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.Kazimain, of course, meekly acquiesced to this, as she did to all his wishes.Although the sun remained hot, we left the heat of the lowlands behind and entered the cooler heights of the hills, climbing steadily towards the mountains.Now and then we felt a freshening breeze on our faces, and slept more comfortably at night.Day by day, we pursued the winding trail into the hills, arriving at the mine four days after leaving the valley behind.Sure, I was anxious to gain the freedom of my friends.From the moment when, still far off, we glimpsed the white-washed timbers of thegate--a mere glimmer in the midday sun--freeing the captives occupied my every thought.And now that we stood before the very gate--yawning open as if to mock the freedom denied to the inhabitants within--it was all I could do to keep from throwing myself from the saddle and rushing headlong to the overseer's dwelling and commanding him to unchain them and set them free.Sadiq sagely advised against such rash behaviour."Perhaps you would allow me the pleasure of serving you in this," he offered."The chief overseer may balk at the request of a former slave.He will not, however, find it so easy to refuse me, I think."As he spoke, the sick hatred welled up inside me.Again, I felt the ache of oppression in my bones and the sting of the lash; I felt the shaking frustration of enforced weakness, and the exhaustion of body and soul, the wakingdeath of bondage.I wanted nothing more than to make those who practised this injustice suffer as I had suffered."I thank you, Lord Sadiq," I said, drawing myself up in the saddle,"but I will speak to him myself.""Of course," the amir replied, "I leave the choice to you.However, I stand ready to aid you should your efforts fall short of the desired result." He regarded me, trying to read the depth of my intent.Then, with the air of a man passing on a dangerous duty, he summoned Faysal and three of his rafiq to accompany me."Take Bara, Musa, and Nadr with you," he said, "and attend Aidan as you would attend me."Satisfied with this preparation, Sadiq dismounted to await my return, saying, "Be wise, my friend, as Allah is wise."I looked to Kazimain, who favoured me with an encouraging smile beforereplacing the veil.Then, turning in the saddle, I lifted the reins and rode through the hateful gate once more, and felt the slow heat of righteous wrath simmering in my heart.This day, I thought, vengeance begins.So be it.We made our way along the narrow pathway through the close-huddled dwellings to the square of sun-blasted dirt outside the whitewashed house of the overseer.Keeping my saddle, I signalled Faysal to summon the man, which he did, calling out in a loud voice.Word of our arrival, I expect, had been passed to the overseer the moment we reached the gates, for he appeared in the open doorway of the house, and stood looking out at us for a moment before emerging.I could see his white-turbaned head motionless in the dark as he gazed out at his unexpected visitors.Faysal called again, and the overseer stepped, blinking, into thesun."Greetings in the Holy Name," he said."What is your business here?"Not deigning to dismount, I addressed him from the saddle."I have come to obtain the release of slaves."I do not believe he recognized me at all, but I remembered him: he was the pit overseer Dugal had inadvertently struck, and who had directed our torture.He now stood in the sun, his small pig eyes all asquint, trying to work out how this unexpected demand might be turned to his advantage.The wrinkles of his sun-swarthy face arranged themselves in a shrewd expression."Who are you to speak thus to me?""My name is Aidan mac Cainnech," I told him."I am advisor to J'amalSadiq, Amir of Samarra."He stiffened at the name, the memory of his predecessor's treatment at the hands of the amir's men still sore to him."The amir has no authority here," he declared."Who makes this demand?""Protector of the Faithful, Khalifa al'Mutamid," I replied.The chief overseer became sly."You have proof, I presume?"Taking the khalifa's decree, I passed it to Faysal, who leaned down from the saddle and offered it to the overseer who untied the silk band and carefully unrolled the parchment."You can read, I presume?"A frown appeared on his face as he scanned the document.After a moment, he lowered the decree and stared at me; this time he seemed tofind something familiar in my face, but deafly could not think where he had seen me before."Come down from your lofty perch, my friend," he said, "and let us discuss this matter face to face."Looking down on him, revulsion surged through me.God help me, I despised him.Oh, he was a vile creature."We have nothing to discuss," I replied."I will tell you the names of those who are to be freed, and you will free them."His face closed like a fist."Names mean nothing here," he replied with an air of superiority.That was true, and I should have remembered.Thinking he had thwarted me, he allowed himself a smug sneer."It makes no difference," I responded coolly, "you will assemble the slaves and I will choose those I require from among them.""All the slaves?" He sputtered like a pot about to boil."But there are hundreds of slaves here--scattered everywhere in these hills.It would take the entire day to assemble them all.""Then I suggest you begin at once.""I would lose a day's worth of silver!" he shrieked."Come back tomorrow," he suggested."Come at dawn and you can see them before they begin their labour.""Do you refuse the emissary of the khalifa?""You are being hasty," he said."I must point out to you that what you ask is very difficult.There are many questions to be considered."His pained expression smoothed."There is no need to invoke the khalifa's name; this is a matter between the two of us.""My thoughts precisely.""Seeing that you understand me," he said, his voice oily and insinuating, "I believe we can reach a fair agreement." He rubbed the fingertips of his right hand against the palm of his left."I understand you better than you know," I told him, my voice thick with loathing.Placing a hand to the jewelled daigear at my belt, I said, "Assemble the slaves at once, or lose your worthless tongue."Turning to Faysal, I said, "I am going to wait in the overseer'shouse.See that this son of a rat does what is required of him.""If I refuse?" the overseer said, the arrogant sneer back on his face."If he refuses," I said to Faysal, "kill him [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]