The Bride Box by Michael Pearce

use.’
    â€˜It wouldn’t take long to get there and back. It could be done in an afternoon.’
    â€˜And who by? Do you think I can spare servants as easily as that?’
    â€˜Nevertheless, I would like to talk to them.’
    â€˜All of them?’
    â€˜All those who work in the fields.’
    â€˜They are in the fields now.’
    â€˜Call them in. As you said, this is a small estate. It would not take long.’
    The Pasha’s lady laughed. ‘You do not know our
fellahin
,’ she said. ‘Let them lift their heads and they won’t put them down again! Not today, they won’t!’
    â€˜I would not ask it if it were not important.’
    â€˜Have you tried the main house?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜And?’
    â€˜I need to try yours.’
    The lady laughed again. ‘Got nowhere, did you?’
    â€˜I talked to the men.’
    The lady raised her eyebrows. ‘Ismail let you?’
    â€˜He had them come in, and I talked to them.’
    â€˜Well, that is a surprise!’
    â€˜As I said, it is a matter of importance.’
    She stood for a moment, undecided.
    â€˜I shall not keep them long,’ said Mahmoud.
    â€˜It is the interruption,’ said the Pasha’s lady. ‘The afternoon will go to pieces.’
    â€˜I would not ask it if it were not important,’ he said again.
    â€˜I do not see how it could be our people,’ said the lady, wavering. ‘My Osman makes sure they keep their heads down. As does Ismail. That is what they are there for. Would you like to talk to Osman first?’
    â€˜It needs to be all.’
    She hesitated, and then made up her mind.
    â€˜Very well,’ she said. ‘I will tell him to bring them in. But you must allow two hours.’
    â€˜Two hours!’
    â€˜Yes, Osman has to get there, and they are not all together. They are scattered over different fields. And then they all have to get back here.’
    â€˜Very well,’ said Mahmoud, submitting to the inevitable.
    The lady swept out.
    â€˜Would you like to see my guns?’ asked the Pasha’s son, at a loss for conversation.
    â€˜Guns?’
    â€˜I have a collection of them.’
    â€˜Well, yes, I would, please. And, may I ask, what is your name?’
    â€˜Karim. And you are Mahmoud?’
    â€˜Yes, that’s right.’
    â€˜I will show you.’
    He led Mahmoud along a corridor and then into a small room with racks for rifles. Dozens of them.
    â€˜These are all yours?’
    â€˜Yes. They are my collection.’
    There was an old, toothless man in the room. He grinned at them and gave a half-bow.
    â€˜Ali looks after them. He oils them and that sort of thing. You have to look after them because the sand gets in them and then it is dangerous.’
    They were sporting guns, the sort of guns you would find in an English gun room. There were even some fowling pieces. Mahmoud was not an expert on guns but was impressed.
    When they left, Ali locked the door.
    â€˜You can’t be too careful,’ said Karim. ‘Not with guns.’
    They went back to the
mandar’ah
, the reception room.
    â€˜Where have you been?’ asked the Pasha’s lady.
    â€˜I have been showing Mr el Zaki my guns, Mother.’
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ she said, shrugging.
    â€˜Your son has a fine collection, my lady,’ said Mahmoud.
    â€˜There is not a lot else in his life,’ the Pasha’s lady said.
    She sat down on the dais and indicated that Mahmoud was to sit there too.
    â€˜So,’ she said, ‘tell me about this bride box. And this young girl.’
    â€˜She had worked here, I understand. Her name was Soraya.’
    â€˜Soraya!’ said Karim.
    â€˜She did indeed work here. For a short while. Then I found her unsatisfactory and dismissed her.’
    â€˜But then you took her back?’
    â€˜Well, I was sorry for her. Perhaps I had been too hasty. And there were