The Snake-Catcher’s Daughter

‘A most charming girl. Dressed in white virginal robes –’

‘Yes, yes. Was she part of the, well, witch’s entourage?’

‘Yes. She came out with the bowl and took it round.’

‘She gave everyone a drink?’

‘Yes. Which is why, Owen,’ McPhee said with emphasis, ‘the drug must have been administered on a different occasion.’

‘Such as?’

‘Well, I can’t actually think –’ McPhee admitted.

‘Unless, of course, she put something special in just before she got to you.’

‘Oh, no, Owen. Really! A girl of integrity.’

Owen was beginning to see an argument for Gavin’s position.

‘And then you fell asleep?’ he said.

‘Yes. You know, Owen –’

‘Yes?’

‘I was very tired that night. You don’t think I could have just fallen asleep in the ordinary way and that afterwards someone administered –?’

‘While you were asleep? That strength? No,’ said Owen.

‘You see, I feel sure the lady was genuine.’

‘Well,’ said Owen soothingly, ‘perhaps, in her way, she was.’

McPhee looked pleased.

‘You think so? I must say, I’ve had doubts myself. Could it be a genuine survival, I’ve asked myself? Or –’

‘I shall want to know about the people in the courtyard,’ Owen said.

‘Hangers on,’ McPhee said, ‘excluded from the real mysteries.’

‘All men?’

‘Yes. They’re fascinated, too, of course. Can’t keep away. But frightened! The Aalima is a pretty compelling figure.’

‘Could you identify any of them?’

‘I might be able to recognize them. They’ll be local, of course.’

‘If you could just give me a start …’

McPhee nodded.

‘I’ll do my best. But, Owen,’ he said sternly, ‘there must be no messing about with the ladies. The Zzarr is a remarkable institution. It is, I am sure, pre-Islamic. I wouldn’t be surprised if it owed something to the Greek mysteries. I thought I caught some Greek words. Some Roman influence, too, perhaps. After all –’

‘Yes?’

‘Bacchantium instar mulieres vidimus.’

‘Quite,’ said Owen.

‘I protest,’ said Sheikh Musa.

‘I quite agree,’ said Owen heartily, ‘and I join myself in your protest.’

‘Wait a minute,’ said the Sheikh, ‘you’re the man I’m protesting to.’

‘If the subject of your protest is what I think it is,’ said Owen, ‘the deplorable assault on the Bimbashi a couple of nights ago, then we are on common ground.’

‘It’s not the assault I’m bothered about,’ said the Sheikh. ‘It’s his presence there in the first place.

‘At the Zzarr?’

The Sheikh winced.

‘We don’t like to use that word. The ceremony, you know, is not entirely regular. It’s not something that’s, well, officially recognized. We know it goes on, of course. There are people who, not to put too fine a point on it, are drawn to such things. I dare say you know the kind of people I mean?’

Owen, thinking of McPhee, said he did.

‘I wouldn’t want to encourage them by letting them think they have my approval. So I would prefer, if you don’t mind, not to use the word. To do so would be to admit that I know about such things.’

‘Well, yes, but … then why are you here?’

‘I have come to lodge a formal protest at Bimbashi McPhee’s presence.’

‘At what?’

‘An unspecified event in the Gamaliya district.’

‘You can’t protest at his presence if you’re unable to say what he was present at!’

‘From my point of view,’ said the Sheikh, ‘the protest is the important thing, not the event.’

‘I see.’

‘There’s a lot of feeling in the Gamaliya about the incident.’

‘I see.’