Part 22 (2/2)
His brother whistled ”Tall order! What's your plan?”
”Haven't one-yet Know more when I'm nearer Khinjan You can help no end”
”How? Nauise nobody can put the stain on as well as you But tellfirst Any news of a holy war yet?”
His brother nodded ”Plenty of talk about one to co of that lashkar that we can't locate, under a e with the day of the week And there are everlasting tales about the 'Heart of the Hills”'
”No explanation of 'e!”
”D'you know of Yasmini?”
”Heard of her of course,” said his brother
”Has she cohed ”No, neither she nor a coach and four”
”I have heard the contrary,” said Athelstan
”Heard what, exactly?”
”She's up the Pass ahead of me”
”She hasn't passed Ali Masjid!” said his brother, and Athelstan nodded
”Are the Turks in the show yet?” asked Charles
”Not yet But I know they're expected in”
”You bet they're expected in!” The youngerboth tides under to prepare the tribes for it They flatter theht a holy war that will put Ti to shaht when they think I'h,” said Athelstan
”Stake my life on it!” said his brother ”They'll stick to the last man!”
”I can't tell you,” said Athelstan, ”e're not attacking brother Turk before he's ready I ih that the Turk will throw in his lot with the Prussians the in Meanwhile my job is to help make the holy war seem unprofitable to the tribes, so that they'll let the Turk down hard when he calls on 'ely in the Khyber is a day in my favor There are sure to be raids In fact, the more the merrier, provided they're spas too fast-while I sow other seeds a seeds was almost that fa on to Ali Masjid like a leech, old ets command of the Khyber's throat, the others'll all believe they've won the ga'll stop 'eht But don't follow up too far!”
”Sure,” said Charles