“Now I’m less of a fool. I suspect foul play. Maybe you’re working with Achmed, luring me out into the open to kill me and take my carpets.”

It took Ali, Shimon’s boss, a long time to gather every single carpet in his inventory. When he finally did, he carefully loaded them onto the back of two mules and covered them with a cheap blanket.

“If bandits see how much merchandise I’m travelling with, we’re both dead.” Ali explained.

“You have no idea…” Shimon muttered to himself. Ali truly had no clue that the carpets in his possessions were worth a fortune of money. It was a pity he was going to have to steal them from him without paying a single coin.

“Why do you look so nervous, Shimon? Achmed said he would pay us upon arrival, right? The only reason why he didn’t want to bring me the payment first is because he didn’t want to travel with so much money. He’ll give us everything when we arrive at his house. I just can’t wait to see the bags of coins waiting for me!”

“Yes, it’s very exciting.” Shimon forced himself to smile. “You worked hard your whole life and now you’re finally reaping the fruits of your labor.”

“Yes, yes… Come, let us begin traveling. We have a long way to go and the mules won’t travel fast with all that weight on their backs.”

***

Shimon and Ali traveled slowly, prodding and coaxing the tired mules to continue. Soon the sun was setting in the sky above them and they still had not reached Achmed (aka Farik’s) home.

“Set up our tent underneath this cluster of trees, Shimon,” Ali commanded. “Quickly, before it’s totally dark.”

Shimon did as he was told.

A thunderclap exploded in the distance and droplets of warm rain began falling from the darkening sky. Shimon and Ali tied the mules to the trees and began unpacking the carpets and piling them inside the small tent.

After bringing in the merchandise to protect it from the rain, there was no room to move for the two men. They had to lie down with their legs folded on top of the mass of carpets.

“Comfortable, Shimon?” Ali laughed. “At least on the return journey we’ll have enough room to sleep in the tent if we need to. The carpets will be out of my hands.”

“That’s for certain,” Shimon grunted. “We should sleep, master.” Shimon closed his eyes. “We still have some traveling ahead of us.”