The Moghul Part 96

The courtyard erupted with a sudden blare of trumpets and kettledrums, and Hawksworth turned to see Arangbar being carried in on an open palanquin, supported by uniformed eunuchs. A slave walked along one side, holding a satin umbrella over his head for shade, while on the other, two chubby eunuchs walked fanning him with sprays of peac.o.c.k feathers attached to long poles.

As the palanquin neared the tent, Hawksworth pushed through the crowd to gain a better view. Arangbar was dressed for a ceremonial occasion, wearing a velvet turban with a plume of white _heme _feathers almost two feet in length. A walnut-sized ruby dangled from one side of the turban, and on the other side was a ma.s.sive diamond, paired with a heart-shaped emerald. Around his turban was a sash wreathed with a chain of pearls. Rings bearing flashing jewels decorated every finger, and his cloak was gold brocade, decorated with jeweled armlets.

As he descended from the palanquin, at the entry of the pavilion, the n.o.bles near him yelled "Padshah Salamat," Long Live the Emperor, and performed the _teslim_. As he moved toward his throne two more eunuchs were waiting. One stepped forward and presented an enormous pink carp on a silver tray, while the other held out a dish of starchy white liquid. Arangbar dipped his finger in the liquid, touched it to the fish, then rubbed his own forehead--a Moghul ceremony presaging good omens for a march.

Next, another eunuch stepped forward, bowed, and presented him with a sword. He stared at it for a moment as though confused, then shakily ran his finger along the diamonds set in the scabbard and the braided gold belt. As the eunuch urged it toward him, he nodded and allowed it to be buckled at his waist. Another eunuch then presented him with a golden quiver containing thin bamboo arrows and a gleaming lacquer bow.

As he mounted the dais, two eunuchs moved to his side, each waving a gold-handled tail of white yak hair intended to drive away flies.

Another fanfare of trumpets and drums cut the air as the eunuchs helped him onto the throne.

Only when Arangbar was seated did Hawksworth notice

that Nadir Sharif and Zainul Beg were already waiting at the foot of the dais. He also noted Queen Janahara was not present. And then he realized why. The servants had neglected to erect her screen, the one she normally sat behind to dictate his decisions. Since the appearance of Arangbar's solitary rule still had to be maintained, she could not be seen publicly issuing orders, at least not yet.

Hawksworth smiled to himself, wondering whose head would roll for the oversight. Then, as he watched Nadir Sharif begin explaining pet.i.tions to Arangbar, he thought he sensed a gleam of triumph in the prime minister's eye. Could it be the failure to install a screen was deliberate?

The Persian Safavid amba.s.sador approached with the obligatory gift, this time an ornamental case containing a ruby on a gold chain, and then handed up a paper. Arangbar listened to Nadir Sharif explain the doc.u.ment, then appeared to ponder it a moment. Finally he waved his arms lightly and agreed to something Hawksworth did not catch. The amba.s.sador bowed his appreciation, revolved with enormous dignity, and retreated into the sunshine.

Arangbar was already beginning to grow restless, clearly anxious to dismiss everyone and begin loading the _zenana _women onto their elephants. He turned and spoke to Nadir Sharif, who replied quickly and motioned toward a Portuguese emissary in a starched doublet who stood waiting, together with Father Sarmento. It was the first time Hawksworth had noticed them, and he felt his gut knot in hatred as he shoved his own way forward toward the pavilion.

Arangbar listened with a glazed expression, nodding occasionally, as the Portuguese emissary delivered an elaborate speech, translated by Sarmento, and began laying out the contents of a chest he carried. With theatrical flair he drew out several large silver candlesticks, a brace of gold- handled knives with jewel-embossed sheaths, a dozen wine cups of Venetian crystal. Then he produced a leather packet with a red wax seal. He spoke a few more words and pa.s.sed it to Nadir Sharif.

The prime minister examined it, broke the seal to extract the parchment, then gestured for Sarmento to come forward to translate. The Jesuit suddenly looked very old and very uneasy as he adjusted his peaked black hat and took the paper.

Hawksworth shoved closer, and for the first time Arangbar seemed to notice him. The Moghul's eyes darkened and he started to say something in Hawksworth's direction, but Sarmento had already begun the translation into Turki.

"His Excellency, Miguel Vaijantes, sends this message of his high regard and everlasting friendship for His Most High Majesty, the Great Moghul of India. He bows before you and hopes you will honor him by accepting these few small tokens of his admiration."

Sarmento shifted and cleared his throat. Arangbar's eyes had fluttered partially closed and his head seemed to nod sleepily at the conventional flattery.

"His Excellency asks Your Majesty's indulgence of a grievous misdeed last week by a captain of one of our patrol vessels. He a.s.sures Your Majesty that the captain will be stripped of all rank and returned in chains to Goa within the month."

Arangbar's eyes had again opened and he shifted slightly on the throne.

"What 'misdeed' is referred to?"

Sarmento looked at the emissary, who quickly replied in Portuguese. The Jesuit turned again to Arangbar.

"Your Majesty will doubtless receive a dispatch from Surat within a short time describing an unfortunate incident. His Excellency wants you to understand in advance that it was a mistaken order, undertaken entirely without his knowledge or approval."

Arangbar was fully awake now and staring down at the two Portuguese.

"What order? Did the Viceroy order something he now wishes to disown?

What was it?"

"It's the unfortunate matter of the _Fatima_, Your Majesty." Sarmento turned helplessly toward the Portuguese emissary, as though he too were searching for an explanation.

"What about the _Fatima_? She's my largest cargo vessel. She's due in Surat in two days, with goods from Persia." Arangbar's face was sober now. "Her Highness, Maryam Zamani, had eighty _lakhs _of rupees . . ."

"The _Fatima_ is safe, Your Majesty. She has only been detained at sea, on a mistaken interpretation of His Excellency's orders." Sarmento seemed to be blurting out the words. "But he wishes to a.s.sure you . .

"Impossible!" Arangbar's voice was suddenly a roar. "He would not dare!

He knows the cargo was under my seal. I have a copy of the cartaz sent to Goa."

"It was a grievous mistake, Majesty. His Excellency sends his deepest apologies and offers to . . ."

"It was done on _someone's _order! It had to be his. How can it be a 'mistake'!" Arangbar's face had gone purple. "Why was it ordered in the first place?"

Sarmento stood speechless while the envoy spoke rapidly into his ear.

Then he looked back at Arangbar. "Mistakes are always possible, Majesty. His Excellency wishes to a.s.sure you the vessel and all cargo will be released within two weeks."

"I demand it be released immediately! And damages equal the value of the cargo brought to me personally." Arangbar's face was livid. "Or he will never again have a _pice _of trade in an Indian port."

Sarmento turned and translated quickly to the emissary. The Portuguese's face dropped over his moustache and he hesitantly spoke something to Sarmento.

"We regret we have no power at this time to authorize a payment for damages, Majesty. But we a.s.sure you His Excellency will . . ."

"Then 'His Excellency' will have no more trade in India." Arangbar turned, his face overflowing with rage, and shouted to the guards standing behind him. As they ran to his side he drew his sword and waved it drunkenly at the emissary, whose face had gone white. "Take him away."

As the guards seized the terrified Portuguese by the arms, sending his hat tumbling onto the carpet, he looked imploringly at Nadir Sharif.

But the prime minister's face was a mask. Then Arangbar turned on Father Sarmento. "If His Excellency has anything else to say to me, he will say it himself, or he will send someone with the authority to answer me. I do not receive his _peons_."

Sarmento flinched at the insulting Goan slang for dockhand. "Your Majesty, again I a.s.sure you . . ."

" You will never again a.s.sure me of anything. I've listened to your a.s.surances for years, largely on matters about which you have only belief, never proof. You a.s.sured me of the power of the Christian G.o.d, but never once would you accept the challenge of the Islamic mullahs to cast a Bible and the Quran into a fire together, to show once and for all which held sacred truth. But their test is no longer needed. Your Christian lies are over." Arangbar rose unsteadily from his throne, his brow harrowed by his fury. "I order your stipend terminated and your church in Agra closed. And your mission in Lah.o.r.e. There will never again be a Christian church in India. Never."

"Your Majesty, there are many Christians in India." Sarmento's voice was pleading. "They must have a priest, to minister the Holy Sacrament."

"Then do it in your lodgings. You no longer have a church." Arangbar settled back on the throne, his anger seeming to overwhelm him. "Never see me again unless you bring news the ship is released, and my demands met. Never."

Sarmento watched in horror as Arangbar dismissed him with a gesture of his arm. The old Jesuit turned and moved trembling into the crowd that had pushed around the sides of the pavilion. As he pa.s.sed by Hawksworth, he suddenly stopped.

"This was all because of you." His voice quivered. "I learned of this only today from my foolish prodigal, Pinheiro. May G.o.d have mercy on you, heretic. You and your accomplices have destroyed all His work in India."

As Hawksworth tried to find an answer he heard a drunken shout.

"Inglish! What are you doing here? Come forward and explain yourself."

He looked up to see Arangbar motioning at him.

"Are you deaf? Come forward." Arangbar glared mischievously. "Why are you still in Agra? We were told we sent you away, almost a week ago. I think I may decide to have you and every other Christian in India hanged."

"May it please Your Majesty, I came to request an audience." Hawksworth moved quickly forward, past the confused guards, carrying the package he had brought.

"And what have you stolen of ours, Inglish? Have you come now to tell us it was all a mistake, before I order your hand cut off?"

"Englishmen are not Portugals, Your Majesty. We do not take what is not our own. What have I ever taken that Your Majesty did not freely give?"