Part 80 (1/2)

He was on the quarterdeck, the whipstaff aching against his hand, the mainsail furled as storm winds lashed the waist of the s.h.i.+p with wave after powerful wave. The s.h.i.+p was the _Queen's Hope_, his vessel when he sailed for the Levant Company, and the rocks that towered off his starboard bow were Gibraltar. He shouted into the dark for the quartermaster to reef the tops'ls, and he leaned on the whipstaff to bring her about, but neither responded. He had no crew. He was being swept, helpless, toward the empty darkness that lay ahead. Another wave caught him across the face, and somewhere in the dark came a screech, as though the sea had given up some dying Leviathan beast. His seaboots were losing their hold on the quarterdeck, and now the whipstaff had grown sharp talons that cut into his hand. Then a woman's voice, a distant siren calling him. Again the screech and then yet another wave cut across his face.

The water tasted of roses. . . .

He jerked violently awake. On his hand a green parrot was perched, preening itself and ruffling its feathers. And from the pool below s.h.i.+rin was flinging handfuls of water up over the side of the platform, laughing as she tried to splash his face.

She was floating, naked, below him, her hair streaming out across the surface of the water, tangled among the drifting rose petals. He looked about and saw his own wet clothes, mingled among her silks and jewels.

For a moment he felt again the terror of the dream, the rudderless s.h.i.+p impelled by something beyond control, and then he caught the edge of the platform and slipped over the side.

The water was cool against his skin and involuntarily he caught his breath. Then he reached out and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her against him. She turned her face to his, twined her hair around his head, and crushed his lips with her own. Just as suddenly, she threw back her head and laughed with joy. He found himself laughing with her.

”Why don't we both just stay? I don't have to be back in Agra until the wedding. We could have a week.” He studied the perfect lines of her face, the dark eyes at once defiant and anxious, and wished he could hold her forever. The Wors.h.i.+pful East India Company be d.a.m.ned.

”But we both have things we must do.” She revolved in the flowered water and drew her face above his. She kissed him again, languorously.

Then she drew herself out of the water and twisted a wrap around her, covering her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”Both you and I.”

”And what's this thing you have to do?”

Her eyes shadowed. ”One thing I must try to do is convince Samad he cannot stay here any longer. He has to go south, where Prince Jadar can protect him. But he refuses to listen. And time is growing short now. I truly fear for what may happen to him after the wedding. The Persian s.h.i.+'ite mullahs will certainly be powerful enough then to demand he be tried and executed on charges of heresy. For violating some obscure precept of Islamic law. It will be the end for him.” She paused. ”And for anyone who has helped him.”

”Then if he won't leave, at least you should.” He lifted himself out of the water and settled beside her on the marble paving. ”Why don't you come back to England with me? When the fleet from Bantam makes landfall at Surat, Arangbar will surely have the courage to sign the _firman_, and then my mission will be finished. It should only be a matter of weeks, regardless of what the Portugals try to do.”

She studied the water of the pool with sadness in her eyes and said nothing for a moment as she kicked the surface lightly.

”Neither of us is master of what will happen. Things are going to soon be out of control. For both of us. Things are going to happen that you will not understand.”

Hawksworth squinted through the half-light. ”What's going to happen?”

”Who can know? But I would not be surprised to see the prince betrayed totally, in one final act that will eventually destroy him. He is too isolated. Too weak. And when that happens we're all doomed. Even you, though I don't think you'll believe that now.”

”Why should I? I'm not betting on Prince Jadar. I agree with you. I don't think he has a chance. I'm betting on a _firman _from Arangbar, and soon.”

”You'll never get a _firman _from the Moghul. And Arangbar will be gone in half a year. The queen has already started appearing at morning _darshan _and directing his decisions at afternoon _durbar_. As soon as she has Allaudin under her control, Arangbar will be finished. Mark it.

He'll die from too much opium, or from some mysterious poison or accident. He will cease to exist, to matter.”

”I don't believe it. He seems pretty well in control.”

”If that's what you think, then you are very deceived. He can't live much longer. Everyone knows it. Perhaps even he knows it in his heart.

Soon he will give up even the appearance of rule. Then the queen will take full command of the Imperial army, and Prince Jadar will be hunted down like a wild boar.”

He studied her, not sure he could reasonable contradict her, and felt his stomach knot. ”What will happen to you, if the queen takes over?”

”I don't know. But I do know I love you. I truly do. How

sad it makes me that I can't tell you everything.” Her eyes darkened and she took his hand. ”Please understand I did not know the prince would use you the way he has. But it is for good. Try to believe that.”

”What do you mean?”

She hesitated and looked away. ”Let me ask you this. What do you think the prince will do after the wedding?”

”I don't know, but I think he'd be very wise to keep clear of Agra.