Part 42 (1/2)
This isn't an offer. It's an ultimatum.
”Is His Highness aware I have with me a large sea chest? It will require a cart, which I plan to hire. Perhaps the delay this will impose would inconvenience you and your men, since you surely prefer to ride swiftly.”
”On the contrary, Captain. We will have with us a small convoy of supplies, lead for molding shot. We will travel at a pace that best suits us all. Your chest presents no difficulty.”
But there will be many difficulties, he told himself. And he thought again about Mirza Nuruddin and the terms he had demanded. Twenty percent interest on the loan, and only a hundred and eighty days to repay both the new silver coin and the interest.
But why, Vasant Rao asked himself again, did the Shahbandar agree to the plan at all? Is this Mirza Nuruddin's final wager? That Jadar will win?
”Will three days be sufficient for your preparations, Captain Hawksworth?”
”It will. If I decide to use the Burhanpur road.” Hawksworth wondered how long he could taunt the Raput.
”Perhaps I should tell you something about travel in India, Amba.s.sador.
There are, as you say, two possible routes between Surat and Agra. Both present certain risks. The northern route, through Udaipur and Rajputana, is at first appearance faster, since the roads are drier and the rivers there have already subsided from the monsoon. But it is not a part of India where travelers are always welcomed by the local Rajput clans. You may well find yourself in the middle of a local war, or the reluctant guest of a petty raja who judges you worth a ransom.
”On the other hand, if you travel east, through Burhanpur, you may find that some rivers are still heavy from the monsoon, at least for another month. But the clans there are loyal to Prince Jadar, and only near Chopda, halfway to Burhanpur, will you encounter any local brigands.
Theirs, however, is an honorable profession, and they are always willing to accept bribes in return for safe pa.s.sage. We ordinarily do not kill them, though we easily could, since petty robbery--they view it as a toll--is their livelihood and their tradition. They are weak and they make weak demands. Such is not true of the rajas in Rajputana. The choice is yours, but if you value your goods, and your life, you will join us as we make our way east to Burhanpur.”
Hawksworth studied the bearded Rajput guards as Vasant Rao spoke.
I'm either a captive of the prince or of Mukarrab Khan, regardless of what I do. Which one wants me dead more?
”My frigate sails tomorrow. I can leave the following day.”
”Good, it's agreed then. Our convoy will leave in three days. It will be my pleasure to travel with you, Captain Hawksworth. Your reputation has already reached His Highness. We will meet you here at the beginning of the second _pahar_. I believe that's your hour of nine in the morning.” He smiled with a warmth that was almost genuine. ”You should consider yourself fortunate. Few _feringhi_ have ever traveled inland. You will find the interior far different from Surat. Until then.”
He bowed lightly and snapped a command to the waiting hors.e.m.e.n. In moments they were lost among the trees.
”This evening must be a time of farewell for us both, Captain Hawksworth. You know, the Hindus believe life and death are an endless cycle that dooms them to repeat their miserable existence over and over again. I myself prefer to think that this one life is itself cyclical, ever renewing. What was new, exciting, yesterday is today tedious and tiresome. So tomorrow brings us both rebirth. For you it is Agra, for me Goa. But I expect to see Surat again, as no doubt do you. Who knows when our paths will cross once more?” Mukarrab Khan watched as a eunuch shoved wide the door leading onto the torchlit garden. ”You have been a most gracious visitor, tolerating with exemplary forbearance my unworthy hospitality. Tonight perhaps you will endure one last evening of my company, even if I have little else left to offer.”
The courtyard was a confused jumble of packing cases and household goods. Servants were everywhere, wrapping and crating rolled carpets, bolsters, furniture, vases, and women's clothing. Elephants stood near the back of the courtyard, howdahs on their backs, waiting to be loaded. Goods would be transferred to barks for the trip downriver to the bar, where they would be loaded aboard a waiting Portuguese frigate.
”My dining hall has been dismantled, its carpet rolled. We have no choice but to dine this evening in the open air, like soldiers on the march.”
Hawksworth was no longer hearing Mukarrab Khan. He was staring past him, through the smoke, not quite believing what he saw. But it was all too real. Standing in the corner of the courtyard were two Europeans in black ca.s.socks. Portuguese Jesuits.
Mukarrab Khan noticed Hawksworth's diplomatic smile suddenly freeze on his face, and turned to follow his gaze.
”Ah, I must introduce you. You do understand the Portuguese language, Captain?”
”Enough.”
”I should have thought so. I personally find it abominable and refuse to study it. But both the fathers here have studied Persian in Goa, and I think one of them knows a bit of Turki, from his time in Agra.”
”What are they doing here?” Hawksworth tried to maintain his composure.
”They returned to Surat just today from Goa, where they've been these past few weeks. I understand they're en route to the Jesuit mission in Lah.o.r.e, a city in the Punjab, well to the north of Agra. They specifically asked to meet you.” He laughed. ”They're carrying no cannon, Captain, and I a.s.sumed you had no objection.”
”You a.s.sumed wrong. I have nothing to say to a Jesuit.”
”You'll meet Jesuits enough in Agra, Captain, at the Moghul's court.