Swords of Arabia: Betrayal (55 page)

“Give
me
his
message,”
she
prompted,
as
the
messenger
seemed
in
no
hurry
to
proceed.

Nodding
unhappily,
the
man
did
so.
“He
said
to
say
that
he’d
hoped
to
give
you
the
gift
in
person,
but
events
have
delayed
the
pleasure
of
a
second
meeting.
He
bids
me
say
that
when
the
day
does
arrive,
he
will
be
happy
to
show
you
how
the
weapon
works
–
so
you
can
ensure
it
fires
properly
the
next
time”
The
onlookers
sucked
in
their
breath
at
the
message’s
audacity.
while
she
herself
merely
nodded
quietly
“He
also
bade
me
say
the
gift
is
given
with
respect,
not
mockery,”
the
messenger
added,
hurriedly.

She
nodded
again
and
said
quietly.
“Thank
the
Lord
Abdul
Azziz,
and
assure
him
that
I
will
be
happy
to
receive
his
instruction
– if
that
day
arrives
and
if
I
should
still
need
it
–
and
if
he,
as
a
result
of
my
skills,
should
be
still
in
a
position
to
offer
it.”
The
man,
and
everyone
else
who
heard,
gasped
again.
Her
meaning
was
clear
enough
and
the
messenger
only
hoped
his
master
would
not
lose
his
famous
temper
when
he
delivered
it.
Dismissed,
he
hurriedly
left
the
town,
thankful
to
still
be
alive.

She
watched
him
ride
away.
As
she
did
so,
she
was
aware
that
the
figure
of
the
Saudi
war leader
hadn’t
moved.
She
could
see,
even
from
the
distance
separating
them,
that
his
gaze
was
locked
onto
the
tower
where
she
stood.
She
stood
staring
impassively
back.
Even
though
they
were
so
far
apart,
onlookers
could
almost
feel
the
power
of
their
two
gazes
as
they
raced
across
the
sand
and
locked
one
on
the
other.
Then
the
moment
passed.
ibn
Saud,
with
a
brief
salute,
turned
his
horse
and
rode
to
re-join
his
men,
and
Zahirah
turned
to
greet
the
British
arrivals
who
had
docked
at
the
harbour
steps
and
were
now
being
escorted
to
the
tower.

The
young,
smartly
turned
out
officer
in
charge
of
the
marines
was
escorted
up
the
steps
by
Isaac
Ben
Youseff
who’d
gone
down
to
the
harbour
to
greet
him.
Stopping
in
front
of
them,
the
officer
saluted,
seemingly
oblivious
to
the
astonished
stares
of
many
of
the
onlookers,
intrigued
at
the
vivid
redness
of
his
neatly
trimmed
beard
and
hair.
“This
is
Lieutenant
Saunderson
of
his
Britannic
Majesty’s
Marines,”
Isaac
explained.

“You
timed
your
arrival
well,
Lieutenant,”
smiled
Nasir,
shaking
the
young
man’s
hand.
He
then
introduced
the
rest
of
the
group.

“We
are
pleased
by
your
arrival,”
Zahirah
said,
also
smiling.
“It
is
both
swift
and
timely,
though
more
than
a
little
unexpected,
as
we’d
not
yet
had
time
to
confirm
our
decision
to
enter
into
an
alliance
with
yourselves,”
she
continued,
probing
gently.

“We
were
informed
that
your
inner
council
had
agreed,
so
we
felt
certain
that
the
assembly
would
follow,
hence
our
being
in
the
area
to
receive
confirmation,”
replied
the
young
officer
blandly.

Zahirah
merely
smiled.
She
could
see
that
the
officer,
though
young,
was
already
well-schooled
in
diplomacy.

Smiling wryly, Nasir
said
“As
Isaac
may
have
already
told
you,
the
last
few
hours
have
been
somewhat
busy. But
we
would
hope
that
your
Captain
and
others
would
be
free
later
to
join
us
in
a
short
ceremony
to
mark
our
new
friendship.
It
can
only
be
a
token
in
view
of
our
sad
losses
but,
we
would
hope,
it
will
be
the
first
of
very
many
celebrations.”

The
lieutenant
nodded,
and
having
been
assured
they
needed
no
further
help,
saluted
and
returned
to
his
ship.

The
small
group
watched
him
go,
with
mixed
feelings.

“How
can
we
be
sure
they
were
here
to
protect
us?
Isn’t
it
equally
possible
that
they
were
here
to
impose
their
will,
should
we
choose
the
Ottoman?”
asked
Zahirah,
bleakly.
“We
had
the
Rashid
and
the
al
Saud
at
our
gates
and
the
British
at
the
mouth
of
our
harbour,
all
potential
conquerors
who
would
bend
us
to
their
wishes!
We
have
entered
dangerous
times,
brother.
It
seems
the
British
are,
at
present,
strong
enough
to
protect
us,
if
they
arrive,
and
in
time,
by
water.
But
what
if
our
fight
is
far
to
the
interior?
And
what
of
the
future?
What
if
they
have
to
choose
between
us
and
the
al
Saud?
What
will
happen
to
our
friends
of
yesterday
–
the
al
Rashid?
What
will
our
fate
be
if
they
emerge
stronger
than
the
al
Saud?
Will
they
seek
vengeance?
And
the
Ottoman?
Should
they
win
this
great
war
of
theirs,
or
even,
at
its
end,
retain
influence
in
Arabia,
will
we
survive
their
anger?”