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Sinan the Jew remarked that with so fiery a creature beside me I should need no other wives, and life would be cheap for me. I had no strength to reply to their sallies, but lay there silent. When Abu el-Kasim learned what had really happened he was genuinely concerned. He examined me and mixed me a strengthening medicine, and I soon fell into a pleasant sleep, to awake later much refreshed.

My first thought was for Andy, and when I asked after him, Abu el-Kasim tore his beard and cried, “The curse of Allah on your stupidity, Michael el-Hakim! Why did you never so much as hint that your brother’s a trained artilleryman and can even cast cannon? This important fact was discovered quite by chance; for today when he heard the sound of firing he went down to the shore to cure his headache-so he said-with the wholesome smell of gunpowder. There Khaireddin saw him thrust aside our men and lay the guns himself, soon displaying his skill by shooting the Castilian flag from the tower, to the fury of the Spaniards. Khaireddin gave him the turban of a master gunner and ten gold pieces, and I fancy he’ll soon have sweated the poisons from his wine-sodden body.”

I was horrified to hear of Andy firing on his Christian brothers. Later, when the bombardment ceased for the noon prayer, he came to see me and his face was blackened with powder. I rebuked him for what he was doing, but he answered, “Guns are my music, and I ought never to have left them. You mustn’t scold me for returning to my proper trade like the shoemaker to his last, as they used to say in Rome.”

“But my dear Andy, how can you bring yourself to fire on men redeemed by the blood of Christ-men who are doing their utmost under extreme difficulties to serve the Emperor under whose colors you yourself have fought?”

Andy replied, “Remember I bear a grudge against the Spaniards. In Rome they behaved more like wild beasts than men, and I needn’t remind you of their treatment of women. Not even Moslems would do as they did.”

“But they’re Christians! How can you bear arms against them with Mussulmans, when in your heart you’re not a Moslem at all?”

Andy glared at me angrily and said, “I’m as good a Moslem as you are, Michael, even if I don’t know as much of the Koran by heart. But the whole matter was clear to me when I discovered that Islam means submission to the will of God, and that the God called Allah is the same as the Frenchmen’s sang dieu, the Germans’ Herrgott or Donnerwetter and the Latins’ Deus or Dominus.”

My reproaches rolled off him like water off a duck’s back. He insisted that guns were his music and that pay was pay whether the coins bore the Emperor’s head or an Arabic flourish. He sat in thought for a time with his head on his hand, and when he spoke again it was on a note of tenderness.

“I never knew how fond I was of guns until I smelled the hot metal again, and the stinging smoke. I couldn’t help stroking them-and believe me, not the most opulent woman can compare with the burning touch of a cannon after the fifth shot. When Mustafa ben-Nakir saw my eagerness he told me that the Sultan of Turkey had found a new way of transporting even the heaviest pieces; where the roads are bad he loads gun metal onto camels, so that the cannon can be cast at the place where they’re to be used. No one has ever thought of doing that before, and I should like to see for myself how they manage it. Mustafa couldn’t tell me, but his account made me long to visit Istanbul, the Sultan’s capital. And he has promised to recommend me to the artillery commander there.”

I was staggered by these wild projects, but he continued eagerly, “First we have to build a breakwater for Khaireddin, so that his ships can find shelter in the harbor. His only reason for attacking the fortress is to get ready-hewn stone for the breakwater, and cheap labor. Prisoners of war get no pay, and crusts and water suffice to feed them.”

So he babbled on until he became aware of his own garrulity and bent to stroke my dog in embarrassment.

After a few days my strength was fully restored, though I was prompt in taking to my bed again when I saw anyone coming. I felt not the smallest desire to become involved in the siege and perhaps be brought face to face with Captain de Varga, who would certainly have a bone to pick with me. Abu el-Kasim told me that immediately after my visit, de Varga had sent a fast-sailing sloop to Cartagena; therefore Khaireddin was making ready to storm the fortress at once, taking into his service all who could stand on their feet and who desired to win Paradise without delay by falling in battle against the unbeliever.

Nevertheless Khaireddin’s plans had been impeded by Captain de Varga who, despite the Dominican’s protests, hanged the two young Moors whom Khaireddin had smuggled in as spies. We learned this from a Spanish traitor who had had enough of the siege and came swimming across the bay one dark night to join Khaireddin’s men. He told us that there were many wounded in the fortress, that the walls were badly cracked, that the Spaniards lacked food, water, and powder, and that all except de Varga were willing to negotiate for permission to leave unmolested. But de Varga would not hear of this and when the Castilian standard was shot away he himself stood as a living flagstaff at the top of the tower, with the flag wound about his left arm, and proclaimed that anyone daring to whisper of submission should instantly be put in irons.

A few days later, however, a promising breach was made in the walls, and Khaireddin ordered his men to lash boats together into rafts, with gabions at their bows for cover. He then retired to pass the night in solitary prayer and fasting, in preparation for the decisive assault.

After the evening prayer, Andy, Abu el-Kasim, and Mustafa ben- Nakir assembled at my bedside. When we had conversed for a time on general topics they gently but firmly dragged me out of bed, set me on my feet, felt my head and limbs, and praised Allah for favoring me with so speedy a recovery. Mustafa ben-Nakir said, “Ah, Michael, how glad I am, for now you can take part in the attack and with us make yourself worthy of Paradise!”

My knees failed me and I should have fallen had it not been for Andy’s powerful arms.

“Alas!” I cried, “I’m dizzy-I can’t stand. But with the remnant of my strength I will crawl to the shore and tend the wounded. It would be deplorable indeed were the faithful to bleed to death because of Abu el-Kasim’s ineptitude. I won’t even claim a fee for my labor of mercy, but will content myself with what is offered me.”

Mustafa ben-Nakir looked at me with shining eyes and said, “You’re surely not afraid? Your brother Antar and I have resolved to board the leading craft; we shall be the first to scale the walls and tear the Castilian flag from Captain de Varga’s hands. For friendship’s sake we’ll take you with us, to share the glory and the reward of our exploit.”

I retorted testily, “Afraid? And what is that? An empty word. I’m a peaceable man, and a sick one, with no ambition to be hailed as a hero.”

Giulia had been standing behind a curtain, listening to the conversation in silence. Seeing me sway upon my feet, she stepped forward and helped me to lie down again upon the bed.

“Why do you pester him?” she demanded. “I’ll never let him go to that terrible island. He has been too weak even for love. I’d take a sword in my own hand rather than see him do it.”

This speech offended me for some reason, and I snapped, “Hold your tongue; you weren’t consulted. It’s easier to inflict wounds than to heal them, and perhaps after all I’ll join you tomorrow.”