"You know you are not the man I thought you were Napoleon Solo." Narcissus finally spoke up to him.
"Sorry to disappoint you, although I didn't get that feeling from you when we were making love?"
"Ha, you think you're that good?I've had better." She sniped at him.
He ignored her attempt to rile him, though he did feel a pang in his stomach as she attempted to deflate his ego. He'd never let her know she had accomplished that in part. He couldn't recall a woman ever having said that to him, plenty of other things, but not exactly that.
"So why do you insist on keeping me with you? You have a handle on where your lost lamb is now being corralled...but then again, one wonders if he has been lead to the slaughter yet?"
"I told you once already Narcissus, you had better hope he hasn't been, because you'll pay dearly for causing it."
"I don't think so Solo. U.N.C.L.E. will most likely want me alive for my knowledge of the inner workings of Thrush Central."
She had him dead to rights there, but better she didn't know that.
"Valuable, maybe? But not that valuable. U.N.C.L.E. has managed to operate thus far without bringing any of your kind in as prisoners; I think we could still function without what you'd have to offer us?" He smiled confidently, suspecting his words would unsettle her.
"And as for me keeping you in my sights; that's so you don't run around complicating matters for me."
They continued on their trek through the desert; the wheels of the jeep leaving a cloud of dust in their wake as they encountered extreme heat as it approached midday. Suddenly the tracker blipped, though it was a weak signal.
Napoleon's heart jumped at the sound as at last he was back on track to finding his friend. He pulled out his communicator, contacting Waverly. He stole a quick look at his wristwatch, calculating that it was around five o'clock p.m. New York and a safe assurance the Old Man was there; although it seemed at times that the man never left headquarters or slept.
"Yes Mr. Solo, any news?"
"Yes sir, I've got a positive lead on Mr. Kuryakin's approximate location and the tracking disc is active again. But there is a complication as it seems that he's had the unfortunate circumstance of being sold into slavery."
"Slavery, what the deuce? That is indeed a concern. Any hopes of retrieving the diamonds?"
"That I'm not sure of as of yet sir, but I'm hoping when I locate Mr. Kuryakin; he'll have an idea where they are."
"And Narcissus Darling Mr. Solo, do you still have her with you?"
"Yes sir, she's being her usual uncooperative self."
"Well deal with her by what ever means you find necessary. Those diamonds and Mr. Kuryakin are my main concern and not some Thrush temptress, there's enough of those to go around as it were. Understood Mr. Solo? Thrush is aware the Miss Darling has gone missing and we have word of another agent from Central now in your area. Adolphus Kruger, he is adept at money laundering and fencing goods for Thrush profit, but he is also has a reputation for being quite deadly. Be wary.
"Always am sir and completely understood," he smiled. "Solo out."
"Damn," he muttered to himself, " Another bird to deal with?" He looked over at his passenger. "By any means necessary," he repeated to her in warning, though he knew she'd already heard it.
Narcissus finally shut up.
.
The mostly disgruntled suitors were ushered out from the banquet hall, leaving the Sheik, A'lia and Illya present, along with Ahmed and several guards.
"You think yourself quite clever don't you Ilyãs?" The Mahdi hissed. "Now that my guests are gone, what makes you think I will honor this?"
"You risk your reputation Sheik," Illya said, no longer addressing the man as Master. " Word will get out if you do not keep your promises, and in this part of the world that can be most damaging in both private and business dealings. I assume you would wish to continue living in this manner to which you have become accustomed to?"
The man backed down at Illya's challenge, as the Russian had hoped he would.
"Now remove my collar, as I do not think that your future son-in-law can still be your bonded slave, as that too would cause you embarrassment?"
"Maybe I'll just kill you anyway, you insolent Kafir." The Sheik growled as he pulled a dagger from it's sheath.
"NO, father...please. Do you wish to shame me further, your word is your bond and I am promised to marry the man who lived up to your challenge and chose the right box. I am a righteous woman and will therefore do my duty, though it pleases me not."
"Ah my beautiful flower, my rarest of gems, I have raised you well. I will be a man of my word as you have found the strength to be an obedient daughter, and will permit the marriage. At least you are getting a clever man for a husband." He said sarcastically.
"Ilyãs, I will expect certain things of you as you will be as my son, firstly your loyalty to my family, secondly that you continue to work for the benefit of your new family, and lastly that you convert to Islam. I can not consent to my daughter being deflowered and spoiled by an infidel, and your children, may Allah bless my daughter with many, must be of the faith. Are these things clear to you?"
"Yes...waalid_father." Illya said addressing him formally, offering a polite bow. He would play the game for now.
"Ahmed, remove the slave collar and bracelets from Ilyãs, and get him some good clothes. He is to be given quarters in the main house. See to it now."
The Sheik directed his attention back to Kuryakin.
"As intelligent and quick witted as you are, you have much to learn and not much time in which to do so." Sheik Ali el-Mahdi Karmaj said before leaving with his daughter and her servants.
"Come on you!" Ahmed ordered, giving Illya a little shove on the shoulder. "If you think a beast such as yourself is going to lay a hand on her, you are sorely mistaken."
"Do not threaten me Ahmed," Illya warned," you will regret it."
The man gave him a rougher shove, pushing him out the door.
Illya refrained from slamming his fist right into Ahmed's face, knowing now was not the time, but that time would come; he promised himself that much and when it did Ahmed would suffer. He had no intention of going through with the marriage to A'lia, as he'd now managed to free himself and knowing where the diamonds were, he could complete his mission and escape a free man. A free man, the words echoed in his head.
"But there were different degrees of freedom," he reminded himself, as he walked before Ahmed to have the symbols of his enslavement removed, repeating a phrase laughingly to himself, no man is free who has to work for a living, * and he still had work to do. He decided thought after returning to New York, he would take a vacation...someplace cold.
After his collar and bracelets were removed he insisted upon one last thing being done and that was to have the master's brand on his arm burned away with a hot iron. He knew it would hurt like hell, but he would not live with that mark on his arm as it was...better just to make it another scar to add to his collection.
Illya was freed, the master's mark burned away and bandaged; then he was taken to his new quarters suitable for the future son-in-law of the Sheik. He found clothing waiting for him, such that was befitting one of his new found rank. There were leggings and a long fitted silk jacket, it's hem falling just below his knees and a pair of soft calf-skin slippers for his feet. One thing that pleased him most about it was that it was all black. He wondered if that was some sort of message being given to him; but none the less the color suited him fine.
There came a soft knock at his door as Illya sat on the edge of his large soft bed. Naser entered, his head bowed.
"Effendi, I bring a message from the lady A'lia." he said, bowing reverently.
"Naser I am Ilyãs and nothing more. Please do not bow to me."
The boy felt comfortable enough with him to relax, suddenly flopping on the great bed next to him. "I cannot believe your good fortune? I knew you would do well in the household, but not this well and so quickly.
Could you request that I become your personal servant, it would be a great honor to serve you."
"Naser there will be no serving me." He couldn't take the chance telling the boy that he would be gone soon. " Now what is the message from the lady A'lia."
"Oh forgive me?" Naser hopped from the bed, " the Mistress bids you to meet her in the garden as she wishes to speak to you."
That brought a crooked smile to Illya's lips. "Show me the way Naser."
The boy lead him to an interior courtyard with a central pool, surrounding it were sunken gardens lush with Bougannville, Trees laden with bright orange fruit, and rose covered arbors, all surrounded by colorful tiled and intricately cared plaster walls.
As Illya entered the beautiful scene, she spotted A'lia still dressed in her rose colored attire, as well as the diamond necklace; seated at a bench beside the reflecting pool.
He cleared his throat, alerting her as to his presence.
She rose immediately.
"I apologize Lady, I did not mean to startle you."
"No, that is alright. I am fine."
Illya walked a little closer to her. "You wished to speak to me? He said very softy.
"Yes, as you are to be my husband, I thought it wise that I get to know you a little better before the wedding ceremony as that will permit me to serve you better."
"A'lia...may I call you that? I understand that it means exhalted; your family named you well."
"Oh you are very good with the words, are you not?"
"Generally with women, no, " he smiled shyly.
He stared into her lovely almond shaped eyes, wondering what she looked like under that veil.
"May I?" he asked reaching tentatively for it.
"Yes it is permitted since you are to be my husband."
Illya slipped the veil from her face, revealing very full luscious lips, a petite nose, completing the exotic image were her eyes. Her skin looked soft and very inviting, along with those lips.
She gazed into his eyes, the color of his skies seeing his admiration of her in them and though he was very pale, his face was strong and handsome, she found his yellow hair very attractive.
He shook the feeling away from himself. "A'lia, you are indeed very beautiful but would it disturb you to hear that I do not wish to marry you?"
She let out a little laugh, "Really? I do not wish to marry you either. I do not wish to marry at all. But Ilyãs we are both honor bound are we not?"
"Not really," he smiled.
"How can that be, we... I am under the thumb of my father. I have no choice as do you."
"What if I could offer you a choice...freedom from this sort of life?" He knew he wasn't really looking to save her; he didn't even know her. But she had the diamonds and he needed help getting out. Involving an innocent was not high on his list of options, but would use one if it became necessary.
She sat on the bench indicating that he should do the same as she patted the spot beside her with her hand. Illya joined her, keeping a respectable distance between them.
"Tell me of this freedom?"She asked.
"A'lia my name is Illya Kuryakin and I am no slave, nor have I ever been. I am a free man and an agent for an organization dedicated to protecting the world from evil men and their terrible plots to hurt innocent people. It is call the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement."
"So you are a sort of spy?"
"Precisely."
"I was taken captive while on a mission and sold into slavery only a few days ago. My mission is to locate these." He reached out touching one of the stones in her necklace."
"My diamonds?"
"They are not real diamonds, they are fakes that were grown by a scientist for use in a terrible weapon that can fire a beam of light that can cause great damage."
"You mean a laser?"
Illya was taken back by her very intelligent and obviously well-informed answer.
"When you are kept in a household all your life, books become your friends. " she said, " I read many types on science, history, sociology. My father doted on me and indulged my whim for this passion and provided me with very many tutors. Some of whom were from Europe. Hmmm...Europe." she sighed, " How I long to see it. Paris, Rome...I have seen such beautiful pictures in my books. No deserts, they have no deserts there. Such a wonderful place."
"But I will tell you, Ilyãs where my diamonds go...I go."
"This conversation could not have gone any better?" Illya thought. "A'lia, what if I told you that I could get you to Europe?"
"You could?"
"Most definitely. I need to leave this place and I must take those stones with me. I need to complete my mission and get them to my organization...can you help me do this?" Illya hated asking this of her, but it seemed he had no other option.
"Help you escape, us escape?"
"Yes." he smiled at her.
"I can do this. When would you want to leave?" Her eyes were filled with excitement.
"Could it be done tonight?"
"Yes, it would work as the household his now a flurry of activity making preparations for the wedding. My father leaves for Marrakesh this evening to make purchases for the nuptials and will not return until morning. Yes, I will make arrangements for transportation, food and water as well as money for our travels. It would be best if we escape into the desert."
Illya frowned at that proposal.
"We have no choice as the roads through the mountains are too treacherous, there is much snow in them now. And we dare not go to Marrakesh or any other city for that matter. My father has many contacts and as soon as word gets out that we are missing, his agents will be crawling everywhere in search of us."
"Snow?" he sighed, "Where I come from there is snow not just in the mountains, it falls everywhere so heavily that it can become deeper than a man is tall and sometimes drifts higher that the rooftops."
"This I would like to see, where is your country?"
"It is Russia, but my home now is in New York in America."
"Then I look forward to seeing New York some day," she smiled.
Illya felt that warning signal go off in his stomach when it came to women, hoping his offer to take her away from her father's control would not trigger some unwanted feelings towards him, but like other issues; he would deal with it later if it arose and not worry about it for now.
"Then we will meet here at midnight," she said.
"Yes, I know the way now so there will be no need to involve Naser. I do not want the boy to suffer in any way for my actions, so the less he knows, the safer he will be." Illya bowed to her politely then left the garden, hoping the arrangements he had just made were not some sort of trap.
He returned at the designated time, dressed in more suitable clothes sent to him by A'lia. He was attired like one of the Moroccan blue men, who were a ferocious nomadic people whose reputation had entered them into realm of myth and legend. They came from the southern fringes of Morocco, belonging to the Rguibat Berbers, but were related to the Tuareg. They now made a good living offering protection to camel trains and caravans crossing the desert.
His robes were a faded blue, and he sported a veil and scarf wrapped tightly around his head, functionally to keep out the desert sand, but in reality to hide his blond hair and fair skin.
When he reached the garden he found A'lia dressed similarly in a man's attire. This made sense as once they were discovered missing, her father would send searchers looking for a blond infidel and a woman.
He smiled, not only was A'lia beautiful and intelligent, but clever as well.
"Come Ilyãs, we go to the main gate," she whispered, taking him by the hand. He followed her through a secret door hidden among the arbors, taking a narrow passageway that lead behind the interior walls of the house, to anothe door that opened to the main courtyard where he had first been brought in chains to the compound.
Once it was determined the way was clear, they exited the secret door.
Without warning, Illya felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"What are you doing you filthy Kafir?" Ahmed growled.
Illya swung around without warning, throwing a round house kick, hitting the man squarely in the face with his foot. Ahmed's head snapped back; the impact breaking his jaw, knocking him unconscious. Kuryakin dragged the heavy body back behind the arbor that lined that part of the wall, then rejoined A'lia.
Together they opened the heavy gate, then both of them stepped beyond it to the outside world. There beside the gate were three camels, two set for riders and one loaded with supplies.
"Come?"
"Camels? That is the best transportation you could find?" He stared at the beast closest to him, as it eyed him chewing it's cud. Illya anticipated being spat upon any second, as he and camels did not get along.
"Yes they are the best when traveling through the desert."
"A'lia, with all your father's wealth, he does not own a vehicle that would be suitable for desert travel...such as a jeep?
"No he prefers the traditional mode of transportation, though it is very rare now that he travels into the Sahara."
Kuryakin sighed deeply; he and the beasts known as the ships of the desert did not have a good track record, just as he did not have with ships of the sea.
.
ref * "The Bow Wow Affair"