The other girl sighed and removed her veil. Rose still wasn't satisfied. "Well, come on, sister-aren't you going to embrace your long-lost brother? Aren't you glad to see him?"

"He's not my long-lost-"

"But you haven't seen him in at least a year, have you now?"

"Please," Hasan said stupidly, still kneeling on the floor. "I really didn't mean to-"

"Be quiet, brother," Rose said severely.

Reluctantly, and with extreme distress, the shapely older sister knelt and put her arms around Hasan.

"And kiss him, too," Rose directed.

She kissed him lightly on the cheek, while Hasan flushed magnificently. Rose then followed her sister's example, putting considerably more enthusiasm into it, and was satisfied. "But brother," she exclaimed as an afterthought, "you're in terrible condition. Come, I'll yank off those sopping rags and dress you in fitting raiment. What's your name?"

And she led him away, hardly paying attention to his reply, while her sister sat down and rolled her eyes at the chesscloth.

An hour later Hasan, garbed in a brilliant yellow silken robe that had been tailored for a king, was in the midst of a sumptuous repast. His pain and fatigue had vanished in the glow of the attention he received from the two lovely maidens.

"Tell us the story of your life," Rose implored him. "It's been so long since we've had a live, handsome son of Adam to-"

"Rose!" her sister said, alarmed.

"-to listen to," she finished contritely.

"O merciful and radiant damsels," Hasan began for- mally, "my story is uninteresting. But I am anxious to know how you came to be here, in this marvelous palace in the wilderness, and why two such beautiful girls should choose to live alone like this. And what was your quarrel with Bahrain the magician?"

Rose held up her hand, an impertinent but attractive pout on her face. "We asked you first!"

The older sister intervened diplomatically. "Since Bahram brought you here, it might be simplest if you explained your a.s.sociation with him. Then we'll know how to fill in our side of the story."

"Yes-tell us about Bahram, the dog!"

Hasan looked at the young women again, impressed by the fine contours of the one and the flashing animation of the other. This was the stuff his dreams were fashioned from, and it was hard to believe the girls were not phan- tasms of the jinn, sent to lead him to disaster. But he could not resist their gentle importunings, and soon launched into his story. Rose interrupted prettily with appropriate exclamations as he described his travails with the magician.

"Did you ask him about this palace?" she demanded.

"I did; but he wouldn't talk about it. He said it be- longed to ghouls and devils."

Both girls jumped to their feet. "Ghouls and devils!" they exclaimed together, outraged.

"Yes." Hasan suspected that Bahram had been speak- ing metaphorically, but it didn't seem worthwhile to point this out.

"By Allah!" cried Rose. "I will slay him with my own hands!"

"But how can you do such a thing when you are just a girl and he is a crafty magician?" This was a deliberately leading question.

"I'm not just a girl," she said. "I'm a princess." Nevertheless, she quieted.

"We are not untrained in weapons," the older sister said, "and we know how to deal with this man, magician or not."

Hasan did not like the sound of this. Bahram, at least, had taught him not to be naive. There had been so many indications of the Persian's intent, if only he had been able to read them properly at the time. How could he be sure that these maidens were not after all demons in disguise? If they could actually kill the magician- "You promised to tell me your story," he reminded them. If they were of the jinn, he was already in their power. Their tale might clarify things. Certainly he could gain nothing by acting rashly without information.

"O yes, brother!" Rose said, impulsively kissing him. Suddenly his doubts seemed foolish. No demon could be that interesting! Of course, he was technically her brother, which curtailed the romantic implications somewhat . . . perhaps fortunately. He had no serious complaint.

"Know, O my brother," Rose began portentously, "that we are the daughters of a mighty king of the jinn-"

"Rose!" The older sister was indignant.

Hasan also reacted, but for a different reason.

"All right! I only wanted to make it sound more impres- sive. I mean, what's so exciting about an ordinary mortal king? They say there is jinn blood in our-"

"I'd much rather be brother to a mortal damsel," Hasan said. Under the circ.u.mstances, tact was natural.

"You would?" Rose murmured, suddenly shy. "Oh. Well, our father is the king of the mightiest kingdom in Sind. Almighty Allah blessed him with seven daughters by one wife-"

"Seven! You mean . . . ?"

Rose pouted again. "How can I tell our story if you keep interrupting? Of course there are seven of us. Every- body knows that."

Hasan apologized.

"Anyway, he had seven daughters, and he was very proud of us, even if he did need a son. But then he got so proud it was folly. He was so jealous and stiff-necked-"

"Rose!"

"-that he would not give any of us in marriage to any man at all. And he summoned his wazirs and said to them, 'Can you tell me of any place untrodden by the tread of men and jinn and abounding in trees and fruits and rills?' And they said, 'What wilt thou therewith, O King of the Ages?' and he said, 'I desire there to lodge my seven lovely daughters.' And they said, 'O King, the place for them is the castle near the Mountain of Clouds, which was built by an ifrit of the rebellious jinn who revolted from the covenant of our lord Solomon, on whom be peace! Since his destruction none hath dwelt there, nor man nor jinni, for it is cut off from the rest of the world and none may win to it. And the castle is girt about with trees and fruits and rills, and the water running round it is sweeter than honey and colder than snow; none who is afflicted with leprosy or illness drinketh thereof but he is healed forthright.' When our father heard this he joyed with great joy and brought us here with an escort of troops and left us with everything we need.

"When he wants to visit us he beats a kettle-drum, and all his hosts present themselves before him, and he comes here with his retinue. But when he wants us to visit him, he commands the enchanters to fetch us, so that he may enjoy our company, and afterwards he sends us back here. And that's it."

Hasan was amazed. "But surely he wouldn't prevent you from marrying all your lives!"

"You don't know daddy! We've been here four years, all the time hoping for a son of Adam to keep us company- and praised be He who brought you to us! So be of good cheer and keep your eyes cool and clear, because we've got you now!"

"But where are your five sisters?"

"They're out hunting in the forest, where there are wild beasts beyond number."

"I know," Hasan said, remembering the long days of travel.

"Well, why did you ask, brother?"

Hasan did not see through her teasing. "I meant, I know there are animals, because I saw them. And insects! And the most remarkable birds."

Again the two girls reacted. "Which birds are these?" the older sister inquired.

"Why the roc, of course. I told you how it-"

They laughed as though relieved. Hasan was mystified, but attributed it to the vagaries of feminine nature. What bird could be more remarkable than the roc?

The afternoon pa.s.sed in a moment amidst inconsequen- tial dialogue. Suddenly there was the blast of a horn outside.

"They're back!" Rose cried. "Come, Hasan-you have to meet our sisters. Your sisters." She hauled him after her as she dashed with unladylike haste out of the palace.

Five heavily veiled warrior maidens stood before the main gate, the gutted carca.s.s of a deer beside them. The late afternoon sunlight glinted on their metallic armor.

"Come on, brother! You take all day."

The leading amazon lifted her bow as soon as she recognized Hasan as a stranger. The deadly hunting arrow followed his progress unwaveringly.

"Sister! Wait!" Rose cried breathlessly. "Don't shoot him. He's my brother!"

The leader frowned under her veil. She was a hefty, muscular woman, handsome rather than beautiful. This was evidently the oldest sister. "We have no brother," she said, increasing the tension on the bowstring, much to Hasan's alarm.

"I adopted him," Rose said. "He escaped from Bahram, the evil magician, and now he's ours. A son of Adam!"

Magic words! The women behind the leader jostled each other. Hasan could see that they ranged from sleek to vo- luptuous. They studied him as eagerly.

The arrow lowered. "Put him in the stable for the night. I'll question him tomorrow." The women picked up the carca.s.s and marched on into the palace.

"See, she likes you," Rose said.

Hasan was amazed when he presented himself for the formal interview the following day. The eldest sister sat on an ornate couch, dressed in bright red pantaloons and a matching shawl. Her hair hung almost to her waist in jeweled splendor, and her eyes above the copious veil were dark and enormous. She wore a headdress like a small gold crown, and looked every inch the queen she was. He had misjudged her badly, in her rough armor.

"Tell me your story," she said abruptly. "All of it." The manner, at any rate, had not changed.

Hasan went over it again. The queen's interruptions, unlike Rose's, were intelligent and to the point. Exactly how had Bahram produced gold? How many months had the voyage on the sea lasted? Why had he come to the palace? Did he understand the obligations and restraints implicit in formal Brotherhood?

Hasan, realizing that his stay at the palace and quite possibly his life as well depended upon his answers, re- plied with complete candor. There was now no doubt in his mind that the seven princesses were what they pro- fessed to be; the jinn would never have needed to question him like this. But the queen did not relent. She rapped out her queries with a severity that belied the luxuriousness of her softly garbed body.

"Do you realize," she said, watching him narrowly, "that no man is permitted here except our father the King? Do you desire to stay with us, even though you know you will be horribly executed if he ever learns of your presence?"

Hasan had not known. Of course that would be the case. Why had the King isolated his lovely daughters here, if not to deny them the company of all men and thus prevent their marriage? How terrible would be his wrath if he caught a male intruder!

"There are settlements on the island," the queen said. "The natives are not of the True Faith, but traders do pa.s.s every year or so. We can provide you with money to buy your pa.s.sage home. In this manner you will be safe."

Now Hasan thought about Ba.s.sorah, and his dull life there as a marginally successful goldsmith. The adventures would be over, the attractive sisters of the palace forever parted from him. He had thought only of returning home, until now-but the opportunity to do so brought serious second thoughts. At Ba.s.sorah he would look out upon bleak plains during the hot season, interminable swamps during the wet season, his dreams behind him. At all times there would be the great rivers and the ocean-and when the ships from far ports came in he would remember that he had visited paradise . , . and given it up because he lacked the courage to remain.

Tears came to his eyes as he felt the immensity, the weight of that tedium descend upon him. What use was life at all to a man alone and unloved and unable to accomplish anything that had not been better accomplished by others before him? Surely death was better than this, if it was an honorable demise for the sake of true comrade- ship. For the sake of Rose and her charming sisters.

"How is a man to desert his sisters?" he asked her. "The will of Allah, the Compa.s.sionate, the Merciful, shall prevail. If you would have me stay, I shall stay."

The queen removed her veil. "Welcome, brother," she said-and at that signal the room was filled with excited, unveiled girls.

They had been hiding behind the curtains all the time!

Hasan was nearly buried in their affectionate embraces. "Laud to the Lord who guides us into the path of deliverance and inclines fair damsels' hearts to us!" he exclaimed.

There were eager introductions now; but he could not remember all the elaborate names at once, and settled upon "Eldest," "Second," "Third," and so on down to the youngest, Rose, in his own mind.

Hasan was never alone after that, nor did he want to be. Even at night Rose would come and sit on his bed, the delightful younger sister, and tell him tales of old Serendip and of the marvelous kingdom in Sind, on the mainland. The others seemed to take turns with him during the day. At least, he found himself escorted by one or two, while the others busied themselves elsewhere, and never by the same girls on consecutive days. He kept his peace. He loved them all, and the constant variety and implied flat- tery were highly stimulating. Rose, of course, followed no rules; she had proprietary rights.

Eldest took him on a private hunt. She showed him the monstrous wild elephants browsing in the jungle, shy veg- etarians despite their size, and great eagles soaring high above the hills. She trained him to the bow and spear and the short sword. When he shot an arrow into the flank of a happy earthgrubbing boar, far smaller than the powerful wild swine of the Ba.s.sorah swampland, and did not kill it with that shot or the next, he learned a lasting lesson. Suddenly the innocuous creature was a charging brute, and he had to finish it off desperately with his sword, over- whelmed by the vicious squeal and stink of it and its spouting blood upon his arms and chest. Now he knew that this was also the way of a man under attack, and was forever warned against the careless or inexpert application of weapons. As a True Believer, he could not even eat the flesh of the pig he had killed, since it was an unclean animal. He had won a pointless battle.

Second, a tall regal woman of cla.s.sic beauty, showed him the palace. Room after room was filled with elegant furniture, rare colored gla.s.s, and panels of teak and ebony set with jewels of every type: sapphires and rubies plucked from nearby streams, and many less common stones. Pil- lared courtyards contained merry fountains and ornamental statuary, and pleasant fruit trees grew beyond sculptured arches. Careful geometric designs decorated every wall and hanging rug-reproduction of the human figure being forbidden-and even the common candlesticks were of ivory, and the lamps of ornate silver. Never had he seen such fabulous wealth, and his mind was overwhelmed with the vaults. Caliph Harun al-Rashid himself, the Com- mander of the Faithful and ruler of empire, could hardly display such opulence.

Third was a pleasant girl, plump of bosom and round of face, who took him to the gardens. All about the palace grounds were trees and shrubs of marvelous size and grace. Nutmeg, cinnamon, guava, fig and coconut-palm grew in the vast cultivations, and the strange jak tree with its heroic fifty-pound fruit hanging from the trunk, and its brother the breadfruit tree, in the guise of the champion of watermelon plants. She showed him the magnificent culti- vated orchids on the walls, and in the pools the immense flat disks of lotus leaves, their pink and white floating flowers the harbingers of the narcotic lotus seed. And finally she showed him the small oranges of the most deadly strychnine plant, the same that Bahram had gath- ered for his nefarious purposes; her word of caution was unnecessary.

Fourth was robust, lithe and vigorous, and she led him a merry chase farther afield. She exposed him to the hills and dales beyond the palace, where solid carpets of exquisite nelu flowers stood knee-deep and concealed everything beneath. Ferns sprang up the size of small trees, and everywhere the crimson and gold flowers spread out their enchantments. And suddenly there was a sheer cliff, a smaller version of the rift at the Mountain of Clouds, where the monkeys gathered in the evening with incredible hullabaloo. On the way back they admired the large fan-palm, said to flower only once in fifty years, and whose leaf could be used as paper. Hasan asked her about the origin of the metal chains by which he had descended from the magician's trap; she knew of them, but not of their source. The chains had existed as long as anyone had knowledge of the mountain.

Fifth had a mouth like Solomon's ring and huge purple-painted eyes. She conveyed Hasan to an interior room that was dark even at noon, ignited naphtha torches set in the floor, and danced for him. As she moved her amber body under the almost transparent robe, the silken undulations accentuated her breathtaking b.r.e.a.s.t.s and liquidly supple hips. Muscles Hasan had hardly known existed flexed her abdomen, her b.u.t.tocks, and he forgot the intricate art of the dance itself in his exceeding regret that he could never be her lover. Brotherhood itself was not the entire re- straint, for adoptive siblings could marry; but she was one of seven. Love, in the physical sense, was a crime outside of marriage, and no man could take more than four wives, or marry two sisters. Concubines were limited only by his resources and ambition; but which of these princesses could he degrade to such status, and he a common mer- chant? But more: he would bring ruin upon them all if he were to violate the personal sanct.i.ty of these protected maidens, no matter how willing they might be. Sisters they were, irrevocably. But the dance awakened voluptuous longings, nevertheless. . . .

Sixth was the sister he had first met playing chess with Rose. She played the game with him also, but her moves and strategy were far more adept than his, and he was embarra.s.sed to be so easily mastered by a woman. She took him to the library, where scroll after scroll was neatly rolled and filed. Here was doc.u.mentation for the stories Rose liked to tell, and much more besides. But Sixth, unlike the others, expected him to contribute as well as receive: she made him dictate not only the details of his journey, but everything else he knew about geography and philosophy, while she gravely recorded the information.

She drew from the whole of his knowledge about the working of gold and other precious metals. Never had he felt so subtly inadequate, as his own voice exposed the pitiful paucity of his information. He had so much still to learn!

Rose was a constant joy. She it was who comforted him when he proved unequal to the task of bringing down game for their food supply, or selected inappropriate gems for some new palace decoration, or expressed his thought less than cogently for the library record. She answered his questions and listened raptly to his problems and cheered him with the honey dew of her lips, and he marveled that he could ever have existed without her pa.s.sionate sisterhood.

"Why is your father determined never to allow you to marry?" he asked her. "I'm sure it wasn't just a matter of pride."

"Well, no," she admitted, not enthusiastic about this subject. "You see, Sind is far from Baghdad, and never was part of the Prophet's empire. My father was converted to the True Faith in his youth, when he traveled west, but his people haven't really changed. All of the neighboring Kings are Hindu. Daddy didn't want to embarra.s.s those royal suitors by telling them that their religion wasn't good enough-"

"But why not? They should be ashamed to be infidels!"

"I told you. We're far from-"

"I see," Hasan said. "Now I understand. They're too far away to pilgrimage to the Holy City, and they probably expect you to adopt their cult. That would be intolerable."

"Would it?" she inquired in a rare pensive mood. "Is it really better to die a spinster than to accept another religion?"

"Of course. The curse of Allah would fall upon anyone who deserted Him."

"But what about the curse of Brahma?"

"I don't understand. What does Brahma matter?"

Sixth overheard the conversation and joined it. "I would marry an infidel," she said, "so long as he didn't interfere with my own belief."

Hasan was shocked. "An infidel!"

"In many ways the Hindus are just as devout as we are."

"How can you say such a thing!"

Rose got into the spirit of the argument. "Brother, would you refuse to marry a Hindu damsel if she wouldn't change her religion?"

"Certainly."