Marco Polo

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.The secretary raised one hand.'Silence,' he called out, 'those who dare to come before the sight of mighty Kublai Khan, kow-tow.Kow-tow before the War Lord of War Lords, all powerful and fearsome in his strength.Kow-towbefore the Master of Asia, Cathay, India and other territories beyond.Kow-tow.' Marco, Susan andBarbara knelt.The Doctor remained standing.'Grandfather,' Susan hissed.'Kow-tow,' the secretary commanded.'I'll never manage it,' the Doctor complained as he sank awkwardly and painfully to his knees withlittle moans and groans of agony.Out of the corner of her eye Susan saw a most imposing man in amagnificent gold-threaded blue silk gown with a silver belt around his waist.On his head he wore ahat which resembled a bishop's mitre and he carried a gold staff in one hand.'Kow-tow,' the secretary commanded.'Aaah,' the Doctor exclaimed, but his cry was lost in a yelp of pain from a little old man who washobbling along with a cane behind the dignified man.'Kow-tow,' the secretary repeated, as the little old man grabbed the arm of the throne and tried tolift one foot onto the dais.'Aaah,' he cried out which was echoed by the Doctor.The little old man collapsed with another cryonto the throne and looked angrily at the Doctor.'Do you mock our affliction?' he asked in a high-pitched, thin voice.The Doctor was kneeling with hishead several inches above the floor at which he was staring.'No, it's my back,' he said irritably, 'I can't move it.' With a little moan of pain the Master of all Asiaeased out his gout-ridden foot.'What ails it?''It's seized up.I can't move,' the Doctor wailed.Mighty Kublai Khan turned to the imposing manwho stood at the side of the dais.'Grand Vizier, help our honourable guest,' - he pointed at the Doctor with his cane - 'to his feet.Andyou, ladies, and you, Marco, stand up,' he added, waving his cane at them.Suddenly, his face paledand he let out another anguished cry as the Grand Vizier with Marco took the Doctor by both armsand tried to straighten him.Susan and Barbara watched anxiously.Kublai looked at them.'These gracious ladies accompany you?' he asked.'Yes, great Khan.''You are most welcome to our Court,' Kublai inclined his head to them.'The Captain Ling-Tau hasreported to us that the Lady Ping-Cho follows on with another of your party and an escort.Also,that the War Lord Tegana has gone on to Peking.''In obedience to your command, great Khan.''We shall discuss the War Lord's mission, Marc-ouch,' he yelped, and pointed his cane at the Doctor.'How did you come by your ailment?''I've spent the last seven days on horseback, Sire," the Doctor replied, 'and it is a mode oftransportation to which I am unaccustomed.' The Khan looked concerned.'We ride for Peking tomorrow, we fear,' Kublai confessed.'Not another horse,' the Doctor exclaimed.'I couldn't lift my foot into a stirrup, let alone, mount themonster.' Pointing to the Khan's foot, he observed that, for the life of him, he didn't see the Khanriding a horse either.'We have a carriage of state and tomorrow, noble sir, you shall ride with us.''Most generous of you, Sire,' the Doctor replied and attempted a little bow which sent a stab of painacross his back.'Aaah,' he squeaked clamping both hands over his kidneys.'We shall be pleased if you will dine with us this evening,' and Kublai ordered the Grand Vizier tomake the necessary seating arrangements, placing the Empress between the Doctor and himself.Then, with little groans and yelps, he stood up gingerly.'The audience is terminated,' the secretary intoned.'Kow-tow.' A look of sheer anguish crossed theDoctor's face.Kublai held up one hand.'No, no, no,' he protested.'We waive this mark of obeisance out of respect for our noble guest'saffliction.' He beckoned the Doctor to his side and he limped over.'There are healing waters herewhich relieve our gout.Let us observe their effect upon your miseries.Take our arm.' The Doctorobeyed.'What a burden old age is,' Kublai sighed.'A trial to be borne with dignity, Sire,' the Doctor observed.'You are right, our friend.With dignity,' Kublai replied and with little 'oohs', 'aahs' and 'ouches', thetwo of them hobbled out of the throne room.15 GamblersShortly before the banquet, Marco was summoned to Kublai's personal sitting room.It was smallbut exquisitely furnished with carved ebony chairs and a low table with ivory inlays.The walls werehung with delicate hand-painted scrolls and the window looked out onto a small, beautifullyarranged flower garden.To Marco's surprise Ling-Tau was taking tea with Kublai who waved Marcoto a chair and let him pour himself a cup of tea.'What is this War Lord's tomb Ling-Tau told us about?' Kublai asked.Marco looked puzzled.'War Lord's tomb? Pardon my ignorance, great Khan, but I do not understand you.' Kublai turned toLing-Tau.'Recount for us once again your adventures,' he said and Ling-Tau told an increasingly astonishedMarco all that had happened on the road to Karakorum although he did not mention Tegana'sinvolvement.When Ling-Tau finished, Marco, who had long since put down his untouched cup oftea, spread out his hands in bewilderment.'Great Khan, it is not a War Lord's tomb, it is a caravan that flies.''A flying caravan?' Kublai exclaimed incredulously.'From whence does it come?' W'ith pangs ofconscience, Marco recounted meeting the Doctor and his companions.'A caravan that travels through the air.' Kublai beamed.'This we must see.''It is yours, great Khan, I claimed it in your name.But I have promised to take the Doctor and theothers back to Venice with me,' he added, hoping Kublai would take the hint.Then he frowned.'Buthow did it come to be on the road to Karakorum?' Kublai smiled.'It was being sent there by the Wrar Lord Tegana,' he said simply.'What?' Marco was astounded.'But there is nothing at Karakorum.''Other than Noghai's Tartar hordes.'Marco put one hand to his forehead.'But when I collected the Lady Ping-Cho and the War LordTegana at Samarkand all that remained of Noghai's defeated army was less than ten leaguesaway.''And now revitalised and reinforced, it stands at Karakorum with Noghai at its head.' Kublai toyedwith his cup.'We shall be interested in the War Lord Tegana's justification of its presence so closeto ourself.''Then why did you command him to go directly to Peking, great Khan?'Kublai smiled ingenuously.'That is where our army, reinforced from our southern provinces, isexercising [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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