Philip thanked heaven for the full moon that gave him enough light to follow the tracks. The hours passed by slowly, filled with his tortured thoughts, and the sun was high before Philip spotted the camp of a desert tribe in the distance. The tracks he followed led directly to the camp. It won’t be long now, Christina, he thought. I will find you and take you home.
Philip slowed his horse and entered the encampment. Several men came forward as he halted Victory in the center of the camp.
“I am looking for four men and a woman,” Philip said in Arabic. “They came through here, did they not?”
“You have come to the right place, Abu Alhamar. You will dismount and come with me.”
Philip turned to see the man who spoke. A rifle was pointed at his back, leaving him little choice. “How do you know who I am?”
“You have been expected. Come with me.”
Philip dismounted, and the man prodded him with the rifle toward a tent entrance. More armed men walked behind him, ready for his slightest move. How the devil do they know who I am? Philip wondered.
An old man at the far end of the tent stood up and looked Philip over. “It did not take you long to come, Sheik Abu. I have waited a long time for this moment.”
“What the hell is this all about?” Philip demanded. “How do you know who I am? I’ve never laid eyes on you before?”
“You have seen me before, but you would not remember. Perhaps you have heard of me? I am Ali Hejaz, sheik of this tribe and uncle to Rashid, your half-brother. Do you know me now?”
“I have heard your name before, but that’s all. Why were you expecting me?”
“Ah, I see your father kept the truth from you. Now I must tell you the whole story, so you will understand why I am going to kill you to avenge my sister’s death.”
“You must be crazy,” Philip laughed. “I’ve done nothing to you. Why do you want me dead?”
“I am not crazy, Abu Alhamar.” Ali Hejaz spoke calmly, relishing his moment of triumph. “You will soon learn why you must die. I knew you would fall into my trap, because I have your woman.”
“Where is she?” Philip exploded. “If you’ve hurt her—!”
“All in good time, Abu,” Ali Hejaz interrupted. “You may see her later, for the last time. Do not fear for her, for she will not be harmed in my camp. I am grateful to Christina Wakefield for bringing you to my vengeance. Later, I will return her to her brother for the reward.”
“How did you know about her?” Philip asked.
“You have so many questions! You see, Rashid visits me from time to time. He mentioned you were back from England, and that you were keeping a foreign woman as your mistress. It seems I have rescued Christina Wakefield from her abductor!” Ali paused. When he spoke again, his voice was filled with anger. “I also recently learned of Yasir’s death. I was cheated out of killing him myself, so you, his beloved son, will take his place!”
“What do you claim my father did?” Philip asked.
Ali Hejaz poured two glasses of wine and offered one to Philip. He declined, and Ali smiled. “It will be your last—I suggest you drink it. It is not poisoned, I assure you. I have a slower, crueler death planned for you.”
“Get on with your explanations, Hejaz. I wish to see Christina,” Philip replied. He took the wine and toasted the old man mockingly.
“I see you do not take me seriously yet. Ah, but you will when your slow death begins. However, you deserve to know why you are going to die.” Ali paused and drank from the glass he was holding.
“A very long time ago, your father and I were close friends. I would have done anything for Yasir. I also knew your mother, and I was with Yasir when you were born. I rejoiced for your father in those days. He had two fine sons and a woman he loved more than life itself. I remember holding you on my knee when you were only three years old and telling you stories. Can you remember that?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think you would. Those were happy days—until your mother left. She was a good woman, but she destroyed Yasir. He was never the same again. His wife gone, his two sons gone, Yasir felt he had nothing to live for. I suffered with him for three years, for I loved Yasir as a brother. I hoped he would forget your mother, and find happiness again. I had a sister named Margiana, a beautiful girl who adored Yasir. So I offered Margiana to Yasir in marriage.”
“But my mother and father were still married. How could he marry your sister?” Philip interrupted.
“Your mother had gone and was not coming back. It was the same as if she were dead. Yasir was free to marry again. He could make a new life and sire sons he could watch grow to manhood. So Yasir agreed to marry my sister. I was called away just then, and asked Margiana not to marry until my return. But she refused to wait.
“I was wounded while away and was bedridden for months. It took me almost two years to find my sister and Yasir’s tribe. Rashid, my sister’s son, was a year old then.
“And so the years passed, and I thought all was well with my sister. Yasir was still unhappy. He did not love Rashid as he had you. However, when I visited my sister she acted as though she were happy.
“Several years ago, my sister came to me and finally told me the truth about her so-called marriage. Yasir refused to marry her at the last minute. But on the night they were to have been married, he got drunk and raped her. When she discovered months later that she was with child, she begged Yasir to marry her. But he still refused. He couldn’t forget your mother. Margiana felt ashamed because she was not married, so she lied to me and let me think she was happy. Yasir never took her again, but he let her and Rashid live with his tribe. She loved him, and he treated her like dirt.
