There was a roar of laughter from behind me, and Sinan the Jew, drawing aside a curtain, stepped forward unable any longer to contain his mirth. Mardshan the eunuch followed close at his heels, distractedly wringing his hands, and I thought my last hour had come, for I had presumed to speak to Giulia, and she had uncovered her face before me, which among Mussulmans is a great sin.
Panic stricken though I was, I yet sought to save Giulia and raising my scrubbing brush I said, “Lord, punish me, for she is innocent and I addressed her first. But we have uttered nothing but praise of your gendeness and wisdom.”
Sinan laughed still more and answered, “I heard how warmly you praised me. Rise up out of the dirt, Michael, and fear nothing. You’re a physician, as you assured me, and before such men a woman may unveil without sin. But come, it is time I talked to you seriously. I want to present you to your future master, to whom you owe obedience.”
He went, and my heart turned to ice. But Mardshan said, “Sinan has given you away and you must follow Abu el-Kasim, your new master. He is a drug merchant of ill repute from the town of Algiers, the curse of Allah be upon him.”
My heart was in my mouth and I was a prey to great anguish, but Mardshan ordered me to hasten, and as I had no choice I hurried after Sinan the Jew.
With lowered eyes I entered the room; Sinan spoke to me kindly, bidding me be seated on a cushion and look about me fearlessly. On obeying I was surprised to behold a small, apelike man wearing a ragged cloak. He looked a very shady character and as I submitted to his keen gaze I felt I need expect no good from him. I turned beseechingly to Sinan, who said smiling, “Behold your new master, Abu el- Kasim. He is a poor man and makes a bare living by diluting rose water, and selling imitation ambergris and inferior eye black. He has promised to send you every day to the madrasseh of the mosque in Algiers, where you may hear the best teachers and so most rapidly learn Arabic and acquire knowledge of the pillars of the faith-of law, tradition, and the true path.”
I dared not utter a word of protest, and bowed my head submissively. Abu el-Kasim stared at me and said, “I’m told you’re a physician and familiar with Christian remedies. Now, I have undergone an arduous journey and am sick at the stomach. Can you cure me?”
He leered unpleasantly and I found him so repellent that I had no wish to examine him. But my duty compelled me, and I said, “Show me your tongue. Have your bowels moved today? Let me feel your pulse. When I have also felt your stomach I will tell you what medicine you need.”
Abu el-Kasim held his belly and moaned.
“I see that you know your business according to Frankish practice. But the best remedy for these pains of mine would be a good wine. Were it prescribed by a physician I could drink it without sin.”
I wondered at first whether he were testing me. But now Sinan the Jew also rubbed his belly and with loud lamentation said, “Oh, accursed! Abu el-Kasim, you have brought an infectious sickness into my house, and I too am afflicted. Hell is loose within me, and only the good remedy you speak of can bring relief. By the boundless favor of Allah I happen to possess a sealed jar of wine, given me by a sea captain who knew no better; I could not have declined the gift without offense. We trust you, Michael. Break the seal, smell and taste the wine, and tell us whether it will be of benefit. If so we may drink it without sin.”
The sanctimonious old frauds sat and looked at me as if I had been their master instead of their slave, and I had no choice but to break the seal and pour the wine into three finely ornamented cups which Sinan readily handed me.
“Taste the medicine,” he said, “and tell us whether it is suited to our disorder.”
But it was not the quality of the wine he doubted; he wanted first to assure himself that it had not been poisoned, and then to incriminate me,_ so that I could not afterward inform against him. However, I needed no second bidding. I tasted the dark, sweet, fragrant wine with relish and said quickly, “Drink in the name of Allah, for this is a good wine and will certainly cure all ills of mind and body.”
When we had drunk, and refilled our cups and drunk again, Abu el-Kasim said to me, “I am told that you’re familiar with Christian methods of warfare, that you know the qualities of the Christian leaders, that you have yourself served in the wars, that you speak many Christian languages and have in general deeper knowledge of all these matters than one could expect in a man of your age. Even Mardshan the eunuch has often wondered at it.”
I made no answer, but with burning cheeks drank more wine; for the words came strangely from such an old ragbag as he was.
He then asked, “If, besides adulterating drugs and pursuing useless studies at the mosque school, you had the chance to serve the world’s mightiest ruler, what would you say?”
I answered bitterly, “I served him long enough, and ingratitude was my only wage. I’ve had more than enough of the Emperor; he even wanted to send me across the western ocean, to conquer new kingdoms for him, under the command of a one-time swineherd.”
Abu el-Kasim said eagerly, “You speak of things new to me. But it was not the Emperor of the unbelievers that I meant-the ruler of the German and Spanish dominions-but the great Sultan Suleiman, who justly and liberally rewards his servants.”
“Blessed be his name,” added Sinan the Jew. “The Sultan has captured the Christian strongholds of Belgrade and Rhodes; he has conquered Hungary and, according to prediction, he is to subdue all the Christian peoples. As High Porte he is the refuge of all kings. He makes the rich poor and the poor rich and lays no undue burdens on any, so that within his dominions the nations live without fear and in brotherly concord.”
“These are dreams born of wine,” I said. “You speak of a realm that may perhaps exist in heaven, but never on earth.”
But Abu el-Kasim warmly concurred in what Sinan said.
“This is no drunken dream. In Sultan Suleiman’s empire justice is incorruptible; judges pronounce sentence according to the law, without respect of persons. Nor are any forced to renounce their faith, for Christians and Jews enjoy equal rights; so that for example the Greek Patriarch holds the rank of vizier and is a member of the Divan, or council. Thus it is that the oppressed and persecuted of all lands take refuge with the High Porte, and there find protection. Blessed be Sultan Suleiman, the people’s sun, the Lord of both halves of the world!”
“Hosannah!” cried Sinan the Jew with tears in his eyes, forgetful of his turban.
I concluded that they must both be very drunk, for I could not believe more than half they said. But Sinan unfolded a great map and pointed to the coasts of Spain, Italy, and Greece, and opposite to them the coast of Africa. He showed me where the island of Jerba lay, and the sultanate of Tunisia, the town of Algiers, and the island of Zerjeli, where Khaireddin was mustering his fleet.
Then he said, “The Hafsids have ruled these coasts for three hundred years-too long a time. Sultan Muhammed of the Hafsid dynasty is a lecherous old man who governs Tunis and is an ally of the Christian Emperor. His family were also lords of Algiers until the great Khaireddin and his brother drove them out and placed themselves under the protection of the Porte. But the faithless Hafsids sought help from the Emperor and both Khaireddin’s brothers fell in battle against the Spaniards and Berbers, so that once more Algiers came under Hafsid sway. In recognition of their help, the Spaniards built a strong fortress at the mouth of the harbor, which is a great stumbling block to us in our naval warfare against the Christians. In this way the bloodthirsty Hafsids have set themselves up against the Sultan and now omit his name from their intercessory prayers in the mosques on Fridays. But by forming an alliance with unbelievers and allowing the Spaniards to dig themselves in at the harbor mouth, Selim ben-Hafs has squandered the period of grace allowed him.”