The Black Rose Page #6

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and wait for

the ax to fall.

Well, the old pirate's right

after all.

And there's that

saddled camel.

He's the offspring

of a sore-eyed camel driver!

- He wanted to beat me!

- Quiet! Get her into the tent.

- Do you know who she is?

- Mahmoud has struck a great lady.

- Mahmoud should be whipped.

- Never mind about that!

Do you know we'll all be killed

if anybody finds out she's here?

I will tell no one.

Mahmoud would die first.

I want you to get into that tent and pretend

as though nothing had happened.

- Can we trust him?

- We'll either trust him or slit his throat.

- I am glad he knows.

- Why?

Because now there is

no more need of pretending...

and I can be in the tent with you

the way that it was meant to be.

- Now, look, Mahomet-

- I suppose he told you...

that I am English and that

I am to go to England.

- Yes, we know that.

- There is so much I must know about England...

if I am to go

to live there.

Do you think they would like me?

What is it like there?

Are all the people

as beautiful as you are?

Ask him.

He's the beautiful one.

Oh, no! I think you are

much more beautiful than he is.

You look just

as I've always known-

Mahomet, there's no time for talking.

This is very serious for all of us.

Put that turban back on,

button yourself up...

and get ready to play

second boy again, understand?

- Yes, but I-

- I don't wanna talk about it.

- Just do as I say, and quickly too.

- Yes, most kind, but-

All right, then do it!

I never saw anyone look less like

young gallants going off on a great adventure.

- How does the lady feel about it?

- The lady, my lord?

Hmm. What's her name?

Sarah?

Oh. I think she'll like

what lies ahead, my lord.

We're making some kinsmen for your Sarah

so she won't be lonely.

I've given orders to find

that wood of yours, bowman.

There's something to

interest you, young scholar.

With that

direction-finding chariot...

we can strike straight through

any storm without getting lost.

We can leave the trade route

and travel across country.

- Was that made in China?

- Mmm.

- Well, how does it work?

- Inside, there's a box.

In the box there's a needle that points

always in the same direction.

What makes the needle

behave in such a manner?

Well, if you don't know, scholar,

I won't worry about it.

I need the time to make war.

Look.

- There's India. We'll conquer that someday.

- India?

We're done with China,

we'll have to conquer something.

No doubt your scholar's mind

inquires into a plan for India.

But China first!

It looks like they believed

his trick with the camel.

The men they left to search

have joined us here.

There doesn't seem to be any sign

of a search of the camp. Where is she?

In there, out of sight.

- What are you doing?

- I'm taking this ugly stain off my face.

- Put it right back on again.

- No. It's very ugly.

And I mustn't be ugly

when I eat here in the tent with you.

- Mahomet-

- Maryam. There.

- Where did you get that?

- I needed it.

And I got some clothes too

to wear when I eat here.

Mahmoud!

- Yes, master.

- Mahmoud, did you steal these things?

Mahmoud see, Mahmoud take.

Suppose they searched this camp?

There's to be no more stealing.

All the women steal

from each other.

- There's to be no more stealing.

- But if great lady wishes-

You'll do as I say no matter

what great lady wishes.

- Maryam, I want you to put that stain back on your face.

- No.

- What do you mean, no?

- I mean no!

There is no danger.

If they were going to search the camp,

they would have done this by now.

And no one will come near our tent

because we are Christians.

Everything is happening

the way it said in the miracle...

only I must take the stain off my face

so the rest of the miracle can happen.

Miracle? What miracle?

I've been very ashamed because

I almost stopped believing in it...

when I found out

I was going to be sent to the Khan.

But when I saw you, I knew

it must have been working all the time.

Uh, Maryam, I've never been

part of a miracle before...

so I don't know much

about it.

But what makes you think a miracle is

telling you to take that stain off your face?

I've known about it ever since

I was a little girl. My father told me.

I wanted very much

to go to England...

because I thought

how wonderful it must be in a country...

where all the people were like him-

gentle and very tall and beautiful.

He wanted to take me there,

but he couldn't because he was a prisoner.

So he said that we should have

to ask God to help me.

And maybe if we believed very hard,

there would be a miracle.

Oh, I like the God that

would do miracles like that.

So I believed very hard.

My father gave me this before they

killed him to help me with the miracle.

He said that someday,

a tall, beautiful Englishman...

would come riding

over a hill...

and would think that I was very beautiful,

so he would help me.

So when I saw you, I knew

God sent you to be part of the miracle.

Only how are you to see

that I am beautiful...

if I've got

that ugly stain on the face?

That's very nice, Maryam,

and I-

I wish it was a miracle,

because that's just what we need.

But I'm afraid we can't count on it

because miracles just don't happen like that.

Oh, but it has happened.

Tall, young Englishmen

do not ride across this country.

But you were here just when

the miracle needed you.

So I know the rest of it will happen

just the way my father said the miracle.

Well, miracle or no miracle,

I'm not gonna get us hanged.

Now, unless you do as I say, I'm gonna

send you back to the women's tent.

No. We'll do

just as the miracle said...

or- or I will tell them

I'm here.

All they will do to me is send me back

with the other women.

But they won't be so kind

with you, I think.

Now I think you will look

to see if you think I am beautiful.

All right, all right.

You're beautiful.

Now I think you will help me

to take this ugly stain where I cannot see?

Don't tell me you've never

seen men hanged before.

- What did they do, my lord?

- See that pass there?

We ride through there today. We could

fight our way through, but we haven't time.

So this is a warning.

If there's trouble...

I have twice as many

of these fellows as prisoners.

- I'll hang them too.

- I see.

You see,

but you don't like it, do you?

I forget your

English gallantry in war.

I suppose different people

believe in different things, my lord.

Well, not such foolish things,

Englishman.

No. What I can't touch

doesn't exist.

You conquer,

or somebody conquers you.

That's all there is to it.

I thank you for

reminding me, my lord.

I like you, scholar.

I like the way you speak your mind.

I must reward you.

You do not feel like talking,

Walter?

No.

That's too bad.

I hoped you would begin

telling me about England.

What is it like there?

Is it very beautiful?

- I don't know.

- Do you think it's beautiful, Tris?

Yes, I think

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