"I may never see you again," she said.
I shrugged.
"I do not want to be free," she said.
"Do not fear," I told her, "you will not be."
"Please, my Master," she said. "Make now to me a gentle love."
I went to Sasi, and crouched down, and took her in my arms.
15
Msaliti And I Are Tricked By Shaba; What Occurred Outside The Headquarters Of Msaliti And Shaba
"You are late," said Msaliti.
"I have brought the notes," I told him.
"It is past the nineteenth Ahn," he said.
"I was detained," I said.
"Have you brought the notes," he asked.
"Yes," I said, "I have brought them." He was clearly nervous.
He admitted me, from the street to the small, dingy anteroom, that leading to the larger room in which we had, the preceding day, discussed our business.
"Is Shaba here?" I asked.
"No," he said.
"Then what is so important about me being late?" I asked.
"Give me the notes," he said. "Give me the ring."
"No," I said. I entered the larger room, that in which we had conferred on matters of importance yesterday.
"Where are the askaris?" I asked. They were not in the room.
"They are elsewhere," said he.
"The room was more attractive yesterday," I said, "when it contained the two female slaves."
Msaliti and I sat down, cross-legged, near the low table.
"Yesterday evening," I said, "after we parted, I paid a visit to the tavern of Pembe. I made use there of the slave who had once been Evelyn Ellis. She is not bad in a collar."
"She is frigid," said Msaliti.
"Nonsense," I said. "The poor girl is paga hot."
"I find that surprising," said he.
"She cannot now help herself," I said.
"Pathetic thing," he said.
"It required only a bit of chaining and teaching her, so to speak, to kiss the whip."
"Excellent," said Msaliti.
"You seem distracted," I said.
"It is nothing," he said.
My thoughts strayed to the blond-haired barbarian and Sasi.
"Keep her under the blanket for an Ahn after I have left," I had told Sasi. "You may then release her, if you wish. If you do not wish to do so, of course, then leave her there as long as you please."
"Yes, Master," said Sasi.
"She is an ignorant girl, and a natural slave," I said, "so keep her under strict discipline."
"Yes, Master," said Sasi.
"Do not hesitate to use the whip on her," I said.
"No, Master," said Sasi.
"Remember that she is a natural slave," I told Sasi.
"We are all natural slaves, Master," she said. "But have no fear. I will keep her under a very strict discipline."
"As is fitting for any slave," I said.
"Yes, Master," smiled Sasi.
I had then kissed her and left.
"Why do you not give me the notes and the ring?" asked Msaliti.
"My orders," I said, "are to exchange them with Shaba for the authentic shield ring."
"To whom will you return the ring?" he asked.
"To Belisarius, in Cos," I said.
"Do you know his house?" asked Msaliti.
"Certainly not," I said. "I will be contacted."
"Where will the contact be made?" asked Msaliti, regarding me narrowly.
"At the Chatka and Curla," I said, "in Cos."
"Who is Master of the Chatka and Curla?" asked Msaliti.
"Aurelion of Cos," I said. "Of course."
"Yes," said Msaliti.
"Have no fear," I said, "I will do my best to see that the ring reaches the proper authorities."
Msaliti nodded. I smiled.
"Why would you wish the ring?" I asked.
"To assure that it reaches the beasts," he said. "They would not be pleased, should it be again lost."
"Your concern for their cause is commendable," I said.
"I have no wish to be torn to pieces," he said.
"That is understandable," I said. "Neither would I cheerfully look forward to such a termination."
"You seem in a good mood," he said.
"Surely you, too, should be in a pleasant frame of mind," I said. "Is our business not nearly completed?"
"That is my hope," said Msaliti.
"Do you truly fear the beasts so?" I asked.
"Our business has been delayed," he said. "It is my fear that the beasts themselves will come for the ring."
"But I am to pick up the ring," I said.
"I do not even know you," said Msaliti.
"I do not know you either, really," I said.
"We were looking for the blond girl," he said.
"She was delayed," I said. "She was enslaved," I pointed out, cheerfully.
"A pity," he said.
"Nonsense," I said. "Slavery is good for a woman."
"I do not trust Shaba," he said.
"I am sure he does not trust us either," I said. "At least we trust each other."
Msaliti drummed his fingers on the low table.
"Are you sure we are alone?" I asked.
"Of course," said Msaliti. "None have entered. Before I came the askaris, in the anteroom, guarded the door."
"They neglected, I see," I said, "to replace the peas on their threads in this room, those dislodged by my peregrination of yesterday evening on the roof."
"Of course they replaced them," said Msaliti.
"I would not he too sure then," I said, "that we are alone."
Msaliti looked quickly upward. Several of the strings, with the tiny peas attached, dangled downward.
"The grille, too, I note," I said, "has been removed."
"You are observant," said Shaba.
Msaliti staggered to his feet. stumbling backward.
Across the table from us, in his customary place, sat Shaba. There had been a momentary blurring in the area, a sort of twisting swirl of light, something like a whirlpool of light, and then, calmly, he had sat before us.
"I did not think you would be late," I said. "You seemed a punctual fellow."
"It is you who were late," he said.
"Yes," I said, "I am sorry about that I was detained."
"Was she pretty?" asked Shaba.
I nodded. "Yes," I said.
"Matters of great moment are afoot here," said Msaliti. "With your permission, that of both of you, if you please, I would like to attend to them."
"It is my understanding," said Shaba to me, "that you have brought the notes and the false ring."
"Yes," I said. I put the notes on the table.
"Where is the false ring?" asked Msaliti.
"I have it," I told him.
Shaba looked at the notes, carefully. He did not hurry. "These notes seem to be in order," he said.
"May I see them?" asked Msaliti.
Shaba handed him the notes. "You do not trust our broad-shouldered courier?" he asked.
"I trust as few people as possible," said Msaliti. He looked at the notes, very closely. Then he handed them back to Shaba. "I know the seals and signatures," he said. "They may truly be drawn on the banks indicated."
"There are twenty thousand tarns of gold there," I said.
"Cash them before you carry the false ring to the Sardar," said Msaliti. "It is in our interest, in these circumstances, to bargain in good faith."
"But what if I do not carry the false ring to the Sardar?" asked Shaba.
"I would do so if I were you," said Msaliti.
"I see," said Shaba.
"The beasts," he said, "do not deal lightly with traitors."
"That is understandable," said Shaba.
"This business could be conducted in the morning," I said, "at the banks in question. You might then verify the notes and withdraw or redeposit the gold as you please."
"Kunguni the beggar," said Msaliti, "cannot well enter the edifices on Schendi's Street of Coins."
"Then enter as Msaliti," I said.
Msaliti laughed. "Do not speak foolishly," he said.