The Holy Sail (35 page)

Bin Rahhal drew in a deep breath. Halima had sat on that chair when he visited their home for the first time. Could Halima be here? he asked himself, wishfully.

A few minutes later, Attar entered. He took a quick look at the guests then, scrutinising Bin Rahhal's face, smiled. ‘Bin Rahhal? Is that you?'

The two men embraced warmly. Attar reminded Bin Rahhal of his wife, and Bin Rahhal reminded Attar of his daughter.

‘You're the last person I expected to see, Bin Rahhal. When the servant told me there were guests from Bahrain, I thought Halima had sent me a messenger. She wrote to me several months ago, telling me you had gone to India to fight the Portuguese.' He almost whispered the last two words, fearing someone might hear him. ‘Who's with you?'

‘This is my friend Hussein Pasha, Egyptian admiral and ruler of Jeddah.'

Attar stood up and greeted Hussein, using both hands to shake his. ‘Welcome to my home. Your presence here honours us, Pasha.'

Bin Rahhal did not want to put his father-in-law in harm's way should they be discovered. The situation in Hormuz was not reassuring due to the heavy Portuguese presence. They were enemies of Albuquerque, Hormuz's new ruler, and if they were found to be hiding at Attar's home, then Albuquerque would make sure they all died a slow, agonising death that he would personally inflict and enjoy.

Almost unmindful of what Attar said about Halima's letter, Bin Rahhal asked the Hormuzi vizier in a plaintive voice, ‘Is Halima here?'

Attar was bemused. ‘No, she is not. Did you expect to find her here?'

Bin Rahhal's tone turned sorrowful. ‘Yes, I did. I had asked her to come here as soon as I left Bahrain. I don't know what happened!'

Attar sat back down. He could no longer stand for long periods of time. ‘She told me in her letter that she was planning to come, but that the Portuguese presence prevented her. After that, everything broke down. The letters don't arrive as before.'

Bin Rahhal sat, and Hussein followed suit. ‘We don't want to compromise you with our presence,
Khawaja
. We are in a hurry to go back home. I especially want to return to Halima. I left her all alone, and now only this sea stands between us, and I intend to cross it as quickly as possible. We ask for your help to return to our homes. Hussein would then go to Al-Ahsa from Bahrain, and from there, to Jeddah with the caravans that travel to the Red Sea. We also ask you to give us some money and clothes, as we have exhausted everything we had during our arduous journey.'

Attar smiled, bringing much-needed reassurance to his guests. They did not know much about the exact situation in Hormuz, and whether the vizier still held sway there or was struggling to keep his head above water himself. His smile restored some of their hopes that he still controlled some strings which he could move whenever he wanted. ‘You will get everything you need, gentlemen. Just stay here and do not leave until I tell you.'

Bin Rahhal asked what had happened in the region after he left for India.

Attar exhaled audibly, as if he had been holding his breath for a long time. ‘The situation is extremely bad. Albuquerque is the actual ruler of all these ports except the ones still held by the Jabrids. He's hesitant to move on them because he doesn't have sufficient numbers of soldiers. I think he's trying to raise more money to hire mercenaries. If he pulls this off, he would be able to seize Bahrain and even Al-Ahsa.

‘A messenger sent by Safavid Shah Ismail recently visited Albuquerque. They agreed on a number of things, including offering Portuguese help to move Shah Ismail's forces
across the sea to seize Bahrain. These forces would be ready to march on Hejaz whenever the shah orders it. The shah is waiting for the Ottomans to be defeated to declare himself caliph of the Muslims, and this is something he wouldn't be able to do unless he has the holy sites in his hands.'

Attar fell silent when some servants brought food and drinks for the guests. After they left, he continued. ‘I cosied up to Shah Ismail's messenger, who then shared with me everything that took place between him and Albuquerque. I think the plot goes way beyond Albuquerque seizing the ports of the Gulf and India, as the messenger also told me there were secret contacts between Shah Ismail and Sultan al-Ghawri.'

When Attar mentioned the sultan, he looked at Hussein to gauge what effect it had on him, then he decided to press the matter anyway, whether Hussein accepted it or not, given how serious it was. ‘They want Sultan al-Ghawri to join an alliance that comprises Shah Ismail and a number of European kingdoms to strike the Ottomans and end their state. The shah sent an emissary to Sultan al-Ghawri with this offer a few weeks ago.'

Bin Rahhal looked at Hussein, expecting him to respond. They all realised how grave the matter at hand was and knew they needed to act.

For Bin Rahhal, a Persian invasion of Bahrain would end the Jabrid state, and the sharifate in Hejaz if Shah Ismail decided to invade it too.

For his part, Hussein's view was that Sultan al-Ghawri could be lured to join an alliance that would not be in his favour. The Portuguese and Safavids would be collaborating with one another and using the sultan only until
they achieved their goals, after which they would discard him. Ghawri would emerge a loser whether the alliance prevailed or failed.

After the three men discussed all issues they needed to talk about, Bin Rahhal found there was an opportunity to ask about his wife. ‘When did you get the last letter from Halima?' he asked Attar.

‘A few months ago. She was bemoaning your absence, but other than that she said everything was all right. But to be honest with you, Bin Rahhal, I know my daughter. She doesn't like to upset me in any way, and even if she were suffering, she would still say everything was fine. I don't know why, but I wasn't reassured by what she said. My heart tells me she is not well.'

A few days later, on a pitch-black night, Hussein and Bin Rahhal boarded a ship far from the main port. Lights were deliberately put out on the boat. They bade farewell to Attar and set sail for Bahrain.

 

–
 
30
 
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Bahrain

The farmstead where Halima lived was quiet as usual. No one entered or left except a small number of workers or servants. Sometimes, a vendor would knock on the door, selling wares that he carried in a large bundle on his back. In the evening, the gates of the farm were closed and a torch was lit at the home's entrance. Hardly any sound was heard in the night other than the croaking frogs and singing insects.

In the same dark corner where they usually met, Jawhar was waiting for Farah. She had asked him to come urgently, telling him there was something important to inform him of.

‘Halima has agreed to receive Emir Nasser at home,' Farah said without introduction when the two met up.

Jawhar was overjoyed by the news. ‘Are you sure? I hope Halima will not upset my master. He has been waiting for this moment for a long time.' Jawhar's voice grew more ecstatic. ‘Do you know what this means Farah? I will be free! When I gave the emir the dagger, he was thrilled, but it wasn't enough. He said he would only give me my freedom after he spends the night with Halima. I can almost smell my freedom. We will leave this place soon, you and I, and go to India. There I will become a merchant, and you shall have your own house and servants. We will have children together.'

Farah was melancholic, and was not pleased to hear Jawhar's promises this time. It was too dark for Jawhar to notice the bruising on her face – and he was too caught up in himself to notice the bruising of her soul.

The emir's slave continued to speak, but Farah was not listening. Her mind was somewhere else, until he tried to kiss her. She pushed him away violently. She was furious with him from the last time they met. ‘What are you trying to do, you loathsome man? You raped me once, but I won't let you do it again. Go and tell your master Halima will be ready for him tomorrow night. He must bring the dagger with him, do you hear? Otherwise, nothing will happen!'

Farah pulled Jawhar by his clothes to get his attention. ‘Hear me well, Jawhar. My mistress is a dignified woman. She has never done anything like this before. Your master must come alone and in disguise an hour after sunset when it's already dark. We don't want anyone to see him and she doesn't want anyone to see her either. Then he must leave before the dawn prayer. Did you get all this? Tell your master!'

Content with the plan, Jawhar replied, ‘I will tell him Farah. Don't worry.' Leaving, he cried out, ‘Tomorrow I will be free!'

On the following morning, Farah had a good idea about what she was going to do. There was only one thing left to organise.

Farah went to Halima. ‘You must sleep tonight on the roof of the house. Do not return until sunrise.'

Halima scowled at her. ‘We have known each other for a long time, Farah. Tell me what you're up to. You know I don't like to be kept in the dark about what's going on around me.'

‘We're going to carry out the plan. We just have to set things in motion. All I'm asking you to do is to be on the roof today before dark.'

Halima raised her voice and said in a threatening tone, ‘Farah, you have to explain to me exactly what you intend to do!'

Farah replied quietly, trying to avoid causing further tension. ‘I have asked Emir Nasser to come here tonight.'

‘What? Are you mad?'

‘I'm not mad. We need to retrieve the dagger from him. Otherwise he will continue to blackmail us with it and make our lives a living hell.' Farah came closer to comfort Halima. ‘I asked him to come at night to trick him into thinking I am you. I will distract him and then lull him into a false sense of security until I get the dagger from him. Nothing else will happen, so don't worry.'

Halima was horrified. ‘Farah, he wants me. He wants to do with me what a man does with his wife. He doesn't just want to mess about. He wants to take my honour in return for the dagger! I told you before, I won't allow you to sacrifice your honour for mine.'

Farah spoke quietly, trying to assure her mistress. ‘Nothing like that will happen. I know what men are like. I will take the dagger from him with some promises. Men are weak when it comes to women. I'll take advantage of this, so please trust me just this once!'

Halima was beside herself. Farah did not manage to reassure her, but what other option was there? If the dagger stayed with the emir, she would remain in a vulnerable position. She would be at the mercy of any rumour he could fabricate about her, so there was no other way but to trust Farah and her plan, even if it did not feel right to her.

The sun went down. Farah pressed her mistress to go to the roof, asking her not to return until sunrise. Farah then sat in the dark, waiting.

As the minutes passed, Farah played the plan in her head over and over again. She was afraid she might have forgotten something. How was she going to deal with the emir? How would she address him, and what was she going to tell him?

Farah did not know the man, but she had seen him at the harbour in Al-Uqair when she was with Halima secretly taking part in Bin Rahhal's send-off. She remembered that she did not like his comportment or his tone.

The only fuzzy detail in the plan was what she would do between the moment he entered the house and the moment she retrieved the dagger from him. Farah knew she had to rely on her resourcefulness and fortitude, but she felt these could be unpredictable and ineffectual against someone so base and villainous.

There was a knock on the door. It was Emir Nasser. Farah lifted her eyes to the sky as if in prayer, then walked towards the door, holding a lantern in her hands. The flame danced with her movements. Her hands were shaking and her trembling knees could barely support her.

Farah put her ear to the door. ‘Who's there?'

A whispering voice answered back, ‘It is I, Emir Nasser.'

Farah blew out the lantern and opened the door very slowly. It was pitch black outside, and the emir could barely see her silhouette. She asked him to follow her inside.

He walked behind her trying to find his way in the dark, until they reached a room not far from the entrance. Nasser knew this was not Halima's bedroom, but he thought to himself that it would nonetheless do the trick. Nasser was optimistic this would be the start of a long affair.

He felt his way until he found the bed, and sat down on it. ‘Who are you? Are you her maid Farah? Go fetch your mistress fast!'

The stench of alcohol and the emir's obvious inebriation helped Farah gather some courage, which she sorely needed. ‘Fine, my mistress will come in a few minutes. But she too has conditions.'

The emir retorted loudly, ‘What conditions does she have this time? I've never seen anyone coyer than this mistress of yours!'

‘She asks you not to speak with her at all. Then you must leave before dawn.'

The emir caressed the bed with both hands to check how soft and comfortable it was. ‘Aha! Now I know why we are sitting in the dark. But that's all right, it'll change once we get to know each other better.'

Farah stretched out her hand in front of him. ‘Did you bring the dagger with you?'

The emir reached inside his garments and took out the dagger. He stuck out his left hand trying to find hers, then grabbed her right hand and placed the dagger in her palm. ‘Give it to your mistress this time. I hope you don't have a lover other than Jawhar to give it to. Try not to lose it again.'

The emir let out a howl of amusement that made her shudder. She felt a strong urge to pull her hand away from his. Farah did not feel safe having her wrist being held like this, since Jawhar had done the same thing. She realised Jawhar was little more than his master's faithful dog, who told him everything – including what he had done to her.

Farah's heart was broken. She almost grabbed the dagger and stabbed the emir but she did not have the courage. She thanked her lucky stars Nasser was not able to see the expression on her face.