Part 56 (1/2)
”I'll wait and see.”
”There may be no time to 'wait,' English Captain Hawksworth. The times may require you to choose. If the Portuguese decide to act in the interest of one party here, will England act in the interest of the other? I want to know.”
”The king of England acts in his own interest.”
”But your king will not be here. You will be here.”
”Then I will act in his interest.” Hawksworth fixed Jadar squarely.
”And the king of England is not interested in who rules India. Only in free trade between us.”
”But the one who rules India will have the power to permit or deny that trade. You know, there's an Indian folk tale of a Brahmin who once discovered a tiger in a well. He gave aid to the tiger, helped him escape from the well, and years later when the Brahmin was starving the tiger brought him a necklace of gold and jewels won from a rich man in a battle to the death. Do you understand?”
”I understand. But I still serve my king first.”
Jadar listened silently, but his eyes were intent.
”And that king is English. For now.” Jadar filled the last words with a tone of presumption that left Hawksworth uncomfortable. ”But enough.
Let's talk of other matters. I a.s.sume you are aware the Portuguese will probably try to have you a.s.sa.s.sinated when you reach Agra. Already there are many rumors about you there. Perhaps you should remember your own personal interests too. As well as your king's. One day, I think, we will meet again. If you are still alive.”
”And if you are still alive.”
Jadar smiled lightly. ”We're both difficult to kill. So we both must think of the future. Now I have a last question for you.”
Jadar retrieved his knife from atop the bundles and deftly ripped open the side of one. Rolls of new silver coin glistened in the light. ”What do you see in this package, Amba.s.sador Hawksworth?”
”A king's ransom in silver.”
”I'm surprised at you, Captain. For a seaman you have remarkably bad eyesight. What you see here, what came with you from Surat, is lead, Captain. Ingots of lead.”
”That forty men died to protect.”
”Those men died protecting you, Captain. Don't you remember? Your safety is very important to me. So important that it may be necessary to keep you under guard here in the fortress until this campaign is over. Look again at the bundle and tell me once more what you see.”
”You can't hold me here. I have a safe conduct pa.s.s from the Moghul himself.”
”Do you? Good. In that case there shouldn't be any difficulty. I'll only need to examine it to make sure it's not a forgery. There should be an opportunity sometime after I return from this campaign.”
Hawksworth examined Jadar and realized the threat was not empty.
”There's no reason for me to stay. You have your lead.”
Jadar smiled an empty grin, but with a trace of bizarre warmth. ”At last we're beginning to understand each other. Neither of us has a Rajput's honor.” He tossed Hawksworth the Portuguese stiletto. ”An interesting knife. Did you know it took me almost two weeks to find out for sure who really hired the a.s.sa.s.sin? And for all that trouble it was exactly who you'd expect.”