Читать книгу Mustafa's Last Well - Tony Preedy - Страница 15

Chapter 9

Seeing the gate, where her father had been standing, reminded Nahla of her oldest brother. Moosa’s tendency toward sadistic cruelty had been present since her first memory of him. Ali had told her that he believed it started when he was a baby.

“Moosa was suckled by Layla as she sat with his aunts and your stepsisters, Asia and Fathia, behind the screen overlooking the courtyard. It was the highlight of their otherwise mundane week, to sit each Friday, after noon prayers, to watch the wretched criminals who had been condemned, to death by beheading or to receive lashes, by your grandfather’s court. I suspect that Layla had felt vulnerable then because she had finally delivered a son who would ensure the line of the al-Wyly dynasty. She would have worried constantly how long it would be before your father chose another, younger wife,” he said.

After the men had gone inside, Nahla and Ali waited to see what would happen next and resumed talking about Moosa. Ali said, “Sometimes the sisters would be moved to gasp when, with a single blow, the head of a murderer was separated from his trembling body by the executioner. They were easily aroused by the sight of the big Negro, stripped to his waist, who with rippling muscles wielded the broad sword or the lash and placed them with such precision; sword on the neck and lash on the back and legs of his victims. Your older sisters, just in their teens and ripe for marriage, would count the strokes, anticipating when the Negro would change his target area. They knew that many of the victims would be unconscious before their punishment ended and it could take days to receive all their strokes while conscious.” After explaining the word ‘conscious’ to Nahla, Ali continued, “I assumed that as he received her milk, baby Moosa drank also the excitement of his mother. After he was weaned, Moosa still joined the ladies on Fridays, in his place at their feet, where he sat silently, enjoying the spectacle and subconsciously absorbing the crude insensitive comments and reactions of the women to the suffering of the victims.”

***

That evening Salim was so elated with the apparent success of the meeting that he sent for Fatima, with whom he anticipated having one more attempt at the consummation of their union.

***

Back on-board Pegasus, as the two officers recovered from the under-cooked entrails of lamb, Farnham explained the origins of the country they were visiting. “The fort where they were entertained is about a mile from the town that gave the country its name, and this is where over several generations many tribal groups settled after abandoning the nomadic life. Some have become quite prosperous by dealing in commodities; fabrics, spices, slaves, and particularly pearls. The town Arabs were formidable traders with an inherent sense for spotting bargains and deriving the maximum profit. A successful man would be able to afford to support many wives, keeping them in equal style.”

The next day the anchor was weighed, and the warship departed for Britain via the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal.

***

The two Indian clerks, who assisted Salim to administrate the hitherto poor country, were unable to cope with the burden that the discovery of oil now presented. The increasing numbers of foreigners were an embarrassment because there were no facilities in Naamlah, even to accommodate those who were to visit Salim. It was soon obvious to the Indians that Salim needed more help, and it was they who had suggested that he seek this from the British protectors of Naamlah’s sovereignty. It was thus that a request was made to the British Government that resulted in James Farnham’s return as the resident adviser.

Farnham had been looking forward to a long leave with his wife and children, but no sooner than he set foot in England was he called to the Colonial Office and told that he and his wife were to return to Naamlah. The Minister said, “It appears that you made such a good impression on the Emir that he has requested the Prime Minister to make you his adviser.” Farnham was not disappointed by the appointment because he was confident of being able to help Salim, with whom he had established a good working relationship, but he was not exactly convinced he had the necessary experience for such responsibility. Nevertheless, he responded, “I am delighted to oblige, Minister, providing arrangements can be made for my children’s education.”

“Do not worry on that score, they will be enrolled at a good school at the expense of the Government,” the Minister assured him. “Arrangements have been made for the departure, on the Cunard ship, of you and your wife one week from today, so please put your affairs in order before then.”

“Yes indeed, Minister,” replied Farnham.

“That is all, you may return to your family.” As Farnham made to go, the Minister added, “I am sorry, Farnham, that your leave has been cut short.” Farnham did not comment as he could only have endorsed the Minister’s statement, shook hands, and turned to depart. “Oh, I forgot to say that you will be promoted, and all of your living expenses will be met by the Naamlahn government, that is, after you have assisted in forming one,” said the Minister, smiling.

***

A year had passed since the visit of the white men and Nahla and Ali were back on the beach, talking once more about Moosa and wondering what he was up to in Germany.

“Did you know your Uncle Hammed bought Moosa his whip when he was three, after he had been told how the boy had boasted that when he was a man, he would replace the Negro? With this new toy, Moosa would stand with feet apart, legs slightly bent, chest at right angles to the chair-back that received his blows,” said Ali, clearly disgusted at the memory.

Nahla said, “I remember that when he was a boy, Moosa was always carrying his whip. He tried to use it on our brother, but Saif was too quick for him and easily avoided his fat brother.”

“Yes, and he would have used it on you if your wet nurse had not protected you,” he replied.

“But he was sometimes successful in finding a victim among our unsuspecting cousins, though more often he vented his aggression on defenceless animals,” Nahla recalled.

Ali replied, “I remember after your grandfather had died, your father was still in Europe and the young uncles, Abdulaziz and Hammed, were in charge and providing more entertainment than that supplied by the court of your grandfather. In many of those cases, the victims had done no more than offend them by refusing an unreasonable demand.” After explaining ‘unreasonable,’ Ali continued; “Moosa learned later that when he became a man his vocation would not be that of an executioner; he would be groomed to become Emir, a frightening thought for all who knew him. I think he looked forward to the power but not the responsibility. You know he started using the whip on me after I joined the harem.”

“Poor Ali, you never deserved that,” replied Nahla, remembering how Ali had apparently suffered as a young man.

“Oh, I used to get my revenge by hiding his whip,” said Ali, laughing strangely in the way that she found so infectious.

“Do you remember the day before Moosa’s departure for school in Germany, when he was so awful because he did not want to leave but could not disobey our father,” said Nahla, looking sad at the memory. “I have hated him since then.” Nahla had been given a puppy by the wife of Uncle Hammed, who was also to leave, with Cousin Khaled, on the same ship as Moosa. They were to join Uncle Hammed, who had been sent away, banished they said, for the offence against Ali, so she learned later. Moosa decided to work off his frustration on the animal by tying it to a palm and whipping it until it died. She never forgave him. Although Nahla did not know it, he had never previously found satisfaction like that, which then mingled with the pleasure of his adolescent early sexual arousal.

Nahla and Saif never attended the punishment exhibitions, which had no appeal to their sensitive natures. Saif was disgusted with his older brother’s behaviour after he had rescued one of their second cousins, a little girl named Hooda, from Moosa and his whip. Nahla and Saif generally took the opportunity to play together without being annoyed by their brother. That particular afternoon, a Friday, the usual day when punishments would be offered as entertainment after noon prayers, Nahla did not want to play because she was in her room mourning the loss of her pet. Neither were the other women present to watch the spectacle in the courtyard. Layla was busy supervising the packing for her son’s departure and the older sisters were both recently married and had left the fort. Fousia was consoling Shalma who was having one of her depressed days. Neither Nahla nor Ali knew that Moosa sat alone that afternoon, holding the whip in both hands, perspiration rising as he counted the lashes received first by a sailor convicted for drunkenness. The victim was cut down and dragged from the scene as a young woman, named Hafrida, was brought to replace him at the gate. Her husband, an aged relative of Idris al-Jaboo, had taken her to the court, accusing her of complicity, which she had denied, but was unable to produce male witnesses to support her case. A neighbouring man had made advances on her, which she had repelled, but in spite he had caused a rumour of her adultery. Without witnesses to support either side of the case the court had been lenient. Instead of stoning she was to have twelve lashes. Moosa was excited and impressed because she did not cower and appeal to the Negro as most had done before her, but she walked proudly, without any sign of fear. Hafrida was so confident of her innocence that she trusted Allah to protect her from pain. That morning she had insisted on wearing her best silk abaya, as she knew the ladies of the Emir were likely to be watching. The Negro bound her hands and ankles to the gate, pulled off her hijab and thrust a stick between her perfect teeth. Then he paced away to take up his usual stance that Moosa so desired to emulate. Hafrida strained to turn her head, trying in vain to see her tormentor. Moosa became more excited, first by the exposed honey-coloured skin of her face as she turned in his direction. He knew she could not see him sitting excitedly in the dark room behind the pierced screen. He was next entranced by her teeth, gripping the stick, perfect and white, contrasting with the big black eyes that glared defiantly until she received the first stroke. She winced then, but the defiant expression which so impressed the boy returned in anticipation of the second stroke. More strokes followed, causing her to suspect Allah had deserted her. The whip cut through the silk abaya until it fell from her shoulders, exposing to Moosa her perfectly formed breasts. The feelings Moosa had experienced after he had killed the dog now returned with greater force. By the final stroke, of which she had lost count, she was convinced Allah had ignored her. Moosa had dropped the whip and his hands were beneath his dishdash. When Hafrida was dragged away, he left to change into clean clothes before anyone came to join him. The face of the woman would haunt him that night on-board the ship and on many nights in the future when, as a man, he would try in vain to obtain the same degree of sexual excitement that witnessing her suffering had initiated.