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Even though I forced Rrisa to tell me the location of this city, he wouldn't mention its being gold, and I knew too much to ask him or try to make him. Why, he'd have been torn to bits before he'd have betrayed that Inner Secret. So now you understand!" "I see, I see," the major answered, mechanically.
The only miracle is that some of his own tribesmen have not betrayed him before now!" "Master, no Arab betrays his own sheik, right or wrong!" said Rrisa in a strange voice. "Before that, an Arab dies by his own hand!" He spoke in Arabic, with a peculiar inflection. Their eyes met a second by the light of the gusting fire. "Right or wrong, M'almé!" repeated the Arab.
From the bulkheads they snatched down the little fire-grenades. The Master went first. Bohannan was second, with Rrisa a close third. Leclair in his forward rush almost stumbled over Alden. The "Captain," masked and still unrecognized as a woman by any save the Master, was thrust back from the door by the Celt, as she too tried to enter. "No, not you!" he shouted.
Beyond a certain point, which he could gauge accurately, neither gold nor fire would drive Rrisa. The Arab would at any hour of night or day have laid down his life for the Master; but though it should mean death he would not break the rites of his faith, nor touch the cursed flesh of a pig, nor drink the forbidden drop of wine, nor yet betray the secret of his land.
Rrisa beckoned the stranger, who obeyed. At the exit he faced about and sharply saluted. The Master returned it. Then he vanished, and the door noiselessly closed behind them. The Master turned to Bohannan. "Now," said he, "these few last details. Time is growing very short. Only a few hours remain. To work, Major to work!"
"And the salt is still in thy stomach? "Aye, Master. "Thou art mine to do with as I will?" "I am the Master's!" "Treason to me, Rrisa, is treason to thy holy laws. Surely, such treason would plunge thy soul far into the depths of Eblis.
Then he added: "Shall I not now go to drag in the swine-brother Abd el Rahman?" "Thou sayst, if he be left there " "Yes, Master, he will surely die. All who are not sheltered, now, will die. All who lie there on the dune, will be drifted under, will breathe sand, will perish." "It is well, Rrisa. Go, drag in the swine-brother. But have a care to harm him not. Thou wouldst gladly slay him, eh?"
The orderly remained trembling and sweating, with a piteous expression. Finally he managed to stammer: "M'almé, in our tongue we have a proverb: 'There are two things colder than ice a young old man and an old young man. There is still a colder thing the soul that betrays the Hidden City!" "Speak Rrisa! There is no escape for thee!"
Among them the Master saw Leclair and Rrisa. No one showed fear. The white feather was not visible; but a grim tension had developed. Death, imminent, sobers the boldest. From the engine-room, shouts, orders, were echoing. The engine-room door flung open. Smoke vomited thick, choking, gray. Auchincloss reeled out, clutching at his throat. "What chance?" the Master cried, staggering toward him.
There must be plenty of water there. We should take water, eh?" "Right!" the Master answered. He got up and turned to Bohannan. "Major," commanded he, "have Simonds and a crew of six stand by, in the lower gallery, to descend in the nacelle. Rrisa is to go. They will need him, to interpret.
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