Part 6 (2/2)
”I t will start spinning like crazy. ”
” Why? ”
”A compa.s.s is sensitive to magnetic fields, and ley lines giv e off strong fields. From what I've read, the lines are all over th e place. We shouldn't have to go far to find one.”
Amesh was surprised. ”You want to look for one now? ”
” Why not? ”
”I t's getting late. Your father will be home soon . M y Pap i will be waiting for me. Let's look for one tomorrow, during the day. ”
” You're working all day tomorrow . E ven if you call in sick, i t's too hot to go hiking when the sun's up. You might be use d to this climate, but I'm not. ”
”I can look for one while you wait here. ”
” Listen . T here are other reasons I want to do it tonight . T he carpet came alive as soon as it got dark . T he stars at th e center might have been glowing before, and we just didn't notice, b ut I don't think so . I t's possible the carpet only flies at night. ”
” What's your other reason? ”
” Common sense . I f we do find a ley line, and we're able t o use it to ride the carpet, then no one can see us . S ince I got here, I've been hiking in the evening by the water.” I pointed. ” The b each is usually deserted, and I have the place to myself . T here' s lots of room . I wouldn't be surprised if that's where we find a ley line. ”
” Does your dad know you hike there? ”
” Of course not. ”
” You shouldn't go out after dark. ”
”I know; it's an Arab country and I might be killed .
What is it with you males? I feel as safe here as I do in an y American city.”
Amesh hesitated. ”Do you plan to ride the carpet ove r the water? ”
”I f that's the direction the ley line goes. ”
” Do you have a compa.s.s? ”
” One. But maybe we can buy another in the hotel shop . T hat way we can search together.”
Amesh glanced at the carpet and smiled. ”What are w e waiting for?”
Chapter Five.
Before We Left the room , I change d into jeans and a s.h.i.+rt . T hen I packed a bag of supplies: bottle s of water, binoculars, protein bars, candy bars, a flashlight, a ma p of turkey and the surrounding area, a jacket . I also left my father a note explaining that I had been invited to a slumber part y by a girl named rini . R ini was a real girl . I had mentioned her to my father before . I n fact, he had met her; she worked at the hotel as a maid .
He wouldn't worry if I was hanging out with her, even durin g the night. But he would still be annoyed I hadn't called an d asked his permission .
”You think we'll be gone that long?” Amesh asked as h e watched me prop up my note .
”B est to be prepared. You should call your Papi and tel l him you might be staying overnight with a friend.”
He looked uncomfortable. ”He wouldn't believe that. ”
” Why not? ”
”I don't have many friends. ”
”A ll you need is one. What about spielo? Wouldn't h e back you up? ”
”S pielo's still in the hospital,” he said .
”I s he okay? ”
”T hey say he's going to be fine. ”
”T hen use another friend.”
Amesh fidgeted. ”Let's not worry about it. ”
”A ll right,” I agreed, going against my gut feeling . T he sun had completely set by the time we reached the beach . T he night was as black as the bottom of the carpet. Ames h carried our supplies while I held our prize. Once again, I wa s amazed by its weightlessness . I t was as if holding it to my ches t made me feel lighter . T he night was warm and dry, but a faint breeze stirred ove r the water, adding a salty flavor to the air . I felt its coolness o n my neck as we took out our compa.s.ses and figured out whic h way was north . I double-checked the accuracy of our tools b y following the cup of the Big Dipper to the north star-a tric k I had learned from my dad. Both compa.s.ses were working . N ow all we had to do was find a spot-no, a line-where the y didn't work .
We walked near the water . I took off my shoes and let th e foam wash over my bare feet. Amesh preferred to stay on the dr y sand . T he beach was deserted . T he glow of the stars embedde d in the carpet did not waver . T here was no denying it-the carpet was reacting to the nighttime sky .
”I wonder why,” I muttered .
” Sara ?” he asked .
”Why the carpet likes the stars. ”
” You would have to ask the man who made it. ”
” How do you know it was a man? maybe it was a woman. ”
”M aybe it was a team of men and women. ”
” Ha! the boy is finally learning to be diplomatic. ”
” Don't call me a boy. ”
” How old are you really?” I asked .
He did not answer and I thought he was embarra.s.sed t o admit that he had lied earlier . I couldn't see him very well in th e dark . I certainly couldn't read his expression. But I saw his han d shaking .
” Sara !” he cried . ”I t's spinning! ”
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