"Lie down beside her, my lord," Thomasdirected him in a hushed voice. "I'll tell you when we get close toBabCharkiso you'll know not tomake a sound."
"What isBabCharki?" Guy asked, gritting his teeth from theterrible odor assailing him as he took his place on the hard wagon floor.
"The Gate of the Sun. It's one of the city's maingates and heavily guarded, but we'll have no problems if you hold your breathand play dead when we reach it . . . just in case the guards decide to checkbeneath the canvas."
"I think I can manage," Guy muttered, jerkinghis hand away when he accidentally touched the wrapped, bloated corpse next tohim. "What are the odds that they might check?"
"Hopefully slight. We have some very ripe souls inthis wagon that should keep them away.
Guy had to swallow hard after that comment. As Thomastucked a heavy linen shroud tightly around his prone body and then over hishead, he heard Eve fervently whisper above him, "God go with you."
"And with you, brave Lady Eve," he answered,the world around him growing darker still when the canvas was drawn over themand pulled taut.
The wagon jerked into motion, the iron-rimmed wheelsclattering loudly when they turned from the dirt alley onto the paved sidestreet. Guy rocked back and forth, bumping into Leila on one side and the corpseon his other, all the while breathing through his mouth and not his nose. Ithelped . . . a little.
Funny, he thought, beginning to believe he was livingsome bizarre and macabre nightmare. He hadn't even asked what was to happenonce they reached the Christian cemetery. Perhaps he and Leila were to walk allthe way to Acre.
After what seemed a very long time, he heard Thomashiss to him through the canvas, "We're almost toBabCharki, my lord. Say a prayer the lady doesn't talkin her sleep."
Guy tensed as the wagon ground to a halt and harsh malevoices surrounded them on all sides. He lay totally still as the canvas wasthrown back and the men cursed, drawing in sharp, disgusted exhalations ofbreath. It was obvious the guards were getting a full whiff of his putridcompanions.
Yet the wagon stayed put and Guy began to sweat,fearing the worst. Had Leila moved? Had he? His fingers itched to reach for hissword, but that would surely give them away.
Suddenly the canvas was tossed back over them and thewagon wheels began to creak and turn again. Overwhelmed with relief, Guy willedhimself to relax.
The wagon rumbled on, bumping over countless rocks anddeep ruts in the road. Guy's only clue that they were a safe distance from theGate of the Sun came when Thomas muttered vehemently, "Damn bloodyheathen, may the devil skewer them all on his fork and toss them into hell'sfire!" Then the friar gave a strange laugh, between a grunt and a chuckle."If you don't mind me saying so, my lord, me being a man of God and all."
"Not in the least," Guy replied, grateful forThomas's levity. He felt his spirits rising despite the stench. He had seenplenty of dead men in his day, butlyingthis close tomoldering corpses was stretching the limits of his endurance.
To get his mind off his own discomfort, he wondered howLeila was faring. Now he firmly believed he and Eve had done the right thing todrug her. No woman could have endured such a ghastly experience without beingreduced to frantic tears.
"This is the place," Thomas said finally,loud enough for Guy to hear. "You can get up now, my lord."
Guy couldn't throw off the shroud and tear away thecanvas fast enough. He leaped from the wagon and gasped in great breaths offresh air. "Where are we?" he asked hoarsely, his eyes watering.
"Three miles south of Damascus, just past thecemetery. We'll have to walk the rest of the way to the camp."
"What camp?"
"Bedouin traders. Desert nomads. They camp outsidethe city, preferring their camel-hide tents to any inns Damascus has to offer.We must buy horses if you want to reach Acre swiftly, and the Bedouins possessthe finest Arabian steeds in the land. We'll leave the lady here—"
"No. She goes with me."
Thomas shook his head firmly as he covered his baldscalp with a pointed hood. "If those traders catch one glimpse of her, noamount of precious jewelry willfendthem off, mylord. Beauty such as hers is rare and worth a sultan's price. They'll kill usboth to have her. She must remain in the wagon. Believeme,no one will come near the dead." The friar went so far as to grab Guy'sarm, insisting, "Come. We must hurry. The guards will set out looking forme if I don't return toBabCharkiwithin a few hours."
Guy glanced at the wagon and decided to trust Thomas'sjudgment. After all, WilliamGervaishad beenmurdered by such ruthless men. Guy had no desire to share his miserable fate.
"Very well," he said. "We will leave herhere.
"Most wise, my lord," Thomas murmured,walking with him toward the red glow of distant campfires. "When we reachthe Bedouin camp, keep silent. I will bargain for the horses."
"An easy task. My Arabic is pitiful."
The friar chuckled,thenquickly sobered. "We will buy two strong mounts in case one goes lamealong the way. The journey from here to Acre will take you a full day, perhapslonger, even if you travel swiftly. You would do well to ride directlysouthwest following the ancient caravan routes to the coast."
Guy nodded, his hand moving to his wide sash as theyneared the first low-slung tents. "Lady Eve gave me jewels—"
"Those are for your journey," Thomasinterrupted, patting a pocket in his dark brown robe. "Majidagave me an emerald necklace when she found me at the church. It will amplycover the cost of the horses, which, knowing thesetraders,will be excessive." His voice fell. "Here they come. No more talking,my lord."
