My good opinion of the governor was now greatly enhanced. I applauded his frank admission and went on to add my own comments.
"In these times of corruption and crisis," I said, "politicians maintain a stranglehold on all the normal traditions of power. When they're confronted with problems, whether obvious to the eye or beneath the surface, you'll find them seeking diversions and pretending not to notice. If anyone should actually aspire to bring about change or arouse the somnolent, the only choice that these politicians give them is to gird themselves in their paltry armor and wander their way around the same fetid pastures of illusion and supplication. As the Qur'an says, `It is not eyes that are blind, but rather hearts within their breasts' [Sura 22, v. 46]. And God has spoken the truth."
My companion now brought out a rosary. Head lowered, he started counting off the beads.
"My dear righteous governor," I said, continuing the conversation as I felt I had to do, "I beg you to tell me, is Amir al-Sa`id really blind when it comes to appreciating the dangers posed by the Castilians and their allies in Spain, which is being relentlessly swallowed up? Isn't he aware that they're now biding their time over Granada? Are they really willing to let it go? Isn't he aware that, if the Castilians decide to extend their campaign, they will inevitably cross the straits and reach the shores of North Africa and beyond?"
A powerful mixture of resentful amazement and urgent questions was crowding my brain, but at this point I decided to stop expressing my opinions, if only for a short while, in order not to overburden my colleague.
He gave me a piercing stare that made me realize that I should tone down my comments a bit.
"Abd al-Haqq," he said, "it's a symbol of how highly I value your worth that I'm now going to reveal to you something that, by God, I've never told anyone else before. At this point in time the Almohad dynasty exists only in name. The current rulers are playing around, trading on the heritage and prestige of their forebears. Amir al-Sa`id is just like his brother, al-Rashid, and his father, al-Ma'mun. When it comes to life and politics, he's only interested in the present moment. For him it is he himself and his coterie that matter the most. As far as he's concerned, `apres moi le deluge'! So how can you expect him to be paying any attention to Spain or considering the future?"
"Then, my brother," I said, "you should give him advice and open his eyes to the ever-growing dangers that are blindingly obvious to anyone with sense and foresight."
"As you well know, counselors who are both pious and honest are a very rare commodity. Those that remain are either bound and gagged or else keeping themselves out of harm's way. They are due, as the saying has it, `the benediction of strangers."'
"But the situation is drastic," I replied, and things are only getting worse. Even so, we still have to identify people who are prepared to knock on the doors of hope and salvation."
"But, pinnacle of the faith, tell me how that can be?" the governor asked. "For heaven's sake, tell me how?"
"In Sufi houses and retreats and among brotherhoods you will find sources of faith and reserves of initiative and commitment. On both sides of the straits people are fully prepared to defend the faith. Saints of God can form a living army; all they lack is organization, munitions, and equipment. Ever since I've arrived in Sabta with its seven hills, I've regarded it as my rear headquarters, my line of defense, and my haven. I've vowed to myself that, while I'm here, I'll use it as a base for transforming the situation and seek to find a solid mode of resistance. On both shores of the straits there are many people such as myself to be found in mountain passes, fortress towns, big cities, and outlands."
"But, my dear brother," the governor replied, his expression one of frowning incredulity, "brotherhoods and Sufis are not fighting men, nor can they undertake defensive actions and preemptive strikes. How on earth can they confront the Christian legions with their enormous numbers and superior weaponry?"
"With that aid of God's power and might, we'll be following the tracks of the Almoravids and Almohads who strove till they achieved huge victories at the battles of al-Zallaqa [in 1086] and Ucles [1108]."
"My dear Abd al-Haqq, the era of Yusuf ibn Tashufin and Ya`qub al-Mansur* is long past. Today the entire dynasty is in terrible shape. Its major figures have their hands in the devil's own sleeve. To say it again, I swear to God that I've never said anything like this to anyone else before."
"The hearts of honest men are where secrets can be buried. You can trust me, my brother, and not be alarmed."
The governor let out a huge sigh. "However I look at things," he said, "our situation is dire and out of our hands. All we can do is hope that God will enable us to escape…"
"Whatever the case may be, we are enjoined to act. In our situation action is a form of worship, something that will enable us to come closer to God. Has AlSa`id forgotten that, as Commander of the Faithful, he is required to display good intentions and effective management in striving toward God Almighty? The only way to compensate for the weakness of the Maghribi armies is to rely on committed believers on both shores. Imposing a system of justice and putting political affairs on a more just and useful course is the only way for him to bolster his position. Asking Frederic, the king of the Christians, for assistance is certainly a laudable gesture, most especially since he has severed his fealty to the church in Rome and made known his admiration for Islamic science and arts. In fact, the head of his religious community has excommunicated him on the pretext that he's virtually a Muslim and denies the authority of the Crusader religion."
I decided not to allude to the relationship between King Frederic and AlMalik al-Kamil, the Ayyubid ruler in Egypt, not only because there was not enough time but also because the governor might not be able to appreciate the complexities involved. My companion remained silent for a while.
"Is your response to the king's letter the reason for your requesting this meeting?" he asked with obvious concern.
"Yes, it is," I replied. "I was anxious to get him to offer help to the people in Spain and also to expand on my responses to his questions."