THE TWELFTH OFFICER'S STORY
by Unknown · from Tales from the Arabic — Volume 02
Adapted Version
One day, an Officer is walking. He sees a Thief. The Thief takes a shiny box from a shopkeeper. He runs away with it. The Officer follows the Thief quietly. The Thief goes to a quiet place. He opens the shiny box. He looks inside. The Officer walks up to him. He says, "Hello!" The Thief is very scared. The Officer just smiles. He walks away slowly.
Later, the Officer sees the Thief again. The police have caught him. The Thief sees the Officer. He points at him. He says, "Catch him too!" The police take the Officer. They take him to the Chief. The Chief asks, "Do you know the Thief?"
The Thief looks at the Officer. He says, "No. I do not know him. I meant another man." The police let the Officer go. The Officer feels happy.
Later, the Thief meets the Officer. He says, "I scared you. You scared me. When you leave others alone, you stay safe."
The Officer feels happy. He is safe. He knows leaving the Thief alone kept him safe.
Original Story
THE TWELFTH OFFICER'S STORY.
As I was passing one day in the market, I found that a thief had broken into the shop of a money-changer and taken thence a casket, with which he had made off to the burial-grounds. So I followed him thither [and came up to him, as] he opened the casket and fell a-looking into it; whereupon I accosted him, saying, "Peace be on thee!" And he was startled at me. Then I left him and went away from him.
Some months after this, I met him again under arrest, in the midst of the guards and officers of the police, and he said to them, "Seize yonder man." So they laid hands on me and carried me to the chief of the police, who said, "What hast thou to do with this fellow?" The thief turned to me and looking a long while in my face, said, "Who took this man?" Quoth the officers, "Thou badest us take him; so we took him." And he said, "I seek refuge with God! I know not this man, nor knoweth he me; and I said not that to you but of a man other than this." So they released me, and awhile afterward the thief met me in the street and saluted me, saying, "O my lord, fright for fright! Hadst thou taken aught from me, thou hadst had a part in the calamity."[FN#146] And I said to him, "God [judge] between thee and me!" And this is what I have to tell'
Then came forward the thirteenth officer and said, 'I will tell you a story that a man of my friends told me. (Quoth he)
Story DNA
Moral
Sometimes, refraining from intervention can protect one from unforeseen trouble.
Plot Summary
An officer observes a thief with a stolen casket but only startles him before leaving. Months later, the same thief, now under arrest, falsely accuses the officer, leading to his capture. However, before the chief of police, the thief retracts his accusation, claiming he doesn't know the officer, leading to the officer's release. The thief later explains that his actions were 'fright for fright,' implying the officer was spared trouble because he didn't interfere with the thief's original crime.
Themes
Emotional Arc
calm to surprise to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects a legal and social system where false accusations could lead to immediate arrest, and where personal honor and retribution (like 'fright for fright') played a role in interactions.
Plot Beats (10)
- An officer sees a thief steal a casket from a money-changer.
- The officer follows the thief to a burial ground where the thief opens the casket.
- The officer startles the thief by greeting him, then leaves him alone.
- Months later, the officer sees the same thief under arrest by police.
- The thief points to the officer and tells the guards to seize him.
- The guards arrest the officer and take him to the chief of police.
- The chief asks the officer about his connection to the thief.
- The thief looks at the officer and then denies knowing him, claiming he meant someone else.
- The officer is released by the police.
- Later, the thief meets the officer and explains his actions were 'fright for fright,' suggesting the officer was spared trouble by not intervening earlier.
Characters
The Twelfth Officer
A man of average height and build, likely with a weathered appearance from his duties as an officer. His movements are observant and deliberate, reflecting his profession.
Attire: Practical, durable attire suitable for an officer of the police in a Middle Eastern city, likely a simple, dark tunic (qamis) over loose trousers (sirwal), perhaps with a simple vest or jacket (jubbah) and a plain turban or keffiyeh. His clothing would be clean but functional, showing signs of wear from active duty.
Wants: To uphold justice and order, though he shows a nuanced understanding of human nature, choosing not to immediately apprehend the thief.
Flaw: Perhaps a degree of naivety or an overly trusting nature, as he initially lets the thief go without consequence, leading to his own arrest later.
He learns a lesson about the unpredictable nature of criminals and the potential consequences of leniency, experiencing a moment of false accusation due to his earlier actions.
Observant, cautious, just, somewhat stoic, and principled. He is not easily provoked and maintains a sense of fairness.
The Thief
A man of average build, perhaps lean from a life of agility and evasion. His movements are quick and furtive when stealing, but he can also appear calm and cunning.
Attire: Simple, unassuming clothing that allows for easy movement and blending into crowds. Likely a plain, light-colored cotton tunic (qamis) and loose trousers (sirwal), possibly with a worn cloak or shawl to conceal himself and his stolen goods. His attire would be practical and somewhat nondescript.
Wants: To acquire wealth through theft, and later, to avoid punishment and maintain his own strange code of conduct.
Flaw: His criminal lifestyle inevitably leads to his capture, and his audacity can sometimes backfire.
He is caught and faces justice, but his cunning allows him to escape a more severe fate for the officer. He reveals a strange moral code, suggesting a complex character beyond simple criminality.
Cunning, resourceful, audacious, manipulative, and surprisingly principled in his own twisted way (the 'fright for fright' philosophy).
The Chief of Police
A man of authority, likely with a more substantial build than the common officers, reflecting his higher status. His demeanor is serious and commanding.
Attire: More refined and possibly richer clothing than the other officers, indicating his rank. Likely a well-made, dark-colored jubbah or caftan over a fine tunic, perhaps with subtle embroidery or a more luxurious fabric. A distinguished turban would complete his attire.
Wants: To maintain law and order and ensure justice is served.
Flaw: Relies on the testimony of others, which can be manipulated.
A static character who serves to facilitate the resolution of the false accusation against the Twelfth Officer.
Authoritative, decisive, and fair-minded, willing to listen to testimony before making a judgment.
Locations
The Market
A bustling public space, likely an open-air bazaar with various shops, including that of a money-changer. The ground would be packed earth or cobblestones, with stalls and awnings providing shade.
Mood: Lively, busy, initially ordinary before the theft.
The officer witnesses a thief breaking into a money-changer's shop and stealing a casket.
Burial Grounds
A quiet, desolate area outside the main city, where graves are located. The ground would be uneven, possibly sandy or rocky, with scattered grave markers and sparse vegetation.
Mood: Eerie, quiet, isolated, a place of contemplation or concealment.
The officer follows the thief to the burial grounds, where the thief opens the stolen casket.
The Street
A public thoroughfare within the city, where people walk and conduct daily business. It could be a narrow, winding lane or a wider avenue, lined with buildings.
Mood: Ordinary, public, a place of chance encounters.
The officer encounters the thief again, first under arrest, and later, after his release, for a final conversation.