فصل 31

CHAPTER 31

JIBRAN’S REWARD

JIBRAN AVERTED HIS EYES as Zarboff, still dripping from his bath, dressed himself with the help of the servant boys, in a gold turban and purple robe. When he was done, Zarboff said, “Rat!”

One of the boys ran out and returned moments later holding a fat, wriggling rat by its pink tail. Zarboff took the rat and carried it to Kundalini’s wicker basket. He held it over the basket and whistled a strange little tune with a haunting melody.

Jibran’s jaw went slack as Kundalini’s enormous head rose from the basket, torchlight glinting from the snake’s scales. An impossibly long tongue flicked out toward the squirming rat; huge jaws opened like a trapdoor. Zarboff dropped the rat. With a movement almost too quick to see, Kundalini snatched the doomed animal out of the air. His jaws snapped shut. The rat was now a bulge in the snake’s throat, wriggling for a few more seconds, then still.

Jibran tried to swallow, but his throat was too dry.

The snake’s massive head rose higher, toward Zarboff’s hand, his flicking tongue looking for more.

“That’s all for now, Kundalini,” said Zarboff. “Perhaps there will be another treat soon.” He gave Jibran a look that made the man’s blood run cold.

In a moment, it ran colder still, as Ombra glided soundlessly into the chamber. Jibran started to back away from the dark form but stopped when its head—or the place where its head should have been, turned toward him. Jibran saw no face, only what looked like two glowing coals. He could not move; he could barely breathe.

Zarboff dismissed the boys with a wave. They left quickly, including Slightly, who had no desire to remain in the room with Ombra.

The door closed. Jibran stared at Ombra.

“Lord Ombra,” said Zarboff, “this is Jibran. He has news of English visitors who arrived by ship in Ashmar. He wishes to be paid for this information.”

“Does he?” said Ombra, in a voice that sounded like the moaning desert wind, a voice that made Jibran drop to his knees, whimpering in fear.

“Please,” he said. “I will tell you. There is no need to pay me.”

“No,” said Ombra, moving forward. “There is not.”

As the dark shape glided toward him, Jibran tried to scream, but no sound came from his throat. He raised his arms to protect himself from the blow he expected. But instead of striking him, Ombra slithered to Jibran’s right, to the place on the stone floor where the torchlight cast the kneeling man’s shadow. Jibran watched his shadow stretch like a falling drop of water, reaching as if with a will of its own toward Ombra’s dark shape, flowing into it, and then…

Jibran slumped, his arms falling to his sides, his face slack, vacant.

Ombra was still for a moment. Then Jibran’s shadow flowed back, reattaching itself to the man. He slipped sideways to the floor, moaning. Ignoring him, Ombra turned toward Zarboff, who shivered in his purple robe, feeling an unpleasant chill as he saw the glowing orbs in the dark hood.

“This man saw Lord Aster,” Ombra groaned. “Aster and Bakari were on the road to Maknar; they are probably already here. You will order your men to seal the palace immediately. You will double the guard on the prisoners. I will go to the dungeon now.”

With that, Ombra was gone, flowing from the chamber with astonishing speed, like windblown smoke.

Zarboff also moved quickly, for a man unused to haste.

“Guards!” he called, waddling to the doorway. Reaching it, he turned, remembering Jibran. The informant was still lying on his side, moaning, disoriented by his encounter with Ombra.

Zarboff looked toward the wicker basket and whistled the odd little tune. Immediately, the massive head of Kundalini appeared. It moved back and forth, tongue flicking, sensing the air. Then the snake began to move, flowing out of the basket with an easy, eerily smooth movement that belied its enormous size. In no hurry, the snake undulated across the floor toward Jibran.

Zarboff hesitated, wishing he could stay, then reluctantly closed the door.