Khaled by F. Marion Crawford (best e book reader android TXT) ๐
Description
Khaled is a hard-working and faithful genie who, in his zeal, goes a little too far and kills a faithless man. This puts him under scrutiny from the powers above, who curse him to live as a human. Since genies have no souls, he will vanish from existence when he dies; but, if he can find true love, heโll be granted a soul and thus be allowed into heaven.
Written in the style of the โoriental romancesโ popular in those days, Khaled was F. Marion Crawfordโs favorite novel out of all of the ones he wrote in his successful career.
Read free book ยซKhaled by F. Marion Crawford (best e book reader android TXT) ๐ยป - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: F. Marion Crawford
Read book online ยซKhaled by F. Marion Crawford (best e book reader android TXT) ๐ยป. Author - F. Marion Crawford
At first Zehowah laughed, but soon afterwards her face became grave, and she bent her brows, for though the story was but a lie she saw how easily it would find credence. She therefore sent the old woman away with a gift and she herself went to Khaled, and sat down beside him and took his hand.
โYou have secret enemies,โ she said, โwho are plotting against your life, and who have already begun to attack you by filling the air of the city with falsehoods which fly from house to house like flies in summer entering at the window and going out by the door. You must sift this matter, for it is worthy of attention.โ
โAnd what are these lies of which you speak?โ
โIt is said openly in the city that you are a Shiyah and a Persian, having been a robber before you came here, and that you are plotting to deliver over Nejed to the Persians. Look to this, Khaled, for they say that you are no Bedouin since no one knows your descent nor the name of your father.โ
โDo you believe this of me, Zehowah?โ Khaled asked.
โDo I believe that the sun is black and the night as white as the sun? But it is true that I do not know your fatherโs name.โ
Then Khaled was troubled, for he saw that it would be a hard matter to explain, and that without explanation his safety might be endangered. Zehowah sat still beside him, holding his hand and looking into his face, as though expecting an answer.
โHave I done wisely in telling you?โ she asked at last. โYou are troubled. I should have said nothing.โ
โYou have done wisely,โ he answered. โFor I will go and speak to them, and if they believe me, the matter is finished, but if not I have lost nothing.โ
โIt will be well to give the chief men presents, and to distribute something among the people, for gifts are great persuaders of unbelief.โ
โShall I give them presents because they have believed evil of me?โ asked Khaled, laughing. โRather would I give you the treasures of the whole Earth because you have not believed it.โ
โIf I had the wealth of the whole world I would give it to them rather than that they should hurt a hair of your head,โ Zehowah answered.
โAm I more dear to you than so much gold, Zehowah?โ
โWhat is gold that it should be weighed in the balance with the life of a man? You are dearer to me than gold.โ
โIs this love, Zehowah?โ Khaled asked, in a low voice.
โI do not know whether it be love or not.โ
โThe wing of night is lifted for a moment, and the false dawn is seen, and afterwards it is night again. But the true dawn will come by and by, when night folds her wings before the day.โ
โYou speak in a riddle, Khaled.โ
โIt is no matter. I will neither make a speech to the people, nor give them gifts. What is it to me? Let them chatter from the first call to prayer until the lights are put out in the evening. My fate is about my neck, and I cannot change it, any more than I can make you love me. Allah is great. I will wait and see what happens.โ
โEverything is undoubtedly in Allahโs hand,โ said Zehowah. โBut if a man, having meat set before him, will not raise his right hand to thrust it into the dish, he will die of hunger.โ
โAnd do you think that Allah does not know before whether the man will stretch out his hand or not?โ
โUndoubtedly Allah knows. And he also knows that if you will not sift this matter and stop the mouths of the liars, I will, though I am but a woman, for otherwise we may both perish.โ
โIf they destroy me, yet they cannot take the kingdom from you, nor hurt you,โ said Khaled. โHow then are you in danger? If I am slain you will then choose a husband, whose fatherโs name is known to them. They will be satisfied and you will be no worse off than before and possibly better. This is truth. I will therefore wait for the end.โ
โWho has put these words into your mouth, Khaled? For the thought is not in your heart. Moreover, if the tribes should rise up and overthrow you, they would not spare me, for I would fight against them with my hands and they would kill me.โ
โWhy should you fight for me, since you do not love me? But this is folly. No one ever heard of a woman taking arms and fighting.โ
โI have heard of such deeds. And if I had not heard of them, others should through me, for I would be the first to do them.โ
โI think that so long as Khaled lives, Zehowah need not bear arms,โ said Khaled. โI will therefore go and call the chief men together and speak to them.โ
And so he did. When the principal officers who had remained in the city during the winter season were assembled in the kahwah, and had hung up their swords on the pegs and partaken of a refreshment, Khaled sent the slaves away, and spoke in a few words as was his manner.
โMen of Riad, Aared and all Nejed,โ he said, โI regret that more of you are not present here, but a great number of sheikhs are still
Comments (0)