Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (134 page)

             
Harry
bowed,
blushing
at
being
singled
out
and
conscious
of
the
glowers
of
Barclay
and
his
friends.
"
I
do
your
Majesty.
It
is
singularly
beautiful
in
its
workmanship
and
in
its
intended
purpose.
"
Already
in
his
sketch
pad
there
was
a
rough
sketch
of
the
Sultan
'
s
face
and
his
robes
with
annotations
describing
colours
and
textures.
Now
he
could
barely
wait
to
add
a
sketch
of
the
magnificent
turban
and
its
clasp.

             
The
Sultan
moved
on
and
the
Captain
led
the
way
up
onto
the
poop,
sensibly
having
decided
that
this
offered
the
best
place
for
the
style
of
dinner
that
would
best
suit
their
guests.
Overhead
an
awning
shielded
them
from
the
dew
and
the
addition
of
screens
along
the
ship
'
s
sides
left
the
'
tent
'
airy
and
pleasant
–
far
more
pleasant
than
the
fetid
heat
trapped
below
decks
even
with
all
the
ports
raised
and
wind
scoops
set.

             
Thanks
to
the
efforts
of
Mister
Tanha
and
his
staff,
the
repast
was
fit
for
a
devout
Muslim
ruler.
A
variety
of
delicacies
adorned
the
trestles
erected
by
the
carpenter
and
his
mates,
with
fresh
tea,
coffee
and
–
to
the
midshipmen
'
s
delight
–
cocoa.
Dishes
of
fish,
sliced
venison,
peacock
and
other
birds
were
presented
to
their
ravenous
gaze
and
made
all
the
more
desirable
by
the
stricture
that
their
guests
must
have
first
choice
of
everything
and
the
midshipmen
must
stand
back
until
all
the
visitors
and
the
more
senior
officers
and
guests
had
eaten
their
fill.

             
"
Just
our
luck,
"
grumbled
Kit
Tanner.
"
The
feast
to
end
all
feasts
and
we
'
re
allowed
only
the
crumbs
from
the
tables.
"

             
"
Cheer
up,
"
said
Harry.
"
At
least
the
crumbs
are
like
to
be
worth
waiting
for.
"

             
"
True,
"
responded
Kit.
"
But
my
stomach
wants
to
sample
it
now!
"

             
"
Well,
we
should
get
there
before
Barclay
at
any
rate,
"
Harry
replied.
"
I
gather
the
expedition
to
the
Souq
was
hardly
a
success.
"

             
"
Hello,
"
said
Kit.
"
Look
out;
one
of
the
Sultan
'
s
people
is
heading
for
us.
"

             
"
And
he
is
bringing
food,
"
said
Harry.
"
I
think
we
have
been
singled
out
for
some
compliment
–
Mister
Tanha
was
explaining
the
matter
of
dining
to
me
–
and
you
select
and
send
choice
dishes
to
someone
you
wish
to
honour.
"

             
"
Well
you
seem
to
have
a
friend
in
high
places
then,
for
I
think
this
platter
is
for
you,
"
Kit
said
enviously.
"
And
Eamon
is
looking
murderous.
You
'
d
best
watch
your
step
for
the
next
few
days.
"

             
The
man
stopped
in
front
of
Harry
and
presented
the
platter.
Mohammad
Tanha
appeared
as
if
by
magic
at
Harry
'
s
elbow.
"
The
Sultan
has
personally
sent
this
platter.
You
need
to
accept
it
and
return
the
compliment.
"

             
Harry
accepted
the
plate
and
said,
"
Thank
you,
please
convey
my
thanks
to
his
majesty
with,
"
he
looked
about
desperately
at
the
nearest
trestle.
"
What
do
I
do
–
choose
something
to
return?
"

             
"
Not
immediately,
"
the
agent
said.
"
First
eat
the
food
he
has
sent,
then
make
a
selection
yourself
and
respond.
"
He
paused
as
Harry
sampled
the
delicacies
and
said
softly,
"
His
majesty
was
most
impressed
by
your
loyalty
to
your
Captain.
He
admires
loyalty
in
those
he
meets
and
pays
you
a
high
compliment.
"

             
"
I
'
m
deeply
honoured
I
am
sure,
"
Harry
tried
to
think
how
he
had
shown
loyalty
that
the
Sultan
might
consider
commendable.
He
spotted
Ferghal
–
turned
out
in
striped
shirt
and
clean
duck
trousers
with
shoes
on
his
feet
and
a
black
neckerchief
tied
at
his
throat
–
standing
ready
to
serve
the
guests
and
the
hosting
officers,
and
signalled
him
to
come
over.
The
platter
was
by
now
and
almost
magically
empty,
such
was
his
hunger
he
had
swallowed
most
of
it
almost
without
tasting.
"
Ferghal,
I
need
to
choose
the
choicest
things
here
for
the
Sultan,
what
is
on
offer?
"