Khaled - F. Marion Crawford (ap literature book list .TXT) 📗

When the Sheikh of the beggars heard that he was expected to give help in frustrating Abdullah’s plans he was troubled and much astonished.

“Shall the blind sheep go out and fight the lion?” he inquired tremulously.

“Even so,” replied the Bedouin unmoved, “and, moreover, without danger to himself. Hear me first. Abdullah and his tribe will encamp in the low hills, in a few days, as usual, but somewhat earlier than in other years, and a great number of other Bedouins will be in the neighbouring valleys at the same time. Then Abdullah will come into the city openly and go to his house with his wife and slaves, and during several days he will receive the visits of his friends and return them, and go to the palace and salute Khaled, as though nothing were about to happen. But in the meantime he will make everything ready, for it is his intention to go into the palace at night, disguised in a woman’s garment, with his wife, and they will slay Khaled in his sleep, and bind Zehowah, and distribute much treasure among the guards and slaves, and before morning the city will be full of Bedouins all ready to proclaim Abdullah Sultan. And you alone can prevent all this.”

But the blind man laughed in his beard.

“This is a good jest!” he cried. “You have sought out a valiant warrior to stand between the Sultan and death! I am blind and old, and a beggar, and you would have me stand in the path of Abdullah and a thousand armed men. They would certainly laugh, as I do. Let me take with me a few lepers and the Egyptian jackass without legs, who has flown among us lately like a locust out of the clear air. Verily, their strength shall avail against the lances of the desert.”

“This is no jest, my brother,” answered the Bedouin, gravely. “Neither I, nor a hundred armed horsemen with me could do what you will do unhurt. But I will save Khaled. For in the battle of the pass before we came to Haïl last summer when I had an arrow in my right arm and a spear thrust in my side, certain dogs of Shammars encompassed me, and darkness was already descending upon my eyes when Khaled rode in like a whirlwind of scythes, and sent four of them to hell, where they are now drinking molten brass like thirsty camels. Then I swore by Allah that I would defend him in the hour of need.”

“Why do you not then lie in wait for Abdullah yourself and slay him as he passes you in the dark?”

“Is he not the sheikh of my tribe? How then can I lay a hand on him? But I have thought of this during many nights in my tent, and you alone can do what is needed.”

“Surely this is folly,” said the Sheikh of the beggars. “You have met a hot wind in the desert and your mind is unsettled by it. I pray you come with me into the city to my dwelling, and take some refreshment, or at least let me send to the well for a drink of water.”

“My head is cool and I am not thirsty, nor is the hot wind blowing at this time of year. Hear me. I will tell you how to save Khaled from destruction, and you shall receive more gold than you have dreamed of, and a house, and rich garments, and a young wife of a good family to comfort your old age. For the deed is easy and safe, but the reward will be great, and you alone can do the one and earn the other.”

“I perceive,” said the blind man, “that you are indeed in earnest, but I cannot understand what I can do. We know that Khaled is forewarned, for it is not many days since he summoned the chief men in Riad, with the Kadi, to the palace, and refused to tell them the name of his father, but said that if they attacked him he would kill as many of them as he could.”

“I did not know this,” answered the Bedouin. “But the knowledge does not change my plan. Now hear me. You are the Sheikh of all the beggars in Riad⁠—may Allah send you long life and much gain⁠—they are an army and you are a captain. Moreover the beggars are doubtless attached to Khaled by his generosity, and all of you say in your hearts that under Abdullah there may be more sticks and less barley for you.”

“This is true. But then, my brother, it is otherwise with you, for you are of Abdullah’s tribe and will have honour and riches if he is made Sultan. How then is my advantage also yours?”

“And did not this Abdullah in the first place divorce with ignominy his second wife, who is my kinswoman, being the daughter of my father’s sister? And has he restored the dowry as the law commands? Truly his new wife is even now sitting upon my cousin’s carpet. And secondly Abdullah made himself sheikh unjustly, for our sheikh should be Abdul Kerim’s son.”

“Yet you accepted Abdullah and promised him allegiance.”

“Does the camel say to his driver: ‘I do not like to carry a load of barley, I would rather bear a basket of dates’? ‘Eat what you please in your tent, but dress as other men,’ says the proverb. Hear me, for I speak wisdom. Abdullah will come into the city and go to his house, intending to prepare the way for evil. And he will walk about the streets as usual, without attendants, both because he knows that the people are mostly with him, and also in order not to attract notice. Now Abdullah is the spring from which all this wickedness flows, he is the chief camel whom the others follow, the coal in the ashes by which the fire is kept alive,