CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO—NEW ORDERS
Ali climbed up the rope and lifted his leg over the bannister. The captain of the Behruza was standing in wait for him.
Grunting with the exertions of climbing the ropes up the hull, Ali said, “Shiro and the others have not returned.”
Captain Elham’s eyes widened. With his beard and his cape that he worse over his black jacket and pantaloons, he did not seem to be a man prone to worry or panic. “What does this mean, Master Ali?”
“What it means—he turned as Yaser came up on deck, followed by the other men—“that we continue down the Eiphr. I think they may be in trouble. They may need our help.”
“But…?” Captain Elham said, trailing off.
“I know,” Ali said as he raised a hand for silence. “We went ahead with the sloop to scout the river. But things have changed, now. Many of our men were captured and Shrio, Debaku and my brother went to rescue them. They have been gone a full night and I am worried.”
From where he stood it was hard to see the captain’s full features in the early morning light while most of the ship’s lamps were still doused to keep any wood-be watchers in the jungles from espying them.
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“Then we sail forth?” the captain asked.
Ali nodded. “Yes. And prepare the ships for combat. I want all the men ready.”
“Is Captain Ushtan not with you?” He glanced past Ali, evidentially looking for the man.
“He was one of the men taken I am afraid.”
Elham growled in frustration. “I had my thoughts about this venture before,” he said quietly. “Now…”
“Now we will sail down the river,” Ali said, interrupting him again. “Nothing has changed. “But we cannot advance yet. We have a bridge to destroy.”
“A bridge?”
“Yes, Captain. Get your sappers on deck.”
“Of course, Master Ali.”
“What?” Yaser asked as he breathed heavily from his climb. The Behruza was a much larger ship with a full aft and fore castle and a double mast. She could fit fifty oars on both sides and she stood tall above the water. With such thin limbs, Yaser’s climb was probably far more difficult for him than it was for Ali. “This is your plan?” he asked in a tired huff, “to—to sail the ships and the army into unknown waters?” He gasped. “What if we are attacked?”
A sudden heat rose to Ali’s face as he whirled on Yaser. The other man caught his gaze and shrunk back somewhat. “You are a healer in this army, man” Ali said as he pointed an aggressive finger at the hawkish looking coward. “Do not question my orders.”
Yaser nodded. “I am sorry, high vizier.” He receded to another part of the deck.
Ali glanced about, forgetting him at once. With his hands on his hips, he listened to the captain gave his mate the orders to rouse the sappers so they could destroy the bridge.