Part 51 (2/2)

”She shall have thee back, then, at a price!”

King did not answer His brown eyes watched the mullah's, and he drew his breath in little jerks, lest by breathing aloud he should

”She shall have thee back against Khinian and the ammunition! She and thou shall have India, but I shall be the power behind you! She ive me Khinjan and the ammunition! She uards expelled me I must have the reins in litter while I guide!”

King did not answer

”Dost understand?”

King ible

”Otherwise, I and o down into Earth's Drink lashed together!”

King shuddered, not because he felt afraid, but because some instinct told him to make the mullah think him afraid He was far too interested to be fearful

”Ye shall both be tortured before the plunge into the river! She shall be tortured in the Cavern of Earth's Drink before the ain, this ti grimly while the flayer used his knife

”I have men in Khinjan! I have as many as she! On the day I ree to ter at hi examination He did not answer

”Write thou a letter Since she loves thee, state thine own case to her Tell her that I hold thee hostage, and that Khinjan isIn aher own Her position is undermined Tell her that Tell her that if she obeys she shall have India and be queen If she disobeys, she shall die in the Cavern of Earth's Drink!”

”She is a proud wo ”Threats to such as she-?”

The mullah 's bed and the fire, with his fists knotted together behind him and his head bent, as Napoleon used to walk When he stood beside the bed again at last it ith his mind made up, as his clenched fists and his eyes indicated

”Make thine own terrowled ”Write the letter and send it! I hold thee; she holds Khinjan and the ammunition I am between her and India So be it She shall starve in there! She shall lie in there until the war is over and take what terms are offered her in the end! Write thine own letter! State the case, and bid her answer!”

”Very well,” said King He began to see now definitely how India was to be saved It was none of his business to plan yet, but to help others' plans destroy theht bear fruit in tiaze into the fire, andlay still After a while the reat water bowl nearer to the fire and, as King had done, stripped hiots on the fire-wasteful fagots, each of which had cost solow of the leaping fla's soap Finally, with a feat of strength that nearly forced an exclareat water bowl in both hands and emptied the whole contents over hi to dry his body, and got out a Quran fro that would have kept deadscripture only seemed to fire the mullah's veins For him sleep was either out of reach or despicable, perhaps both He see but conquest and strode back and forth up and down the cave like a caged bear,to himself

After a time he went to the mouth of the cave, to stand and stare out at the ca fitfully and wood sed the air of human nastiness The stars looked down on hi with fists knotted together at his back

And as he stood so, six other ue with hi them all with furious words hissed between half-closed teeth They hispering still when King fell asleep It was courage, not carelessness, that let hireat hope born of the mullah's perplexity