Читать книгу Rayan - Son of the Desert - Indira Jackson - Страница 10

The sun had wandered over the sky like on any normal day and more slowly than ever the evening dawned. Rayan meanwhile was in a state in between live and death. Six times they had performed their cruel ritual; or perhaps it was even more, he was no longer able to count.

His pride had changed to silent desperation and in the meantime he was no longer able to register his whereabouts or anything else around him.

He just dangled from his bonds. Even if he wanted to tell them the location of the rebel settlement now, he would no longer have been able to cling to a single thought or to say a phrase that made any sense. It was like he was swimming in a deep sea of pain.

His friends, who were condemned to just helplessly observe his torture, were sure that the purpose of this punishment had been changed from “making him talk” to “making a statement”. Whatever that was. They had discussed desperately between each other if they should reveal the location instead of Rayan. They even considered if they should start some kind of red herring by telling them a fake place, just to make the men stop torturing their leader.

However, they came to the conclusion that all would be in vain. It would not help him anymore.

Suddenly there was movement amongst Scarface’s men.

The two messengers were about to return and they were accompanied by a noble visitor: His Excellency Sheikh Sedat Suekran al Medina y Nayran had arrived.

Scarface informed him proudly about the intensive punishment and led his master to Rayan, who was stuck unconsciously in his bonds. The ugly Tarman grabbed the chin of the defenceless Rayan and pulled him up, so his leader could look into his face to acknowledge his identity.

It was not possible to reckon what Sedat was thinking or feeling. He just confirmed with a nod that it indeed was the most wanted leader of the rebels, his former son. Then he demanded to hear more about the imprisonment.

It was hard to say if he acted consciously or not but the moment Rayan heard the voice of his father his final spirits were awoken. With effort he opened his eyes and tried to make eye-contact with his father.

Barely audible and more groaning than really articulating, he spluttered: “Father? Father help me – I am dying …”

Scarface slapped him in the face with his free hand, the one that was not holding his victim up. What boldness to address the noble Sheikh in such an informal way!

Rayan collapsed completely and plunged into a merciful unconsciousness.

There was a flash in Sedat’s eyes, which was barely visible, while his face remained motionless. Instead His Excellency said: “I am going to tell you now, how we will proceed with this scum: we will hang them tomorrow at dawn. One after the other. We will start with him”, he signaled towards Rayan.

“Then we will see if the others will continue to keep silent. Release him and take him back to his friends. Also, provide them with water, we do not want him to die before we can hang him tomorrow, do we?”

Scarface laughed bleatingly: this idea was very much to his liking.