The Temple Dancer by John Speed

Author:John Speed
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: India, Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9780312325497
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2007-07-01T07:00:00+00:00

"In the dark, truly, sir," Pathan replied. "My head was in such pain from my injury that the hakim kept the window shuttered and the doors shut. And as you know, the hakim allowed me no visitors."

"However did you stand it, Captain? I should have lost my mind."

Pathan's dark eyes blazed. "In truth it was a comfort. I meditated, I prayed. I recalled the words of the poets and the wisdom of the sheiks."

"Good lord, Captain ... you're not a Sufi? Those men are quite mad!"

"Some may appear mad."

"What, spinning around, and howling at the moon? Do you do that?"

"I know some men who do that. But let's speak of other things. What has happened in my absence, sir? I was pleased to see that you and the women appear well. What about Slipper? And more to the point, sir, where is Deoga?"

Geraldo sat up straight. "I'll first answer your last question. My cousin Da Gama has gone to Bijapur."

"Alone?"

"He went in the company of Commander Shahji. They should be reaching Bijapur today, perhaps."

"But Bijapur is only a three-day ride from here. .."

"Maybe, but Commander Shahji was making a tour of his western forts. Snap inspections, no warning, just arriving at the gates, him and his honor guard." Both men shared amused glances. "Shahji and Uncle Da Gama got along very well."

Pathan asked, "Did Shahji recognize me?"

"I don't think so. Should he have?"

"He was a friend of my father. I met him as a child, but I haven't seen him since my parents died. Still, one hopes-that is the way of things, to hope."

Geraldo had nearly forgotten the dark melancholy that hovered around the burak. "Anyway, before he left, Da Gama put me in charge. `You're in charge while I'm gone, Aldo,' that's what he told me."

"And what have you done with your authority, sir?"

"I'll tell you what-I got rid of that goddammed eunuch."

Pathan reached for another chapati, keeping his eyes turned away from the farang. "And why would you do that, sir?"

"I'll tell you why. He was beating the nautch girl. Beating her! I told him stop and he kept on! So I kicked him out."

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