The Sheik and the Slave

They entered the beautiful Greenwich Park, and Katharine was thoroughly confused. Why were they here?

***

Mohammed instructed the hackney cab to stay near enough to keep track of the coach, but far enough away to not raise Abdullah’s suspicion.

When the coach slowed, he knew

he must act wisely. But whatever happened next, he would ensure that Abdullah’s reign of terror was at an end.

***

The coach slowed and stopped along the green lawns of Greenwich Park. She heard the driver jump down and wretch the door open.

“Sir,” was all she was able to say before she was physically hauled out into the bright light and green of the park. A light sprinkle of rain was falling.

“Don’t speak,” Abdullah said, as he threw off the foreign frock coat. His Arab dress frightened Katharine.

He pulled her behind a large chestnut tree and forced her onto her knees.

“Kill those who join other gods with God wherever you shall find them; and seize them, besiege them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush,” Abdullah murmured to himself, quoting the holy book. His fingers bit into her hair as he kept her on her knees.

“Please, what have I done?” Katharine cried.

Abdullah murmured words in Arabic and was in a trance. She was so frightened and the light rain chilled her. Was he a madman? What was going on here? She trembled.

Abdullah’s fingers tightened into her hair and she cried out, “Please!”

“Infidel, Infidel, kafir,” he recited over and over again as she felt the tears fall.

“Please don’t. My son needs me,” she whispered quietly.

Abdullah suddenly released her and stopped chanting.

“Your son will have Allah,” he told her.

Katharine saw the man clearly and cringed. She knew him! He had worked in the palace. He had been an advisor to Mohammed. She felt a glimmer of hope. What did he want? What was going on?

“Who are you? I know you.”

“Yes, woman. And I know you.”

“What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?” she asked as she shuddered.

“I have watched and waited and remained inactive for far too long. I will do what should have been done long ago,” he said. His voice was cold in the green park.

She felt the cold rain and the grass under her knees.

“I have done nothing to you,” she cried.

“No! You have done nothing but bewitched our lord and master, a fine leader among men. And you will destroy him.”

“No, I love him. I carried his son. Our son. Please.”

“Be quiet, witch! You have bewitched him and stolen his soul through your wicked ways.”

He slapped her across the face and drew out his silver blade from beneath his robes.

“I should have done this at the palace when you were first brought there. I could have saved myself so much time and pain, rather than relying on that stupid half-breed to kidnap you.”