Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction
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Forgive his sins, though he has been long astray, cleanse his heart,<br />
renew his soul, <strong>and</strong> ever will I walk in <strong>the</strong> ways of righteousness, ever<br />
will I follow in <strong>the</strong> paths of Your Bidding, ever will I toil as Your<br />
humblest of servants.”<br />
A sharp tug on his arm, <strong>and</strong> Hawkins found himself face to face<br />
with <strong>the</strong> holy man. He chanted <strong>the</strong> foreign words, peering deep into<br />
Hawkins’s eyes. A flicker of brow, <strong>and</strong> he held his h<strong>and</strong> up.<br />
“Not this one,” he said.<br />
“What!” Abubakar exclaimed.<br />
The holy man’s eyes blazed with sudden zeal, <strong>and</strong> his voice rang<br />
forth like <strong>the</strong> sounding of Gabriel’s bugle.<br />
“This one is a traitor!”<br />
The words echoed in sudden silence, <strong>and</strong> were it not for<br />
Abubakar’s firm hold upon his arm, Hawkins would have fallen to <strong>the</strong><br />
floor in sheer terror.<br />
“Aye!” The priest’s voice had sunk to a whisper. “A traitor to his<br />
captain, <strong>and</strong> his kind!”<br />
Hawkins swooned, sure that he was breathing his last breaths,<br />
that any moment, he would be summarily executed in some barbarous<br />
manner. Abubakar pulled him sharply upright, making him face <strong>the</strong><br />
priest.<br />
The holy man towered over him, his eyes raised to heaven, his<br />
h<strong>and</strong>s lifted as though offering a burnt sacrifice.<br />
“This very day, this man did defy his captain, chancing a dance<br />
with <strong>the</strong> nine-tailed cat, so our sisters might not die smo<strong>the</strong>ring in an<br />
airless hold. This very day, this man did disobey his captain, loosing<br />
<strong>the</strong> brads prisoning our bro<strong>the</strong>rs, so a foundering ship might not drag<br />
<strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> icy depths. This very day, this man did mutiny his captain,<br />
counseling surrender <strong>and</strong> refusing to fight, so our daughters <strong>and</strong> sons<br />
might not be condemned to a life of brutal servitude. His captain does<br />
not deserve such a man, nor does he deserve his captain’s fate!”<br />
Abubakar glared at Hawkins for a long moment.<br />
“Is this true?” he dem<strong>and</strong>ed, shaking Hawkins violently by <strong>the</strong><br />
shoulder. Hawkins nodded feebly, for indeed he could not deny <strong>the</strong><br />
charges.<br />
“Free him!” The holy man bellowed, his voice a triumphant roar.<br />
Abubakar bowed his head in deference.<br />
“As <strong>the</strong> faqir has spoken, so it shall be.”<br />
“Yudkhilu man yasha’a fi rahmatihi.” The holy man chanted<br />
softly. “Surely He admits to His Mercy whom He will.”<br />
Hawkins’s mind reeled in confusion as <strong>the</strong> priest unchained his<br />
wrists <strong>and</strong> ankles. Surely <strong>the</strong>y didn’t intend to let him go!<br />
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