04 Blue Horizon by Wilbur Smith

Author:Wilbur Smith [Smith, Wilbur]
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Early the next day Tom and Sarah climbed to the top of the grey rocks that guarded the entrance to the lagoon, and found a sheltered nook out of the wind but full in the sun.

The Ocean of the Indies was spread beneath them, raked with creamy furrows. A sea bird used the wind to hang like a kite above the green waters. Suddenly it folded its wings and plunged from on high, hitting the surface with a tiny splash, rising again almost immediately with a silver fish wriggling in its beak. On the rocks above where they lay, the hyrax sat in the sun, rabbity brown balls of fluff watching them with huge, curious eyes.

“I want to have serious speech with you,” Sarah said.

Tom rolled on to his back and locked his fingers behind his head, grinning at her. “Fool that I am, I thought you had brought me here to have your wicked way with me, to ravish my tender flesh.”

“Tom Courtney, will you never be serious?”

“Aye, lass, that I will, and I thank you for the invitation.” He reached for her, but she struck away his hand.

“I warn you, I shall scream.”

“I will cease and desist, for the moment at least. What is it that you wanted to discuss with me?”

“’Tis Dorry and Yassie.”

“Why does this not come as any great surprise to me?”

“Yassie is sure that he will sail to Muscat to take up the offer of the throne.”

“I am sure she would not hate the thought of becoming a queen. What woman would?”

“It will destroy her life. She explained it all to me. You can have no conception of the intrigues and conspiracies that surround an Oriental court.”

“Can I not?” He raised an eyebrow. “I have lived twenty years with you, my heart, which has given me good training.”

She went on as though he had not spoken: “You are the elder brother. You must forbid him to leave. This offer of the Elephant Throne is a poisoned gift, which will destroy them and us also.”

“Sarah Courtney, you do not truly believe that I would forbid Dorian anything? It is a decision that only he can make.”

“You will lose him again, Tom. Do you not remember how it was when he was sold into slavery? How you thought he was dead, and part of you died with him?”

“I remember it well. But this is not slavery and death. It’s a crown and power unbounded.”

“I think you begin to relish the thought of him going,” she accused him.

Tom sat up quickly. “No, woman! He is blood of my blood. I want only what is best for him.”

“You think this may be best?”

“It was the life and the destiny for which he was trained. He has become a trader with me, but I have known all along that his heart is not truly in our enterprise. For me it is meat and wine, but Dorry hankers after more than we have here. Have you not heard him speak

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