The Talbot Mundy Megapack. Talbot Mundy

it and failed. She contrived to tear away Grim’s mask and to expose the man’s real feelings.

      He was always an enigma to me until that interview, at which they squatted facing each other on Grim’s mat, with me beside Grim and the Sikh and Ali Baba glaring daggers at each other on either hand. The early sun seemed to edge everybody with a sort of aura, but it also showed every detail of a face and made it next to impossible to hide emotion.

      She opened the ball. I imagine she had been doing that most of her life.

      “Jimgrim,” she said. “Jimgrim. Are you by any chance the American named James Grim, who fought with Lawrence in Allenby’s campaign?”

      Grim astonished us all by admitting it at once. The name Jimgrim sounds enough like Arabic to pass muster; and we wondered why he should have gone to all that trouble to disguise himself, only to confess his real name when there seemed no need. Even Ali Baba left off cursing the Sikh under his breath.

      “I am glad to know that,” she said. “It will save my wasting words. No man could ever get your reputation without being ruthless. I won’t annoy you by pleading for mercy.”

      And she looked at once as merciless as she expected him to be.

      “Now, Jael Higg,” he answered, “let’s talk sense.”

      “You’re a rare one, if you can!” she retorted.

      “Let’s do our best,” he said kindly.

      She looked very keenly at him for thirty seconds, and seemed to make up her mind that she had no chance against him.

      “Very well,” she said. “I’ll begin by being sensible. How much money do you want?”

      It is true that the more you analyze Grim’s face the more he does impress you as a keen business man. But there are modifying symptoms. He did not appear to have heard the question.

      “I want you to be straightforward and tell me all you know of Ali Higg’s circumstances.”

      “Yes. I’d expect you to want that. As an American hired by the British to help them exploit this country, that’s what you would ask. After you know all about him you can fix the ransom. That right? Well, I won’t tell.”

      “I hoped we were going to talk sense,” he answered quietly.

      “How can any one talk sense with a man like you? What are you doing in this country? `Horning in’ is what they’d call it in America. You’ve got no business here. It’s different in my case. I’m married to Ali Higg. I’ve thrown in my lot with these people. I’ve a right to help them to independence. But what right have you got to interfere? Bah! Name your price. I’ll pay if I can.”

      “Well, Jael,” he answered with a rather whimsical smile. “I’ll try to disillusion you to begin with. Perhaps if you understand me better you’ll be reasonable.

      “All I know is Arabic and Arabs. I’ve no other gifts, and I like to be some use in the world. I’m real fond of Arabs. It ’ud tickle me to see them make good. But I can see as far through a stone wall as any blind horse can, and I know—better maybe than you do, Jael—that all they’ll get by cutting loose and playing pirates is the worst end of it. I hate to see them lose out, so I use what gifts I’ve got in their behalf.”

      “Do you call it helping us to come out against Ali Higg and kidnap his wives?” she retorted. “Ali Higg is a patriot. He’s against all foreign control of Arab country, and he’s man enough to fight.

      “These British and French and Italians promised us an independent Arab country. Where is it? Have you seen any of it? No. And you’re helping the British break their promise!

      “Ali Higg is doing his best to redeem what Arabs fought for in the war, and I’m his wife. You ask me to betray him? Never!”

      “Ali Higg is doing his worst, not his best, Jael.”

      “He is creating unity among these tribes,” she retorted.

      “He is practically forcing the British to come out and smash him,” said Grim. “Now, see here, Jael, I don’t want him smashed. I don’t hold with his method, but that’s the Arab’s business; if being crucified and shot for differences of opinion suits them, why, no doubt Ali Higg’s the right man for them. They tell me he delivers the goods. But he can’t go starting a new war out here, not while I’ve any say he can’t.”

      “Who are you that should say or not say?” she demanded.

      “Same as Ali Higg, Jael; I’m a human. He’s from Arabia, you’re from the Balkans, I’m from the U.S. We’re all three foreigners, aren’t we?”

      “Yes. But he and I are foreigners who will drive the British out—”

      “And let French or Italians in.”

      “Ali Higg is a fighter, I tell you! He’s an Arab, and he knows how to control Arabs just as the Prophet Mohammed did. He has only begun in a small way, but—”

      “But he’ll wind up like a small-town sport in the lock-up, the way he’s going,” said Grim. “Now, see here, Jael, I’m just as set on doing my bit in the world as Ali Higg is. Maybe I’m a mite more tolerant, but there isn’t a man or woman living who can shift me off a course once I’m set on it.

      “Ali Higg considers the Arabs need a holy war. I’m hell bent for peace. I’m going to stop him. I’m not arguing that point, for it won’t bear arguing, and I’m not trying to convert you. But you’re in my power, and though I sure would hate to inconvenience a lady, I’m that plumb remorseless I’d separate you from Ali Higg for ever unless you helped me call him off the warpath.”

      “Help you!” she exclaimed with horror.

      “Sure. You’ve got to! There’s no law this side of the border, Jael, that can make me hand you over to authority. There’s no mandate out here yet. There never will be one if I can prevent it. I’m here to keep a foreign army from trespassing across the Jordan, it being my crazy notion that Arabs can evolve their own government, if let. You’ve got to help me keep that foreign army out, or take the consequences.”

      She laughed at last. It was rather a hard laugh without much mirth in it.

      “Your words are a liar’s, but your voice rings true,” she said. “I think you’re only another of these diplomatists.”

      “I’m that diplomatic I’m chancing my hide to save other peoples,” he answered. “Let’s be quite frank, Jael. I’m in danger out here. All I’ve got with me besides two respectable men are thieves from El-Kalil. That little army of Ali Higg’s lies between me and the border, and I’m no kind of a darn-fool optimist when it comes to figuring on Ali Higg’s hospitality in Petra. Nor am I kidding myself I can persuade His Dibs by a theological argument or any cheap advice.

      “But I’ve reasoned it out this way—if Ali Higg sends Ayisha to El-Kalil rather than trust you to do your shopping, that’s because he sets a value on you. Since he sends you out in charge of a raid on El-Maan I guess he sets a high value on you. That’s as good as saying you’ve got influence. Believe me, Jael, you’ll use that influence to suit my plans or we’re not going to be friends!”

      “Friends?” she said, and stared at him.

      “Sure. Why not? Look at the men I’ve got with me; they’re all my friends. I’m right proud to say it. I might have hanged most of them once, but I never knew it do much good to a man to hang him; so we get acquainted, and one way and another we contrive to keep on good terms.

      “See my point? Nobody’d hang you if I scooted back over the border with you, Jael. There isn’t a law that would cover your case. But they’d deport you, and you’d be an outcast with tabs kept on you, and I’ve seen your sort come to a bad end. I never liked to see it. I never saw anybody gain by it. I’d sooner see you winning every one’s respect by sticking to Ali Higg and schooling him to play safe.”