176 DAHLAK 



Dahlak, there are some great underwater plants with long, 

 black branches like the arms of octopuses. If a pearl fisher 

 passes near one of them an irresistible suction draws him 

 into the clutches of the branches. He is killed, his blood is 

 sucked and he is devoured. Many have died in this way and 

 the plants are there to be seen. 



But surely this can't be taken seriously. There are no 

 algae like that. There are some that feed on insects — but 

 men! There are no octopuses in the Red Sea and no corals 

 capable of articulated movement like animals. All right, but 

 there is the 'black coral' which has twisting arms in which 

 the unwary person might get entangled. Then — the sugges- 

 tion! 



Legend, fantasy, imagination, myth, madness, truth, 

 mystery, horror and anxiety in man. Tabu ! 



The stars filled the sky, but banks of white cloud were 

 coming up from the south slipping past the moon. A strange, 

 quiet night. Only the sky was alive. 



Tesfankièl smiled and looked at the clouds. The monsoon 

 is coming,' he murmured. 



