The Flying Legion
ast months of the war-broke in upon the Master's reveries. Only a few minutes were required to mend the window. Durin
el. "With her almost unlimited power, her impeccable controls and
" the ace replied, "always
etal liner. Now, he
wn cabin. Rrisa, he found, had already unpacked his kit, and had arranged it to p
had learned many years ago on the coast of Yemen. The ticking of the aluminum-cased chronometer, now marking a little past 2 a.m., soothed him, as did the droning h
got himself into his military uniform, the one he had worn at Gallipoli when the Master had saved his life. As
mé desire?" ask
ed, ever ride in such state through the air? Was Al Burak, his magic horse, on which he
bic, weighted every wor
risa, what
hip is very great," the Arab admitted. "But Allah and hi
pear at Mecca in my Nissr Arrib ela Sema-my Eagle of
with as you will, even to the death, but I implore yo
y not,
I can speak true words. You must not go to Mec
ic the tie of sworn brotherhood betwee
to Mecca and they capture
e, for being with you, though I
stay. The wild mystery of that outer night, excluded by the close-drawn curtains, contrasted strongly with the light and the warm comf
reat anxiety had begun to make itself manifest in the Arab's voice and in
ry to all his habits and training, s
hout waiting. But I must ask. This is my hour of night prayer
wrist-watch, peered a moment at one of the charts, and t
sul Allah!" was raised there in the cabin of the rushing Eagle of the Sky-surely the strangest place where Mosl
er, wise in Eastern ways, remained gravely unsmiling. Never in all his dealings with the son of the East had
ds a building called the Ka'aba, also
true," answered the Ar
ndrous silken and gold cloth, every
words a
greatly rever
er of our might
seen it with
he continued: "Prayer, with face to Mecca, alms-giving, the keeping of the fast of Ramadan, and the pilg
or one who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca, a journey
s lips moved silently, as if still praying; but no words wer
ous to all followers of the Prophet, from Africa to China and to the farthe
. I myself have touch
on
Stone are forbidden to all heretic
all who are not of Islam," Rr
Black Stone is in the western wall of the K
the very corner, Master. It is between four feet and five from the ground. That, a
hey say, too, that certain of the Feringi have indeed to
that dark skin. By the clear white light in the cabin, the Master close
uth?" he inquir
ra men like yourself-have indeed touched and kissed it. Two that we know of. Shaytan el Kabir (the G
med Burckhardt, and
of those names, and silent
, defiled the Black Stone, which was given by Allah to the firs
the hands of
Beneath the veneer of civilization with which life among the Feringi had overlaid him, the Master se
e Master. Then, suddenl
on him a sternl
s would today be moldering in the trenches at Gallipoli or maybe rotting in a Turkish
ahnu malihin." (We hav
is still in th
ection for only twenty-four hours and at the end of that ti
are still dakhil (
ne to do wit
the Ma
ing pit, on the bridge as fine and sharp as the edge of a simitar, if it be laden with treachery to one who hath saved thy life and whose salt thou hast eaten, surely it
ling mouth. He raised his hand to forehead, lip
cried the Master, dominan