Simon Hawke - Khyber Connection

"Inever was much for sneakin’ about an’ keeping me ‘ead down," said Mulvaney. "I say we go back an’ give those sods what for!"

"Well, if we’re goin’ to kill ourselves, we might as well do it together, — said Ortheris. "You’re right, mate, we can’t just leave ‘em. What’s the plan then""

" They’ll never expect us to return, that’s for certain," Learoyd said."Thatshould work in our favor. We sneak back in the same way we got out, posin’ as Ghazis. Mulvaney, fix your puggaree. I can see your red hair stickin’ out."

Mulvaney adjusted his turban.

""Right. Let’s go.""

Walking boldly and purposefully, they headed back toward the temple. They passed the sentries without any trouble and went up the stone stairs into the columned entryway. They were greeted by several tribesmen in-side, and Learoyd replied in Pushtu, keeping his answers brief and guttural for fear of betraying an accent. They were almost to the far end of the main chamber when a voice cried out, echoing in the stone hall,"On your knees! On your knees before the Light of Islarn!"

They turned around and saw a man standing in the center of the chamber, flanked by four guards. He was tall and muscular, dressed entirely in black with loose-fitting trousers, a flowing, long-sleeved shirt, high black boots, and a vest intricately embroidered in gold. He wore a black turban fastened with a giant ruby clasp. The tribesmen in the chamber immediately dropped to all fours, pressing their heads to the floor. The three soldiers did likewise.

"Where the devil did they come from"" whispered Ortheris. "They weren’t behind us, were they""

"Did you hear what he said"" Learoyd whispered. "The Light of Islam. That’s none other than Sayyid Akbar himself."

"Nowthat’s what I call a stroke o’ luck," Mulvaney said."Wecan shoot the blighter where ‘e stands an’ end this jehad once an’ for all."

"Don’tbe a fool," Learoyd hissed."Andkeep your damn voice down! You’ll give us away."

Drakov ignored the kneeling tribesmen and walked quickly across the chamber, heading for the innermost part of the temple with his guard accompanying him.

"Let’sfollow them," Learoyd whispered, "butnot too close. Watch yourselves."

They followed Drakov and his guards down the long corridor which ran to the left of the giant obsidian statue of Kali. Drakov’s guards stopped outside one of the chambers and took up posts by the entrance while Drakov went inside.

"Wecan’t pass this up," Mulvaney whispered as they approached. "There’s only four of ‘em. We can slit their throats with these ‘ere knives an’ then do in that miserable fakir. We might never get another chance, Chris. "

"Isaid no," Learoyd whispered."We’vegot to find Finn and Andre first. We’re the only chance they’ve got. 11

They had to pass the guards on their way to the cell where they were being kept before. They kept their heads down and grunted as they went by.

— You three!" Drakov called out behind them.

They stopped.

"Bloody hell’ "whispered Ortheris.

"Turnand face me when I speak to you!" said Drakov.

They turned slowly, keeping their heads down, as if with great humility.

"Where are the warriors of the host of heaven""

"Whatthe devil is ‘e talkin’ about"" whispered Mulvaney.

"Howthe hell should I know"" Learoyd whispered back. Then, with his head still bowed, he replied in Pushtu,"1 do not know, Your Holiness."

Drakov stood silent for a moment, thinking. "Iam told there are British soldiers being held prisoner here. Take me to them."

"Well, what do you know"" whispered Mulvaney. "We’re goin’ to get our chance at Sayyid bloody Akbar, after all."

Learoyd elbowed him in the ribs. "This way, Your Holiness," he said, bowing low and pointing out the way.

"Lead on," said Drakov.

"Steady, lads," whispered Learoyd. "Steady now."

They walked ahead of Drakov and his guards, heading toward the cell they had recently escaped from. They paused at the door. Drakov stopped in front of it.

"This door is unbolted! What is the meaning of this"" He opened it. "There’s no one inside! Where are the prisoners"" He reached out and jerked Mulvaney’s head up. "You’re not-"

Mulvaney slammed a hard right into his stomach and pushed him into the cell. Learoyd plunged his knife deep into the abdomen of one of the guards while Ortheris kicked another in the groin with all his might and stuck his knife into the other’s chest. Learoyd wrestled briefly with the fourth guard, his hand clamped over his mouth, then slashed his blade across his throat. Ortheris disposed of the one remaining guard, who was on the floor, clutching at his vitals. They quickly dragged the corpses into the cell and shut the door.

Learoyd had Drakov backed up against the stone wall, the point of his Khyber knife against his throat.

"Well, well," said Mulvaney, grinning. "Look what we’ve got ‘ere!"

He had lost his turban in the scuffle, and Drakov stared at him, then at the others. "Who are you men""

"You speak English!" said Ortheris, not so much surprised to hear a Pathan speaking it as he was to hear it spoken so well, without an accent.

"You’re the soldiers," Drakov said. "I commend you on your resourcefulness. Where are the others who were being held with you, a man and a woman""

"Look at this, will you"" Ortheris said. "A knife at ‘is throat an’ Vs dernandin’ answers like a bleedin’ rajah! "

"That’s just what we’re here to find out, Your Holiness," Learoyd said.

"Chris, watch ‘is ‘ands!" cried Mulvaney.

Learoyd quickly batted Drakov’s right hand away from his left wrist. It looked as if he had been reaching for a dagger hidden up his sleeve. Mulvaney quickly stepped up and checked.

"What’s this"" he said, examining the warp disc on Drakov’s wrist. He pulled at it, trying to figure out how to take it off, and managed to yank it loose.

"What is M-said Learoyd.

"Looks like some sort o’ bracelet," said Mulvaney.

"Be careful with it," said Learoyd. "These devils can be tricky. It might have some sort of poisoned needle in it or the like."

Mulvaney flung it away from him and it landed in the far corner of the room. "Right, — he said. "Let’s finish 1m off."

"Don’t be too hasty," Drakov said. "I’m your best chance of finding your friends. As long as I’m alive, you remain alive. If you harm me, they’ll cut you to pieces."

"I’m afraid you’re right," Learoyd said. "Where’d you learn to speak English so well""

Drakov smiled. "You would not belive me if I told you.

" "I say we kill them an’ ‘ave done with it!" "Mulvaney said.

"No, let’s not be rash," Learoyd said."Hehas a point. If we kill him now, we may never get through this alive. He’s our ticket out of here. And he can get us safe passage to Peshawar. Wouldn’t that be something, us ridin’ in with Sayyid Akbar himself" We’d be heroes."

"Live heroes are generally preferable over dead ones," Drakov said.

"You keep shut,"" Learoyd said. "Mulvaney, take him. "

He’s a big one, but he won’t break away from you. Get on, you."

They pushed him out into the corridor. It was filled with heavily armed tribesmen.

"BlasW’ Learoyd said.

"Now aren’t you glad you didn’t kill me"" Drakov said, smiling.

"Tell them to back away!"

"You tell them. You speak the language well enough."

"Iwant it comin’ from you."Learoyd jabbed him with the knife."Now."

Drakov called out to the tribesmen to back away. They did so, slowly, keeping their weapons ready.

"Now ask them where they’ve got the prisoners."

Drakov called out to the tribesmen again. There was a brief silence, then one of the men answered.