Title: Final Stop

Fiction. 2200 words Short Story. OU (Open University)

‘It is safer that way habibi.’

‘But that is too expensive.’

‘Listen habibi. Would you rather risk your life?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘Aha. I am offering you a golden opportunity. I guarantee it.’

‘I know, but—.’

‘No buting habibi. You don’t seem to understand. It is Europe that we are talking about here, and I am offering it to you on a golden platter. Besides, they literally give you money for free there.’

‘I am not going there for money.’

‘I know habibi. But who doesn’t like free money, eh? My cousin went there two years ago and now owns a car!’

‘I am not looking for such a thing either.’

‘You confuse me, habibi. Do you want to go or not?’

‘Yes, I want to.’

‘Tamam habibi. It will cost you 14000 euros. But I like you. You seem like a good guy. If you pay half of it now, I will give you a discount of one thousand. Amazing, eh? 

‘Ok. Ok. Give me a second to get the money.’ he said that, scanned the area around him, grabbed his hoody with both hands and pulled it firmly forward, covering his face from cold and people. Then he wrapped his black scarf around his face, blending himself into the night.

He turned back and headed towards a faded kaki-coloured pile of rags embellished with rusted tin. When he arrived, he cleared one of the rags and pulled it up. The smell of meds and urine attacked his nostrils. He braced himself and got inside the tent. Inside the damp shelter, an amalgamation of bodies huddled together around a flickering candle and the agonised screams of a baby.

‘Hey, you are back!’ said the woman holding the noisy apparition.

‘Yes, and I have some good news.’

‘What did he tell you?’

‘Emmm. I managed to get a discount. But it will cost us 13000. 4000 per adult and 1000 for the baby. But we have to leave at midnight.’

‘But we only have 6000 on us.’

‘Don’t worry. I will handle the rest.’

When the woman heard that, she charged at and grabbed the hand of the young man, pulling it to her face and smearing it with snot and tears and lips.

He pulled his hand away immediately, startled. ‘May God forgive me. No need, Khadija. If we didn’t help each other now, when would we?’

Amidst the sobs, Khadija’s husband rose and started to take off his sweater, revealing a pale, drained waist wrapped with layers of translucent foil. He shredded the sticky wraps of nylon open, releasing his flesh and an envelope hoarded under his armpit. ‘This is all we have. There you can find 6715 euros. Please take them.’

The young man took the envelope, counted 715 Euros, and handed it back before turning around to leave.

‘Wait,’ Khadija’s husband announced, ‘I can’t accept it.’

‘This is not for you,’ said the young man, ‘It is for your sick baby. You still need to take care of him, don’t you?

‘Aren’t’ you going to count the rest?’

‘No need, uncle. I trust your word.’ announced the young man before exiting into the dark, chilling evening, heading back towards the smuggler.

‘Hey. Here is your damn money.’ said the young man, thrusting a bundle at the smuggler’s face.

‘Why! Eh habibi.’ said the smugglers, snatching the money.

‘It is as we agreed, half now and the other half once I am safe.’

‘Of course habibi. But you don’t mind me counting them, do you, eh?’

‘Do what you will.’

‘When you have done this for as long as I have, then you will know.’

‘…’

‘As complete as a straight flush, as an open buffet, as an __.’

‘Are we done here?’ the young man interrupted.

‘khhhhhhh.’ the smuggler snorted, ‘we leave at midnight. Be on time.’

‘We will.’

‘I know you will habibi.’

‘Stop calling me that.’

‘Ok habibi.’

‘My name is Yousef.’

‘OK, Yousef pasha. See you soon.’ spouted the smuggler, waving, and dismissing Yousef before turning around and fading into darkness. Similarly, Yousef turned sideways, strolling into the illegal camp. He put both hands into the side pockets of his khaki jacket and started rummaging for a cigarette when he heard someone calling for him from behind.

‘Yousef, Yousef.’

  Yousef looked back towards the voice.

‘How was it,’ the old man asked.

‘Hello, uncle. It went as expected.’

‘Don’t call me uncle. I am not that old. Call me Ziad.’

‘It doesn’t feel right.’

‘I insist.’ said Ziad.

At that moment, Yousef managed to find a broken cigarette in the upper left pocket on his torso. He put it in his mouth, pulled it out, spat some of the tobacco stuck on the filter, and then put it back in his mouth before rummaging again in his pockets.

Ziad noticed that and gave Yousef a lighter and a packet of imported tobacco.

‘I can’t accept this.’ Yousef said.

‘I am quitting anyway.’ replied Ziad, ‘Besides, I have learned that it is killing me.

Yousef nodded, snatched the packet from Ziad’s hands, put the broken cigarette into the packet, and pulled a brand new one. He brushed it slowly by his nose, savouring its smell before throwing it into his mouth.

‘Is your family ok?’ asked Ziad.

‘I don’t know.’

‘When did you hear from them last?’

‘Around six months ago.’

‘Do you know if they are_’

‘I think so.’ Yousef interrupted.

‘I lost my family as well,’ Ziad replied, ‘two brothers and their families and both of my parents. May Allah have mercy on their souls.’

‘May Allah have mercy on their souls.’ recited Yousef mechanically.

‘Khadija and the baby are all I have now.’

Yousef lit the cigarette, expanded his chest greedily, and felt the nicotine circulating through his body, then oozing into his famished brain.

‘Where are you going?’ asked Ziad.

‘I am not sure yet. The plan is to leave first and then think later. What about you?’

‘Germany. I think. I can find work there. If Allah wills it.’

‘Inshallah. It is a good country. Good luck.’

‘You too.’

‘Listen, I think I am going to rest a little. I recommend you do the same.’ said Yousef before swallowing the last wisps of the satisfying amber and retreating towards his tent.

—

Just before midnight, Yousef abandoned his tent and headed towards Ziad’s.

‘Come, it is time. Have you got everything?’ asked Yousef as he entered.

‘Khadeja,’ shouted Ziad. ‘We need to leave now. It is time.’

The baby roared back in response.

‘Do you need any help?’ asked Yousef.

‘No, we are alright,’ said Ziad, ‘Go ahead. See you at the checkpoint.’

Yousef left the family and the camp, heading west, wading through abandoned tents. The cloudy black sky made it hard to recognise landmarks, but It wasn’t hard to find the checkpoint. All he had to do was to follow the column of the marching dejects. With his head throbbing with excitement and lack of sleep, he surrendered his fate to the solemn faces around him. They hadn’t marched for long before the column started to slow down, congesting into a shivering jumble. Suddenly, a shushing wave pervaded through the throng, which was interrupted by the cries of forlorn babies.

‘Listen! Listen.’ an agitated voice arose from the centre of the gathering. ‘Shut your babies up. God damn it. Listen. Do not make any sound. Be as silent as a corpse, or you will be one, eh? Now go. Fast and sile —-‘ screamed the man when his rant was broken by a wail.

‘Hey, you. If you can’t control your pet, you better leave it.’ threatened the man.

‘I am sorry, I am sorry.’ said Khadeja. 

‘I wasn’t talking to you, woman. Who is the husband?’

‘Me.’ said Ziad. 

‘Keep your family in check, eh? Silence that small devil, or I will do it for you. Now, get into the boat.’ Spat the man, pointing towards the dark canvas behind him.

Yousef, along with the horde, rushed towards where the man was aiming. But as they clawed their way into the wobbly life-changing deck, someone suggested letting the woman and children go first, to which the people echoed, ‘Yes, of course.’

Waiting for the families to board, Yousef stood in silence. He stared at the horizon but saw nothing. The sky and the sea have combined into a mourning titan dyed with pitch. He knew he was at a beach because he heard the titan’s moan, ebbing and flowing, indifferent to the boarding gaggle. But right when he boarded, and just when the boat was about to move, the smuggler grabbed his arm, whispering, “We will disembark at Kos. The boat will continue. Stay with me”, then hovered away like a spectre. The boat jerked and coughed, once, then again, before starting its flimsy pilgrimage into the promised land. Yousef moved through the deck, squeezing his shoulders sideways through heads and torsos, dodging coughs, sneezes, and sighs. He kept at it till he heard Ziad’s voice calling for him. 

‘Yousef. Here, on the side. Come, sit down.’

‘Alhamdulillah, we are finally onboard.’ continued Ziad.

‘Alhamdulillah indeed, but keep your voice low.’ Yousef reminded him. Sitting, he melted into a pile of headaches. But instead of relief, the rubbery deck offered Yousef nothing but naked coldness that seeped through the elastic deck into his clenched jaws.

‘Here, have a cigarette,’ said Ziad, smiling. 

Yousef closed his eyes and bit on the filter, feeling its circular edge with his tongue. He lit it up, siphoning its energy, hoping to revive his own. But as he felt its essence mingle with his own, a swift swipe snatched it away, discarding it into the dark abyss below.

‘What are you doing habibi, eh? Are you trying to kill us? The amber is like a lighthouse here.’

Yousef clenched his jaws again, looked at the smuggler, nodded, and closed his eyes, trying to take his mind away from the drums beating inside his skull.

‘We are about to cross into the Greek waters,’ whispered the smuggler, ‘keep your mouths shut.’

A wave of silence spread rapidly across that merged with the susurration of the boat swishing through the dark waters.

‘Stay put. The tide will carry us to shore.’ said the smuggler softly when a loud shriek exploded from within the dead-silent heap of the mob.

‘Who the fuck was that? It is the damned baby again. Shut it up now, or I will throw all of you away.’ said the smuggler to Ziad.

‘Don’t worry. It will not happen again.’ said Ziad as he gently pressed his palm into the face of the baby, muffling his sobs and driving the struggling baby to hysteria. 

‘it better not.’

‘It will not.’ Ziad retorted.

With that, the silence swallowed the boat again with a gulp.

—

An hour later, the smuggler approached Yousef.

‘Hey habibi, we will arrive at our stop in half an hour. I will leave the boat. Follow me, eh?’ 

Yousef nodded.

‘Listen,’ the smuggler addressed everyone. We are in Greece now. And we are in shallow waters. We are safe from the coast guards, but keep your mouths shut anyway.’

A sigh of relief spread through the crowd as a condensed drop of a bright colour spreads through pure water.

‘Congratulations, uncle! Congratulations, auntie!’ exclaimed Yousef.

‘Thanks,’ said Khadeja, sobbing, turning around, and hiding her face from Yousef, while holding her silent baby tightly towards her chest.

‘What is the matter?’ asked Yousef.

‘Nothing,’ said Khadeja, ‘really, it’s nothing.’

Ziad put his hand on Yousef’s shoulder and pulled him towards himself.

‘Let her be.’ said Ziad.

‘But…’

‘Just let her be.’

‘Ok, ok,’ said Yousef. ‘Listen, uncle. Ummm…I have to leave soon. But you have to stay. You have to continue by yourself.’

‘But this wasn’t the agreement.’ Ziad answered, looking directly into Yousef’s eyes.

Yousef looked back at Ziad’s and saw them dilate, then contort along with the rest of the muscles of his face into a fearsome mask of exasperation. He looked away, escaping the pouring knives, looking into the sea when he noticed a light flashing nearby.

‘It is our stop habibi.’ said the smuggler before addressing everyone.

‘Stay in the boat. You are just getting a new guide. A better guide, eh.’

On the shore, a stern-looking man with a dark robe and icy blue Greek eyes helped the smuggler stabilise the boat with a rod.

‘Hop off,’ said the smuggler to Yousef.

‘They are your problem now.’ Said the smuggler to the new guide.

The man said nothing, used his rod to push the boat away from the rocky shore, and disappeared gradually into darkness.

‘Here, have a cigarette habibi. Sorry for throwing yours away earlier.

Yousef lit it up, then took a double breath, holding the magic in for a couple of seconds, feeling the nicotine seeping through his countenance.

‘Let’s sleep here now. We can continue tomorrow when the sun is up.’

Yousef nodded in agreement.

—

‘Habibi, wake up, eh. Are you going to spend your time in Europe sleeping?’ said the smuggler, pulling his mobile phone from his pocket. ‘Here, take these as promised. A French ID and an air ticket.’

‘And this is what I promised.’ said Yousef, handing a bundle to the smuggler.

’57, 58, 59. Clean six thousands.’

‘What’s next?’.

‘Give me a second Habibi. I will check the next train for you.’ answered the smuggler, looking at his mobile before bursting into laughter. ‘Bwahahahahaha.’

‘What is it?’

‘I told you habibi. It is safer with me. It costs 12000 to buy an ID and a ticket, but it is better than that “two k per family” offer.’

‘Why are you saying that now?’

‘Here, look habibi. It is on the news. The boat missed its final stop. Kharon guided them to Hades. Bwahahahaha.’