing—could they find any other excuse? ——Go to the Gulf of Oman for a swim, at least 48 hours? ... Isn't this plan too bizarre and unbelievable?Perhaps Jeweler's worries were unnecessary, and the translator might not think there was anything weird about it.

If you don't achieve your goal, you will never give up.As soon as Jewell met Selick, he asked him to find a small boat that could last two days at sea. "Are you planning to cross the Gulf of Oman to the shores of the Persian Gulf?" Selick asked. Jeweler wanted to answer naturally, so as to avoid all doubts, especially those of the Suhar authorities. "No, it's just a geographical survey," he retorted. "The purpose of the survey is to determine the location of the main islands in the bay... Aren't there some islands in the sea of ​​Sohar?" "A few, but nothing big," Selick replied.

"Never mind," said Jeulele, "we want to look at the bay before we go to the coast." "That's up to you." "Although Selick was skeptical about this answer, he didn't insist. In fact, didn't the policeman already know about their plan to establish a subsidiary company? He would naturally think that setting up a subsidiary company to conduct research in the waters of the Gulf of Oman is a good idea. Horses and cows have nothing to do." In this way, the Saint-Malo man and his two companions appeared more suspicious and were placed under stricter surveillance.

This has brought many troubles to their actions, and whether they can succeed is still a question mark.But once the treasure is found on the island, the police will immediately get the information and report to His Majesty immediately, there is no doubt about it.Then, it is only natural that His Majesty the Supreme will send a decree to kill the heir to Governor Kamilk's inheritance. Selick was in charge of finding ships for the Gulf expedition, and promised to provide enough trustworthy sailors and bring food for 3 to 4 days. During the autumnal equinox season, the weather changes, and it is likely to be late, so be prepared.

Jewele thanked the translator and said that he would be rewarded heavily in the future, so please rest assured.Selick was grateful for this and said: "Wouldn't it be better for me to go on a tour with you? You don't understand Arabic, and it may be inconvenient to deal with the ship's owner and sailors..." "You're right," replied Jewell. "Stay with us while we're in Sohar! Again, your help won't be in vain." After the two broke up, Jewell came to find his uncle who was walking on the sea, and Tregoman was also there.Jewell told them the progress.The captain of the barge was overjoyed when he heard that the Arab was going to be a guide and interpreter; he felt that the man was born with a face of talent and intelligence, and it was not unfounded.

Uncle Pierre nodded in agreement.Then, spitting out the little stone worn away by the teeth, said: "What about the boat?" "Uncle, he helped us find it and was responsible for preparing enough food." "I think 1-2 hours is enough to set up a boat in the port...Damn it!...It's not like traveling around the world..." "No, my friend," said the captain of the barge, "time is needed! . . . Please don't be so hasty . . . " "I would like to hurry!" Maester Antiphere retorted.He stared at his friend. "Well, do as you please!" replied the captain of the barge, bowing respectfully.

Time passed by second by second, and Jewele still didn't get any news from Selick.It is conceivable how annoyed Maester Antifel was, and he threatened to throw the Arab who mocked his nephew into the abyss of the bay.Jewell tried to defend the man, but to no avail, he received a cold reception.As for Gilda, he wanted to say a few words in defense of Celik, but at this moment he bowed his head and kept silent. "Your interpreter is a scoundrel," cried Maester Antiphere, "a rascal, a fool! I don't trust him at all, he just wants to steal our money!" "I haven't paid him a penny, Uncle." "It's your fault! . . . If you pay him first..." "But didn't you say he wanted to steal our money?" "That's two different things!" Gilda Tregoman, Jewell didn't want to listen to his contradictory talk.The important thing is to persuade uncle to calm down, lest he continue to do some stupid things and arouse suspicion.This is a man who can't listen to anything. Can they persuade him? ——Are there any fishing boats moored in the port? . . . as soon as one is acquired, negotiate with the crew—get on board—start the engine—and head east. "But we don't understand the language, we can't even understand a word of Arabic, and we can't speak." Jewell repeated. "But they don't know a word of French!" added the barge captain, still insisting. "Why wouldn't they?" retorted the furious Master Antipher. "That's their fault, absolutely their fault," replied Gilda.With this concession he wanted to appease his friend. "Jeule, it's all your fault!" "No, Uncle! I'm doing my best. Our translator will be with us soon... well, if you don't believe him, you can take advantage of Omar and his interns. They'll say Arabic - they're also on the pier..." "Them? Never! Enough--they're always after us, it's enough trouble!" "Omar seems to be escorting us," Gilda Tregoman reminded. "Okay! Let him go! Captain Barge, I'm going to knock him down to the bottom of the sea!" In fact, Savuk and the notary were ready to embark and enter the waters where the St. Malo people were going.When Maester Antiphere left the inn, they followed him all the time. Wasn't it their duty not to let him slip away?Was it not their right to see the end of the digging?But will this ending turn into a tragedy? So Sawuk urged Bo Omar to confront the terrible Pierre.But the notary, seeing that he was on fire, dared not offend him.Savuk was so angry that he wanted to knock the coward down.Perhaps he regrets now that he should have pretended not to know French, or he could have intervened directly. Knowing that his uncle's attitude towards Omar would only make matters worse, Jewel tried to make him explain it again.Now, he thought the time was right, and it was obvious that the notary wanted to talk to his uncle too. "Look, Uncle," said Jewell, "if you're going to get mad, you should be advised, . "You know, Jewell, what you mean by rationality is precisely irrationality...well, what do you want to say?" "Want to ask you, are you still so stubborn when you get there that you don't even talk to Bo Omar?" "I just want to be stubborn and never let go! This rascal. He wanted to spy on my secrets, but he didn't know that he leaked his secrets to me... This rascal... this!" "I know that, Uncle, and I don't want to defend him. But, anyway, you must allow him to be present, it's in the will!" "yes." "Shouldn't he be there when you dug those three barrels on the island?" "should." "According to the regulations, he should get one percent of the inheritance, so shouldn't he estimate how much that treasure is?" "good." "Well, he has to be there when digging, so how can you keep him from knowing when and where?" "should know." "If because of your wrong actions or other circumstances, he will not assist you as the executor of the will, your inheritance rights will inevitably cause disputes, and when people seize you and sue you, then the lawsuit, Can you win?" "Yes!" "Finally, uncle, you must tolerate their company during the voyage!" "yes." "Then you agree to tell him that you're going to sail with us!" "No," replied Maester Antiphere. The "No" came out with a terrible sound, like a bullet in the notary's chest. "Look," said Gilda Tregman, "you can't listen to reason, you're wrong. Why do you insist on doing it yourself? It's wise to listen to Jewell, it's wise to listen to his advice. Honestly." In other words, I don’t trust this Bo Omar even more than you do! . . . But since it must be so, we have no choice but to go ahead.” Gilda Tregman was seldom able to speak for such a length, and few of his friends allowed him to go on.And at this moment, how did Antiffel welcome his words!His hands trembled, his upper and lower jaws chewed, and his face twitched!The excellent barge captain, who thought he had a good eloquence, finally persuaded the stubborn Breton.But as soon as he finished his speech, Antiphere asked: "Finished, Captain Barge?" "It's over," replied Gilda, casting a triumphant glance at her young friend. "And you, Jewell, finished too?" "It's over, uncle." "Well, go to hell with you both! . . . Publish these words to the notary! . . . As for me, I just think of him as a wretch, a pickpocket! Fish and bear's paw How can you have both, let you choose!" Pierre Servan Marlowe uttered a series of rude insults, interspersed with the navigator's obscenities; he spat out pebbles like a green pea from its pod.Then, before the spit-out projectile had time to return to his mouth, he turned the tiller and rode away with the wind. However, Geulele's goal was finally partially achieved.His uncle knew that he was forced to say this.So he did not prevent him from telling the notary about his plan of departure.The notary was originally instigated by Savuk. After the St. Malo people left, he was not too afraid. He took a few steps forward and wanted to say a few more words: "Sir," Bo Omar said, groveling as if to atone for his audacity, "sir, pardon me, I thought..." "Let's cut to the chase! What do you want?" said Jeweler. "I wonder, has the end of this journey been reached?" "almost……" "Where is that island?" "On the sea 12 miles from here." "What?" exclaimed Bo Omar. "Going by sea?" "may be." "You're out of luck, it seems!" said the captain of the barge, showing pity for the wretched wretch, who couldn't stand on his legs. Savuk looked at him, pretending to be indifferent, in the dazed state of not being able to understand a single word. "Well, take courage," said Tregman. "Two or three days will pass in no time. . . . I think that before long you will be able to establish yourself on board like an experienced sailor." The notary shook his head, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and said in a dejected tone: "I, Omar..." "Where are you sailing, sir? . . . " he asked Jewell. "Right here." "when?" "As soon as the boat is ready, then..." "Can you get a boat?" "Either tonight or tomorrow morning, no problem. You and your trainee Najim go get ready earlier!" "I'll be leaving on time," Boo Omar replied. "God bless you!" interposed the captain of the barge, in the absence of Antiphere, who was once again in full play of his good nature. Omar and Savuk had nothing more to inquire about than his charming island. Is it too hasty for Jewele to say that he will leave tonight or early in the morning?In fact, it was already 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and the interpreter had not yet appeared.They both worried about it all the time.How difficult it would have been to deal with the local fishermen only by gestures without Selick's help!Are the conditions of the charter, the nature of the scouting, the course on the bay, all to be taken care of?Yes, Omar and Najem can speak Arabic...but, through their dealings... Fortunately, Selick did not break his promise. At around 5 pm, Selick went to the port pier to find them who were about to return to the inn. "It's coming!" Jewel yelled. Selick was late, for which he apologized.He also said that it was not easy to get a boat, but he rented it at a high price. "That's nothing!" replied Jewell. "Can we go to sea tonight?" "No," replied Selick, "the sailors will arrive quite late." "Then, let's go..." "Dawn tomorrow." "It's a deal." "We take the boat at low tide," Selick added, "and I'll meet you at the inn." "As long as the wind is fair, we shall have a safe journey!" said Gilda Tregoman. Because of the westerly wind blowing, Master Antifel and his party were going to the east to find the island, so it was a smooth journey.