Chapter III ON A MISSION
I was seated, drinking a glass of wine, when there was a knock on the door. I got up and opened the door to find Mahomet standing there, dressed in the clothes which I had purchased earlier. As he entered the room, I thought that the new clothes made him look more striking than before, if that was possible.
He stood in place as I walked around him looking him over, and I whistled as I stopped in front of him. He was attired in white linen trousers, a red gauze shirt, and a flowing white linen over robe which was trimmed with a gilt border. This was all topped off with a black sash around his waist and new leather sandles. I closed the door and smiled as he suddenly threw his arms around me.
"Thank you Master Robert, these are the finest clothes Mahomet has ever worn!"
I noticed his eyes beginning to tear, and felt strangely compelled to turn away, in part to avoid causing the boy embarrassment and in part to keep him from seeing the tears forming in my own eyes.
"Is something wrong young master?" he asked.
"Oh no, Mahomet, nothing is wrong, it's just that you look so handsome."
"Mahomet does not understand, I am to serve young master, and not do my duties of the hotel? This is all strange to Mahomet."
Admittedly, it did sound a bit strange, considering that I had already told him that he was to call me Robert when we were alone. I could understand his confusion.
"Mahomet, you are not my servant." I could see the confusion building as he scrunched up his beautiful face, so I continued, "I will only be here until Friday, and your job is to aid me in finding my way around. Of course, you will have to do little things for me, such as drawing my bath, and running short errands, but other than that, you are free to just enjoy yourself. Inside these rooms, you will address me as Robert, but outside, you should continue to call me Master Robert, or Young Sir, what ever pleases you. And you will sleep in my bed, if you wish. I will expect you to bathe daily, as I don't fancy sleeping with a camel driver or a scullery maid. Do you understand this?"
"Yes mast.Robert. Mahomet will help young sir."
I laughed and he seemed to be more at ease than before.
"Now, before it gets any later, I need for you to go to the consierge and take him this message." I said, as I handed him the folded parchment, "and when you return, we will discuss my..er.our plans for tomorrow."
He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. All but running, he went straight to the concierges' desk and handed him the message.
Upon his return, he knocked on the door. I opened it laughing, and said, "You don't need to knock on the door anymore, you live here now, for the remainder of my stay. Now, what did the consierge say?"
"He told me that I should tell my master that he would take care of it right away."
"Very good. Now, what shall we do for the next hour until our dinner arrives?"
"If master" I shot him a bit of a scowel. "If you wish, Robert, I will draw you a nice bath." he said with a bit of a smile.
"That is a wonderful idea. Shall we retire to the bath chamber then?" I laughed as he took my hand and led me into the sleeping room. He opened the doors to the bathing chamber and pulled the lever to fill the tub, then returned to me beside the bed and began to help me undress.
I continued to have some mixed feelings about the boys' ministrations, and my being nude in his presence, but they were beginning to sort themselves out. As he began to help me undress, I felt a bit more at ease, and did not embarrass so easily. When I was fully nude, Mahomet stepped back and smiled, as he stated a bit comicaly, "Robert, you are.er.how you said.handsome!" I felt a slight blush as I moved to the tub. He extended his hand to assist me into the tub and then turned and removed his robe, sash and shirt.
Returning to the tub, he took the sponge from my hand and began to sponge my body. I felt strangely comfortable as he worked his way down my back and then back to my shoulders. He moved slightly forward and began to work the sponge across my chest, when I grabbed his hand. He appeared startled at first, and then began to relax, as I pulled him toward me, raising my face to meet his, I kissed him gently on his lips. As he pulled back from the kiss, he smiled. "We must get you clean," he said, then mockingly added, "I don't fancy sleeping next to a camel driver or scullery maid!" We both broke out in laughter as I relinquished my grip on his arm. We finished the bath and he wrapped a towel round me as he proceeded to dry my body.
I was nearly finished dressing when there came a knock at the door. Mahomet quickly pulled his shirt over his head and wrapped the sash round him, knotting it smartly as he started for the lounge to answer the knock. I heard him tell the bellman to place the cart next to the settee, and then dismiss him.
As I entered the lounge, Mahomet was serving food onto one of the platers from the cart. He sat it on the table in front of the settee and stood, waiting for me to sit.
"Mahomet, are you not going to eat?"
"I will go to the kitchens and take my meal there with the rest of the ssrving boys."
"No, Mahomet, I told you, you will dine here, with me, from now on. Besides, we have to discuss our plans for tomorrow. Now eat!"
He nervously took a platter and put some of the food onto it as he tentatively moved to take a seat next to me. I laughed inwardly as I realized that this was all new to Mahomet. He had never been allowed to eat with those considered to be his superiors. It was simply not done. Now, here I was changing his entire life. I was now beginning to wonder if he even knew how to use the eating utensils. I watched with curiosity, as he took up the fork and fumbled, trying to get the food onto it, and then to his mouth. I found myself making facial expressions to match his as he tried, unceremoniously, to keep the vegetables from spilling from the fork onto his lap. He looked forlornly in my direction.
"Mahomet, use the spoon, it will keep you from starving to death, and I will teach you to use the fork later."
He smiled at me and put the fork down as he took up the spoon and continued to eat his meal with more success.
When we finished the meal, he rose and cleared the dishes, then poured us each a cup of the strong coffee. He watched with great interest as I stirred milk into mine. He asked, "Make taste different?"
"Yes it does, it removes some of the bitterness from the taste. Would you like to try it?" I extended the cup in his direction, but he refused.
"Now, let us talk about tomorrow. I am leaving on Friday for Nador. I will board a boat there to travel to Cairo, Egypt. Since I don't speak Arabic, I am counting on you to make some travel arrangements for me. Is that agreeable with you?" "How do you wish to travel Robert? There are caravans leaing daily for different places, and some travelers travel alone, but there can be many dangers along the way. You can get lost, and then there are the slavers and the raiders to worry about too. Militia travel with caravans, but not with others."
"Well then, if you think that the caravan is the best way to go, that is how we will do it."
He looked at me with a questioning expression. "We, Robert?"
"Yes, Mahomet, I said we. I would like for you to travel with me."
"But Mahomet cannot leave hotel. It is not allowed."
I watched as he lowered his head and began to fumble nervously with his coffee.
"Mahomet, what do you mean, you can't leave the hotel?"
"Mahomet belong to hotel."
"What do you mean, you belong to the hotel? If you mean your work, I can take care of that."
"Hotel manager buy Mahomet from slavers five years ago. "
I was suddenly speechless, was I hearing him correctly? This boy was been a slave to the manager of the hotel? And since he was 11? All of this was making my head reel.
"What do you mean, they bought you from the slavers?"
"Mahomet lived in small village to the north of Fez. Slavers raided my village and took many young boys and some young women. Boys were sold to rich hotel people as sex slaves, girls were taken farher south to coast to be sold in Europe."
I saw the tears begin to well in his dark eyes. I put my arm around his shoulder and held him close to me as he began to sob..
I was dumbfounded. I had thought that all of the slaving was going on to the south, in Ivory Coast and places such as that. When I was planning this journey my father and I had discussed this very thing. We were sure that nothing of that nature went on in the north, and definitely not in Moracco.
"How many boys from your village are here?"
"Mahomet and brother both brought here. Others from my village were sold in coast cities, or died on way to be sold. We were not fed well on the march, and water was given only two times each day. Many boys, and girls, die on long trip."
"And your brother, is he here, at this hotel?"
"Brother, is here, but not this hotel. Brother sold to men at Regent."
"How old is your brother?"
"Musal, he is now 12."
"And do you know if your family is still living in their village?"
"Many families from my village leave and go north, to Alboran coast. My family go there to, I think. Much work there, no slavers."
I pulled him close to me and held him, wrapped in my arms. I leaned forward and kissed his soft silken hair. I didn't know what to say or do, so I thought to try to comfort the boy as I sat and held him.
I thought to myself, "I don't know what to do, but I will do something, I must do something, Mahomet. I promise, I will do something to help you, and your brother!"
"We will see what we can do, Mahomet, and you will make the travel arrangements in the morning."
"Mahomet will arrange."
"Now my young friend, it is time for us to retire. We have an early start tomorrow."
Mahomet began to clear the remaining dishes and trim the lamps in the lounge. I rose and walked into the bed chamber, thinking about what I could do to help this boy. I would sleep on it and think more clearly in the morning.
I was already in the bed when Mahomet entered the room. He undressed , carefully placing his new clothes on the serviette at the foot of the bed. As he walked around to the opposite side of the bed, he paused.
"Mas.Robert, Mahomet should not burdon you with his problems. In two days you will be gone and Mahomet shall return to his duties as usual."
He sat on the side of the bed. I sat up and moved toward him, grasping him by his shoulders and pulling him back toward me. As I lay him back onto the pollows, I looked deeply into his eyes.
"Mahomet, I promise that I will do whatever I am able, to help you and your brother. I'm not sure at this moment what that will be, but I will find some way to help you."
I leaned over to him and kissed him. He returned the kiss as he threw his arms around me. We held each other in that embrace as we both fell into a deep sleep.
I woke to the light playing into the window. Mahomet was already up and dressed. I pulled on my dressing gown and went into the lounge.
"Breakfast is here Robert, I am leaving to make your travel arrangements and will return as soon as it is done."
"Mahomet, come here for a moment. I must tell you something."
He walked over and sat on the settee.
"I want you to make the travel arrangements, but make them for three people, not just one. Do you understand me?"
"But."
"I said to make the arrangements for three. I have a plan, but I can't tell you yet what it is."
He looked a bit happier than last night, but I thought I noticed a hint of apprehension. He smiled and said simply "for three!" He rose from the settee and left the suite.
I quickly drank a cup of coffee and got dressed. I went to the consierge and asked to speak to the hotel manager. He left the desk and returned briefly telling me that I could go into the managers' suite.
When I got to the door, I took several deep breaths, screwing my courage to it's sticking spot and knocked on the door. I heard the muffled voice call out, "enter!" and I opened the door and walked in.
The portly man rose from his desk and stepped around to my side, extending his hand. "Bonjour, monsieur Light, how can I be of service to you today?" he motioned for me to sit in a large stuffed chair as he sat in it's twin.
"The boy, Mahomet."
"What has he done? Has he displeased you in some way? I shall have him taken out and beaten! That boy has been a nuisance for over two years now!"
"No, no, the boy hasn't done anything wrong. I am interested in securing his services for the remainder of my time in Morraco, and was wishing to inquire the expense?"
"Oh, I see, well, that could present a problem. He is such a good worker, and I would hate to loose him for even a day, not to mention a fortnight."
I could see where this was going, he had just told me that the boy was nothing but trouble, and now he was telling me what a valuable worker he was. I decided to press further.
"So, I couldn't hire him for, say, 15 denare per day, paid to you, in advance, of course, and insure his passage back to you on the next caravan returning here?"
"Well, 210 denare is a lot of money, but how could I be guranteed that he would not run away from the caravan on his way back?"
"I would turn him over to the melitia escort at Nador, and they would bring him straight back to you."
He thought over my offer. I knew that it was considerably more than he usually paid the boy, if he was paid at all, and I was sure that he was interested.
"I think that we have an agreement then, Monsiure."
We shook hands and I took my leave. I still had work to do, and not a lot of time to get it done. And I was still unsure about how I would pull it all off.
As I left the suite, I returned to the consierge and inquired how to get to the Regent.
"It is about a half kilometer from here, do you remember how to get to the mercantile?"
"Yes, definitely."
"You will turn to your left at the Mercantile and go that way for a short distance."
I thanked him and left the hotel.
I made my way toward the mercantile and then made the necessary turn. I arrived at the hotel entrance and the doorman opened the large door to allow me to enter.
I immediately approached the consierge desk and introduced myself. I explained that I was interested in securing the services of one of their boys for the night, but that I was a guest at the Balthazar and would that be a problem.
He looked at me, and leaned forward slightly.
"We don't usually send our boys to the other hotels, but for clients such as yourself, I am sure that we can make an exception. What age boy did you have in mind sir?"
"Actually, I have a particular boy in mind. A friend, Mr. Cromwell, recommended him to me."
As I mentioned Cromwell's name, his face seemed to light up.
"The boy's name is Musal, he is about 12 I think."
"Ah, Musal, yes, I think that that can be arranged. Any particular amenities that you should desire?"
"Only that he be bathed and dressed in new clothes, not rags, I wouldn't want to cast the wrong image you know."
"What time would you like for him to be at your hotel? And what is your suite number?"
"Have him there by 7:00. My suite is 210, and I expect him to be promptly on time. I will have my boy return him in the morning around 11:00."
"The cost is 50 denare sir. And that will include the clothing and bathing."
I paid him and thanked him for his time and courtesy. Then left the hotel.
As I made the turn back to my hotel, I had a second thought and turned back to the mercantile. I selected several garments that I thought would fit a 12 year old boy, and several that I knew would fit Mahomet. I also purchased three kaftan robes in appropriate sizes and two canvas kit bags. As I paid for my purchases, the merchant inquired if he should have them delivered to my hotel. I told him that I would need someone to help me carry them. He immediately called for a street urchin to help me with my parcels.
Arriving back at my hotel, I gave the boy a gold coin and he scampered off. The bellman came to the desk and took the parcels. I turned to lead him to my suite, but turned back to ask the consierge for the room number of Mr. Cromwell. He wrote the number on a piece of parchment and handed it to me.
I opened the door of my suite and asked the bellman to place the parcels on the bed. When he returned I gave him a coin and bolted the door behind him. I went into the sleeping room and lit the lamp and set about the business of sorting the purchases. I packed the ones I had purchased for Mahomet in one canvas bag, and the others into the other one, except for the kaftans, which I hung in the wardrobe.
I returned to the lounge, poured myself a glass of wine, and sat on the settee to think.
My plan was now in place. I only hoped that I had the courage to pull it off. Everything was working well thus far. I smiled to myself and sipped on the wine.
There was a knock on the door and I remembered that I had bolted it, so I got up to open the door. It was Mahomet, and I pulled him quickly into the room.
"I have good news for you, but first, you must tell me of our arrangements."
"The caravan leaves at dawn, I have booked passage for three. It includes the use of a large tent, which will be set up each day and taken down by the drivers. You also have a covered camel van so that the sun will not bake you. They will also provide a person to cook the meals. You must pay the caravan owners 500 denare before we leave in the morning."
"Excellent. Mahomet, you have done very well. Now for the good news that I promised, I have made arrangements for you to accompany me all the way to Nador. Once we get there, you will have a decision to make, but we can discuss that on the way. "
"But, how.how did you arrange this?"
"I purchased your services from the hotel manager. He was most eager to send you with me after I explained my needs to him."
Mahomet litterally lept into my arms, wrapping me in his, as he began to sob uncontrollably. I caressed his hair as I tried to comfort him. Breaking the embrace I sat him on the settee.
"There is more, much more that I have to tell you, but it will have to wait for a while. I have to go see someone, but I will be back soon. Bolt the door, and don't let anyone in. I have my key, so I can let myself in."
He acknowledged my instructions, and I got up and left. Hearing the bolt on the door turn, I smiled as I walked to the stairs.
At the foot of the stairs, I approached the consierge.
"I am expecting someone at 7:00 this evening, have him escorted to my suite as soon as he arrives. I will also be dining in my suite this evening, and I want portions for three. I will have roast lamb, potatoes, and leek soup, coffee and biscuits, and a compote for desert. And I need what I have in the safe."
"Yes sir, will there be anything else?"
"No, that will do."
He turned and went into the back, returning shortly with a large envelope. He handed me the envelope and I turned to return to my suite. As I approached the stairs I looked up and saw Thomas and smiled. We greeted each other with the usual amenities, and he asked if I had enjoyed myself the other evening.
"I really don't know how to thank you, but yes, I enjoyed myself very much!"
"No need to thank me, I couldn't allow you to keep mooning over the lad, and not do something about it."
"I hate to ask, but I have a favor I would like for you to handle for me."
"Anything I can do for a friend."
"I need you to send a wire for me in the morning. As you know, I will be leaving for Nador in the morning, and I won't have time to send it then, but I can't send it tonight."
"Are you in some sort of trouble?"
"Not as yet, but the possibility does exist. It's too complicated to explain, just give me your word, as a gentleman, that you will send the cable, and no questions asked."
"But of course, old chap. It will be my pleasure."
"Thank you Thomas, you can't possibly know what your friendship has meant to me. I hope that we shall meet again, in London perhaps, and I will explain everything to you then."
We shook hands again, and I retrieved the small parchment note from my pocket and handed it to him.
"Have a safe journey Robert. And God's speed!"
We parted and I returned to my suite. Glancing at my pocket watch, it was quarter of five. I still had much to do, and had to explain to Mahomet about my plans for the evening.
Mahomet sprang from the settee as I entered the room, eyes wide and ran to meet me half way. He embraced me so tightly, one would have thought I had been gone for days.
"Let`s retire to the bedroom, I have many things to explain to you, and I want you. I want to make love to you, and then we will bathe and prepare for our evening meal and the special surprise that I have for you."
I stripped off my clothes as we went into the bedroom, and Mahomet was doing the same. When we reached the bed, I pulled him on top of me as we kissed passionately. As we broke the kiss, Mahomet began to kiss his way down my chest. I stopped him, and whispered into his ear, "Not this time, it's my turn."
His look changed to one of confusion as he said, "But Robert, I must be the one to receive, it is how Mahomet was trained!" "Well, not this time, not tonight." I said. With that, I rolled him over onto his back and I began at his ear lobe, licking and nibbling as I made my way down over his neck, onto his chest and down to his abdomen. As I reached his pubic area, I revelled in the odors there. The sweet smell of his hair, the light musk of his sweat, they combined to make me swoon slightly, as I pulled him into my mouth. His penis immediately responded to my ministrations as I began to bob gently up and down. Once I had him fully charged, I got up and lay on the bed so that we were side by side, I turned to face the beautiful boy laying next to me. My voice trembled as I said the words, "I want you inside me."
The boy looked stunned, he rose and knelt at my knees. The bed seemed to vibrate and I was unsure if it was his trembling, or mine, but it didn't matter, I had made my decision. He raised my legs until my knees nearly touched my chest. I thought I was being lifted from the bed as his face buried into the cleft between the cheeks of my bum.
He put out his tongue and as soon as it made contact with my arse hole, I felt the fire course through my entire being. I felt the wetness of his spittal as he laved my hole with his tongue, poking it in and out of the tight ring. I knew that this wasn't going to be easy, but I also knew that I wanted it. I wasn't sure why, but I did, and that was all there was to it. I felt his finger enter me, slowly, and then begin to move about inside me. It wasn't long until the one finger was replaced by two, and then shortly three. When Mahomet stood, I knew what was coming next, and I prepared myself for it as best I knew how. He placed the head of his penis at the entrance and pushed gently, but forcefully, forward.
When the head pierced the entrance, I took in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly out. When I began to exhale, Mahomet began to push forward, matching his forward movement to my expelling breath.
When I started to breath again, I realized that the boy was all the way inside of me. I could feel his pubic hair against the soft skin of my bum. He looked into my eyes, and I smiled back. At that, he began to pull out and then push in again. He began to establish a rhythym as he picked up speed. I could feel my own penis begin to respond as it became completely erect.
Each time he thrust forward, I felt him hit something up inside of me that sent lightning through my body. I could feel the tightness in my abdomen, and I knew that this was perfect. It was what was meant to be. I wrapped my legs around Mahomets' cheeks and began to pull him into me with them. He responded and began to push into me harder and faster. I could feel my climax building rapidly as he continued. Then, after only a few more thrusts, I exploded, the semen shooting so forcefully that it struck the bed post behind my head, and then coated my chest and abdomen. At the same time, Mahomet became still as stone, and I could tell by the expression on his face, he was in the throes of his climax as well. I could feel it coating my insides with each successive pulse.
Mahomet collapsed on top of me and we lay panting as he gently withdrew his penis from my arse. We lay there for a few moments and Mahomet rolled off me onto the bed.
"That was the most beautiful experience of my life. I can't believe that I had you inside of me!"
"It was good for Mahomet too. I have never been allowed to give the pleasure that way.."
He smiled and leaned over and kissed me. Then began to get up off the bed.
"Mahomet must now draw the bath. The time is growing short."
He moved quickly to the bath chamber and began drawing the bath, as I continued to bask in the afterglow of what we had just done. I couldn't understand why it made me feel like I did, but I knew I wanted to feel that way again, and very soon.
I got up from the bed and climbed into the tub as Mahomet began to bathe me again with the sponge. I took the sponge from him and said, "Get in!" He looked a bit astonished but did as he was told and I had him sit with his back to me and I sponged his back . I then had him turn round and sponged his chest, and then handed him the sponge as I turned my back to him. He copied every thing I had done, and we continued to bathe each other. When we went to get out, we realized that we hadn't gotten towels from the wardrobe. We laughed at that as we stepped out onto the woven rug, dripping water everywhere. We got the towels, dried off and dressed, I in my dressing gown and he in his trousers and over robe only.
I outlined my plan briefly as he cleaned up our mess, careful to omit any information about his brother. I wanted to surprise him with that part. As he finished tidying up the room, we moved into the lounge. I noticed that the clock on the mantel said that it was quarter of seven.
"Mahomet, it is imperative that you listen to me very carefully. I want you to go into the bedroom in a few minutes, and stay there until I tell you to come back. You must be totally silent, and please, try not to listen to anything being said in here. Can you do that for me?"
"I promise, but is Mahomet to be punished?"
"Punished? Oh heavens no. it's just that I have arranged something, and it must appear that there is no one here but me. And then I have something special for you. I promise that you will like it."
I looked at the clock again, and saw that the time was now nearly 7:00. "You must now go into the bedroom, and be very quiet so that no one knows that you are here."
He went into the bedroom just as there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find the bellman with the cart of food. I thanked him and gave him a gold coin and dismissed him promptly. I pushed the cart over to the side of the settee as there came a second knock.
Opening the door, there stood a great giant of a man, his rough face dramatically set by his huge mustache.
"You will have boy back at Regent by 11:00 in the morning! Yes?"
"Yes, definitely, at 11:00."
But as yet, I had seen no boy. I had to wonder at that point, what was going on, when a small boy, dressed entirely in white linen, stepped out from behind the big man. The man knelt down beside the boy and whispered something to him in Arabic. Then he stood back upright and turned to me.
"Musal has been told that he must do whatever master says. He is yours to do with as you please, use him for sex, beat him If you choose, use him as you would any stray dog,. If he fails to please you in any way, you must tell the man at hotel and the boy will be severly punished for not doing as told."
I nodded and reached out my hand to lead the boy into the suite. The big man turned and left. Musal followed me into the room and I stopped to bolt the door. As I looked him over, I thought that he looked clean enough, his clothes appeared to be new, all to my specifications. I took his hand again and led him over to the settee, where I motioned him to sit. I knelt down in front of the boy, and looked into his scared little face.
"Do you understand English?"
"Yes master, Musal understand."
"Good, now I want you to listen verry carefully to what I have to say."
The boy nodded his head.
"You do not need to be afraid, you will not be hurt, in any way. I brought you here for a very special reason."
The boy looked straight at me and began to pull the shirt up over his head to take it off.
"No," I said, as I put my hands on his to stop him. "You don't need to undress, there is not going to be any sex, that is not why I brought you here."
I could see a look of relief on his face as he released the fabric.
"I have someone I want you to meet, he has told me a lot about you."
I got up and took his hand and led him to the middle of the room.
I motioned for him to wait and stepped over to the door of the bedroom.
"Mahomet, I have someone out here that I want you to meet."
Mahomet got up from the side of the bed and came to the door. As he saw Musal, his eyes widened and his mouth gapped open. The smaller boy jumped and ran straight into the arms of his brother and they embraced as Mahomet stood up, with his brother still clinging to his neck. The two boys began to cry and kiss each other all over the face. As I stood and watched, I could feel my own eyes well up with tears.
Mahomet came over to me, his brother still clinging to him, and he put an arm around me, pulling my ear close to his face.
"Mahomet can never thank you for this, I love you Robert."
To break the tension, I announced, "Dinner is here, shall we eat before it gets too cold?"
Mahomet set his brother on the settee, and then had me sit next to him. He uncovered the food and began to serve it up on the platters. He handed me a plate, which I passed to Musal. The boy looked at the food as though he didn't have any idea of what to do with it. Mahomet then handed me a platter and proceeded to prepare one for himself. He sat on the other side of his brother and handed him a spoon.
"Eat Musal, it is permitted, Master Robert is a good man."
The boy began to eat, using the spoon, but couldn't seem to get enough. He lay the spoon aside and began to eat with his hands. I was amazed at how he was cramming the food into his mouth, as though he were afraid it would be taken away.
He had finished the platter before I was much more than started, and I stood and took the platter. I moved to the cart and put more food on the platter and handed it back to the boy. He took it eagerly, his face aglow with delight. I finished what was on my own platter and took a bowl from the cart and filled it with the compote. I poured some cream over the fruit and handed the bowl to Musal. As he looked at the bowl, his eyes sparkled and danced. I prepared a bowl for Mahomet, and then one for myself as well. I watched as the youngster devoured his compote and then settled back on the settee next to his brother. I finished mine and set the bowl on the cart. I told the boys to finish and join me in the bedroom.
I went into the bedroom and got the two bags out of the wardrobe and placed them onto the bed, taking the garments out and laying them out .
"Mahomet, if you and Musal are finished eating, would you please come in here?"
I heard the boys get off of the settee and place their bowls on the cart, and then heard them walking toward the bedroom.
"I got a few things for you boys, for our trip."
Mahomet and Musal looked at each other.
"Robert, Mahomet does not understand. "
"I am taking you with me to Nador, as we planned, and we are taking Musal with us. They don't expect him back at the Regent until 11:00 and we are leaving at dawn, we will be far away before they discover that anything is amiss. Now let's get you boys over here and see what I have for you."
They approached the bed and I began to hold up the garments for them to see. The boys began trying on the different garments, and little Musal squeeled with delight with each new garment. I gave them the canvas bags to put everything in, and then showed them the kaftans.
"These will protect us from the weather. Now, Mahomet, we need to get my things packed up for the trip, and get ready for bed. We have to be up very early."
Mahomet and I busied ourselves packing my things into my bags, and we placed all the bags in the lounge, close to the door.
Mahomet undressed and got into the bed as Musal climbed in beside him. I had decided that I would sleep on the settee, when Mahomet called to me.
"Robert, Musal is small and takes not much room, you will sleep here, yes?"
He motioned for me to get into the bed next to him. As I climbed into the bed I whispered, "We need to get to sleep now, the desk is sending someone to wake us at 3:00 in the morning."
I looked at Mahomet, and he was sound asleep, with his brother snuggled to his side, also asleep. I looked at the two boys and bent to kiss Mahomet on the forehead. He smiled in his sleep, and I lay my head next to his.