The Moghul, page 42
CHAPTER TWENTY
"There, on that hill, Inglish, is where I was born." Arangbarpointed to the high sandstone walls of a distant hilltop fortress,outlined against the midday sky. "It's called Fatehpur Sekri. It was agreat city during the time of my father Akman, but now it's abandoned.It's romantic, but it's also forbidding. I've only been back once in mylife, and that was enough."
Hawksworth's elephant was half a length behind those of Arangbar andAllaudin, even with that of Nadir Sharif. It was the second morning oftheir ride, and they were nearing the locale of the royal hunt. Itseemed to him that half of Agra had traveled along. The queen and herretinue were behind them, as were many of Arangbar's favorite women,his guard, his eunuchs, the entire palace staff. The location of thehunt was a two-day ride from Agra.
"What's there now?"
"It's abandoned, Inglish. Except for a few Sufi Muslims. They werethere before, and I guess they'll be there forever."
"What do you mean 'they were there before'? Before what?"
"Ah, Inglish. We had a very romantic birth. You seem to know nothing ofit. You see, my father, the Great Akman, had tried for many years tohave a son before I was born. Many hundreds of women, Inglish, but notone could give him a son. Once twin boys were born to a Rajput princesshe had wived, but both died a few days later. Gradually he becameobsessed with fears of death, of dying without a lineage, and he begancalling holy men to the _Diwan-i-Khas _every evening to question themabout mortality. Once a Hindu holy man came who told Akman the greatestduty of a king is to leave a male heir, who can carry his lineageforward. The Great Akman was plunged into even greater sadness by this,and he _Resolve_d to renounce everything until he could have a son.
"He walked all the way from Agra to that mountain, Inglish." Arangbarpointed toward the fortress. "He came to see a holy Sufi living there,among the rocks and wild beasts. It was a momentous meeting. Akman fellat the feet of the holy man, and the Sufi held out his arms in welcometo the Great Moghul of India. In later years many of Akman's artistspainted the scene. Akman told him that he had come to find the peace ofAllah. To find his own destiny. As a seeker after truth. The Sufioffered this great warrior berries to eat, and gave him his own simplehut for an abode. Akman stayed for many days, meditating with the Sufi,and finally, when he made ready to leave, the Sufi told him he wouldhave three sons.
"And now," Arangbar grinned, "we reach the interesting part. When nexta wife announced she was with child, Akman moved her out here, to stayin the same abode as the holy man. And, as the Sufi predicted, a malechild was born."
"And the child was . . ."
"You are riding beside him, Inglish. That is the story of my birth.Akman was so elated that he decided to build an entire city here, andmove the capital from Agra. He built the city, but it was an obviousact of excess. He never found time to live there, and soon it wasabandoned. So now the mountain is like it was before my birth, home towild birds and a few mad Sufis. The only difference is they have amagnificent abandoned city to live in, instead of straw huts." Helaughed again. "Perhaps I owe my very life to a Sufi. Incidentally,descendants of that holy man still live there."
"Are they all Sufis?"
"Who knows, Inglish? I think holy men from all over India can be foundthere from time to time. It's become a kind of retreat."
"I'd like permission to visit it sometime, Majesty."
"Of course, Inglish. You'll find it's magnificent."
Hawksworth squinted against the sun and studied the distant red wallsof the city-fortress. Something about its remote purity beckoned him.After the hunt, he told himself, when there's time. Right after thehunt.
Arangbar fell silent, and Hawksworth leaned back in his _howdah _as itrocked gently along. Elephants made better mounts than he had firstsuspected. He thought again of the previous morning, and his firstreaction when told he would be riding an elephant for the next twodays. He had arrived at the Red Fort, to be greeted by Nadir Sharif,who directed him to the royal elephants being readied in the courtyardof the _Diwan-i-Am_.
"His Majesty has selected one of his favorites for you. Her name isKumada." Nadir Sharif had pointed toward a large female elephant, herbody dyed black and festooned with golden bells, yak-tail tassels, goldtusk rings.
"What does the name mean?"
"The infidel Hindus believe the eight points of the earth are eachguarded by a heavenly being in the shape of an elephant. Your Englishfleet is coming to us out of our ocean from the southwest, and Kumadais the name Hindus give to the elephant who guards that point of theHindu compass. His Majesty believes this elephant will be auspiciousfor you."
"I'm most grateful to His Majesty." Hawksworth surveyed the assembledcrowd in astonishment. Around him nobles wearing jeweled turbans andsilk trousers were selecting elephants. He had worn sea boots and aleather jerkin.
Nadir Sharif signaled toward the mahout perched atop the neck ofKumada, and the man tapped her flapping ear with a short barbed rod andgave her directions in Hindi as he guided her toward Hawksworth. Shelumbered forward to where Hawksworth stood, and then her mountainousflesh seemed to roll like a wave as she kneeled, front legs out, backlegs bent at the knee, ready to be mounted. Two keepers were there,opening the gate of the gold-trimmed _howdah _and then kneeling, readyto hoist the _feringhi_ aboard.
"Have you ever ridden an elephant before, Ambassador?" Nadir Sharifmonitored Hawksworth's apprehensive expression with delight.
"Never. I've never actually been this close to one before." Hawkswortheyed the elephant warily, mistrusting her seeming docility.Elizabethans circulated fabulous tales about this mountainous beast,that it could pull down great trees with the power of its trunk, thatit had two hearts--one it used when calm, the other when incensed--andthat in Ethiopia there were dragons who killed elephants merely todrink their blood, said to be ice cold at all times.
"You will find an elephant has more wit than most men. His Majestykeeps a thousand in his stables here in the Red Fort. The Great Akmanused to trap them in the wild, using a female in heat, but then helearned to induce tame ones to couple. Your elephant, I believe, issecond-ranked. She's a fine-tempered animal."
Kumada examined Hawksworth with her sad, dark eyes, and waved herfanlike ears skeptically.
"I'm not entirely sure she's taken to me."
"Here, Ambassador." Nadir Sharif slipped a paper-wrapped stick ofsugarcane into Hawksworth's hand and nodded his head toward theelephant.
Hawksworth gingerly approached her and began unwrapping the paper. Nosooner was the cane in view than Kumada nipped it deftly from his handwith a flourish of her trunk. She popped the cane into her mouth andflapped her ears with obvious pleasure as she cracked it with herimmense teeth. For a second Hawksworth thought he caught a flash ofappreciation in her eyes. He paused a moment, then walked close enoughto stroke the heavy skin at her neck.
"She'll not forget you now, Ambassador." Nadir Sharif was feeding hisown elephant. "It's said these animals have a memory longer than aman's."
Hawksworth vaulted into the _howdah _and the entire world suddenlyseemed to shudder as her mahout signaled Kumada to rise. He seized therailing surrounding him and gasped as she rumbled to her feet.
"You'll soon ride like a Rajput, Ambassador."
The elephant rocked into motion. It was worse than heavy weather atsea.
"I think it may take practice."
"Women from the _zenana _ride elephants all the way to Kashmir in thesummer. I'm sure you'll manage a two-day hunt." Nadir Sharif swungeasily into his howdah. Around them other elephants were kneeling fornobles to mount.
"Where will the hunt be?"
"This time we're going west, out toward the old city of Fatehpur Sekri.But His Majesty has hunting preserves all over. In the neighborhood ofAgra and near the small town of Delhi north of here, along the courseof the Jamuna and reaching into the mountains, there is muchuncultivated land. There are many places with grasses over six feethigh and copse wood. This land is guarded with great care by the army,and no person, high or low, is allowed to hunt there except forpartridge, quail, and hare--which are caught with nets. So the game--nilgai, deer, antelope, _chitah_, tiger, even some lions--is plentiful.Some of His Majesty's hunting preserves may extend as far as ten _kos_in every direction--I believe that's around twenty of your miles."
"You said preparations for the hunt had been underway for days?"
"Of course. When His Majesty announces a _shikar_, a royal hunt, thegrand master of the hunt in that particular location has to beginextensive preparations. The hunts now are usually a _qamargha_, whichwas invented by Akman."
"What's that?"
"First, sentries are posted on all the roads leading into the preserveto keep villagers out, and then the entire preserve is surrounded bybeaters, we call them _qarawals_, who begin to close the circle anddrive in the game. For this week's hunt he used thirty thousand_qarawals_. The grand master of the hunt informs His Majesty when thegame has been brought together. The next day the court and officersfrom the army leave early, to be at the appointed place to meet HisMajesty when he arrives. His Majesty usually hunts alone at first, ifthere are no tigers, and everyone else must wait at a distance of aboutone _kos_. Only some members of the Imperial army are allowed toaccompany him, for protection. After His Majesty wearies of the kill,then others of his choosing are allowed to kill the last of the game.But if tigers are to be hunted, it's customary that only His Majestyand the royal family enter the circle. It's always been the traditionof Moghul rulers that only they and their kinsmen are allowed to hunttigers. But this hunt will be different. This time His Majesty willmerely watch."
"Who'll do the killing then?"
"That my surprise you, Ambassador. Let me merely say that it is no man.You will see."
Hawksworth was still wondering what he meant. But the time was not faraway when he would know. They were nearing the area that Nadir Sharifhad said was designated for the hunt.
"Inglish," Arangbar shouted back over his shoulder. "Does your kinghunt?"
"Rarely, Your Majesty. But he has no elephants."
"Perhaps we should send him some. But then I assume he has no tigerseither. Should we also send him some tigers to run free in Ingland sohe can hunt them?"
"I'll remember to ask His Majesty."
"But first you must see our tigers for yourself, Inglish. Today you andNadir Sharif will join us as we go into the _qur_, the hunting round.Have your elephants fitted with leather armor."
Nadir Sharif started with surprise. "I thank Your Majesty for thehonor."
Allaudin stirred in his _howdah_, and Hawksworth caught the disdain inhis eyes. "Majesty, why are you inviting the _feringhi _into the_qur_?"
"Her Majesty suggested it. And it amuses me." Arangbar seemed todismiss Allaudin's question. "He will not have a weapon. All he'll dois watch."
As servants rushed forward to begin fitting the leather armor,Hawksworth saw the queen's elephant approach. This was the closest hehad ever been to her, and still he could not see her. Her _howdah _wascompletely enclosed with curtains, which now flapped lightly in themidday breeze.
"Her Majesty, Queen Janahara, will be going into the hunting circle."Nadir Sharifs voice was discreet as he spoke to Hawksworth. "She rarelyjoins in _shikar_, but she is an excellent shot. This is a rare honorfor you, Ambassador."
Hawksworth studied the closed howdah and wondered why the "honor"seemed to leave him with such an uneasy feeling.
The waiting nobles formed a line with their elephants as the Imperialentourage moved past. Armed guards followed on horseback at a distance.Leather padding had been fitted over the face and shanks ofHawksworth's and Nadir Sharif's elephants, and they joined the end ofthe procession.
Hawksworth held firmly to the side of the _howdah _as his elephantrocked along, with only occasional instructions from her mahout. Nowthey followed a winding road, which was surrounded on either side bytall, brown grass. He warily studied every sway of the grass, imaginingtigers waiting to spring.
"Why don't we have guns?" He turned to Nadir Sharif, who rodealongside, rocking placidly in his swaying howdah.
"There's no need, Ambassador. I told you the tiger will not be killedwith guns today. Of course, His Majesty and Prince Allaudin have guns,but they're merely for protection, in case there's some minordifficulty."
"Minor difficulty? What are _we _supposed to do if there's a 'minordifficulty'?"
"The army will be there, men with half-pikes." He smiled easily."You're in no danger."
Ahead the woods seemed to open up, and the grass was shorter, perhapsonly as high as a man's waist. Deer darted wildly from side to side,contained by high nets that had been erected around the sides of theclearing. As they approached, Hawksworth saw a long line of severalhundred water buffalo waiting, heavy bovine animals with thick curvedhorns dipping back against their heads, each fitted with a leathersaddle and reined by a rider on its back. The reins, which passedthrough the buffalo's nostrils, were held in one hand by a mountedsoldier, whose other hand grasped a naked broadsword.
"Those men may well be the bravest soldiers in the army." Nadir Sharifpointed to the riders, who were all saluting Arangbar's arrival."Theirs is a task I do not envy."
"What do they do?"
"You will see for yourself, Ambassador, in just a few moments."
From beyond the other side of the clearing, as though on an agreedsignal, came the sound of beaters. As the Imperial elephants drew nearthe gray line of buffalo, their riders began to urge them ahead. Thebuffalo snorted, knowing what waited in the grass, and then theylumbered forward, tossing their heads in disquiet. The line of buffalowas curved in the shape of a half-moon, and Arangbar urged his elephantdirectly behind them. The grass ahead swarmed with frightened game, asdeer and antelope dashed against the nets and were thrown back, andfrom the woods beyond, the clatter and shouts of the beaters increased.
Suddenly from out of the grass a tawny head appeared, with gold andblack stripes and heavy whiskers. The animal dashed for the side of theenclosure, sprang for freedom, and was thrown back by the heavy net.Hawksworth watched it speechless, unprepared for the size and ferocityof an Indian tiger. It was enormous, with powerful haunches and a longstriped tail. The tiger flipped to its feet and turned to face the lineof buffalo with an angry growl.
Arangbar clapped his hands with delight and shouted in Urdu to the lineof riders, all--Hawksworth now realized-- Rajputs. The buffalo snortedand tried to turn back, but their riders whipped them forward. Thetiger assumed a crouching stalk along the gray, horned wall, eyeing alarge dark buffalo with a bearded rider. Then it sprang.
The buffalo's head went down, and when it came up a heavy curved hornhad pierced the tiger's neck. There was a snort and a savage toss ofthe head that flung the wounded tiger upward. As it whirled in the air,Hawksworth saw a deep gash across its throat. The Rajput riders nearbyslipped to the ground and formed a wall of swords between Arangbar andthe tiger as the line of buffalo closed in, bellowing for the kill. Inwhat seemed only moments the tiger was horned and pawed to a lifelesspulp.
"Superb!" Arangbar shouted something to the enclosed _howdah _thatHawksworth did not understand. "A hundred gold _mohurs_ to every man onthe line."
The Rajputs remounted their buffalo, retrieving the reins from thebloody grass, and the line again moved forward.
"This is a variation on His Majesty's usual tiger hunt," Nadir Sharifshouted through the dust, above the din of bellowing buffalo andtrumpeting elephants. "Often he shoots, but today His Majesty electedmerely to watch. Actually, animal fights have long been a favoritepastime in India."
At that moment a pair of tigers emerged from the grass and stared atthe approaching line of buffalo. They did not seem frightened, as hadthe first, and they watched the line coolly, as though selecting astrategy. Then they dropped into a crouching stalk, moving directlytoward the center of the line.
Hawksworth noticed Arangbar suddenly order his mahout to hold back hiselephant. The other Imperial elephants had also paused to wait. ThenArangbar turned and ordered the servant who rode behind him to passforward a long-barreled, large-caliber sporting piece. Allaudin, whosefright was transparent, also signaled for a gun.
Hawksworth's mahout pulled his elephant directly behind Arangbar's, asthough for protection.
The tigers seemed in no hurry to engage the buffalo. They scrutinizedthe approaching line and waited for their moment. Then, when thebuffalo were no more than ten feet away, both sprang simultaneously.
The female was speared on the horn of a buffalo, but she flipped inmidair and sank her teeth into the leather shielding on its neck. Asits Rajput rider slipped to the ground, the male of the pair dashedpast his mate and sprang for him. The Rajput swung his broadsword,catching the tiger in the flank, but it swatted him aside with apowerful sweep of its paw and he crumpled, his neck shattered. OtherRajputs rushed the male tiger with their swords, as their buffaloclosed in to kill the female, but it eluded their thrusts as it circledArangbar's elephant. Soldiers with half-pikes had already rushed toform a barricade between Arangbar's elephant and the tiger, but theMoghul seemed unperturbed. While the panting male tiger stalkedArangbar, the female tiger was forgotten.
As Hawksworth watched spellbound, his pulse pounding, he caught ayellow flicker out of the corner of his eye and turned to see thefemale tiger slip past the ring of buffalo and dash toward the rear ofArangbar's elephant. It was on the opposite side from the armedsoldiers, where the Moghul's elephant was undefended.
Hawksworth opened his mouth to shout just as the female tiger sprangfor Arangbar, but at that moment a shot rang out from the enclosedhowdah of Queen Janahara and the female tiger crumpled in midair,curving into a lifeless ball as it smashed against the side of theMoghul's mount.
The jolt caused Arangbar's shot at the male tiger to go wide, merelygrazing its foreleg. A dozen half-pikes pierced its side as it stumbledforward, and it whirled to slap at the Rajputs. Allaudin also fired histiger gun, but his shot missed entirely, almost hitting one of the mentrying to hold the tiger back. It whirled in a bloody circle for amoment, and then stopped.
It was staring at Hawksworth.
He heard his mahout shout in terror as the tiger sprang for the head oftheir elephant. A wrap of yellow fur seemed to twist itself around theelephant's forehead as the tiger dug its claws into the protectiveleather padding. As Kumada tossed her head in panic, the mahoutscreamed again and plunged for safety, rolling through a clump of browngrass and scrambling toward the soldiers.
The tiger caught Hawksworth's eyes with a hypnotic gaze as it beganpulling itself over the forehead of the terrified elephant, directlytoward his howdah. Kumada had begun to whirl in a circle and shake herhead, futilely trying to dislodge the wounded fury slashing at herleather armor. The tiger slipped momentarily, then caught its clawsmore firmly and began to climb again.
Almost without thinking, Hawksworth reached forward and grabbed the_ankus_, the short pike and claw used for guiding an elephant, that themahout had left lodged in a leather fold behind the elephant's head. Hewrenched it free and began to tease the tiger back.
Kumada was running now, wildly it seemed, toward a large _pipal _treeat the edge of the clearing. But the tiger had pulled itself atop herhead and, as Hawksworth jabbed its whiskered face with the _ankus_, heheard a deep growl and saw a flash of yellow and claw as a sharp paincut through his shoulder.
He knew he was falling, dizzily, hands grasping against smooth leatheras he slipped past the neck of the elephant, past its flapping ear,against a thundering foot that slammed the dust next to his face.
Kumada had suddenly stopped dead still, throwing him sprawling againstthe base of the _pipal _tree. He looked up to see the tiger suspendedabove him, glaring down, clawing at the face of the elephant andbellowing with pain.
Then he heard the snap of the tiger's spine, as Kumada slammed it againand again against the massive trunk of the
tree, Only when the tiger was motionless did she let it drop, carefullytossing its body away from Hawksworth as it tumbled lifeless onto thegrass.
Hawksworth looked up through the dust to see Arangbar pulling hiselephant alongside.
"That was most auspicious, Inglish. It's an ominous and evil protentfor the state if a tiger I have shot escapes the hunt. If that beasthad succeeded in going free, we would have had to send the entire armyinto the countryside to find and kill it. Your Kumada saved me thetrouble. The gods of the southwest have been auspicious for our reigntoday. I think you brought us luck."
"I thank Your Majesty." Hawksworth found himself gasping for breath.
"No, it is you we must thank. You were quick-witted enough to keep thetiger where Kumada could crush it." Arangbar called for his ownelephant to kneel, and he walked briskly to Kumada, who was stillquivering from fright. He stroked her face beneath the eye and shegentled perceptibly. It was obvious she loved Arangbar. "She'smagnificent. Only once before have I ever seen an elephant do that. Ihereby promote her immediately to First Rank, even though a female." Heturned to Nadir Sharif. "Have it recorded."
As Hawksworth tried to rise, he felt a bolt of pain through theshoulder where the tiger had slapped him. He looked to see his leatherjerkin shredded. Arangbar seemed to notice it too and he turned andmotioned to Nadir Sharif, who signaled to another man, who called yetanother. Moments later a physician was bending over Hawksworth. Heprobed the skin for a painful moment and then slammed a knee againstHawksworth's side, giving the pained arm a quick twist.
Hawksworth heard himself cry out from the pain and for a moment hethought he might lose consciousness. But then his mind began to clearand he realized he could move the arm again. The pain was alreadystarting to abate.
"I suggest the shoulder be treated with compresses for a few days,Majesty." Nadir Sharif had dismounted from his elephant and was there,attentive as always.
"Then he must be sent back to Agra."
"Of course, Majesty." Nadir Sharif stepped closer to Arangbar. "Butperhaps it would be equally wise to let the _feringhi _rest somewherenear here. Perhaps at the old city." He turned and pointed toward thewest. "There at Fatehpur. I think there may still be a few Sufi hermitsthere who could attend the shoulder until _shikar _is over. Then hecould return with us."
Arangbar turned and shaded his eyes as he stared at the horizon. Abovethe tree line could be seen the gate of the fortress at Fatehpur Sekri.
"But my shoulder is fine now." Hawksworth tried to move into the circleof conversation. "There's no need . . ."
"Very reasonable." Arangbar seemed to ignore Hawksworth as he turnedback to Nadir Sharif. "You can escort the Inglish to the fortress. Callup a palanquin for him. Leave your elephant here and take a horse."
As the physician bound Hawksworth's arm in readiness, a palanquin wasbrought from among the women's elephants. "A contingent of Rajputs cango with him." Arangbar shouted instructions to the captain of his guardand watched the men fall into formation. Then he remounted his elephantand signaled for the buffalo to resume their sweep of the tall grass.
As the party started forward, Hawksworth saw Nadir Sharif shout ordersto one of the servants attending him. And as four Rajputs liftedHawksworth's palanquin off the ground, a servant rushed forward toshove a flask inside.
It was brandy. Hawksworth turned to see Nadir Sharif grinning, a gleamin his eye.
