Talitha Koum

Chapter 24

TALITHA KOUM

CHAPTER 24

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The morning was not yet come but Julie was already well on her way. She yawned on her camel. The company had started out for the site hours before sunrise.

Julie’s hands were tied in front of her with a short length of rope but her feet had been left free so she could straddle her mount. The three friends were riding together, near the back of the assemblage.

Pang had wanted Mr. Fong to remain at the camp for safety reasons, but Mr. Fong had insisted on accompanying his friends. In the end, Pang conceded and allowed him to come, but two men had been assigned to specifically assure his safety.

Tom was riding on the right side of Julie while Mr. Fong rode on the left. Tom had put on a headdress to hide his hair and a mask to cover his face. As they bumped along, he sneaked his hand under his mask every now and then to scratch away at the rash that was just beginning on his left cheek. Feeling a little parched, he reached down to one of the many water jugs he had brought along because you never knew when you were going to get thirsty. As he did so, the fidgeting kicked up some camel hair and a long series of sneezes started. The men who were riding close to him moved further out.

His camel went over a bump and Tom slipped. He tumbled forward and had to extend both arms to keep from sliding off completely. Now he was deathgripping his camel, digging his hands deep into the animal’s hair, much like a newborn chimp would do on the back of its mother. One of Pang’s men eased in and helped him back up.

Julie sighed as she watched the whole thing. Tom’s colour was turning a bit pale.

Pang approached on his horse to her other side. He was smiling and shaking his head.

“What?” she asked him.

“It is nothing.” Mr. Fong helped to translate.

“Tell me.”

Pang smirked. “It is amusing to me to see whom you have chosen to be your allies.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means this. You are not without your faults, Miss Julie. You are arrogant, over-confident and rude. You have none of the qualities befitting a good mother or a wife.”

“So?”

“So, while it is true you have your weaknesses, you also have your strengths. They are obvious. Even I can see them. However, as for your friends…” He cocked his eyebrows at Tom.

Julie bowed her head. She chuckled. “Lord Pang, as a leader and businessman, you have my utmost respect. However, I do want to say this. With regard to this particular comrade…” She indicated Tom. “…in all the years that I’ve had the good fortune to know him, I have learned to never underestimate him. Mark my words. Whenever the situation became critical, he has continued to surprise me again and again.”

Pang glanced over at Tom, who had missed what they were saying because he was battling his nose with his handkerchief. Pang smiled.

The first rays of the sun were just coming up over the horizon. Julie glanced around and measured the size of their company. “How many have come with us today?”

“Two hundred horse,” Pang replied.

“And how many will Abda bring?”

“Two hundred also, as agreed.”

“And you trust him?”

Pang laughed. “Do you trust your enemy, Miss Julie? No, he will bring more. As many as he can muster. Though, of course, he will first have them hidden.”