Page 95 of Inconvenient Honor
“Better to know soonest,” he said.
Hamidou and his uncle stood in front of the house in welcome. Scarface stood at Hamidou’s right. The sight made Lily’s heart race. Scarface’s mouth twisted into a mockery of a smile.
Just as the men from Tunis entered the square, a ripple of talk erupted at Scarface’s right shoulder and drew her attention. Before she could wonder about the cause, two men dragged Volkov into the square and dropped him in front of Hamidou. He looked painfully thin but no worse than they had seen him before.
The Tunisian leader greeted Hamidou and immediately began to inspect the man on the ground. His scowl deepened moment by moment. He looked up at Hamidou and let lose a torrent of words in Berber, too much and too fast for Lily to understand.
“He says this one is worthless.” Izza had slipped in next to Lily. “He offers little coin,” she said disdainfully. “He asks why Rais takes no care of the—” Izza bit her lip as if trying to recall a word.
“Merchandise?” Lily suggested.
A bright smile lit Izza’s face. “Yes, Lady.” Her lips formed the new word silently as if she wanted to store it for future use.
“Rais says this one cheated him. Says lowest dog of infidel.”
The Tunisian prodded Volkov with his foot. The Russian jerked away. He’s alive at least.
Richard’s arm came around Lily’s shoulder when the Tunisian turned abruptly and eyed them with a thoroughness that made her knees buckle. She righted herself. “You must not show fear,” Richardsaid. She breathed in and lifted her chin. He had called her courageous; she did not want to fail him.
The Tunisian agent spoke to Hamidou without taking his eyes off Lily.
“He wishes to know how much for you, Zambak,” Izza said. “He offers much.” Izza’s eyes glowed as if a high slave price could be an honor.
“Rais said no, did he not?” Lily asked her.
“He say ‘not now.’ Says he gave his word there will be more days.” She held up ten fingers and waved them three times.
Thirty days? “Thirty-three,” Lily corrected.
Scarface spat some words at Hamidou, who stopped him. Scarface turned in disgust and went into the house.
Izza shook her head. “Disrespect to argue with Rais in front of strangers,” she said.
More talk, which Lily took to be haggling, went on less dramatically. When they finished, Izza frowned. “Price very low. Not enough to buy grain for winter.”
The Tunisian gave an order, and his men began to drag Volkov to the cove. He turned and spoke again to Hamidou before turning on his heels to follow his men.
“He say, ‘I’ll be back,’” Izza said. She wrinkled her brown eyes and tried to remember the word, “In Thirty days!” she concluded proudly. “He will pay much,” Izza continued, a wide smile spreading across her face.
“Thirty-three,” Lily murmured, dreading what might happen. “Pray God we’re gone by then.”
“King’sknight to his bishop’s third.”
Richard stared at Hamidou’s move and attempted to focus. It was damned difficult to remember strategy while attending to the words of eight men conversing around him. So far only one word stoodout: English. English what? Fleet? Navy?More likely poor hapless English lord. Me. Lily could puzzle it out more quickly.
He fingered a rough-hewn piece. The squarely cut chessmen looked crude but recognizable. “Queen’s knight to her bishop’s third,” he said, mirroring his opponent. Not terribly inspired.
Eight perfunctory moves by Richard later Hamidou slid a knight into place. “Checkmate,” he said.
Richard sat back in his seat.I don’t remember the last time I had lost a game before coming to this God-forsaken island. I’m losing my mind.
“Not well played,” Hamidou said, shaking his head. “You may hope your bigger game plays out better.”
“Bigger game?” Richard feared he knew the answer.
“Thirty-three more days, English.” Hamidou took a sip of tea. “As I told my Tunisian friend.”
“I understand he offered you a lot of money.”
