Part 12 (1/2)

”The logic is elaborate,” said Tony suspiciously, ”but it isn't airtight.”

”Majesty,” repeated Abdul firmly, ”you can destroy any of us, or you can spare any of us. Therefore we obey you. And therefore you are the king. It cannot be helped.”

The Queen of Barkut looked at him, smiling.

”Obviously,” she said brightly. ”Abdul is quite right. And you can end my captivity if you wish. What rewards we poor humans of Barkut can offer you-”

Tony looked sharply at Ghail. She flushed hotly.

”All right,” said Tony. ”So I'm the king. Do we have a civil war, or is my authority unanimously accepted?”

”It is almost unanimous, Majesty,” said Abdul, beaming. ”It may be necessary to detonate the former king. That, however, is not yet certain. He has fled with a few of his councilors. They feel that you have a prejudice against them-”

”Intelligent of them,” grunted Tony. ”Very well, then! The first thing is to get Ghail and the Queen back to Barkut. Then we'll start fresh from there. Do you want to arrange matters?”

”For what else,” asked Abdul blandly, ”did your Majesty make me your grand vizier?”

He bowed to the ground and vanished. The parade formed almost immediately after. It set out across the desert with the celerity ofdjinntraffic. The elephant litter maintained a forty-mile speed princ.i.p.ally because the elephants were nearly five stories tall. Whirlwinds went on before, spreading out as scouts on all sides, and overhead some dozens of rocs cruised at different alt.i.tudes for an air umbrella against possible attack by the former king and his half dozen malcontents. It was all quite preposterous. The elephant litter itself was the size of an eight-room house and actually contained two floors and different compartments on each floor. The Queen sat gracefully underneath the canopy on the sun deck on top.

Ghail sat beside her, her lips tightly compressed. Despite the speed of their journeying, the litter was hot.

Ghail, however, remained wrapped up in all the voluminous wrappings of a respectable woman during travel.

”Listen,” said Tony, ”aren't you hot?”

”I'll do,” said Ghail composedly.

”As a slave,” said Tony, ”the Queen can give you permission to make yourself comfortable. Why not?”

Ghail regarded him ominously. But the Queen said: ”He's right, my dear. Why don't you slip out of that dreadfully hot cloak?”

”He,” said Ghail in even tones, ”is very fond of looking at legs. My legs, or anybody else's legs. And he hasn't anydjinneeswith him to sit around like the hussies they are-for instance, thatdjinneewho held his coat while he fought Es-Souk! So he is unhappy!” Then she flared out at Tony. ”Why don't you get another litter for yourself? All you have to do is command it! Or we'll get out of this litter and ride on camels, and you can have as manydjinneesaround you as you want! You can-”

Tony scowled. ”If you're thinking of Nasim . . . wait a minute!”

He stood up and went to the rail of the gently swaying sun deck. Alongside, a few hundred yards away, a smaller litter kept pace with this. That was the traveling carriage of Abdul, who had explained blandly that as grand vizier to Tony who was king of thedjinna certain amount of state for himself was desirable.

But Abdul's litter was merely carried by two thirty-foot camels, and the litter slung between them was no larger than the cabin of an eight-pa.s.senger plane. It was suitably less stately than Tony's equipage. When Tony bellowed at it, its interior was completely hidden by silken draperies.

”Abdul!” roared Tony.

The thirty-foot camels intelligently swerved to bring Abdul's litter close. And even so soon, Abdul had attuned himself to react instantly to a call in Tony's voice. Instantly the drapes were torn aside. Abdul beamed across the s.p.a.ce between litters.

But for half a breath Tony did not recognize him. Abdul swaggered, of course-but that was part ofhis personality. It was his form which was strangely unfamiliarly familiar. He was, in fact, a duplicate of Tony.

He wore exact facsimiles of Tony's soft felt hat, his belted-in-the-back camel's-hair topcoat, and undoubtedly his feet were encased in duplicates of Tony's brown shoes. But the face was still the face of Abdul, and it beamed.

Behind him, in the litter, Nasim also beamed at Tony.

”Majesty!” cried Abdul happily. ”What is your will?” Tony stared-and inspiration struck.

”That is Nasim, isn't it?” he demanded.

”Yes, Majesty,” called Nasim archly. She came and stood beside Abdul. ”Look! Doesn't he look just like you? Isn't he wonderful?”

Tony said sternly: ”It was my thought that I had not yet rewarded Nasim for her aid in the fight with Es-Souk. I see that she has chosen her reward. It is my will that the two of you marry!”

Nasim giggled. Abdul bowed so low that he almost fell out of the litter.

”To hear is to obey, Majesty!”

”And it is also my will,” said Tony severely, ”that if at any time in the future Nasim comes into my presence, she must have some clothes on! After all, I'm human!”

”Aye, Majesty!” said Abdul. Nasim coyly pulled a drape about herself.

”That's all!” said Tony.

He turned his back. The camel litter swerved away. The Queen seemed to be trying to stifle laughter.

Ghail looked utterly infuriated.

”Well?” said Tony.

”If the Queen,” said Ghail furiously, ”commands that I sacrifice my modesty to the King of theDjinnsso that he can see if he wishes to purchase me-”

Tony said just as angrily: ”Hold on! I haven't talked business to the Queen yet! But I'll talk it now!” He turned to the much-amused Queen. ”Majesty, I understand that I'm the King of theDjinns.Most of the riches I'm supposed to have are fake, as you know. But if there aren't any real riches, I'll make thesedjinnsof mine work until there are! And I'll pay you any sum you care to name if you'll set Ghail free so she won't be a slave any longer.”

His conscience spoke approvingly. Tony snarled at it. The Queen almost choked on her laughter. Ghail's face went blank. She stared incredulously at Tony.

”And-and then what?” asked the Queen.

”Then,” said Tony doggedly, ”I'll try to persuade her to marry me. It isn't that I'm too d.a.m.ned moral, but I don't think I'd like bought kisses, however legal the transaction might be in this country.”

”And-and if she would not marry you?” asked the Queen.

Tony looked at Ghail. Her face was crimson, and though there was no perceptible softening in her expression, her eyes showed distinct satisfaction.

”If she wouldn't marry me,” said Tony shrewdly, ”then-I guess I'd have to take an interest in music.

After all, I understand that Esir and Esim have pretty good voices.”

The satisfaction vanished from Ghail's expression. Fury came back.