The Moghul, page 62
Brian Hawksworth waited in the crowded square of the _Diwan-i-Am_,holding a large package and hoping the rumored appearance of Arangbarwas true. For the past four days the Moghul had not held _durbar_, hadremained in complete isolation. But only an hour before, talk hadcirculated in the square that Arangbar would hold a brief receptionbefore departing, probably in a tent pavilion that had been erected inthe center of the square. As though to verify the speculation, slaveshad unrolled several thick carpets beneath the tent, installed a dais,and were now positioning his throne onto the platform.
Hawksworth stared about the square and felt his palms sweat.
Is this the last time I ever see the Moghul of India? And Shirin neveragain? Is this how it ends?
He had spent the last several days in a private hell, thinking ofShirin and waiting for the first fever, the first nodules that wouldsignal the plague. So far there had been no signs of the disease. Andhe had heard that the consensus in the bazaar was the infection wouldsubside within the month. Clearly it would be nothing like London in1603.
Palace rumors said that Shirin was still alive. All executions hadceased after the appearance of the plague. And stories were that theMoghul was rarely seen sober. Perhaps, Hawksworth told himself,Arangbar has stayed so drunk he has forgotten her.
He had finally conceived one last plan to try to save her. Then he hadpacked his chest, settled his accounts, and dismissed his servants. Ifnothing came of the meeting today . . . if there was a meeting . . . hewould have to leave in any case.
He moved closer to the royal pavilion, pushing his way through themelee of shirtless servants. The elephants for the _zenana _had beenmoved into the square and were now being readied. There were, byHawksworth's rough count, approximately a hundred elephants to carryArangbar's women. The _howdahs _for the main wives were fashioned fromgold, with gratings of gold wire around the sides to provide a view andan umbrella canopy of silver cloth for shade. A special elephant waswaiting for Queen Janahara and Princess Layla, decorated with a canvasof gold brocade and bearing a jewel-studded _howdah_.
As Hawksworth watched, another elephant, shining with black paint andthe largest he had ever seen, lumbered regally into the square, riddenby a mahout with a gold-braided turban. Its covering was even morelavish than that of the queen's mount, and its _howdah _was emblazonedwith the Imperial standard of Arangbar, a long-tailed lion crouchingmenacingly in front of a golden sun face. Beneath the verandas rows ofsaddled horses waited for the lesser members of the court, each with aslave stationed alongside bearing an umbrella of gold cloth, and infront of the horses were rows of crimson-colored palanquins, theirpearl-embroidered velvet gleaming in the light, ready for highofficials.
The roadway leading from the square of the _Diwan-i-Am _had been linedwith a guard of three hundred male war elephants, each with a cannonturret on its back. Behind those, three hundred female elephants stoodidling in the sunshine, their backs covered with gold cloth marked withthe Moghurs insignia, waiting to be loaded with household goods fromthe _zenana_. Just beyond the gate a host of watermen were poised withwaterskins slung from their backs, ready to run before the Moghul'sprocession sprinkling the roadway to banish dust. Near them a smallparty of men stood holding the harness of a camel bearing a roll ofwhite cloth, used to cover and banish from sight any dead animals thatmight lie along the route of the Moghuls party.
The courtyard erupted with a sudden blare of trumpets and kettledrums,and Hawksworth turned to see Arangbar being carried in on an openpalanquin, supported by uniformed eunuchs. A slave walked along oneside, holding a satin umbrella over his head for shade, while on theother, two chubby eunuchs walked fanning him with sprays of peacockfeathers attached to long poles.
As the palanquin neared the tent, Hawksworth pushed through the crowdto gain a better view. Arangbar was dressed for a ceremonial occasion,wearing a velvet turban with a plume of white _heme _feathers almosttwo feet in length. A walnut-sized ruby dangled from one side of theturban, and on the other side was a massive diamond, paired with aheart-shaped emerald. Around his turban was a sash wreathed with achain of pearls. Rings bearing flashing jewels decorated every finger,and his cloak was gold brocade, decorated with jeweled armlets.
As he descended from the palanquin, at the entry of the pavilion, thenobles near him yelled "Padshah Salamat," Long Live the Emperor, andperformed the _teslim_. As he moved toward his throne two more eunuchswere waiting. One stepped forward and presented an enormous pink carpon a silver tray, while the other held out a dish of starchy whiteliquid. Arangbar dipped his finger in the liquid, touched it to thefish, then rubbed his own forehead--a Moghul ceremony presaging goodomens for a march.
Next, another eunuch stepped forward, bowed, and presented him with asword. He stared at it for a moment as though confused, then shakilyran his finger along the diamonds set in the scabbard and the braidedgold belt. As the eunuch urged it toward him, he nodded and allowed itto be buckled at his waist. Another eunuch then presented him with agolden quiver containing thin bamboo arrows and a gleaming lacquer bow.
As he mounted the dais, two eunuchs moved to his side, each waving agold-handled tail of white yak hair intended to drive away flies.Another fanfare of trumpets and drums cut the air as the eunuchs helpedhim onto the throne.
Only when Arangbar was seated did Hawksworth notice
that Nadir Sharif and Zainul Beg were already waiting at the foot ofthe dais. He also noted Queen Janahara was not present. And then herealized why. The servants had neglected to erect her screen, the oneshe normally sat behind to dictate his decisions. Since the appearanceof Arangbar's solitary rule still had to be maintained, she could notbe seen publicly issuing orders, at least not yet.
Hawksworth smiled to himself, wondering whose head would roll for theoversight. Then, as he watched Nadir Sharif begin explaining petitionsto Arangbar, he thought he sensed a gleam of triumph in the primeminister's eye. Could it be the failure to install a screen wasdeliberate?
The Persian Safavid ambassador approached with the obligatory gift,this time an ornamental case containing a ruby on a gold chain, andthen handed up a paper. Arangbar listened to Nadir Sharif explain thedocument, then appeared to ponder it a moment. Finally he waved hisarms lightly and agreed to something Hawksworth did not catch. Theambassador bowed his appreciation, revolved with enormous dignity, andretreated into the sunshine.
Arangbar was already beginning to grow restless, clearly anxious todismiss everyone and begin loading the _zenana _women onto theirelephants. He turned and spoke to Nadir Sharif, who replied quickly andmotioned toward a Portuguese emissary in a starched doublet who stoodwaiting, together with Father Sarmento. It was the first timeHawksworth had noticed them, and he felt his gut knot in hatred as heshoved his own way forward toward the pavilion.
Arangbar listened with a glazed expression, nodding occasionally, asthe Portuguese emissary delivered an elaborate speech, translated bySarmento, and began laying out the contents of a chest he carried. Withtheatrical flair he drew out several large silver candlesticks, a braceof gold- handled knives with jewel-embossed sheaths, a dozen wine cupsof Venetian crystal. Then he produced a leather packet with a red waxseal. He spoke a few more words and passed it to Nadir Sharif.
The prime minister examined it, broke the seal to extract theparchment, then gestured for Sarmento to come forward to translate. TheJesuit suddenly looked very old and very uneasy as he adjusted hispeaked black hat and took the paper.
Hawksworth shoved closer, and for the first time Arangbar seemed tonotice him. The Moghul's eyes darkened and he started to say somethingin Hawksworth's direction, but Sarmento had already begun thetranslation into Turki.
"His Excellency, Miguel Vaijantes, sends this message of his highregard and everlasting friendship for His Most High Majesty, the GreatMoghul of India. He bows before you and hopes you will honor him byaccepting these few small tokens of his admiration."
Sarmento shifted and cleared his throat. Arangbar's eyes had flutteredpartially closed and his head seemed to nod sleepily at theconventional flattery.
"His Excellency asks Your Majesty's indulgence of a grievous misdeedlast week by a captain of one of our patrol vessels. He assures YourMajesty that the captain will be stripped of all rank and returned inchains to Goa within the month."
Arangbar's eyes had again opened and he shifted slightly on the throne."What 'misdeed' is referred to?"
Sarmento looked at the emissary, who quickly replied in Portuguese. TheJesuit turned again to Arangbar.
"Your Majesty will doubtless receive a dispatch from Surat within ashort time describing an unfortunate incident. His Excellency wants youto understand in advance that it was a mistaken order, undertakenentirely without his knowledge or approval."
Arangbar was fully awake now and staring down at the two Portuguese.
"What order? Did the Viceroy order something he now wishes to disown?What was it?"
"It's the unfortunate matter of the _Fatima_, Your Majesty." Sarmentoturned helplessly toward the Portuguese emissary, as though he too weresearching for an explanation.
"What about the _Fatima_? She's my largest cargo vessel. She's due inSurat in two days, with goods from Persia." Arangbar's face was sobernow. "Her Highness, Maryam Zamani, had eighty _lakhs _of rupees . . ."
"The _Fatima_ is safe, Your Majesty. She has only been detained at sea,on a mistaken interpretation of His Excellency's orders." Sarmentoseemed to be blurting out the words. "But he wishes to assure you . .."
"Impossible!" Arangbar's voice was suddenly a roar. "He would not dare!He knows the cargo was under my seal. I have a copy of the cartaz sentto Goa."
"It was a grievous mistake, Majesty. His Excellency sends his deepestapologies and offers to . . ."
"It was done on _someone's _order! It had to be his. How can it be a'mistake'!" Arangbar's face had gone purple. "Why was it ordered in thefirst place?"
Sarmento stood speechless while the envoy spoke rapidly into his ear.Then he looked back at Arangbar. "Mistakes are always possible,Majesty. His Excellency wishes to assure you the vessel and all cargowill be released within two weeks."
"I demand it be released immediately! And damages equal the value ofthe cargo brought to me personally." Arangbar's face was livid. "Or hewill never again have a _pice _of trade in an Indian port."
Sarmento turned and translated quickly to the emissary. ThePortuguese's face dropped over his moustache and he hesitantly spokesomething to Sarmento.
"We regret we have no power at this time to authorize a payment fordamages, Majesty. But we assure you His Excellency will . . ."
"Then 'His Excellency' will have no more trade in India." Arangbarturned, his face overflowing with rage, and shouted to the guardsstanding behind him. As they ran to his side he drew his sword andwaved it drunkenly at the emissary, whose face had gone white. "Takehim away."
As the guards seized the terrified Portuguese by the arms, sending hishat tumbling onto the carpet, he looked imploringly at Nadir Sharif.But the prime minister's face was a mask. Then Arangbar turned onFather Sarmento. "If His Excellency has anything else to say to me, hewill say it himself, or he will send someone with the authority toanswer me. I do not receive his _peons_."
Sarmento flinched at the insulting Goan slang for dockhand. "YourMajesty, again I assure you . . ."
" You will never again assure me of anything. I've listened to yourassurances for years, largely on matters about which you have onlybelief, never proof. You assured me of the power of the Christian God,but never once would you accept the challenge of the Islamic mullahs tocast a Bible and the Quran into a fire together, to show once and forall which held sacred truth. But their test is no longer needed. YourChristian lies are over." Arangbar rose unsteadily from his throne, hisbrow harrowed by his fury. "I order your stipend terminated and yourchurch in Agra closed. And your mission in Lahore. There will neveragain be a Christian church in India. Never."
"Your Majesty, there are many Christians in India." Sarmento's voicewas pleading. "They must have a priest, to minister the HolySacrament."
"Then do it in your lodgings. You no longer have a church." Arangbarsettled back on the throne, his anger seeming to overwhelm him. "Neversee me again unless you bring news the ship is released, and my demandsmet. Never."
Sarmento watched in horror as Arangbar dismissed him with a gesture ofhis arm. The old Jesuit turned and moved trembling into the crowd thathad pushed around the sides of the pavilion. As he passed byHawksworth, he suddenly stopped.
"This was all because of you." His voice quivered. "I learned of thisonly today from my foolish prodigal, Pinheiro. May God have mercy onyou, heretic. You and your accomplices have destroyed all His work inIndia."
As Hawksworth tried to find an answer he heard a drunken shout.
"Inglish! What are you doing here? Come forward and explain yourself."
He looked up to see Arangbar motioning at him.
"Are you deaf? Come forward." Arangbar glared mischievously. "Why areyou still in Agra? We were told we sent you away, almost a week ago. Ithink I may decide to have you and every other Christian in Indiahanged."
"May it please Your Majesty, I came to request an audience." Hawksworthmoved quickly forward, past the confused guards, carrying the packagehe had brought.
"And what have you stolen of ours, Inglish? Have you come now to tellus it was all a mistake, before I order your hand cut off?"
"Englishmen are not Portugals, Your Majesty. We do not take what is notour own. What have I ever taken that Your Majesty did not freely give?"
"It's true what you say, Inglish. You are not a Portuguese." Arangbarsuddenly beamed as a thought flashed through his eyes. "Tell me,Inglish, will your king destroy their fleets for me now?"
"Why would he do so, Your Majesty? You have denied him the right totrade; you have refused to grant the _firman _he requested."
"Not if he will rout the Portuguese infidels from our seas, Inglish.They are a pestilence, a plague, that sickens all it touches." Arangbarwaved in the direction of a eunuch, ordering wine for himself. "Youdeceived me once, Inglish, but you did not rob me. Perhaps we will haveyou stay here a few days longer."
"I have already made preparations to depart, Your Majesty, on yourorders."
"You cannot travel without our permission, Inglish. We still ruleIndia, despite what the Portuguese Viceroy may think." Arangbar pausedand drank thirstily from the glass of wine. "So why did you want anaudience, Inglish, if you were planning to leave?"
Hawksworth paused, thinking of the decision he had made, wonderingagain if there was a chance.
"I've come to make a trifling request of Your Majesty." He movedforward and bowed, presenting his parcel, the obligatory gift.
"What's this have you brought us, Inglish?"
"May it please Your Majesty, after settling my accounts in Agra, I haveno money remaining to purchase gifts worthy of Your Majesty. I haveonly this remaining. I offer it to Your Majesty, in hopes you willunderstand its unworthiness in your eyes is matched only by itsunequaled value to me. It is my treasure. I have had it by my side forover twenty years, at sea and on land."
Arangbar accepted the parcel with curiosity and flipped aside thevelvet wrap. An English lute sparkled against the sunshine.
"What is this, Inglish?" Arangbar turned it in his hand, examining thepolished cedar staves that curved to form its melon-shaped back.
"An instrument of England, Your Majesty, which we hold in the sameesteem you grant your Indian sitar."
"This is a curious toy, Inglish. It has so few strings." He examined ita moment longer, then turned to Hawksworth. "Do you yourself play thisinstrument?"
"I do, Your Majesty."
"Then we will hear it." Arangbar passed the lute back to Hawksworth,while the nobles around them buzzed in astonishment.
Hawksworth cradled it against him. The feel of its body flooded himwith sadness as he realized he would never play it again. Memories ofLondon, Tunis, Gibraltar, a dozen cabins and lodgings, flooded overhim. He inhaled deeply and began a short suite by Dowland. It was theone he had played for Shirin that afternoon so long ago in theobservatory in Surat.
The clear notes flooded the canopied pavilion with their rich fullvoice, then drifted outward into the square, settling silence in theirpath. The suite was melancholy, a lament of lost love and beauty, andHawksworth found his own eyes misting as he played. When he reached theend, the last crisp note died into a void that seemed to be his ownheart. He held the lute a moment longer, then turned to pass it back toArangbar.
The Moghul's eyes seemed to be misting as well.
"I have never heard anything quite like it, Inglish. It has a sadnesswe never hear in a raga. Why have you never played for us before?"
"Your Majesty has musicians of your own."
"But no instrument like this, Inglish. Will you have your king send usone?"
"But I have given you mine, Majesty."
Arangbar examined the lute once more, then looked at Hawksworth andsmiled. "But if I keep this instrument now, Inglish, I will mostprobably forget by tomorrow where I have put it." He winked atHawksworth and handed back the lute. "Have your king send us one,Inglish, and a teacher to instruct our musicians."
Hawksworth could not believe what he was hearing. "I humbly thank YourMajesty. I . . ."
"Now what was it you came to ask of us, Inglish?" Arangbar continued tostudy the lute as he sipped from his wine. "Ask it quickly."
"Merely a trifling indulgence of Your Majesty."
"Then tell us what it is, Inglish." Arangbar turned and searched thesquare with his eyes, as though monitoring the state of preparations.
Hawksworth cleared his throat and tried to still his pulse. "YourMajesty's release of the Persian woman Shirin, who is guilty of nocrime against Your Majesty."
Arangbar's smile faded as he turned back to Hawksworth.
"We have not yet decided her fate, Inglish. She does not concern you."
"May it please Your Majesty, she concerns me very much. I come to askYour Majesty's permission to make her my wife, and to take her back toEngland with me, if Your Majesty will release her. She will be gonefrom India soon, and will trouble Your Majesty no further."
"But we just told you you are not returning, Inglish. Not until wepermit it." He grinned. "You must stay and play this instrument for usmore."
"Then I beg that her life be spared until the time I am allowed toleave."
Arangbar studied Hawksworth and a grudging smile played on his lips."You are an excellent judge of women, Inglish. Perhaps too much so. Isuspected it the first time I saw you."
"She wishes no ill toward Your Majesty. There is no purpose in takingher life."
"How do you know what she wishes for us, Inglish? I think we knowbetter than you." Arangbar paused to sip again from his wine cup. "Butwe will spare her for now, if your king will agree to send warships todrive the infidel Portuguese from our shores. And if you will agree toplay more for me."
"Will Your Majesty order her release?"
"I will move her to my _zenana_ for now, Inglish. Until matters aresettled, I will order her brought with us to Fatehpur. That is my partof the bargain. What will you do about yours?"
"I will inform my king of Your Majesty's wishes."
"And he will comply, if he wants to trade in India." Arangbar turned toNadir Sharif. "Order a horse for the Inglish. He will ride with ustoday. And have the woman Shirin sent to the _zenana_."
Nadir Sharif bowed and edged next to Arangbar, adopting a confidentialtone.
"If I may be allowed, Your Majesty, you are aware the woman Shirinwould not be entirely welcome in the _zenana _by Her Majesty, QueenJanahara."
"Her Majesty is not the Moghul of India." Arangbar seemed suddenlyexhilarated by the absence of the queen. "I have ordered it."
"To hear is to obey." Nadir Sharif bowed low, casting a worried glancetoward Hawksworth. "But perhaps it would be equally pleasing to YourMajesty . . . and to Her Majesty as well . . . to allow the woman totravel to Fatehpur under the cognizance of the English ambassador."
Arangbar glanced toward the palace, and his exhilaration seemed todissolve as suddenly as it had come. "Until Fatehpur, then. After thatwe will decide where she will be kept until the Inglish satisfies hispart of the bargain." Arangbar turned to Hawksworth. "Agreed, Inglish?"
"I bow to Your Majesty's will."
"_Durbar_ is concluded." Arangbar rose by himself and moved to the edgeof the tent pavilion. As the trumpets and drums again sounded, thefanning eunuchs scurried to stay beside him. He stepped into thesunshine, stared about the square for a moment, then turned to NadirSharif.
"Order everyone cleared and the women brought. I am suddenly growingweary of Agra."
Nadir Sharif bowed again and spoke quickly to the captain of the guard.As the order was circulated, he quietly moved next to Hawksworth.
"So it seems your luck changed after all, Ambassador. For now. But Ifear it may not last. As a friend I suggest you make the most of it."
