CHAPTER XO 



VISITORS FROM OVER THE SEA 



ONE morning at Dur Ghella I came out of the tent at 

 dawn, stretched my muscles, and made for the beach 

 with sleep still in my eyes. We used to wash in the sea and 

 take that pleasant walk along the water-front while we were 

 still only half awake. The sun was gentle and the sand was 

 soft and virgin except for the touch of the birds. 



But that morning I stopped dead as soon as I emerged 

 from the mangroves. There was something moving on the 

 sea. And not something belonging to the natural world, but 

 something man-made. Away across the sea there was a sail. 



I called the others. In an instant we were all there gazing 

 open-mouthed. For days and weeks the only vessel that had 

 crossed the waters of Dur Ghella was the Formica, and that 

 not very often. Furthermore, Dur Ghella was off every 

 route, outside the world. Our astonishment was still greater 

 when we saw that the triangular sail lying across the hull and 

 scraping the water so closely that it hid the boat, was heading 

 without any shadow of doubt towards Dur Ghella, and 

 exactly towards us. 



'My goodness!' Priscilla let out. 



'Tesfankièl!' Cecco shouted, as if Tesfankièl was not there 

 too, watching that sail. 'Tesfankièl, do pirates still exist in 

 these waters ?' 



