(We cleared the tree-lined path and headed up the trail...) Sufian thought.

  "Huh? Look at that..." Sufian said.

  "Huh? Why is there a police car here?" Ali asked.

  "Oh no, it looks like the road is blocked off from here." Sufian replied.

  "You're right. There's a lot of tape that says 'KEEP OUT.'" Ali added.

  "Hmm... maybe it's related to that rockslide Ali was talking about?" Sufian mused.

  "Aw man, did I call it, or did I call it? 'JUST FINE' my arse, right, Sufian?"

  "Oh dear, this poses a problem," Malak said, concerned. "There’s only one path to the landmark, through here..."

  "That landmark... what was its deal again?" Ali asked.

  "This is why I told you to review!" Malak scolded. "It’s the site of the ritual related to the A'ra."

  "That 'A'ra' thing doesn’t really ring a bell. You mean the Hubal thingy?"

  "Nothing we can do about it. Our only option is to head back for now..." Malak sighed.

  "We've come all this way—might as well get the low-down on what went down here!" Ali said.

  (Let’s see what the people gathered in front of the police car have to say... maybe I should ask the officer what’s going on.)

  Sufian peeked at a road sign. (The letters are so faded, I can't make out what the sign is supposed to say. It must be really old.)

  Nearby, a brown-haired boy said, "Hold up, what? You saying there was an accident? Dang, man. I ain't never seen something like this before."

  His black-haired friend replied, "Whaddaya think? Should we just bust on in there? Grab a video for some views?"

  "Ha ha, whoa, hold up, man. They'll get pissed at us for sure. What’s-his-face—Jeremy?—he’d go and ask the teachers about it, y’know."

  A grey-haired lady sighed, "Oh dearie me. I can’t tend to my field if I can’t get through."

  A woman in a hijab murmured, "A landslide... how frightful. Nothing but strange things happen around these parts."

  A man nodded, "You got that right. This keeps up, all the old timers are gonna blame it on Hubal."

  An old lady in a hat frowned, "Now, now... don’t say such things in front of the children."

  Sufian called out to a police officer standing between the crowd:

  "Excuse me, did something happen here?"

  "There was a landslide up ahead around here," the officer replied. "So the road’s been sealed off."

  "Oh, that must be the one we heard about earlier in the news." Sufian said.

  "A landslide? For really reals? Man... think the guys that went ahead are okay?" Ali asked.

  "No childish jibes? I suppose you wouldn’t be so callous as to joke at a time like this," Malak said dryly.

  "Of course! Even I know when to watch my mouth! ...Sometimes. Maybe."

  "Oh dear. We can’t proceed with anything like this."

  "Yeesh, so much for exploring the great outdoors. Guess camp is cancelled."

  "I don’t know about all that... Still, perhaps we should turn back for now."

  (Seeing it with my own eyes, it’s more impressive than I’d imagined. Pretty cool. It’s not like I want to become a cop, but I’d like to try riding in one sometime.)

  The trio glanced at each other, but then the police officer shouted:

  "THE AREA AHEAD IS OFF LIMITS!"

  "Seems we can’t get through here... What’s the plan? Should we head back for now?" Sufian asked.

  "NO WAY. DON’T TALK OUT YOUR ARSE OR YOU’LL REGRET IT!"

  It was Matt shouting.

  (I can hear someone kicking up a fuss.)

  "Hey look, that’s Matt and Bayan over there," Ali pointed out. "I knew they went ahead. Guess they took the long way around?"

  "More importantly... who's that girl, I wonder?" Malak asked.

  The girl stepped forward confidently:

  "Okay! You listening? These rockslides are retribution from Hubal."

  "‘Retribution’? In this day and age?" Bayan said, raising an eyebrow.

  "Give me a break..." Matt muttered.

  (The girl seems to be having fun...) Sufian thought.

  "Yes! When disrespectful outsiders cause trouble on the Jebal, he gets mad! This holy Jebal is Hubal’s sacred tomb, Hubal’s shrine! This is no place for someone to just wander around!" she declared in an exaggerated tone.

  "The heck’s a ‘Hubal’? I bet it’s some weird rock or goat carving. They worship that stuff in the boonies." Matt grumbled.

  "Chill out, Matt. She’s just a kid, you don’t have to get so nasty with her." Bayan scolded.

  "Nasty?! I was just—" Matt replied, embarrassed.

  "Hmph! The boonies, you say. How rude! This is the site of a glorious shrine! Not some new imitation, but a historic, legendary shrine known only to locals!"

  "A shrine? You mean like the ones supposed to have ancient Sanam?" Bayan asked. "I’ve read about those before — Sanam of Wathan, or al-‘Uzzá, things like that."

  "Nah, this is different. This is an ancient beast Sanam known only to the locals! I’ve known all about this Sanam ever since I came here!"

  "Does it really exist? Sounds like a fairytale to me." Matt muttered.

  "It isn’t! It is real!" the girl said happily.

  "Hey... um... what’s your name, kid?" Bayan asked.

  "Amaya. What’s yours, older sister?"

  "I’m Bayan, and this guy with the 'tude is Matt. So, Amaya, do you think you could take us to this hidden shrine you’re talking about?"

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Amaya looked troubled.

  "Take you...? Umm... I guess so..."

  "Curious, huh? You don’t really believe in this stuff, do you?" Matt asked.

  "I’m telling you it’s real! It is there!" Amaya insisted.

  "Why not?" Bayan shrugged. "Our trip’s been cancelled — it’s not like we don’t have the time... All we have waiting back at camp is busywork, right? You hate that stuff too, Matt. Are you seriously telling me you’re not even a tiny bit interested in all this?"

  "... I still say this is stupid," Matt said — though his excited face betrayed him.

  "IT IS NOT STUPID!" Amaya snapped.

  "It’s not ‘kid,’ it’s Amaya!"

  "Well lead the way, Amaya. I'm not gonna be happy if you're messin’ with us, got it?"

  The trio standing off to the side observed the scene.

  "I guess they're off to get some extra credit somewhere... that's Bayan for you," Malak said.

  "Something tells me they're not up to anything so commendable," Ali muttered.

  "They don’t even know what kind of temple it is, do they? Entry may be prohibited."

  "You've never heard of it, Malak?" Sufian asked.

  "Hmmm, I don’t see anything like it on the map. Could there really be a hidden shrine? Or is it just something the kid made up?"

  "What do you think, Sufian?" Ali asked.

  "Sounds like a good time. Shall we follow them?"

  "Yeah, now that’s what I was thinking about! HEYYY, you guys!" Ali shouted to catch their attention.

  "Oh great, just what we needed..." Matt groaned.

  "The shrine of Huba? Sounds fun! Can we go with you?" Ali asked.

  "Sure, the more the merrier!" Amaya beamed. "Nice to meet you!"

  "Thanks! Nice to meet you!" Sufian replied.

  "You too!"

  "Sounds like we had a couple of eavesdroppers..." Matt muttered. "Why don’t you and your merry band of bozos go back to your school trip?! Let’s get a move-on, Amaya!"

  Matt walked off, dragging Amaya along with him.

  "Come on, don’t be like that!" Bayan called after him. "...Jeez, Matt. That attitude of yours is annoying!"

  She glanced back.

  "Sorry about that, Sufian, Malak, Ali!" she added, then jogged ahead.

  "Matt, you and Amaya—wait up!"

  "There they go again..." Ali muttered.

  "Well... for now, we’d better wait here for someone to tell us where to go next. That, or head back to the school..." Sufian said.

  "Gotta admit, that sounds like a pain."

  "More importantly," Malak said, "we have no idea what might happen. We should chase after those three!"

  "Yeah, let’s follow them!" Sufian agreed.

  (Pursuing Bayan, Matt, and that kid Amaya, we ended up at a tunnel. Not a soul to be seen around us... and no other paths. Did they head through here?!)

  "Look at this dark, creepy little murder tunnel." Ali said.

  "Tell me about it. Does it feel colder around here to you? Makes my skin crawl..."

  "Would you two refrain from such absurd talk?" Malak snapped.

  "I bet one of those ghost hunter shows would get a kick out of this pla—"

  "Is 'refrain' not in your vocabulary? Come on now, we must find those two! I don’t see them here... maybe we should forge on ahead?"

  "HEY! YOU THERE!" a voice suddenly called out.

  "Oh, looks like we've got a guest!" Ali said.

  "Jeremy? Is that you?" Malak asked.

  "You CAN’T just run off on your own! We have ENOUGH trouble with the landslide as it is!" Jeremy bellowed.

  "Ex-squeeze me, your Blustership. Besides, we think Bayan and Matt went this way..." Ali shrugged.

  "Oh, for— That guy has to learn to act his age already. I have Bayan’s number. I’ll try giving her a call."

  ...

  (He's been letting it ring for a while now. I guess Bayan hasn't noticed yet.) Sufian thought.

  "Say... what do you think that 'Hubal' deal the girl was talking about is like?" Ali asked.

  "Who knows... some kind of statue, I guess?" Sufian said.

  "Ali... you didn't hear a single word of the lecture on today's landmark, did you?" Malak sighed.

  "It is a Sanam taking the shape of a tall red figure with a golden right arm — the legend of which was passed down in this area. That kid said 'only the locals' know it, so I bet this land has some unique creatures."

  "So he became a Sanam, and started handing out retribution like hotcakes? Give me a break!"

  "People used to attribute the unknown to the Sanams, giving offerings to prevent disaster. Most people don’t come around here these days. I imagine only locals still visit."

  "That’s the way the cookie crumbles!"

  "No good," Jeremy interrupted. "It seems neither Bayan nor Matt have a signal where they are."

  "Huh, I guess it’d be weird if their phones worked in the middle of nowhere like this." Ali said.

  "And you’re sure they came this way?"

  "Well... yes, we’re quite certain," Malak replied.

  "They ain't around here, that's for sure. Maybe the shrine’s up ahead?"

  "It isn’t on the map app, so we’re not sure where to look..." Malak noted.

  "All right. We'll have to track those two down and head back to the school ASAP. They’re past this tunnel? Let’s go." Jeremy said.

  As they approached the tunnel—

  "Um... are we really going to go through this tunnel?" Malak asked.

  "I don’t see any other way. This is our only option, right?" Sufian replied.

  "Well, yes, but... ngh..."

  "You're not afraid of the dark, are you, Malak?"

  "J-Just a bit. Creeps me out a little... Hey, why are we talking about this?! We have to bring Bayan and the others back right away!"

  "You know, you could have stopped them from going in the first place," Jeremy said.

  "Uh, well... we kind of tried. They weren't in any mood to listen, so..." Sufian replied.

  "Ah, I see. Um. Well, nothing to be done about it. I’ll help persuade them next time. No worries!"

  "Boy, just when I thought I was gonna die of boredom, things're getting interesting!" Ali grinned.

  "Are you going to join the search?"

  "Who cares about that? This tunnel! A lost shrine! I smell adventure, don’t you?"

  "I think I see what you mean."

  "Right?! Might as well look for some ruins while we look for those jokers!"

  "Ruins? I think the joke might be on you..."

  "Come on," Jeremy said. "Let’s bring back Matt and Bayan together."

  "...Huh? Hey, who’s that coming this way?"

  A new voice called out:

  "Excuse me. All of you are from the camp, right? I live around here. I’m just looking for my little sister..."

  "Your sister?" Malak asked.

  "Yes. She's a bit frail, but likes to go off on her own... My sister is... how do I put this... like a tiny animal. Timid, and needing protection..."

  "Uh... are we talking about the same girl?" Ali said, confused.

  "There was a kid hanging around here named Amaya," Sufian added, "but she doesn't fit the bill..."

  "Amaya...? Did you just say Amaya?" the boy asked, eyes widening.

  "Uhhh, yeah, I sure did..." Sufian replied.

  "Yes, we met a girl named Amaya. Maybe grade school age, wearing a hat with cat ears," Malak clarified.

  "Yes. That's her! You've seen her?!"

  "Say what?! The girl we met had a few more screws loose than the girl you're describing," Ali said.

  "H-Hey, don’t be rude, Ali..." Malak warned.

  "I’m just saying, I didn’t see any shrinking violet who needed saving, is all!"

  "Who cares what you thought of her?! Just tell me, where did she go?!"

  "Well... I’m sorry. But we’re actually looking for her ourselves."

  "She went off to a shrine with some of the other campers. We were just going to try and bring them back with us."

  "I see... So she went off on her own... Thank you very much. And after I told her she’s not allowed to go in there...!" the boy sighed.

  "My name is Yusuf. If you want, we could go look for them together."

  "Why not? We’re all after the same thing. Plus, you know where the place is, right?" Ali asked.

  "Ha ha... sure, I’ll show you the way. I wasn’t raised here, but I’ve lived here for a long time. I know where the shrine is. Come on, follow me."

  "I’m Ali, that’s Sufian, and this here is Malak."

  "And I’m the leader, Jeremy. Nice to meet you, Yusuf."

  (From the looks of him, I thought Yusuf was an adult, but he’s the same age as me. I'm relieved, though. Looks like we can count on him. We'll get there in no time.)

  "Hmm...? Uh, say guys. It's spring now, right?" Sufian asked.

  "If it's not spring, then when is it?" Ali replied.

  "I just figured we’re a little too far south for it to snow at the start of spring... or to snow at all..."

  "What’re you— Ooowuuuh?!" Ali yelped.

  "You’re right... snow!" Malak gasped.

  "Calling this unseasonal would be a bit of an understatement." Sufian said.

  "Indeed..."

  "It snowed here last week, too," Yusuf said. "I heard the weather gets all wonky around these parts."

  "I’ve heard of similar stories in other places... Whoa, uh... some kinda blizzard has kicked up here, yeah?"

  "So cold..." Malak whispered.

  "It’s too dangerous to keep going," Jeremy said. "I’ll go take a look — why don’t you all go back?"

  "Why don’t we duck back into the tunnel? Who knows what’d happen before we made it back." Sufian suggested.

  "Fair enough... it might not be indoors, but it’s better than staying out here."

  "That’s true... okay," Jeremy agreed. "Let’s retreat to the tunnel for now."

  ?????