human
That course is my only chance of escape, she said, turning to me in explanation, when the door had closed.
gpt
Had I fallen, thou too must have perished, for thy food in the secret chamber could not have lasted long,
human
I have to thank thee for rescuing me from death, I said.
gpt
I had no idea who was my deliverer until I overheard thy conversation.
human
But thou didst not obey the instructions I left thee in my letter, she said in a tone of reproach.
gpt
Searching for a means of exit, it seemeth, brought thee unto the Chamber of Assembly; hence my disgrace and thine own peril.
human
But thine husband--whither have they taken him?
gpt
To the chamber in which thou hast remained hidden these few days. Before he is placed there, he will be rendered unconscious, so that he may not know of the secret entrance. There will he remain while I reach a place of safety.
human
Merely detained?
gpt
Yes. Though in his wrath he tried to kill me, I bear him no malice, for when I get back to mine own people, I shall be safe. If he discovers how to get out of his prison, then he will live. If not
human
Though thou art his wife, thou dost not appear to regret thy departure.
gpt
Why should I, when I have been detained here over a year against my will? If thou only knewest the dreary life a woman leadeth in the hands of a brute she hates and despises--ah!
human
Then thou wilt now regain freedom?
gpt
Yes. For many moons have I waited in patience for this moment, and at last I have accomplished what I sought. Already the preparations are being made. My two trusty slaves will return when their work hath been accomplished, and in an hour camels will be packed in readiness for our journey.
human
Our journey? Dost thou intend that I should accompany thee?
gpt
Certainly. To disguise thyself as a female slave, veiled and enshrouded by a haick, is thine only chance of escape. _La bodd annak tarooh maaki_! [
human
You must go with me
gpt
Thou art stronger than when I found thee lying as one dead in the ruins of the great Palace of the White Sultan, she exclaimed, as she lay stretched among her cushions, with her bright, beautiful eyes looking up to mine.
human
Dost thou feel well enough to withstand the fatigue of travel?
gpt
Yes, quite, I answered.
human
But ought we not to prepare for flight immediately?
gpt
There is no need for haste, she answered.
human
This is mine own private apartment where none dare enter, so take thine ease, for we must journey far before _el maghrib_.
gpt
Why didst thou take compassion upon me--a stranger?
human
I had accompanied two of the wives of the man who hath held me in hateful bondage on a portion of their journey towards Assiou, and in returning we halted to rest under the shadow of the Hall of the Great Death. There I discovered thee, and, in order to give thee succour, was compelled to resort to the expedient of placing thee within the secret chamber. Some time previously I had heard that thou wert journeying south.
gpt
Who told thee? What didst thou know of me?
human
I knew that thou, a Roumi, hadst undertaken to reach Agadez in order to perform a secret mission, and that thou hadst proved loyal and true to the woman who loved thee. For her sake as well as for thine I snatched thee from certain death, and if Allah giveth us His mercy and blessing, we both shall now regain our freedom.
gpt
Art thou aware of the name of the woman to whom I am betrothed?
human
She is--or was--called Zoraida, and was known to our people as the Daughter of the Sun.
gpt
Thy people? Then thou art of the tribe of the Ennitra?
human
True, she answered, with a smile.
gpt
I am the daughter of those who have so long and eagerly sought thy destruction.
human
But what of Zoraida? Tell me; is she still alive?
gpt
Alas! I am uncertain. Here in this my prison only strange and vague rumours have reached me. Once I heard that she had been murdered in Algiers, but soon afterwards that report brought by the caravans was denied, and since then much curious gossip regarding her hath been circulated. The last I heard was, that, disguised as a camel-driver, she had followed thee to Agadez.
human
To Agadez? I cried.
gpt
How long ago did that astounding news reach thee?
human
Early last moon. One of my slaves heard it while travelling with some of the women to Assiou. I am inclined to regard it, however, like so many other rumours, as mere idle talk of the bazaars, for only a few days before that, I heard of her holding sway at the palace of our lord Hadj Absalam.
gpt
Canst thou tell me nothing authentic?
human
Alas! nothing, she answered, with a sigh.
gpt
Our Lalla Zoraida is mighty and of wondrous beauty, but the mystery that surroundeth her hath never been penetrated.