Hosein’s voice was full of defiance.
“What is a criminal without chains?”
“And when has a son ever had to stand before his father in chains?”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“You’re afraid of me.”
“Even mad dogs have to be tied up until they’re put to sleep.”
“What a wonderful father!”
“You’re right. Now I have to expiate the sin I committed when I begat you.”
“So you don’t intend to free me?”
“I don’t think you have any idea what’s waiting for you for your crime. I’ve established the laws, and I’ll be the first to honor them.”
“Your threats don’t scare me one bit.”
“You idiot! You oaf!”
“Call me names. I don’t care.”
“O heavens! Do you still not realize what sort of crime you’ve committed?!”
“Nobody puts me in chains and gets away with it.”
“So for that you murdered my closest friend and assistant while he was trying to carry out my order?!”
“Does a friend mean more to you than a son?”
“Alas, I’m afraid so.”
“All of Iran can be proud of such a unique father! What are you going to do with me?”
“What sort of punishment have I prescribed for the murder of a superior?”
“I haven’t studied your laws.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll tell you myself. The law calls for cutting off the culprit’s right hand, then beheading him in front of the faithful.”
Hosein was dumbstruck.
“You don’t mean to say that that’s going to happen to me?”
“Do you think I wrote my laws just for fun?”
“It’s true. The world will shudder at a father like that.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I guess I don’t.”
“You’re still just as insolent as ever.”
“What do you expect? Like father, like son.”
“I don’t have time to waste on your witticisms. Tomorrow you’ll face a trial before the dais. You know what awaits you. You won’t be speaking to me again. What shall I tell your mother?”
“Thank her for giving me such a model father. Any animal would treat its offspring better.”
“Which is why it’s an animal. Human beings have intelligence and strict but just laws. Is there anything else you want to say?”
“What else is there to say? Do you really think I believe you’d do away with your only son and heir? Who would be your successor then?”
Hasan laughed uproariously.
“You, Hosein, my successor? You can’t really think that you could ever lead this institution, which is built on the supremacy of the mind and on pure reason? You, who don’t understand anything except how to bridle a donkey? Since when have eagles begun leaving their lofty kingdoms to calves? Is that why you think you can do anything you want?”
Hosein tore him apart with his eyes.
“Dogs beget dogs, bulls beget calves. Like father, like son.”
“If that were really true, then you’re not my son!”
“Do you mean to shame my mother with that?”
“Not at all. I just wanted to show that your claim may hold for dogs and bulls, but not for human beings. Otherwise kingdoms that fathers found with their intelligence and courage wouldn’t collapse from the stupidity and ineptitude of their sons.”
“All right. But the world has never known a sultan or a shah who has left his kingdom to a stranger when he had a son of his own flesh and blood.”
“I’ll be the first in that respect too. So do you really have nothing more to ask me? No requests for your mother?”
“Only the one I already made.”
“Fine.”
He called for the guards.
“Take the prisoner to the dungeon!”
Hosein gritted his teeth.
“Just try to have your lackeys put me on trial! I’ll shout your disgrace so the whole world hears.”
The next morning the high court of the dais was convoked. Abu Ali was its chair.
“Examine the laws and then judge strictly according to them.” This is what Hasan had ordered.
Once they were all assembled, guards brought Hosein in.
Abu Ali charged him with two counts: first mutiny, and then the murder of his superior. The punishment for both was death.
Abu Ali asked him, “Do you admit your guilt, son of Hasan?”
“I don’t admit any guilt. All I admit is that I did what you accuse me of doing.”
“Fine. Mutiny alone calls for a sentence of death.”
Hosein flew into a rage.
“Don’t forget that I’m the son of the supreme commander!”
“The law knows no exceptions. You were a common foot soldier under Husein Alkeini, and that is how we accuse you.”
“What? You’re trying to tell me that just anyone can put me in chains?”
“As you see, you’re already in them. Do you really have no defense?”
“What kind of defense do you want from me? Alkeini informed on me to my father behind my back, so he could throw me in jail more easily. I refuse to let anyone treat me like that! I’m not just anyone. I am the son of the Ismaili commander!”
“You mutinied against him. The supreme commander ordered him to restrain you as punishment, at which point you murdered him. Is this what happened?”
“Yes, that’s what happened.”
“Fine. Abdul Malik! Read what the law prescribes for the crime of mutiny against a superior and for the murder of a superior.”
Abdul Malik rose to his full height. He opened a heavy, bound book to the place where a marker had been inserted in it, and he reverently touched his forehead to it. Then he began reading in a solemn voice.
“Whoever among the Ismaili faithful opposes his superior or rebels against an order that his superior gives him, or in any other way avoids carrying out an order, unless he be prevented from so doing by a higher power, is to be put to death by beheading. Whoever among the Ismaili faithful attacks his superior or murders him is to be put to death, first by having his right hand severed and then by beheading.”
Abdul Malik closed the book. He bowed to the dais respectfully and then sat back down.
Abu Ali now spoke.
“High court of the dais! You have heard what the law prescribes for the crime of insubordination against an officer and for the murder of an officer. I will now ask you whether the accused is guilty of the crimes with which he has been charged.”
He turned toward Buzurg Ummid and called out his name.
“Guilty,” came the answer.
“Emir Manuchehr?”
“Guilty.”
“Dai Ibrahim?”
“Guilty.”
“Dai Abdul Malik?”
“Guilty.”
“Dai Abu Soraka?”
“Guilty.”
The verdict was unanimous.
Hosein winced at each name. The whole time he hoped secretly that someone would resist, that someone would see that he had been in the right and that he couldn’t have acted differently. When the last one had pronounced his “guilty,” Hosein howled, “Criminal dogs!”
Chained though he was, he still tried to leap at them. A guard restrained him in time. He ground his teeth and rolled his eyes in helpless rage.
Abu Ali rose solemnly and spoke.
“Grand court of the dais! You have unanimously recognized that the accused is guilty of the crimes of which he stands accused. Therefore, Hosein, son of Hasan and grandson of Sabbah, is condemned to death, first by having his right hand severed, then by beheading, as the law prescribes. The sentence will be carried out once it is signed by the supreme commander. Do any of the honored members of the court have anything to say?”
Buzurg Ummid rose.
“Grand court of the dais!” he said. “You have heard the sentence that has been pronounced on Hosein, son of Hasan, for the murder of the grand dai of Khuzestan. His guilt has been proven and the criminal himself has admitted it. The punishment meted out to him is therefore lawful, just and strict. Let me point out to the high court of the dais, however, that Hosein’s is the first crime of this kind since the supreme commander issued the more stringent law code. And so I propose that we support an appeal to Sayyiduna for mercy, should the accused choose to submit one.”