Chapter 29 Chapter Twelve

When Ahme returned to his companions, meals and sleep had been properly arranged.Bedrooms, or rather dormitories, are tall, spacious caves with hidden nooks where everyone can lie down wherever they like.The dining room is the flat part of the camp, and some rocks and stones that have fallen to the ground have become stools and tables. Some food was brought from the cart drawn by the little donkey—the donkey was among the guests, at the special invitation of his friend, Lord Kerabong.Giving him some of the many fodder he carried with him assured him a sufficient portion of the feast, and he chewed contentedly.

"Eat," cried Kerabong joyfully, "eat, my friends! Eat and drink all you want! That will save the brave donkey from hauling less to Skuta!" Needless to say, everyone's poses were free as they ate this picnic in the midst of a camp lit by a few resin torches.Sitting on a rock, the innermost Lord Kerabong is the real head of the party.Amasya and Najib sit next to each other like two friends—no longer master and servant—on the two smallest stones, leaving a place for Ahme, who will be there soon. came to them. As for Lord Van Mittern, of course he was caught in the middle, with the inescapable Yanar on the left, and the inseparable Sarabul on the right. The three sat in front of a huge rock fragment, and the sigh of the fiancé should have made them feel ashamed. This stone can also be moved by it.

Bruno had never been so skinny, he walked up and down while eating, and waited for everyone to eat. Lord Kerabon was not only in good spirits, like a man in whom all things go well, but he was in the habit of expressing his joy in jokes, which were chiefly directed at his friend Pham Mittain.Yes, the marital adventures of the poor man's loyalty to himself and his companions never ceased to tempt him to make a sarcasm.Indeed, in another 12 hours, this story will be over, and Van Mittern will never hear anyone else talking about the Kurdish siblings again!So Lord Kerabong thought he was justified in giving his traveling companion a good laugh.

"Well, Van Mettaine, it's all right, isn't it?" he said, rubbing his hands. "You are content now! . . . You are accompanied by a good friend! . . . You are accompanied by a lovely woman whom you were lucky enough to meet on the way! . . . When you become one of the most faithful followers of Allah , it is impossible for him to do more for you!" The Dutchman looked at his friend with pursed lips, but made no answer. "Why, you don't talk?" Yanar asked. "No! . . . I say . . . I say it in my heart!" "To whom?" asked the noble Kurdish woman imperiously, grabbing his arm suddenly.

"To you, my dear Sarabul... to you!" said the embarrassed Van Mettaine insincerely. Then he stood up and cried out: "Ouch!" Lord Yanar and his sister stood up at the same time, walking up and down after him. "If you will," said Sarabul in a voice too gentle to allow any dissent, "if you will, shall we stay in Skuta for only a few hours?" "If I would?..." "Aren't you my master?" she said flatteringly again. "That's right!" Bruno said to himself, "he's her master... just like the master of a watchdog who can bite your neck off at any time!"

"Fortunately," thought Van Mettaine, "tomorrow . Amasya watched him with real sympathy, but dared not cry out for him, but could only speak to his faithful servant. "Poor Monsieur van Mittain!" she repeated to Bruno. "He has come to this point out of loyalty to us after all!" "And servility to Lord Kerabon!" replied Bruno, who could not forgive his master for being so weak. "Hey!" Najib said, "This at least proves that Mr. Van Mittain has a kind and brave heart!" "How brave!" retorted Bruno. "And ever since my master agreed to go on such a trip with Lord Kerabong, I have been telling him that he will be unlucky sooner or later! As a result, he has such a misfortune to be a fiancé to this demonic Kurdish woman, I could never imagine it, even for a few days... No! Never! The first lady is a pigeon compared with the second Mrs. van Mettain!"

At this time, the Dutchman changed his position and was still sandwiched between two guards. Bruno brought him some food, but Van Mittain felt that he had no appetite. "Won't you eat, Lord Van Mettain?" asked Sarabul, staring at him. "I'm not hungry!" "You're not hungry!" Lord Yarnar retorted. "In Kurdistan, people are always hungry... even after eating!" "Oh! In Kurdistan? . . . " replied Van Mittern, obediently swallowing two loaves of bread. "Now drink!" said venerable Sarabul again. "But, I..."

But he dared not say: "It's just that I don't know if it's good for the stomach!" "Drink, since someone told you to drink!" Master Yanar said again. "I'm not thirsty!" "In Kurdistan, people are always thirsty...even after eating!" During this time, Ahme remained vigilant, watching the guide intently. The man was sitting on the side, eating his portion of the meal, but he couldn't hide his anxious look, at least Ahme believed he could see it.How could he not?He is a traitor in the eyes of Ahme, he is probably eager to let Ahme and his companions go to the cave, and they will lose their resistance to the planned attack after falling asleep!The guide might even have thought of going a little further to engage in some secret plot, but he dared not do so in Ahme's presence, knowing that Ahme was suspicious of him.

"Eat, friends," cried Kerabong, "we've had a good picnic, and we're fully recovered for the last leg of our walk! Am I right, little Amasia?" "Yes, Lord Kerabong," replied the girl. "Besides, I am very strong. If I start this journey again..." "Will you do it again?" "I will follow you." "Especially after the rest at Skuthari!" said Kerabong, laughing, "like our friend Van Mettain when he was resting at Rabzon!" "He's laughing at me again!" said Van Mettaine to himself. In fact he was furious, but he dared not answer in the presence of the overly nervous Sarabul.

"Ah!" continued Kerabong, "the wedding of Ahme and Amasya may not be as touching as the engagement of our friend Van Mettaine and the venerable Sarabul, and I certainly cannot offer them the The festival of Muhammad's ascension to heaven, but we have a lot to do, believe me, I'm going to invite all the people in Skuta to the wedding, and I'm going to fill the villa with our friends in Constantinople all the gardens in it!" "We don't need so many guests!" replied the girl. "Yes!...Yes!...Dear Mistress!" Najib shouted. "But I want so much, I!... As long as I want!..." Lord Kerabong said again. "Is little Amasia trying to contradict me?"

"Oh! Lord Kerabong!" "Well then," said the uncle, raising his glass, "to the happiness of these young men who deserve to be happy!" "Cheers to Lord Ahme!...Cheers to Miss Amasia!..." The happy guests repeated in unison. "Also to the union," Kerabong went on, "yes! . . . to the Kurdistan-Netherlands union!" Hearing this cheery "Cheers", facing all the hands stretched out in front of him, Lord Van Mittern, whether he likes it or not, has to bow to express his gratitude, and to drink to his own happiness! This extremely simple yet very pleasant meal was finished.Also rest for a few hours so that you are not too tired at the end of the tour. "We're going to sleep till dawn," Kerabong said. "I entrust the guide to wake us up when the time comes." "Very well, my lord Kerabong," replied the man, "wouldn't it be better for me to take the place of your servant Nisib's watch over the horses?" "No, don't go!" Ahme said immediately. "Nisib is where he should be, and I want you to stay here!...Let's watch the night together!" "Night watch?..." the guide continued, unable to conceal his displeasure. "There is no danger in this remote part of Anatolia!" "Possibly," replied Ahme, "but it never hurts to be too careful! . . . I'll take care of the horses in Nisib's place. You stay here!" "As you please, Lord Ahme," replied the guide. "Let us arrange the cave so that your companions can sleep comfortably." "Arrange it," said Ahme. "Brunaud will be happy to help you, and Mr. van Mittain will agree." "Go, Bruno, go!" said the Dutchman. The sleeping bag that the guide and Bruno used as bedding.Coats and fur robes were carried into the cave.Amasya, Najib and their companions are not picky about food, and naturally they don't have high requirements for sleep. After all the preparations were done, Amasia walked up to Ahme, took his hand and said: "Dear Ahme, so you're going to stay up all night again?" "Yes," Ahme replied, unwilling to show any concern. "Shouldn't I be keeping vigil for my dear ones?" "Is this the last time after all?" "One last time! Tomorrow, all fatigue from this journey will be gone!" "Tomorrow!..." Amasia repeated, raising her beautiful eyes to look at the young man, meeting his gaze, "this tomorrow that seems to never come..." "And it will now last forever!" Ahme replied. "Forever!" murmured the girl. Venerable Sarabul also took her betrothed by the hand, and showed him Amasya and Ahme: "Look at them, Lord Van Mettaine, look at them both," she sighed. "Who?..." said the Dutchman blankly, his thoughts far from keeping up with such a tender lesson. "Who? . . . " said Sarabul sharply, "the young unmarried couple! . . . To tell the truth I think you have a strange restraint!" "You know," replied van Mettaine, "the Dutch! . . . Holland is a land of dykes! . . . There are dykes everywhere!" "There are no dikes in Kurdistan!" exclaimed the venerable Sarabul, deeply offended by his indifference. "No! There's no dike there!" Master Yarnar retorted, shaking his brother-in-law's arm, which almost broke his arm by the live vise. "Fortunately," said Kelabon, unable to restrain himself, "he will be free tomorrow, our friend Van Mettaine!" Then he turned to his companions: "Then, the room should be ready! . . . A room for friends, everyone has a bed. It's going to be eleven o'clock! . . . The moon is up! . . . Let's sleep!" "Come on, Najib," Amasya said to the gypsy girl. "I follow you, my dear mistress." "Good night, Ahme!" "See you tomorrow, dear Amasya, see you tomorrow!" said Ahme, and sent the girl to the entrance of the cave. "Are you following me, Lord Van Mettain?" Sarabul's tone was not touching. "Of course," replied the Dutchman. "However, if I must, I can go with my young friend Ahme!" "You mean?..." cried the domineering Kurdish woman. "Did he mean?..." Master Yanar repeated. "I say..." replied Van Mettaine, "I say... my dear Sarabol, it is my duty to keep your vigil... so..." "Very well! . . . You keep your watch . . . but there!" As she spoke she showed him the cave with one hand, and Janar pushed his shoulder and said at the same time: "There is one thing that you must not have expected, Mr. Van Mettaine?" "One thing I didn't expect, Mr. Yanar? ... Please tell me what it is?" "If you marry my sister, it's like marrying a volcano!" Propelled by a powerful arm, Van Mittern stepped across the cavern's entrance.His fiancée had just stepped in front of him, and Lord Yarnar immediately followed him into the cave. When Master Kairabang was about to enter the cave, Ahmer stopped him and said: "Uncle, I have something to tell you!" "Just one word, Ahme!" Kerabong replied. "I'm tired and want to sleep." "Okay, but I beg you to listen!" "What are you going to say to me?" "Do you know where we are now?" "Yes... on the defile of Nerissa Canyon!" "How far is it from Skutari?" "At most five or six kilometers!" "Who told you?" "It's... our guide!" "Do you trust this man?" "Why don't you believe it?" "Because I've been observing for some days, this person looks more and more suspicious!" Ahme replied. "Do you know him, Uncle? You don't! In Trabzon he volunteered to send you all the way to the Bosporus. You accepted him, but you didn't even know who he was! We He took it on the road..." "But, Ahme, I think he has fully proved that he is very familiar with the Anatolian road!" "There is no doubt about it, uncle!" "Would you like to have a debate, nephew?" asked Lord Kerabong, his brow beginning to furrow with worryingly stubborn obstinacy. "No, uncle, no, please don't misunderstand that I have any thoughts to displease you! . Ahme's emotions were so emotional that when he spoke, his uncle was deeply moved. "Look, Ahme, my boy, what's the matter with you?" he said. "Why should there be such apprehensions when all the trials are at an end? I'd love to agree with you... but only with you! . If I hadn't stubbornly told you to leave Odessa, Amasya might not have been hijacked at all! ... Yes, it's all my fault! ... But now, after all, we are ending this trip! ... Your wedding will not be postponed for a day! . . . Tomorrow we shall be in Skuta... and tomorrow . . . " "But what if we're not in Skutali tomorrow, Uncle, what if we're farther from it than the guide said? What if he suggested we leave the road by the coast to get us lost on purpose? Anyway, if this Is man a traitor?" "A traitor?..." Kerabong called. "Yes," Ahme went on, "and if this traitor is working for the benefit of those who kidnapped Amasya?" "In the name of Allah! My nephew! How did you come up with such an idea, what is it based on, a premonition?" "No! On the facts, Uncle! Listen to me! For some days this man used to leave us during the breaks, on the pretext of finding out the way! . . , and don't want to be seen!... He was out of camp for an hour last night!... I followed him quietly, and I'm sure... I'm sure somewhere on the horizon someone sent him a A signal from the light... a signal he was waiting for!" "It's serious, Ahme!" Kerabong replied. "But why do you want to link this man's conspiracy with the background of kidnapping Amasia on the 'Gidal'?" "Ah! uncle, where is this sailboat going? To the little port of Atina where it sank? No, obviously not! . . . We don't know if it has been blown out of its course ?...Then, as I see it, its destination is Trebzon, where these great rich men of Anatolia often replenish their back rooms...where it is easy to know that the kidnapped girl is shipwrecked was saved, and started tracking her down and sent this guide to lead our little party into some trap!" "Yes! . . . Ahme! . . . . . . " replied Kerabon, "that is true! . . . You are right! . . . There may be a danger threatening us! . . . You keep watch . . . Yes, tonight, I will watch the night with you!" "No, uncle, no," Ahme went on, "you rest! . . . I'm fully armed, and as soon as the alarm . . . " "I told you I'm going to watch too!" Kerabong said. "It cannot be said that the madness of yet another obstinate man like me has wreaked havoc!" "No, you don't have to suffer in vain! ... I have ordered that the guide should spend the night in the cave ... go back." "I'm not going back!" "uncle……" "At the end of the day, you're still going to have to argue with me on this!" Kerabong retorted. "Ah! Be careful, Ahme, no one has been against me for a long time!" "Okay, uncle, okay, let's watch the night together!" "That's right! Keep vigil with weapons, and those who approach our camp will have bad luck!" Lord Kailabon and Ahme walked up and down, staring at the narrow passage, listening to any small sounds that could come out in such a quiet night, guarding the entrance of the cave closely and faithfully. Two hours passed like this, and another hour passed, without anything suspicious happening to confirm the concerns of Lord Kerabong and his nephew.So they could count on the night to pass peacefully, and just before three o'clock in the morning there were shouts at the end of the passage, really horrible shouts.Kerabong and Ahme immediately rushed to the weapon placed at the foot of a rock. This time, the uncle was not sure about the accuracy of his pistol, so he used a long gun instead. At the same moment Nisib came running out of breath and appeared at the entrance of the defile. "Oh! My master!" "What happened, Nisib?" "Master... over there... over there!..." "Over there?..." Ahme asked. "horse!" "Our horse? . . . " "right!" "You're talking, you idiot!" bellowed Kerabong, shaking the poor lad vigorously. "What happened to our horses? . . . " "Snatched!" "Snatched?" "Yes!" Nisib went on. "Two or three people rushed to the grass...to grab..." "They took our horses!" cried Ahme. "You mean they took the horses?" "yes!" "On the road... this side?..." Ahmei asked again, pointing to the west. "This way!" "Should run...follow these robbers...follow them!..." cried Kerabong. "Stay there, uncle!" Ahme replied. "It is impossible to overtake our horses now! . . . The first thing to do is to defend our camp!" "Hey!...Master!..." Nisib suddenly whispered. "Look! . . . look! . . . there! . . . there! . . . " He pointed to the top of a tall rock standing on the left.