The Wanderer (8 page)

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.”

“But,” said I, “in Christian lands the story went that the King of France had formed an alliance with the Sultan against the Emperor. How can the great Sultan accept an unbeliever as his ally, if such alliances are to be condemned?”

They looked askance at one another, and Sinan answered, “We know nothing of that, but Sultan Suleiman can of course help the King of France, if the King humbly requests it. For the object there is to weaken the power of the Emperor, whereas the ruler of Algiers and Tunis seeks the aid of unbelievers against Khaireddin and the Sultan, which is a different thing altogether.”

“Maybe,” I said. “But surely you don’t expect me to set off with my two empty hands to win back Algiers for the Sultan, whom I’ve never even seen?”

They burst out laughing and slapped one another delightedly on the shoulder. Their faces were aglow with wine and they cried together, “This is a most excellent
ha\im,
and his hawk’s eyes discern hidden things. That is indeed what we expect of you. With empty hands you shall win back Algiers and proclaim the great admiral Khaireddin as its governor, so that he may drive out the Spaniards and obtain peace for those unhappy coasts. After that the malevolent Spaniards can no longer obstruct our naval enterprises.”
 

“Then, if as you say I am a
hakjm,
a physician, I forbid you to drink any more wine, for already your wits are clouded. Is not Algiers a great and mighty city, surrounded by impregnable walls?”
 

“It is indeed,” they cried in chorus. “It is a shining city on the shores of this blue sea, a flashing jewel which our commander Khaireddin desires to set beside the crescent on Sultan Suleiman’s turban, so to deserve his favor. And the whole of this city is guarded by the island fortress of the Spaniards, which blocks the entrance to the harbor and obstructs sea traffic.”

I tore the turban from my head and cried aloud, “What curse is on me, that I must ever fall among maniacs who either cheat me or demand the impossible from me?”

But Abu el-Kasim spoke soothingly, saying, “You are here offered the opportunity for great deeds which will bring you honor. The Hafsid rule has been marked by so many crimes, fratricides, and feuds, and such licentiousness, that its overthrow will be an act pleasing to God. Baba Aroush fell in the attempt, as also his brothers Elias and Ishak, so that now only the youngest brother Khisr, called Khaireddin, remains alive.”

“You’ve set too many names whirling in my head at once,” I told them. “Nor do I see how you, a trafficker in cheap perfumes, can talk of this admiral as if he were your brother.”

Sinan interposed here, to say, “The wise man hides his treasure. Never judge a man by his clothes or his seeming poverty. Even I, poor wretch, am a Jew by birth, so that I was compelled to turn Christian before I was allowed to take the turban and acknowledge the Prophet, blessed be his name.” Mastering his tears he went on, “We, who drag our bare living from the sea, are feeble enough taken singly. Storm clouds are piling up, especially in the west, and we must unite our strength and lay the foundations of solid sea power, with the support of the Sultan, so that he recognizes Khaireddin as beylerbey in Algiers and sends him a kaftan of honor and a horsetail switch. That is the simple core of the matter. We must first get Algiers into our hands, then build an arsenal and a base for operations at sea.”

Thus it was that Sinan the Jew disclosed to me the pirates’ secret plans. There was no fault to be found with them; indeed I was bound to admit to myself that the time was ripe for their realization, now that the Emperor was waging bitter war against the French King, the Pope, and Venice. Moreover the Emperor had split his forces by frivolously sending good ships to the new countries beyond the western ocean. For my own part I cherished no very friendly feelings toward His Imperial Majesty, although I had taken part in the sack of Rome on his behalf. But neither had I any wish to lose my head for Khaireddin. I said therefore, “Muster your fleet, attack Algiers like brave men, and win it for the Sultan! The time is favorable, and I make no doubt that the Sultan will have the greatest pleasure in sending you kaftans of honor, and no doubt horses’ tails as well.”

Both talking at once, they said, “No, no, that will never do. The inhabitants must overthrow their own ruler and summon Khaireddin to be their governor. Our forces are too weak to take the place by storm, especially with the hostile Berber tribes at our heels. We know; we have tried.”

Abu el-Kasim said, “You shall come with me to Algiers, where you will gain a reputation as a physician. You shall also study at the mosque school and be circumcised, that you may gain the confidence of your teachers. Your brother shall earn his living as a wrestler in the market place near the mosque. If he’s as strong as we hope and believe, his fame will soon reach the ears of Selim ben-Hafs and he will be called to display his art before that bloodthirsty Sultan. Lastly the girl whose eyes resemble jewels of different colors shall gaze into sand, drawing lines in it with her finger, and make many useful and apposite predictions.”

I could not believe my ears and said, “Do you really mean that you won’t separate me from my brother, that you’re taking Giulia as well, and that I needn’t be parted from my dog?”

Sinan the Jew nodded, and mellowed by good wine he said, “Such was the guidance I received from the holy book. If we succeed, further tasks may await you, beside which this will appear a mere test of your loyalty.”

I gave a jeering laugh.

“Those last words of yours in no way increase my interest in your schemes, for were I successful I should only be burdened with ever more difficult tasks until I sank beneath the load. And what can you know of my loyalty? What should hinder me from going straight to

Selim ben-Hafs as soon as we reach Algiers, and betraying your plans to him?”

Sinan’s one eye was stony as he said, “Slave, you might win brief happiness by so doing, but it would be followed by a misery far greater; for sooner or later Khaireddin’s hand would reach you, and he would have you flayed alive and roasted on a spit.”

But Abu el-Kasim raised his hand and said with a smile, “Don’t excite yourself, Sinan; it is my business to weigh the hearts of men, and I tell you that Michael Hakim will not betray you. How I know this I cannot tell you. I believe not even Michael himself knows it.”

His trust went to my heart, for I thought of my former life and knew that neither he nor anyone else had any very good grounds for faith in me, although my intentions had always been sincere.

“I’m but a slave,” I said. “I’m not free to act of my own will. But if Abu el-Kasim trusts me, I will try to be worthy of his trust. Answer me one more question—can a slave own slaves?”

My question surprised them very much, but Sinan the Jew at once replied, “Of course a slave may own slaves once he has attained an honorable position. But such slaves still belong to his master.”

This greatly cheered me, and I said, “Then I submit to the will of Allah, and if my loyalty should result in death, the matter is predestined and I can do nothing to prevent it. Show yourself noble and open handed, my lord Sinan, and promise me your slave Giulia if I should succeed in my task, which I very gravely doubt.”

Sinan the Jew stroked his beard with his slender fingers and said, “Slave, who are you to bargain with me?”

“There’s no bargain about it,” I said in surprise. “Such a promise would not increase my loyalty or my eagerness to serve you by a hair’s breadth. I’m not even convinced that your consent would prove a blessing to me. Nevertheless I humbly entreat you—promise her to me!”

Sinan turned the wine jar sadly upside down and said, “My own liberality brings tears to my eyes. Michael, my dear slave, I promise that on the day Khaireddin marches in triumph through the open gates of Algiers, the girl shall be yours, and I will make over my right to her in the presence of witnesses. May the devil devour me if I break my promise.”

He shed tears of emotion and embraced me, and Abu el-Kasim also put his arms about me. Then Sinan kicked aside the rich carpet, seized a copper ring that was bolted to one of the marble slabs, and with a great effort hauled this up. Forgetful of his dignity he lay down at full length on the floor, put his arm into the hole beneath and drew up a fresh wine jar.

I have only an indistinct memory of what happened then, but when I opened my eyes next morning I was lying with Sinan’s beard in my hand and Abu el-Kasim’s toes in my mouth, and I must confess that the awakening was far from pleasant.

After a Turkish bath and massage I was so much recovered and so well pleased with life that I half thought I had dreamed the events of the previous day. But after the noon prayer, Sinan ordered me to prepare for the journey.

At dusk Abu el-Kasim led us to a little vessel moored in the harbor. Giulia came too, heavily veiled and too haughty to speak a word to us. We were soon heading out to sea with a fair wind. Thus Abu el-Kasim left the island of Jerba as quietly and inconspicuously as he had come. I stared out into the darkness and put my hand to my neck; this seemed to me thinner than ever, and I reflected anxiously upon the dangers among which, despite all my good intentions, my unlucky star had plunged me.

WE DID not sail direct to Algiers, for Abu el-Kasim explained that the Spaniards who held the island fort at the mouth of the harbor were in the habit of stopping and searching any vessels that sought to enter. For this reason we landed some distance along the coast, and we were not the only people to bring wares by devious routes into the city. In the sheltered bay where we anchored we found a great number of small craft whose owners were voluble in cursing Selim ben-Hafs and the Spaniards for obstructing honest trade. These vessels were discharging cargoes of captured Christians, and plunder rolled up in mats; instead of customs seals, patches of fresh blood were to be seen, so that my heart sank as I beheld the work.

We spent the night in the hut of a swarthy peasant, who was a friend of Abu’s and a man of few words. Next day Abu hired a donkey, loaded it with two great baskets and bade Giulia mount upon its back. After much argument he persuaded some peasants who were also bound for the city to conceal among their baggage a great many of the bundles and jars that he had unloaded from his ship. And truly I have never seen a more woeful creature than Abu el-Kasim as he wrung his hands, rent his dirty clothes, and besought both black and white Berbers to pity a poor wretch and save his goods from the rapacity of Selim ben-Hafs.

This was of course the purest humbug, for as we approached Algiers he told me, “Ours is a dangerous trade, Michael my son, and we cannot long ply it without attracting attention. Too much secrecy would defeat itself, and it’s better to expose oneself to scorn and mockery than to lose one’s head. And so I make as much commotion as possible, and I’m already notorious in Algiers, so that children run after me, pointing. Countless times I’ve been punished for my shifts and expedients and my clumsy attempts to fool Selim ben-Hafs’s customs officials. This time I shall no doubt get caught again, and some of my goods will be confiscated amid general gaiety. But all this is perfectly in order. My best wares will arrive safely; I know the rules of the game. By the way, it would do no harm for your brawny brother to jeer at me now and again. For who takes notice of a man who’s mocked by his own slaves?”