Виктория Холт - The Captive

“That is good news.”

“When are you getting up?”

“Very soon.”

“Today?”

“Well, not today.”

“Tomorrow?”

“We’ll have to see.” There it was again. Samir sighed, recognizing the vagueness of the reply.

“You’ve got Rosetta,” she told him.

He turned and smiled at me and held out his hand. Nicole was biting her lip and lowering her ey s. She was as touched as I was and in that moment I was sure she felt as great an affection for me as I did for her.

The next day when I was with her. Rani brought in the Chief Eunuch.

Nicole spoke to him in French. She told him what I had done and that it was my prompt action which had saved Samir.

“I owe Samir’s life to her,” she said.

“I must repay her for what she has done for me.”

He nodded and I believe the look which passed between them was one of love.

The tragedy of their lives was brought home to me more vividly than ever. But for that one incident which had befallen them, everything could have been so different for them. In my imagination I saw the ship. I could picture the meetings . the friendship which sprang up as it can on board ship where people see each other every day if they wish. Relationships blossom in such an atmosphere. And that was how it would have been with those two young people. What would have happened if they had been al lowed to stay together? I pictured them at sea . warm evenings, sitting on deck, the starlit sky, the gentle swishing of the calm sea as they drifted along. Romance in the air. And then . shipwreck . sold into slavery and the end of a love-story which had only just begun.

Could I not understand better than anyone? Had it not happened to me?

And poor Nicole! Cruelly separated, yet to live not far apart.

Actually to see each other often: she the member of a harem to bear a child to an imperious master; he to lose his manhood because he was tall and strong and could be of use to that ruthless man. How dared some people inflict such horror on others! How dared they take us from a civilized world and submit us to their barbarous way of life! But they did dare. They had the opportunity and for the moment the upper hand and with it they tampered with our lives.

Nicole was getting better. She was exceptionally healthy and Rani was a skilled nurse. She knew exactly how to treat the wounds. I wondered how much practice she had had in a community where very idleness bred violence?

I took Samir to see Nicole every day. He was happier now. He was no longer afraid. His mother was ill for a while but she was there, he could see her, and I was a fair substitute.

One day she said to me: “The Chief Eunuch has just been to see me. He tells me much. They are eager to get this matter settled before the Pasha returns. Then he need not be told.”

“What of Fatima?”

“Rani will let it be known that she had to be sent away … back to her family. For some time she has been complaining of her conduct. It might even be said that she threatened me with a knife. If there are scars there would need to be an explanation. So much depends. There will be time to decide. But Fatima will be sent away.”

“What of Feisal?”

“He will remain. He is the Pasha’s son. He cannot leave.”

“Oh … poor child.”

“He will be better off here than with his foolish mother.”

“Who will care for him?”

“The other women will. No one has any quarrel with Feisal. He cannot help having such a mother. Fatima will remain locked up for the time being. Quite right, too. She is a wild animal.”

“But what a terrible punishment for the child.”

“Fatima deserves to lose her life. She would have taken Samir’s. Every time I think of that, I remember how much I owe you. I do not care to owe. I have spoken to Jean … to the Chief Eunuch. He understands it may be that he can help. Yes … I think he will help.”

My heart started to beat so fast that I could scarcely speak.

“How …” I stammered.

“The Pasha has been delayed. He will not be back for two more weeks.

It must be done before then. “

“Yes?”

“I told you, Fatima will be sent away. A carriage will come to take her. The Chief Eunuch will unlock the gates. The carriage will be waiting outside. It is to take her back to her family. Her presence is no longer required in the harem.”

“Does that happen often?”

Nicole shook her head.

“It is the ultimate disgrace. If she had killed me it would have been death. It may be that she will decide to kill herself,” she added with relish.

“Oh no!” I cried.

She laughed at me.

“She must not, for if she did it would spoil our plans. Listen.”

She paused for a few seconds. I could not hide my eagerness to hear more. Hope was suddenly surging up within me.

“All women are heavily veiled when they go out. It is only the lower classes who are not. One woman, therefore, looks very like another.

Oh, I shall miss you . for we are good friends, are we not? But it is what you want. You would never have been a true harem woman. You have too much esprit. You cannot forget your pride . your dignity . no, not for all the rubies in the world. “

“Nicole, tell me what you mean. Don’t keep me in suspense. You have been such a good friend to me. I don’t forget that you saved me once with that potion you gave me.”

“And made you most uncomfortable for a while.”

“It didn’t matter. It saved me. It gave me a respite.”

“A bagatelle. Did you not save Samir for me?”

“We have helped each other. Now … please … please, tell me what you have to say.”

“The Chief Eunuch will help … if it can be done.”

“How? What?”

“He will come to take Fatima away. She would be heavily cloaked and wearing a yashmak … and if behind those concealing garments it was not Fatima but Rosetta … why? What of that?”

“Is it… possible?” I breathed.

“It might be. He would take you through the gates. Nobody would have any idea that it was not Fatima but you. Everyone will have heard she is going back to her family.”

“And where is Fatima to be at this time?”

“In her room. She is to be ready at a certain time, but the carriage will come half an hour early. It makes no difference, the Chief Eunuch will say, and he is the one who makes the arrangement. He will come to see me. You will be here in this room … ready waiting. He will walk out with you and if anyone sees you … a few might dare to but they will be warned to stay in and not pry on Fatima’s shame … they will think you are Fatima. The Chief Eunuch will unlock the gates and you will walk through with him. He will then lock the gates and you will get into the carriage which is waiting outside. It will all go according to plan, except that you will be the one who leaves instead of Fatima.”

“Where would he take me?”

“To the British Embassy. You will tell your story. They will send you home. You cannot give the name of the Pasha because you do not know it. Besides, a foreign country cannot interfere in the affairs of another. The duty of the Embassy would be solely to get you home.”

“I can’t believe it. It sounds too easy.”

“It is not easy. It is clever and well planned. The Chief Eunuch is a very clever man.”

“And when it is found out what he has done … what will happen then?”

“It was a natural mistake. Everyone knew of your reluctance. You managed to pose as Fatima. He came to get a woman from the harem. The only one who could make trouble would be Rani and she will not be so foolish as to quarrel with the Chief Eunuch. She may suspect what she will, but she can do nothing. It is not as though the Pasha knows of your existence. You were to be a surprise for him. So there is no difficulty on that score. He will probably be told that there was trouble in the harem, and that Fatima attacked me with a knife. In the circumstances it seemed wise in the eyes of the Chief Eunuch and Rani to send her to her home. Depend upon it, very soon after you have gone, Fatima will be sent off.”