"O my lady! I have no desire except to take you as my wife, after the law of Allah and the practice of His Apos- tle, and to journey with you to my own country. And I will buy you handmaidens and chattels, and my mother, who is the best of women, will do you service. There is no finer land than mine; everything there is better than elsewhere, and its folk are pleasant and bright. Only consent to come with me and let me worship in the light of your smile, and-"

She had not spoken a syllable or moved a toe, but he had to break off at the sound of knocking from below. Someone was at the front gate! The sisters had returned!

He was tongue-tied again. Quickly he replaced the slip- per, as though tidying furniture, and stood up. He left the flowers on the floor.

"I must go," he said, backing away. "But I love you."

She made no sign.

Downstairs he found the six sisters in their hunting clothing, soiled and tired and laden with game. "Wel- come!" he cried.

"You look much better, brother," Eldest said, eyeing his elaborate outfit. He had forgotten to change! "We'll join you shortly." And the six retired to their rooms to clean up and don more feminine apparel.

Hasan looked at their collection of game. They had taken gazelles and wild dogs and leopards and even a small bear. It had been a good hunt. In due course the sisters emerged from their chambers, refreshed and delicately robed. Hasan went up to each in turn, kissing her and expressing great affection. "Why so friendly, so suddenly?" Fifth inquired, flattered. "Did you have a fight with Rose?" Second asked. "I'm glad to see you so much improved, Hasan," Sixth said. "I wonder whether we came back too soon," Eldest said, "or too late."

Hasan was abruptly overwhelmed by his own deception, seemingly so transparent. Why had he wooed a foreign damsel, when these were his true friends, his dear sisters? The hot tears came to his eyes. He was unworthy of them.

They quickly noted his distress, and turned inquiring glances to Rose, who had just appeared. But Rose re- mained aloof, letting Hasan solve his problem himself.

"We thought you were over this sadness, brother," Third remarked. "Do you miss your mother and your native land? We would not hold you here against your will. We love your company, but rather than see you weep, we will equip you and send you home again."

Hasan looked about, startled. "By Allah, sisters, I could not leave you!"

"Which of us has vexed you, then?" Second asked, softening. "Why are you so troubled, when we thought you were doing so well?"

Hasan stood silent, unable to come up with any reply. How could he tell them the truth? They might be furious, and cast him out and kill the princess. . . .

He noticed that Eldest and Sixth stood a little apart, no longer partic.i.p.ating in the questioning. They suspected!

Rose finally filled the silence. "Maybe our brother caught a bird from the air, and wants you to help him tame her," she said maliciously. "A very pretty bird."

"Is that right, Hasan?" Fifth asked him. "Show her to us! We'll be glad to help. Tell us everything. How did you snare her? What does she look like?"

Hasan cast about in total confusion. How could he avoid telling them? Yet he was unable to begin. Why was Rose baiting him now, when she had done so much to help?

He went to her and got down on his knees and kissed the hem of her skirt. "I am ashamed," he said. "Please help me."

Now the tears came to Rose's eyes. "No Hasan-I am the one who is ashamed. Get up; I'll tell them." She led him to a couch and put her arm around his shoulders.

"O my sisters, when we went away to visit our father and left alone this unhappy one, the palace was too quiet for him and he fell to exploring all the rooms and courts of the palace for some diversion. He opened the door to the staircase leading to the roof-"

"Didn't you tell him not to-" Fifth broke in, alarmed.

"Perhaps I forgot, sister. He sat upon the roof, hoping to see the first sign of our return, and also to make sure no enemy came upon the palace unawares. Suddenly he saw ten birds approaching, and they lighted on the brink of the basin which is in the pavilion. He watched these birds, for they were marvelously strange, and saw among them one goodlier than the rest, who pecked the others, but against whom none of them dared to put out a claw. Presently they set their nails to their neck-collars and rent their feather-suits and became damsels like full moons. They fell to playing in the water, and the one who was the chief-damsel was fairest in favor of them all, and our brother was distracted by her charms and his heart was afire with love for her. Then they donned their feather-suits and flew away home, and he fell sick with longing and repented that he had not somehow captured her. He abode on the palace-roof abstaining from meat and drink and sleep for a whole month when behold! the birds appeared again. So he stole the chief damsel's feather-suit and burned it and when the others flew away he seized her and carried her into the palace."

"You mean she's here?"

"Locked in a special chamber," Rose replied.

"What does she look like?"

"She is fairer than the moon on the fullest night and her face shines brighter than the sun. The dew of her lips is sweeter than honey and her shape is more slender and supple than tall cane. Her eyes are black as the night and her brow white as a flower. Her bosom-" here Rose took a breath as though to suppress a tinge of envy. "Her bosom is as bright as a jewel, and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s are two pomegranates and her cheeks apples. Her waist has beauti- ful dimples and her navel is as smooth as carved ivory and her legs are alabaster columns. Surely she is goodly of shape and sweet of smile, and ravishes all hearts with her splendid symmetry."

"In other words," Eldest said dryly, "a pretty girl. Hasan, you'd better show her to us."

Where was the shock, the outrage? They hardly seemed surprised. Dumbly he led the way to the princess's cham- ber and ushered them in. The bird-maiden seemed not to have moved a muscle since Hasan had left her in the morning, but the flowers had been removed.

They stood in a semicircle studying her, while Hasan fidgeted. What would their judgment be?

Eldest turned to him and clamped her hand upon his shoulder. "Brother-you have excellent taste in women." She smiled.

The trial was over almost before it had begun. It was all right! They had accepted the bird-maiden.

"Well, let's not dawdle." Eldest was gruff. "What's happened has happened, and obviously Hasan will have to marry her. Sister, you know something of her language, don't you?"

Sixth, the librarian and scholar, nodded. Hasan had a retroactive suspicion about the book left so conveniently on the table, and indeed, about the entire series of events following the sisters' return from their visit home. How much had they known?

Sixth spoke unintelligibly. The bird-maiden's head lifted. She looked sharply at Hasan, first with royal indignation and then, slowly, with heavy-lidded appraisal. He won- dered just what Sixth was saying to her. Finally the princess inclined her head, and Eldest stepped to her side. What was going on?

Sixth beckoned to him. "Brother, go to the storeroom and fetch a good handful of gold. Hurry."

"But-"

She shoved him out the door and closed it behind him. This was the second time this had happened today, and he still wasn't quite certain what it signified. He heard ani- mated conversation behind him as he went for the money.

When he returned, his sisters were seated in a circle on the floor, and Rose was quietly crying.

"Put the money on the table, Hasan," Sixth directed, and he did so. It came to him like a dawning sun: this was the betrothal! The bird-maiden had agreed to marry him!

"Sit down," Eldest said, indicating a s.p.a.ce immedi- ately before her. He crossed his legs and sat. She raised her right hand and clasped his, pressing her upraised thumb against his.

Sixth came over and dropped a handkerchief over the joined hands. "Glory be to Allah, the Compa.s.sionate, the Merciful, and blessed be His Prophet, in whose name we perform this ceremony," she intoned solemnly.

"I hereby betroth to thee," Eldest said, tightening her grip on his hand, "the damsel for whom I act as deputy, Sana of the Isles of Wak, for the dowry duly presented." Sixth translated for the watching bird-maiden, who nodded.

It was Hasan's turn. "I accept from thee her betrothal to myself," he said, hardly believing it.

They recited the opening chapter of the Koran, and it was done. "Come-we feast!" Eldest said, and guided Hasan down to the banquet-hall where everything was miraculously spread out.

Hasan was able to remember almost nothing of the celebration that followed, except that it lasted all afternoon and well into the night and matched the splendor of any royal wedding. Sweet sherbets were served instead of the forbidden alcoholic beverages of corrupt courts, yet some- how his head spun more dizzily with every gla.s.s he downed.

That evening he entered the nuptial apartment, and she was there, standing in her bridal gown, waiting. He re- moved her veil, the veil that would never conceal her face from him again, and once more was dazzled by her beauty.

She lifted off her silken dress and showed him her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, delights fit for caliphs, half-hidden by the flowing hair of her head. She dropped her petticoat trousers and revealed to him her remaining delights, this time intentionally.

Hasan became a man of action. He rose and threw her on the bed and rent the veil and opened the gate and broke the seal and pierced her every secret; nor was it misery that kept him sleepless throughout that marvelous night!

Perhaps it was well that he did not remember that his sisters were standing outside the chamber door, thankful for the sounds of his good fortune and remarking upon them ... but nostalgic for the similar joys forbidden to each of them.

Hasan stayed at the palace with his bride for forty days, and his affection for her and delight in her love increased. He did not question the sudden ease with which she had yielded herself to him, nor worry unduly that the joys so readily gained might as readily be lost again.

Bit by bit he learned her language, and she learned his, and his satisfaction mounted as he came to comprehend her mind as well as her body. She was clever but docile; her learning had versed her in many things, but once she had given herself to him, these things were his.

The seven sisters eagerly a.s.sisted the couple, making every day a holiday and every meal a feast. They congrat- ulated him upon his marriage, and Sana the bird-maiden upon hers. Even Rose became reconciled, discovering that the sharing of affection did not after all diminish it, and she remained as close to Hasan as she had ever been.

It was the happiest period Hasan had ever known. Sana, too, seemed content; she never spoke of her lost feather-suit or of the mighty kingdom left forever behind. She had known from the start that the handmaidens who had deserted her at the pavilion would never dare return home; all of them would have been executed for their betrayal.

Perhaps it was Sana's royal training that gave her the courage and spirit to accept her situation. Certainly she never hinted otherwise.

Chapter 7. Mischief.

At the end of that forty days Hasan had a dream. He saw his mother mourning for him. Her bones were wasted and her complexion had turned to yellow parchment. She was near to death from sorrow, while Hasan was in excellent health. She saw him, and cried: "O my son, O Hasan, how is it that you live such a life of ease and luxury, but forget your old mother? Look at my plight since you were taken from me! My tongue will never cease repeating your name until I perish, and I have made a tomb in my house, so that I cannot forget you. O my son, if only I could have you with me again!"

Hasan's joy deserted him. He woke with tears in his eyes and sorrow in his heart for the great wrong he had done his mother by neglecting her. More than once he had been reminded, but each time he had selfishly put the matter from his mind. What if she died before he saw her again? This time he would have to act: he would have to make it right.

But how could he leave his beloved sisters, who had done everything for him and even obtained for him his lovely bride? He tossed on the bed, and could not return to sleep though the dawn was long in coming.

In the morning Rose came in with a smile on her face. "Get up, Hasan," she said. "Man's work may last all night, but not all day as well. Give your poor wife a rest."

When Hasan did not reply, she turned to Sana. "What's the matter with him? Didn't you treat him properly last night?"

Sana shook her head in bewilderment. "He scream in dark," she said, still slow to p.r.o.nounce the unfamiliar words. "Roll over, not say word, not sleep."

"Didn't you ask him?"

"Not talk to me. Sad, silent."

Rose plumped down on the bed beside Hasan. "Come, brother, tell sister. What ails you?"

Hasan groaned, but roused himself and told her his night- mare. Rose listened, understood, and ran from the room.

Soon all seven sisters appeared. Their countenance was grave. Eldest took the initiative: "Brother, we shall not hinder you from visiting your mother. Do as you will, in Allah's name, and we will help you by whatever means we may."

"We've had you for over a year," Rose added, muf- fled. "It couldn't last forever."

"Go with our blessing," Sixth said. Her voice also had a catch. "But you must promise to visit us, if only once a year."

"I promise!" Hasan exclaimed, suddenly relieved. "To hear is to obey. Thank you, thank you, O my sisters!"

They made immediate preparations for the trip. The sisters gathered an immense store of wealth to give the traveling couple; entire chests of gold and silver and pre- cious jewels, wardrobes of costly garments for Hasan and queenly raiment for Sana, and other gifts defying descrip- tion. There were more than fifty caskets in all, not one of them light, and he despaired of transporting them the great distance to his home in Ba.s.sorah.

"Have you forgotten the magician's drum, brother?" Rose inquired sadly. "I'll show you how to use it."

Hasan had forgotten the drum. "But how can three camels carry all this?"

"You don't know much about magic, do you?" she said with a spark of her old enthusiasm. "Beat the drum."

Hasan obeyed, sitting beyond the gate and pounding it rhythmically with the strap in the way he had so often observed Bahram doing it. The sound of it bothered him, for it brought recollections of an experience that had not been happy. Before long the three dromedaries approached.

Three? Twice he had seen one killed. . . .

"Don't stop, Hasan-that's only the beginning."

Mystified, he continued, although the animals were stand- ing right in front of him. Then he understood.

More beasts were coming, and not only camels. There were oxen and mules and horses and elephants-creatures from every part of the world, summoned unerringly by the drum. The plain was covered with their tracks, and an army of them milled about him.

They selected the finest animals and formed them into a caravan, loading each with the proper burden of gear. It took several days to complete the arrangements.

The seven sisters accompanied Hasan and his bride for the first three days, according to the dictates of royal etiquette, during which time they accomplished a journey north that matched the one he and the magician had made in a fortnight. The animals were magically swift, when prodded. Apparently Bahrain himself hadn't known very much about magic. . . .

They approached the section where the sea barred the way. Far across the restless waters Hasan could see the mountains of the land beyond. "Here we must leave you," Eldest said, "for we dare not go beyond the limits our father has imposed upon us. But stay firm on the backs of your mounts, and they will carry you safely across."

Now was the hour of parting, and it was unbearably difficult. Each sister kissed Hasan affectionately while Sana looked on with an indifferent expression and each bade him fond farewell. Rose was the last; but though she approached bravely with her little chin uplifted, her com- posure broke when she touched him. She flung her arms around his neck and wept as though her soul would fly.

Hasan held her, deeply touched; but the animals were impatient and he had to loosen her embrace. She slumped against him, her head lolling. She was unconscious.

Eldest came to pick her up, but Rose recovered at once from her faint and stood by herself. "O my brother," she said with pathetic calm, "if anything happens to you beat the drum and choose the swiftest camel and come to see us as fast as you can."

"I will, my sister."

"And remember you promised to visit us every six months."

"Whenever I can, my sister." Now was not the time to quibble over the agreed period.

"And never forget that we love you and-"

Eldest led her away, still talking. Hasan covered up his own tears by shouting at the caravan of animals. They plunged into the ocean and drove for the opposite sh.o.r.e.

He looked back once, and saw the seven watching for- lornly, Rose with her hair tumbled over her face in grief. Eldest waved-or perhaps she was gesturing him on-and that was all. He turned his face resolutely forward and did not glance back again.

It was a long and adventurous journey over plain and desert and mountain and valley, through burning sun and torrential rain, past elegant cities and deserted wilderness; but the blessing of Allah was upon them and after months of travel they reached Ba.s.sorah without calamity.

Hasan brought his caravan to the door of his house and dismounted. The domicile seemed oddly small, after his absence, though he knew that he was the one who had changed. As he put his hand to the door he paused. He heard weeping, as though someone within were fainting from sorrow and on fire with grief. For a moment he thought of Rose, inconsolable in her lovely palace, day and night; but of course she was not here.

He entered-and found his mother wailing before his tomb, exactly as the magician had showed him in the vision. She was emaciated beyond description, and he was amazed that she was still alive.

"Mother," he said, inadequately.

She looked up at him with staring eyes. "Hasan," she said, and fell to the floor in a faint.

He rushed to her and lifted her dry husk of a body and carried her to the divan, where he bathed her hands with water. As quickly as she had pa.s.sed out, she recovered, and embraced him and kissed him. "Where have you been these two years, my son, and how did you escape the terrible Persian?"