THE GUTTERS

At 1 am, we went to search for the gutter entrance. We were not able to find any entrance. I took out the map and started looking at it under the moonlight. It was more clear that where is the gutter entrance under the moonlight. It was at the back of the palace, but an issue occurred that nearby were two to three huge minarets each of which had a soldier in them. Before approaching the gutter, we both went to prone in the bushes nearby the gutter entrance. As soon as we reached the gutter entrance, I tried to open it with one hand only but it was very heavy to be picked with one hand. Salaam gave me indications to do what he does. He cut some bushes with his knife and wore it over him to cover himself and gradually approached the gutter and lifted it with both hands. It made huge noise. We swiftly went in the bushes and gone prone and stayed still. We heard a voice "what was that? (To the other soldier)did you hear anything." The other soldier replied "nah. I didn't hear anything." We stayed there for five minutes lying still. Then Salaam got up slowly in crouch position and lifted the lid again. This time there was a low noise. He slowly started descending the ladder just below the gutter lid. When he was in midway he made a low voice indicating to come in. I also started descending and covered the entrance with the lid behind me. We entered the gutter and we solved the first issue. Without wasting a second, we started moving and hid as soon two cleaners got in our sights. I said in Salaam's ear pointing at the shade under the bank of the gutter. "a new rule. Get away stealthily if there is a chance." We saw some wood in a corner, large ones. We both picked up one for each of us. I placed the wood in the gutter's toxic waste and jumped on it. Salaam did the same. We both steered the woods towards the shade with two sticks. We were moving from under the shade and the two cleaners were standing over us on the edge of the bank of the gutter. We quietly swift away from the cleaners. Now we reached at one place where there were 4 passages. We did not know which one leads to the bathrooms. I took out the interior map. Unluckily there was no moonlight. Therefore, I shined a lantern towards the backside of the map but in vein. It was some special kind of ink that only worked with the moonlight and no other source of light. I tried to see the map clearly but no use. Then I sat there waiting for some idea to enter my mind. 2 to 3 minutes after when we both were discussing what to do, some human waste entered the gutter from a passage. I looked at Salaam. Just after half minute, some dishwashing soap came through another passage. A discarded bottle for dishwashing also entered through the same passage. Now one thing was clear that if one passage has human waste coming so it would be the toilets and the other passage has dishwashing bottle coming then it would be the kitchen. So one of the other two passages leads to the baths. We waited for some more time that if some more hints come from the other two tunnels but nothing came. Therefore, I thought why should not I go through one passage and Salaam through the other one to check out which one leads to baths. Therefore, we did the same thing. We both planned that just after five minutes we both will come out of our passages and ask each other that if you have find the bathroom or not. I kept on going through the dark passage using the lantern to defeat the darkness. I came to a dead end with just a small grill at the bottom touching the ground. There were some leaves and some bushes stuck to the grill. It was giving me a thought that it would be the passage connecting to the drain holes and the grills on the floor above us, through which the rainwater comes and bushes with it as well. Therefore, I exited the passage and waited for Salaam. He also came after half minute or one. He said, "It is the passage leading to the baths. Come on we don't have the whole night." We both went running in the shallow water of the passage. We stopped in front of a big grill, which was only able to open from the other side. I started to think. Salaam stretched his arm and pulled the bolt of the door. The door opened. I patted him and said "great work." I closed the door behind me and ran until we reached in front of a wall, and there we were just below the gutter entrance of the bathrooms...