Mustafa ben-Nakir’s jaw dropped and I saw he had only been teasing me, as his habit was, because he thought me a weakling. Nothing could have annoyed me more than such a notion. Caution is not cowardice and in the course of my life I had shown often enough that I could take as many and as desperate risks as anyone. But Giulia’s behavior had irritated me, and the blow on my head so clouded my judgment that in stubborn idiocy I vowed that I was quite recovered and fit to go into battle. When the others had gone it was evident that she wanted to make it up with me, but I hardened my heart to punish her, and once and for all to subdue her vanity. I feigned indifference to her pleading, so that at last she gave up the attempt and vented her anger on the pots and pans, assuring me that I was the greatest liar she had ever met and that she believed not one word I told her.
Yet she was frightened enough next morning when long before dawn I rose, washed myself in the courtyard, and with my face to the cast recited the prescribed prayers. In further token of my valor I grasped a sturdy cudgel before staggering on trembling legs into the street. Only then did she see that I was in earnest; she rushed after me, seized my sleeve and cried, “Ah, Michael! Perhaps I’ve been unkind, and proud, but I had reasons that my modesty forbade me to mention. If by a miracle you return from the battle I’ll tell you my secret, and you shall decide how to act. But if we should meet only in heaven-and even that seems unlikely, since you’re a Moslem and I’m a Christian-the secret will have little importance. So I won’t cry it aloud in the street for all to hear; it would only distress you at such a moment as this.”
I believed she had no such secret and was merely trying to arouse my curiosity and so detain me until I was too late to take part in the attack. So I tore myself free and hurried down to the harbor. But Giulia was not the only woman to beg her man to stay at home that day, and with sighs and sobs assure him that an honest, profitable trade was greatly to be preferred to the joys of Paradise.
I reached the harbor at sunrise when Khaireddin, surrounded by his officers, was giving his final orders.
“Today is Friday, a lucky day. May it bring joy and profit to Islam. Today the hundred gates of Paradise stand wide open; never has there been a better opportunity to enter those glorious realms where dark- eyed virgins wait upon the faithful amid rippling water brooks. Gird on my sword, for I mean as usual to be in the forefront, and by example encourage even the fearful to follow me boldly through the breach.”
As if by order his officers began to exclaim and wring their hands, among the most animated being Sinan the Jew and Abu el-Kasim. They strongly opposed Khaireddin in his resolve to expose himself to danger, reminding him of the irreparable loss his death would mean to Islam. But he stamped with fury and cried, “O disobedient and unnatural children! Would you deny me this honor? Why should I alone be forced to abstain from Paradise, which now stands open to the poorest Moslem?”
He rushed back and forth shouting for his sword, and the captains had to catch and hold him by the arms lest he tumble headlong into the water. By this time the enthusiasm among the people knew no bounds; they shouted his name and praised his valor, exhorting him at the same time not to imperil his priceless life. At length he was compelled to resign himself, and said with a deep sigh, “Well, I will stay here among you, since you beg me so importunately. But I shall watch the assault, and will afterward reward the valiant and punish the cowardly. It remains only to choose a leader. No doubt you will race one another to the island, yet custom requires that one shall be chosen beforehand to lead the force into the breach.”
The officers at once fell silent and looked askance at the fortress that rose from the water a bowshot from land; their eyes rested with distaste on the gap in the wall, black as the mouth of hell. They turned pale and whispered among themselves, saying, “The offer is indeed tempting, but I’m unfit for such an honor. You’re older than I am and I resign in your favor.”
While they were yet busied with these affectations, Andy stepped forward and said, “My lord Khaireddin, let me lead the assault and bring you back the Castilian flag!”
I limped forward to protest, but before I could explain to our commander that Andy must be out of his mind, Khaireddin stretched out his hand toward me and shouted, “See, good people! Take these men as your pattern! It is but a little time since they found the true path, yet all the keener is their longing for Paradise. I cannot deny you the honor you beg of me, el-Hakim; go with your brother. You shall be the first to set foot on the rock of Penjon, and I shall know how to reward you.”
I tried to tell him that he had quite misunderstood me, but my terrified stammer was drowned in the acclamations of the officers.
Meanwhile Khaireddin’s fleet had sailed from its anchorage further along the coast, and now began a bombardment to distract the garrison’s attention from what was happening on land. Soon the shore batteries also opened fire, and the thoughtful Andy urged me to put on armor. I reflected for a little and then said, “Nothing happens save by the will of Allah. A good sword is enough for me. Go first, Andy my brother; I will follow at your heels and do my best to protect you in the rear.”
Mustafa ben-Nakir looked at me dubiously and said, “You’re right, Michael el-Hakim; if we were to fall overboard in full armor we should sink like stones. I shall take off my lion skin lest I lose it in the struggle, and be the third man of your party, trusting that your brother’s massive body will protect us from the worst unpleasantness.”
We then stepped aboard the leading raft and took cover behind gabions stuffed with earth and wool. A crowd of stouthearted men followed us, and the rowers dipped their oars and began pulling for dear life toward the fortress, loudly invoking Allah’s help and cursing the Spaniards.
All went well, and few shots greeted us from the scarred embrasures of the fortress. Should I ever be suspected of exaggeration or boast- fulness, let me say here and now that no better opportunity than the present ever occurred; nevertheless I shall confine myself to relating what really happened, and must therefore admit that the capture of Penjon cannot be numbered among the heroic deeds of history. On this occasion virtue was its own reward, and I won a reputation for valor and audacity without being exposed to any particular danger.
A few roundshot sang over our heads and threw up fountains of water as they fell into the sea astern. Shortly afterward our bows grounded on the shore with a jar that knocked me backward. Andy hauled me up by the scruff of the neck and dragged me ashore, with Mustafa ben-Nakir close behind, and we made a mad dash for the breach. I had little time for reflection, and when at last I looked up we were already halfway through the gap; before us in bright armor and with the Castilian flag wound about his left arm stood Captain de Varga, brandishing a sword and ready to give the last drop of his blood in defense of the stronghold. He stood alone, for his men, to their undying shame, had deserted him. Hunger and despair cannot excuse them, though for my own part I had no complaint to make of their prudent behavior.
Captain de Varga, then, stood before us alone, a haggard, swarthy figure. He glared at us with burning eyes, and there was froth at his lips. Andy, astonished, lowered his sword and called to him to surrender. But Captain de Varga laughed and shouted back, “I won’t rehearse my lineage to you, for a de Varga does not boast; but I’ll show you what is meant by loyalty to God, king, and country.”
In our rear more boats and rafts were being beached, and when the brave Moslems saw that one man alone was defending the breach they rushed up in a dense mob and swept me along with them, so that I lost my footing. I believe it was Andy who struck the sword from de Varga’s hand, and the next moment the Captain was lying on his back with me on top of him. Notwithstanding his noble lineage, notwithstanding the protection my body afforded him against the wild Moslems who lay over me in a kicking, struggling heap, he so far forgot himself as to sink his long teeth in my cheek.