Suleiman’s answers were short and abrupt, as though he were infallible in everything. But nearly everything he said was insufficient or even completely wrong.
“You do a poor job of dueling with the truth, my boy,” Abu Ali said, shaking his head. “A feday has to have a mind that never misses.”
Suleiman stepped back, exasperated.
Finally it was Yusuf’s turn. Although the novices were nervous for him, they also found him good sport.
Abu Soraka had saved the easiest question for him. He had to name the imams from Ali to Ismail. But Yusuf was so flustered that the name of the third imam stuck in his throat.
“By the beard of the martyr Ali!” the grand dai shouted. “I wash my hands of so much ignorance.”
Abu Soraka looked furiously at Yusuf, who had slumped back down, half dead.
After Abu Soraka came al-Hakim, who had an easier time avoiding this predicament. He knew that Abu Ali wasn’t familiar with his philosophical theories of human nature, so he nodded approval at every answer, no matter how wrong it was.
The novices were thoroughly versed in geography. The captain smiled in satisfaction and Abu Ali quickly passed over this subject.
Soon grammar, account-keeping and poetry were also taken care of. The grand dai didn’t intervene again until the topic was dogma, on which he placed a great deal of importance. Ibrahim posed his clear and simple questions, which the novices answered well, for the most part.
“Now let’s probe the extent of our novices’ native intelligence,” Abu Ali said, interrupting the questioning. “Yusuf, our great spear-throwing champion, tell us who is closer to Allah: the Prophet or the archangel Gabriel?”
Yusuf got up and stared at him with a look of desperation on his face. Abu Ali asked each of his neighbors on down the line. One answered the Prophet, the next the archangel. But none of them was able to explain his choice.
The grand dai grinned malevolently.
“You decide, ibn Tahir,” he said at last.
Ibn Tahir rose and calmly proceeded to respond.
“Allah sent the archangel Gabriel to Mohammed with the announcement that he had been selected as Prophet. If Allah hadn’t meant to distinguish Mohammed above all others, he could have entrusted his archangel with the prophet’s mission directly. Because he didn’t do that, Mohammed now stands ahead of the archangel Gabriel in heaven.”
“That’s the right answer,” Abu Ali said. “Now explain this to us: what is the relationship between the Prophet and Sayyiduna?”
Ibn Tahir smiled. He thought for a moment and then answered.
“The relationship between Sayyiduna and the Prophet is a relationship of younger to older.”
“Fine. But who holds greater power over the faithful now?”
“Sayyiduna. Because he has the key that opens the gates to paradise.”
Abu Ali rose and all the others stood up after him. His gaze went from one novice to the other. Then he spoke in a solemn voice.
“Go and bathe and put on your ceremonial clothes. Be glad. The greatest moment of your lives is approaching. At the time of fifth prayers you will all be initiated.”
With a faint smile he bowed, then strode quickly out of the room.
A messenger from Rai came rushing in and announced to Hasan that the cavalry Muzaffar was supposed to send him was already on the way. They could expect it to arrive at the castle that night. Right behind him one of the scouts rode in and informed Hasan that the Turkish vanguard was moving toward Alamut with great speed and could be outside the walls by late that night or early in the morning.
Hasan at once had Abu Ali and Manuchehr summoned to him. He received them in his antechamber and told them the news. He spread a map out on the floor and the three of them reviewed the best options for showing their teeth to the sultan’s forces.
“I’ll send a messenger to intercept Muzaffar’s people,” Hasan said. “The best thing will be for them not to join us in the castle at all. Instead, Abdul Malik will guide them toward the road that leads from Rudbar. They’ll wait in ambush there until the Turks ride past. Then they’ll follow them at a safe distance. We’ll meet the enemy outside of Alamut, while they press them from behind. It will be like grinding them between two millstones.”
Abu Ali and the captain agreed with the plan. They selected an officer to ride with several men to meet Muzaffar’s people. Manuchehr left to issue the necessary orders. Hasan asked the grand dai how things were going with the novices.
“There isn’t a prophet hiding in any one of them,” Abu Ali laughed. “But they are all full of passion and their faith is unshakable.”
“That’s the main thing, yes, that’s the most important,” Hasan replied, rubbing his hands. Both of them were starting to feel feverish as the decisive events approached.
“Now go oversee the novices’ initiation. Here, I’ve put together the text of an oath for them. You’ll speak to them about the solemnity of the moment, you’ll speak about the heroic deeds of the martyrs, enthusiastically, passionately. Fire up their young souls and fill them with fervor and determination. Threaten them with horrible punishment, threaten them with damnation if they aren’t absolutely obedient to us in every way. For so many years I’ve dreamed of educating followers like these in accordance with my plan, of reshaping their character to suit my needs, so I could build my institutions on them. At last, at last I’ve lived to see the day!”
“You know I’ve always trusted your wisdom,” Abu Ali said. “I’m convinced that you also have good reasons for what you’re doing now. But I can’t help thinking that it would be wiser if you initiated the novices yourself. Look, they’re so eager to see you at last, for you to make an appearance, to feel that you’re a living person and not just some invisible force that they have to obey. It would elevate the event immeasurably.”
“That’s all true, but I won’t do it.”
Hasan grew pensive and looked down at the floor. Then he continued.
“I know what I’m doing. If you want to make use of people as means to an end, it’s better to keep a distance from their concerns. What matters is that you stay free to act and that your heart doesn’t dictate to you. When Buzurg Ummid comes, I’ll explain everything to both of you. The flag that you’ll give to the fedayeen is ready. Go and do what I’ve said. This initiation is more important than victory over the Turks.”
The great assembly hall in the building of the supreme commander was turned into a mosque for that evening. For the first time the novices were permitted to enter that part of the fortress. The guard of mace-bearing eunuchs had been reinforced. The Moors were in full battle gear, with armor, helmets and shields. Anxious feelings beset the novices as they entered the hall, which was solemnly empty and draped all around with white curtains. They wore white cassocks and tall, white fezzes, and they were barefoot, as the commandment states. The dais were also dressed in white. They arranged the novices by groups, whispering instructions to them on how to behave during the ceremony. The novices shivered in excitement. They were pale and exhausted and some of them were feeling faint.
The horn sounded last prayers. Abu Ali entered, also wearing a loose white cassock and with a tall, white fez on his head. He walked straight through the hall, finally coming to a halt in front of the novices. The commanders stood in two rows beside him. The ceremony had begun.
Abu Ali began by conducting the evening prayers in a steady voice. Then he turned toward the novices and began speaking about the meaning of that evening’s initiation, about the joy they must be feeling about it, and about the obedience they owed to Sayyiduna and his deputies. He told them about the bliss of the martyrs and the importance of the example they had set, which should become their highest goal.