But the new generation, like their ancestors, never accepted the name Paradise for their home. They were too tired of long, working shifts in the farms and greenhouses and the tales of the outside world didn’t amuse them anymore. They would gather in small groups, practicing their musical instruments at night, preparing for the festivities of the dry season. They would drown themselves in the mythical tunes of oud and tonbac and sing in their sad plaintive songs about their lost paradise and their newly forming loves. It was one of those nights that Asin, learning to play the oud, had fallen in love with Narivan. The small Paradise music group was slowly changing into a hidden circle looking for ways to escape the long working hours and the pressures put among them by the newly assigned island chief. The word ‘Traveller’ had once again surfaced in their talking. The small group consisted of Asin, her brothers, Narivan and his sister and a few other young villagers. At first, they were not sure what a Traveller was and they would just use it for a person freed from all the oppressions they were facing, someone who was able to travel the world freely and play music on every land and ship.

Asin’s younger brother and Narivan explained the escape plan to others. It was not dangerous; they just had to get far away from the island. They knew that Atlan would replace them very quickly not to leave their works unintended. But they weren’t sure if they would be punished for stealing a boat. That was the greatest danger of their plan. Narivan’s sister had told them right away that she wouldn’t go. But the other nine group members were keen to go. They had stolen, stored fuel, food and water for a few days, trying not to get caught and leak their plan. Narivan’s sister had helped them, distracting the harbour guards and taking them away from their posts. Asin had kissed her mother goodbye in her sleep and had arrived at the harbour. Most of the work was already done. Fuel tanks, buckles of water and food boxes were taken into the boat. Her brothers were waiting for her by the boat. Narivan was carefully transferring the instruments to the boat deck by the help of one of the girls. When he had seen Asin in the red light of the dawn, he had slipped, nearly falling down and throwing an oud into the water. But Asin’s brother had helped him taking the instrument from him so he could go and fetch Asin. They had sat together on the deck. Asin’s older brother, who had been fishing for some time, knew how to sail a boat. They had rowed away from the land for an hour and then turned on the engine. Very soon, the Paradise Island had turned into a small spot in the early-morning horizon and disappeared altogether in their view.