The Black Rose Page #8

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- I think you're the one-

- No, I'm all right. I'll stay right here.

If you don't want the same thing,

it's all right too. I'll help you get out ofhere.

And it all fits together nicely. You can take

her back with you wherever she wants to go.

No. If you are going to stay here,

I will stay here too.

That's very nice, Maryam,

but it just doesn't work that way.

It's been all right up to here,

but it wouldn't be from now on.

- Where are you going?

- You can't just walk out of here without a plan.

I'm gonna find out

how to get to China.

What's the matter with him, Maryam?

What are we gonna do?

I don't know.

But he doesn't mean

everything he says.

I think he doesn't

really know what he wants.

But I don't know

what to do about it.

Well, you're leaving just in time.

I found out that much.

We move again tomorrow.

Bayan's army turns south into China...

and the caravan of gifts

goes north to the Khan.

That means that from now on,

we camp right in the middle of the army...

and you'd never have

a chance to get away.

You'd better

try it tonight.

Yes, I guess

we'd better do that.

I'd head

straight south first.

Then cut across

to Kinsai.

From there,

the river runs to the sea...

and you might stand a chance

of getting back that way.

- Yes, we'd better do that too.

- Where's Maryam?

In there.

We are going tonight, Walter.

I heard what you said to Tris.

Yes.

You want to say

good-bye to me?

Well, yes.

I'm glad it's hard

for you to say.

Tris-Tris will take

good care of you, Maryam.

You can depend on Tris.

And I- I hope

you like England.

He'll feel much happier

when he can smell it again.

And, uh, tell him-

Oh, never mind.

You know, Walter,

I can go or I can stay.

Whatever you want.

No. No, you'll like

England better.

I'll- I'll be up

with the column...

so they won't get suspicious

for some time.

You'll need a good start.

Well, it looks as though

it might be a nice day for a ride.

I'll go and see

about the horses.

So it was you, Englishman.

Was it your curiosity as a scholar?

- Or did you know you were steering us off our course?

- I knew, my lord.

Why? You realize the penalty

for such a thing.

Why take such a risk to do me an ill turn?

Why do me an ill turn at all?

Move the column south and east

for as far as we've gone off the trail.

When we camp tonight,

bring him to my tent.

Well, what's the matter?

We got away, didn't we?

They can't track us

in the dark.

You've got a part of your miracle.

You're going to England.

I don't want

to go anymore there.

I know, Maryam.

I know.

So there was a woman in it.

I might have known.

A woman and a bowman

who didn't like war.

Why take such a risk for the girl?

You must love her very much.

- No, my lord.

- The gallantry again.

I didn't mean

to be gallant.

If my lord Bayan hadn't been quite

so observant, I wouldn't be here now.

Why didn't you come to me about her?

I would have given her to you.

- What's one woman more or less?

- It didn't occur to me, my lord.

No, of course not.

It would have spoiled the gallantry.

Well, it's worth something...

to be willing to die

for something.

There's a way you may have a chance for

your life. A few men have come through it.

I'll send you to the rope walk

in the morning. Good night, scholar.

Good night, my lord.

Now, you understand,

Englishman.

As long as your feet touch the rope,

no one can strike you...

except the two men

with the pig bladders.

They can hit only

below the line.

Now begin.

Let him go!

Let him go!

Take him to his tent.

You are very tough

for an Englishman.

Come in.

Well, my lord, am I a-

a prisoner or what?

You paid for what you did.

Your back should tell you that.

But... I'd like to be

doing something, my lord.

You miss the bowman,

don't you?

I have a mission of some importance

for you when you're ready for it.

- I'll take it now, my lord.

- Hear it first, scholar.

- You saw our Chinese visitors?

- They brought this tribute to avoid battle.

It won't be so easy nearer Kinsai,

but our war has been going well.

We only had to fight once.

Since you've been sick, we've taken four cities.

Perhaps I should

remain in bed.

Mmm.

Now Kinsai.

There are those in the government

who want peace...

but they haven't much influence

with the old empress.

But, scholar, suppose I sent you

to Kinsai as a traveler of rank...

a student from another land, and you

told what you've seen of our strength.

Yes, but will

the empress hear me?

Find the heads of the peace party.

They'll see that you're heard.

You can refuse to go if you want to.

The risk is great enough.

No, I'll go, my lord.

It's settled then.

Scholar?

Maybe I'm a little sorry

I thought of this journey for you.

But be sure of this.

If they kill you...

I'll kill 10 of them

for every hair on your head.

I have a strange feeling

I may not see you again.

If that's true,

I'll miss you, scholar.

I don't miss many men.

Well, for your sake,

I'll try not to get killed.

You will come with me.

- What is it? L-

- We have been waiting for you.

- What is this place?

- It is the palace of her unlimited magnificence.

Her kindly splendor,

the dowager empress of China.

Well, what am I doing here?

I do not know entirely.

You will wait.

Bow.

Bow profusely.

Now are there two of them,

or are there not?

Are their skins fair,

or have you no eyes?

Is there such a prophecy,

or is there not?

Is it your duty to know

such things, or is it not?

Do not argue with me

more in this matter.

- You will come with me.

- But what is this all about- a prophecy?

No harm will come to you.

Far from it.

Please.

This is your house.

It has been prepared for you.

Tris!

What are you doing here?

- Where's Maryam?

- Well, she must be a captive here somewhere.

Now I just left her

to find out about a boat.

- But how did you get here?

- Well, I didn't even get to the river.

Some people laid hold of me before

I got started. Don't you know where we are?

We're somewhere in the palace,

because I was just talking to the emp-

Oh, wait a minute.

Maybe we'll find out now.

Good day, young sirs.

I have come to welcome you.

We'd be very grateful

if you'd tell us what all this means.

It means that the prophecy

of the two birds...

of the fairest color

has been fulfilled.

It is a very old one.

It's said that

in a time of great peril...

two birds of the fairest coloring

would appear...

and the clouds of disaster

would roll away like the mist.

We were urging

Her Royal Grandeur to think of peace.

She was about to yield...

when word was brought her

of a stranger...

who was very fair of skin.

Such a thing

has never been seen here...

and it reminded her

of the prophecy.

She said that there must be another,

so guards were posted.

Now that you are both here...

she is sure the prophecy

has been fulfilled...

and she will talk

no more of peace.

Hmm. Well, what are we

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