The Queen's Envoy (The Barsetshire Diaries) Read online

  At lunchtime we turned off the lights and exited the passage into the throne room which was empty of people. We then made our way to the dining room, stopping off only long enough for me to wash my hands.

  Lunch consisted of cold meats and rice with fruit to follow. Ibrahim was already there with Mustapha and some of his other advisors.

  “Ah”, he said, “David, I hope my child has not been leading you astray”. This was said with an indulgent smile that seemed to be echoed by all in the room.

  “No, Your Highness”, I replied. “We've been to see the horses and she's proved to be a mine of information on bloodlines. Nightshade is a beautiful horse”.

  “Ah yes, he's the product of the best sire and dam I own”, he told me.

  “Much like your own daughter”, I replied.

  “Ah, ever the diplomat”, said Ibrahim, “but I thank you for your kind words”. As lunch ended, I beckoned to Mustapha to join me.

  “How goes it, old chap?” he asked me.

  “Mustapha, I've been thinking about the problem. As I've walked around, I've noticed that the new groundsman is unlikely to come within striking distance of the sultan, and the new groom is also an unlikely suspect unless he specifically manages the Sultan's horse. I've not ruled them out, but think I need to concentrate on Suki's tutor and the new guard. Can you find out for me where they came from?”

  “That should be easy, David. I will let you know this evening what information I have”, Mustapha replied.

  Suki had lessons that she couldn't avoid during the afternoon, so I walked around the palace, casually asking questions about how other people related to the newcomers. I was especially interested in the opinions of the kitchen staff, as that's where much of the gossip usually goes on.

  True to form, I got most of my information there. Opinion said that the groom was nice and was only there because he wanted to marry one of the Sultan's servants. The groundsman was a fool who didn't seem to know his job and who had to be chased by his supervisor to do any work. I found that interesting. The tutor was dismissed as being too nosy because he asked many questions about the palace staff, much as I was doing now, and the guard was seen as strange because he didn't seem to talk much at all.

  With the exception of the groundsman, I didn't think that I could rule anyone out at as a potential assassin. I drank coffee with the cooks and told them how much I enjoyed my meals. I listened carefully to all they said and then I saw the new guard enter the kitchen. For all that they said he didn't talk much, he seemed very edgy, and snapped when he spoke to my companions.

  “Give me a meal! I am on duty tonight and must eat before I start”.

  I rose from the table and thanked the staff for their hospitality before I left the room. For the rest of the day before the evening meal, I wandered the palace making mental notes to myself of the best places for an assassin to hide.

  At the meal I was able to place myself beside Mustapha, who was able by then to give me a potted history of each of the new staff.

  The groom had come from the stables of a local Sheikh to care for a horse that Ibrahim had bought to race. He had cared for the animal since it was born and knew all its funny ways. He wanted to marry one of Jenny's servant girls. That was enough for me to rule him out of my suspicions.

  The groundsman was here as a favour to his father, who hoped that being in Ibrahim's service would cure him of his idle ways. His father was a strong supporter of Ibrahim and the changes he tried to make. I thought the father was going to be disappointed if he were to hear the opinions of the kitchen staff, but I at least felt able to also rule the boy out as a suspect, as he was not here of his own volition.

  The guard had applied for a job a while ago. He had been taken on when one of the other guards had disappeared from his job. The new guard’s parents were wealthy merchants who also supported Ibrahim's reforms. They had despaired when he had left university in the middle of his course, but were now happy that he was in Ibrahim's employ with a steady job.

  The tutor had been a lecturer at the university, but had declared that he now wished for a quieter life. His credentials seemed impeccable.

  I thanked Mustapha for his help and moved to speak with Suki. I asked about her lessons that afternoon and what her tutor had talked of.

  The meal eventually came to an end and we each went our own way. Before Mustapha left, I asked if he'd be able to meet with me later in my room. I suggested that midnight might be the best time, which caused a raising of his eyebrows before he agreed.

  I went to my room to start writing these notes before midnight came.

  Sunday, July 11, 1999

  Knife in the Night

  Early hours.

  Mustapha arrived at my door at just past midnight and I thought it was time to let him know my thoughts. I asked him if he would take four of his best men, check on the Sultan's guards, and replace them with two of his own. Following that, I asked him to hold the two replaced guards for a short time until I could question them. I gave him my reasons for the request and he immediately made a phone call to arrange things and left.

  I entered the passageway that Suki had shown me, which was connected to my room. After a bit of fumbling, I found the light switch and turning it on, was surprised to find Suki standing there.

  “What on earth!” I said. “You nearly gave me a heart attack then. What are you doing out of bed?”

  “I saw you talking to Mustapha earlier, and you looked so serious that I feared you had found something wrong. I do not intend to allow harm to come to my father so I waited to see what you were doing this evening”.

  “OK, Suki. It's possible that I am wrong, but I fear something will happen tonight. You may come but only if you first promise not to get in harm's way”, I told her.

  Suki agreed and we worked our way along the passages to her father's room. She arrived just ahead of me and put her eye to the peephole.

  “Uncle Daud”, she screamed. “Quickly!”

  I pressed the catch to open the door and ran into the room. Both Jenny and Ibrahim were asleep, but heading towards the bed, wide awake, was a man holding a knife. “Stop!” I cried, jumping at him and I saw his arm move. I felt a pain as I brought him down. The main door opened and in rushed Mustapha and his four men who pounced on us.

  As they dragged us apart and Mustapha flipped the lights on, I saw that Ibrahim and Jenny had awoken and were comforting, or being comforted by, Suki. Mustapha said, “You were right, David. This assassin is the guard you suspected. My men found the other guard unconscious outside the room. They will take this man to be interrogated to find out who sent him, but in the meantime I think we need to get you to a doctor”.

  It was then that I noticed the knife sticking out of my thigh and saw blood pooling on the carpet. All I could think of to say was, “My apologies, Ibrahim, for the mess on your floor. I think solutions are available these days which will eradicate the stain”.

  Suki came running over. “Oh, Uncle Daud, you're hurt”. Then she burst into tears, no doubt of relief at knowing her father was safe.

  I found that I could not walk easily and no one wanted to risk moving the knife, so to my embarrassment, I was carried by Mustapha and Ibrahim to my room and a doctor was called.

  He came and said it was a hospital I needed, but I felt unable to go and asked him to take out the knife and stitch me up, which he did, admonishing me all the time. He said I was lucky that the artery had not been hit, or it would be the hospital despite any argument from me.

  He bandaged me up and also managed to rustle up some old crutches, as he said it was obvious that I wouldn't stay still for long. Suki had stayed with me while the leg was dealt with, but as Ibrahim came back to offer his thanks, after he'd settled Jenny again, I asked him to make sure Suki went and got some rest and suggested that he did the same.

  I tried to relax but things kept running around in my head. Eventually I saw things the right way after my fashion and fell asleep.r />
  Later that day

  I was woken quite early by a knock at my door. My watch said it was barely 7.00 am as I called out, “Come in”.

  It was Mustapha. “Lord David”, he said rather formally, “we owe you a debt of gratitude for saving Ibrahim's life. The guard has confessed that he belongs to a fundamentalist group that disagrees with Ibrahim's aims. He will be dealt with! But tell me, what made you suspect him?”

  “The other staff told me that he didn't speak very much, and when I saw him yesterday he was very snappy and seemed on edge, as though he had something on his mind. Last night it was a precaution only to ask for your men, but while he was on duty seemed the most likely time for him to strike if he was indeed our man”.

  “Ah”, said Mustapha, “it seems that I should pay more attention to staff gossip. Now David, we must arrange transport home to your family and a suitable reward for saving the Sultan's life”.

  “No need for any reward, Mustapha. I count both you and Ibrahim as friends and knowing you're safe is reward enough. Before you do arrange transport though, I have a favour to ask of you”.

  “Ask away dear friend”, said Mustapha.

  “Can you check for me if the tutor has requested an audience with the Sultan today?” I asked.

  “You have me mystified, David, but I will do as you ask before the audiences start. Now, breakfast I think. I'll arrange to have some brought to your room”.

  “Most kind, Mustapha”, I said, at which point there was another knock at the door which opened to reveal Suki complete with a breakfast tray.

  “I have brought you something to eat, Uncle Daud”, she said, wearing a huge smile. She placed the tray at the end of the bed and came forward to hug me.

  “I owe you my father's life, Uncle”, she said, “and I can never repay you”.

  “No need, Suki”, I responded, “no need at all”.

  Mustapha bowed to me and said, “I can see I'm not needed and breakfast is already brought, so as I have a heavy day, I shall depart if you'll both excuse me”. Saying that he left the room.

  Suki sat with me until I had eaten and had drunk my tea. I pushed the tray back to the end of the bed and thanked her. I also asked a great favour which puzzled her, but which she agreed to do for me. Grudgingly passing me my crutches, she led me out of the room and along the corridors to another room. Then, as promised, she waited outside while I entered. I was not long in there and then rejoined her and she helped me downstairs to the throne room carrying my crutches. We found a seat outside, watched by a now observant pair of guards, and I asked Suki to find Mustapha for me.

  He returned with her and said he'd been about to come up to my room with the information I wanted and was surprised to find me down there. He confirmed for me that the tutor had an audience and was due to appear in fifteen minutes. Suki looked on in puzzlement while we spoke. Mustapha left to attend his Sultan during the audiences and I asked Suki to bring me two of the Sultan's guards, as I didn't want to take the two from the door.

  “What game are you playing, my uncle?” she muttered as she left to fetch the guards.

  She soon returned with two that I was pleased to see had been part of last night’s contingent. The tutor appeared and nodded to Suki.

  “I wish to appraise the Sultan of your progress, my child”. he told her. At that moment, Mustapha appeared at the door of the throne room and beckoned the tutor forward. Gathering the two guards and a puzzled Suki I followed him in.

  He approached the throne, and with a low bow stopped. As he rose from the bow, I saw that he held a pistol. A hush fell on the room and I held my arms out to prevent my two guards from rushing forward. Two more who flanked Ibrahim rushed forward, although they would have been better standing in front of him, thus allowing him to get up and leave. Ibrahim, with courage, stood and faced the tutor.

  “Die, traitor of Islam!” cried the tutor, pulling the pistol's trigger to no effect. I moved forward on my crutches and told the guards to merely restrain him, as I could see that they were itching to kill him.

  “Lost something?” I asked, allowing the bullets to trickle through my fingers to the floor. “You are the traitor both to the true meaning of Islam and to your Sultan. I'm afraid when you reach Paradise that the only virgins waiting for you will be Catholic nuns!”

  Mustapha, who had tried to throw himself in front of Ibrahim, now came forward with a smile to take the prisoner away. It was the smile of a fox with a key to the hen house, and I hoped that the tutor was very afraid.

  Ibrahim came to me. “David, it seems I owe you my life again. This is fast becoming a habit. I do wish you'd warned me in advance though, as I thought my time had come just then. How did you know about him? Come, sit by me”.

  I manoeuvred myself towards the thrones and sat in Jenny's as Ibrahim sat in his.

  “I could not be sure, my friend”, I told him. “The tutor might have had genuine reasons to come before you, but just in case, I searched his room this morning, and when I found a pistol, I removed the bullets. I asked Suki yesterday what lessons this tutor taught and she told me that there had been talk of the eventual dominance of Islam over the infidels. I know enough of Islam to say that it's only the fundamentalists who propound that theory and mean it. I have to admit that I was also suspicious that he had been teaching at the same university which the traitorous guard had attended. It seemed just a possibility that he had actually taught the guard and had plotted this with him”.

  “I can never repay what I owe you, friend David, but name whatever you want and it's yours”, Ibrahim told me.

  “Your friendship is gift enough, Ibrahim, that and perhaps if you could arrange a comfortable journey home”, I laughed.

  Ibrahim stood and I followed. He embraced me and then allowed Suki, who had rushed into the throne room to entwine herself around him, tears in her eyes. After a few moments, during which Ibrahim had held her tightly in return, she turned to me with a twinkle in her eyes and said, “I should pull your crutches away so that you fall, Uncle Daud. You were supposed to tell me when my father was in danger”.

  “Alas, dear Suki”, I responded, “I must have let it slip my memory”.

  Disentangling herself from her father, Suki hugged me. “My mother would like a word, if you would be so kind”, she told me.

  Using the ancient crutches, I limped my way to Jenny's room, where she was sitting up in bed looking a lot better. “David”, she started, “I owe you a huge debt as does the whole country. Ibrahim may be my husband but the majority of his subjects love him too. Thank you. I would like you to take something home for your wife and daughter. Call it a gift from a grateful friend”.

  “Your Highness, Jenny”, I said, “I'm glad I was able to do something for you. Julia and Ysabel will be grateful for your gift”.

  She passed me two small velvet boxes and told me the smaller of the two was for Ysabel. I placed them in my pocket, bowed and left the room to find Mustapha waiting for me.

  “David, my friend”, he said, hugging me. “You have a flight this afternoon. Ibrahim has put his helicopter at your disposal to get you to the airport more quickly and in comfort. You will be met at the other end and conveyed home carefully. I should not want Lady Julia to think that we didn't know how to look after you”.

  There was plenty of time to pack and say my farewells to everyone before having to board the helicopter. Ibrahim wasn't able to come to the helipad as he was with Mustapha, making plans to round up the other members of the fundamentalist group. He planned to expel them from his country, although I had said I didn't think that would be enough.

  Mustapha had said that he would increase the security around the Sultan and his friends, and I didn't doubt that at all. Suki, however, did come to the helipad and I was surprised when she boarded with me.

  “Alas, I have no tutor to give me lessons today since you took him away from me. I have decided to travel to Saudi with you to make sure you leave the country, you trouble
maker”, Suki laughed. The flight to the Saudi airport was too quick, and with a last hug Suki and I waved to each other.

  I was assisted aboard the plane on the ancient crutches that I had forgotten to return, and settled in the First Class cabin. I slept for most of the journey, and at the other end was placed in a chair and carried off the plane. Passport formalities were mercifully brief and I was wheeled to a waiting Rolls Royce, where a chauffeur stowed my luggage and settled me in the back of the car. We sped homewards and the driver told me that there would be no problems doing so. “I have heard what you did for my Sultan”, he told me. “In thanks, I have brought out his official car with diplomatic plates. No one will stop us”.

  Home at last.

  Ysabel was with Lady J and she rushed to the car to help me out. There were cries of “Poor Daddy”, and “Can you manage, dear?” as I climbed out and thanked the driver. He wouldn't stay for a cup of tea, informing me he had a hot date waiting at the embassy.

  The girls carried my bags indoors and dropped them in the hall, hovering around me until I reached the lounge and flopped on to the couch. Then they placed a cup of tea in my hand and demanded the full story.

  That took a fair while as they kept asking questions and then stopping me so that they could make more drinks. I finished the story and asked Ysabel to pass me my small cabin bag. I gave them the gifts from the souk, silver bracelets set with lapis lazuli. They both appeared delighted. Then I passed them the gifts from Jenny, which I hadn't opened. For Julia there was a beautiful ruby necklace which made her gasp. For Ysabel there was a pair of exquisite earrings packed with emeralds. Both gifts were worth a king's ransom, or maybe a sultan's ransom. They were amazed at such generosity.