A Hairbreadth Escape

Ahmed and Ah Chua were known as ‘mischief makers’, 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 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 onboard. 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 searchlights 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 guides 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.

The 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.