The Crisis by David Poyer

Author:David Poyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780312544393
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

THE tent’s stifling but Ghedi makes no show of noticing. Flies buzz above the dates and candies the women set out before they left. Across from him and Juulheed the graybearded elders wait. No one’s armed. The experience of centuries: all weapons, even knives, are left outside, jealously watched by guards from both sides. The youngest offers instant coffee, a mark of great respect. Ghedi sips, head bowed before the older men. But his attention’s on those standing behind them, against the tent walls. Those crowded outside, listening. Some, those whose weapons he took when he stopped the convoy.

This is a subfamily of the Gilhirs, rife with pride and ferociously suspicious of outsiders. Above all, he must treat them with respect. One can honor a Gilhir, or kill him. There’s no third way.

The elders he faces are southerners, like most of the ADA. But they’re far from the city, from the Americans and their tame dogs. He bows to a shriveled shifty-looking man with a sparse beard. At last the compliments ebb.

The old man begins in the slow measured speech of the “pure” clans, descended from the ancient geelhers, the camel camps of the high desert. His tone’s that of an old man to a young one. Ghedi grows angry. He will not bear insult either. These men must be pruned out, to build a new Ashaara. They cling to the past: old stories, old names, old legends, old lands.

For a moment he remembers orchards, a burning village. Orphaned children, stumbling through the corn. Then pushes the memory aside. His sisters and brother are dead. Those who ride with him are his family now.

“Your young men are brave warriors. But they behave like bandits,” the old man mumbles.

He fights to sound respectful. “We serve God, honored one.”

“The foreigners also serve God in sending food. This does not disgrace, to accept help in famine and drought.”

“My master is the blind and holy Sheekh Nassir of Ashaara. He speaks wisdom from the Book.”

The old man makes a complex gesture with his right hand. “We have heard of the holy and wise Sheekh Nassir, peace be with him. I am not his equal. Just an ignorant toothless one. But surely stealing food from the hungry is not the way of the Prophet.”

Ghedi explains the food is unclean. It can be restored to acceptability only by being used for God’s purpose. “Only in this way can God’s people be fed in a way pleasing to Him. This my men do to strengthen us against those who would destroy us and take our land.”

A reddish-bearded man beside the elder stirs. “Why should the infidels want our land? There’s much rain where they live. ‘Accept gifts when they are in the offerer’s hand.’ ”

“What is the price of these gifts?” Ghedi asks him. But he’s silent. “What is it, this price?” he asks them all. “Come, I do not hear an answer. We have the true faith, but Shaitan gives the foreigners cunning. What wise man

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