Abdulraheem’s friend, and with him was Shaikh Mussa Takkaw, an African sorcerer who claimed to be religious but his marked rings give him away. Xanam followed, and another Marid who never left Mussa’s side. Now I knew why Dr. Abdulraheem had not gone to work this day!
I quickly went down without anyone noticing me. I slipped in through the kitchen window and went into the dining room, which was separated from the living room by a shade. I held my breath and listened to what was going on without anyone knowing I was there.
Abu Attiyah spoke. “Abu Hattan, I swear to God, I only insisted on bringing Shaikh Mussa because I cherish you. He is a blessing and can see the unseen.”
In Arabian culture a man is usually called by a reference to his elder son, such as Abu (which means “father of”) Hattan in the case of Dr. Abdulraheem.
Shaikh Mussa clearly could not contain his vain smile. He was uttering sounds that would make those around him believe he was engulfed in prayers to Allah.
Abu Attiyah went on. “Ever since the day you told me about what happened in your house, he immediately knew: your house is haunted with protector Marids.”
Dr. Abdulraheem cut him off. “But this event had happened months ago, and nothing has come of it. We say our protection prayers every day and verses of the Quran.”
“You must know this entire real-estate project was built on a Jinn village! And their king’s treasure is directly beneath your house!”
Making sure not to give Dr. Abdulraheem a chance to denounce that thought, Mussa talked for the first time. He had an African accent. “These are treasures God brought to you from above seven skies. Who would reject what God brings to their doorstep?”
Abu Attiyah tried to play on Dr. Abdulraheem’s weaknesses. “Abu Hattan, Shaikh Mussa, God willing, can convince the Marids to leave the house and reveal the treasure that has been legally yours since the day you bought the house and the land it is on. This is not an easy matter! But seriously, why would you reject such opportunity? Can you tell me what you’re leaving your kids with after your time here has passed?”
Abu Attiyah, knowing he had successfully manipulating Dr. Abdulraheem’s emotions, went on enthusiastically. “Will you leave them with the mortgage payments? How will you pay for Hattan’s wedding? How will you provide them with housing? Do you want them to go through the hardships you went through? Life is not as easy as it used to be, Doctor! This is a chance God has given you! And your kids are a responsibility you must take seriously. God will not forgive you if you take this chance away from them.”
Mussa saw how Dr. Abdulraheem reacted to this and went in for the kill. “As God my witness, Doctor, I only seek His favor. I only came because Abu Attiyah, who is very dear to me, has praised you and asked me to help. I do not like to unveil these things. It takes a lot of effort and involves huge risks. But we will ask God for strength, and no Marid or Devil will stand in our way if it is God’s will! I’m willing to prove to you that we will rely only on the Quran and righteous Jinn servants. If you give me a chance I can find out the size of the treasure and get the Marids to show it to us so you will see it for yourself. In the end the decision is up to you.”
Xanam and a second marid -Shnan- clearly looked bored, as if they were so fed up with this repeated scenario and were just waiting their part of the show. Mussa went on to pull a red, velvet cloth out of his pocket that held an incense paste with a strong scent.
“This, Doctor,” he said, “is a paste over which we have read versus of the Quran. I will now ask the righteous servant Mekayel to appear in front of you so you will believe me.”
Mussa put some of the paste in an ashtray and lit it, and thick, white smoke came out of it. Abu Attiyah whispered into Dr. Abdulraheem’s ear: “Righteous servants always produce
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