Casca 13: The Assassin by Barry Sadler Read Free Book Online Page B

to my lord's benefit."
    The Sultan considered the many possibilities. The hundreds of tenuous spiderwebs of intrigue that dominated palace life. "But what has this to do with the dagger of Hassan al Sabah?"
    Bu Ali moved closer on his knees. "Lord, is it not known that the Old Man of the Mountain always demands a price for the continuance of life, and that that price is not always gold. It can sometimes be paid in the form of a service. Perhaps this stranger is to be the tool of that service?"
    The Sultan's eyes grew narrow with suspicion. It was true there had been much bad blood between him and the Grand Vizier, whose personal power grew with each passing day.
    From behind the curtain the woman spoke for the first time, voice deep and husky. "Listen to him. If he is right and the Vizier has made a pact with Hassan al Sabah, his once good friend, to take your life then you must act first. If he has not then what is the value of one more slave. You will lose nothing by taking precautions."
    He waved the woman to be silent. To Bu Ali he spoke. "What do you suggest? That the slave Kasim be killed?"
    Bu Ali looked at the Sultan. The room they were in was rich with ornaments and bright with many lamps. By the glow of these lamps he spun out his plot....
    When he had finished, the Sultan nodded in approval. "That is better than killing him. And if he was indeed to be an assassin's tool it would just warn them. By this plan there could be no true suspicion that we suspected him of anything at all. You please me Mameluke. You shall be rewarded of course... if all goes well."
    Then from behind the screen the woman spoke once more, and added darkly, "And if you fail, or speak of this night, then for your reward you shall be given to the women of the harem for their pleasure."
    Bu Ali shuddered; he was not a coward as had been proven in battle many times. But he understood all too well what was meant by pleasure for the women of the seraglio.
    Casca, meanwhile, was enjoying a pleasure of a different sort. The affair of the Rh'shan had shocked the young Arab into a near sober state. He had joined Casca after finding out his rescuer's name, bringing with him a small amphora of a drink he insisted Casca sample. The cafe was back to normal, and Miriam was beginning her dance. Eyes on her, Casca lifted the amphora.
    "What in Hades is this?" In his time he had drunk some pretty weird concoctions, but this was like not hing he had ever tasted. Strong. Like a dozen wines all rolled into one.
    The young Arab laughed, enjoying the look on Casca's face. "You like it?"
    "Like it? Hell, it burns like fire. What is it?"
    "Wine."
    "Wine? Not like any I've ever drunk."
    "Well, it's been, shall we say, improved."
    "Improved?"
    "Run through an alembic. The weak part left behind. We're drinking only the strong."
    Alembic? Casca didn't know what that was. But whatever it was it sure made for the most potent wine he had ever consumed. He lost most of his interest in Miriam's dance and settled down to do a little serious drinking.
    Alone. The young Arab was not even halfway through his own amphora before he passed out...
    Casca fully intended to make arrangements for bedding Miriam after she finished her dance, but the strange wine of the young Arab did odd things to him. He decided he needed a walk in the night air to clear his head before he came back to bed the exotic dancer.
    He had just turned into an alley to throw up when, from both sides, heavy ropes snared him and something big and hard smashed into his skull. Just before he lost consciousness he was aware that a thick leather bag was being lowered roughly over his head.
     
     
     

CHAPTER SIX
    Faint music. Distant laughter.
    The smell of perfume... women's perfume. Damn! I've died and gone to Paradise . Casca opened his eyes.
    Bright lights. Beautifully carved walls. Well, damn. The Muslims had it right after all . Somehow he had died and gone to Paradise, and here he was in the Muslim Paradise,