Page:Alien Souls by Achmed Abdullah (1922).djvu/155

"Tell me, Haakim," he asked, "are you sure there is no danger? Remember I have sworn a most solemn oath never to take toll with steel or blood or pain for what happened that day, back home in Khinis, between him and me!"

"Rest assured," laughed the Arab. "Your oath is inviolate. There will be neither blood nor pain—except perhaps a pain of the mind, which"—he shrugged his shoulders—"is beyond the probing of human ken, being entirely a matter of Fate, thus sealed to us."

"There will also be pain on Aziza's crimson lips when I crush them with the strength and the desire of mine own lips!" replied the Kurd from the threshold.

It was hours later, in the little back room of Zado Krelekian's shop, that Mohammed Yar put his hand gently on the Armenian's shoulder.

"Heart of my heart," he said, and his voice was as soft as the spring breeze, "it is the decree of Fate—Fate, which comes out of the dark like a blind camel, with no warning, no jingling of bells; Fate, which is about the necks of all of us, be we Armenians or Kurds, Christians or Moslems, like a strangling lash. Long life may yet be yours. But—" He made a sweeping gesture.

"Is it—hopeless?"

"Yes. As hopeless as when Khizr hides his shiny face."

"But—what can I do? What—?"

"Nothing! I spoke to my Haakim, El-Touati. He does not know you personally. But I told him about you, of the fact that you and I, Armenian and Kurd,