“Blackwell is very concerned about his men. He wants to meet with you.”
Neilsen’s eyebrows rose. “I shall attempt to gain permission to visit him, but I doubt it will be given.”
“Then Murad and I shall serve as your liaison.”
“I beg your pardon, Mrs. Thornton?”
“We shall carry messages between you and Blackwell,” Alex said.
“This is too dangerous for a woman,” Neilsen began, ashen.
Alex stood. “Like hell!”
He gasped.
“Blackwell’s life is at stake. We must plan an escape.”
Neilsen gaped at her.
Alex clenched her fists. “Will you help us?”
“I do not know what to say,” Neilsen finally said. “Of course, I cannot refuse you, but, Mrs. Thornton, I strongly object to your involvement in any of this.”
“So you are with us?”
Neilsen was silent. The heavy pendulum clock in the corner of the room could be heard ticking. He was ashen. “Of course, I will do my duty. I am as outraged as you are, Mrs. Thornton, by all the atrocities committed here in Barbary. Iwillhelp. But I do not understand. I do not understand your role in all of this. This is not a woman’s concern. I must repeat that planning the escape of such a valuable political prisoner is far too dangerous for any woman—even a woman like yourself.”
Alex smiled. “But we are not planning his escape alone. We shall plan Blackwell’s escape—and mine.” She glanced at Murad, who stared at her. “Blackwell and I shall escape together.”
Neilsen sat down abruptly.
Murad remained silent, unmoving.
A few moments later Alex and Murad left, much to Neilsen’s relief. Murad did not speak as they wandered up the street.
“Are you angry with me?” Alex asked.
“No.”
“Then what is wrong?” Alex’s tone was soft.
He did not look at her. “You are courting disaster and I am trying to serve you. After all, I am your slave.”
“You are my best friend. In the entire world.” Still he would not look at her. “Past, present, and future.”
His jaw flexed. “I am trying to protect you.”
“Are you jealous?” Alex asked carefully.
He flinched. “Of course not. Why would I be jealous? I am a eunuch, Alex. Half a man.”
Alex balled her fists. His words stabbed right through her to her very soul. “You are not half a man,” she finally said.
His face was flushed. He made no reply.
They were on dangerous ground. Alex did not know how they had arrived there. She was acutely aware of loving him as a friend. She took a lungful of air, and faced him squarely. “Will you help me? Please? There is no one I can trust the way I trust you. If you do not help me, I will fail, Murad, and we both know it. I cannot possibly escape Tripoli on my own.”
“Alex, are you aware of the fact that there are very few successful escapes from Tripoli?”
