Abu Ali looked at Hasan with shining eyes, eyes full of trust. But Abul Fazel was frightened.
“I’ve always seen you as a deft and capable man, my dear Hasan,” he said. “Lately your reputation has risen so much that you’re talked about throughout all of Iran. And with your intrigues at court you’ve proven that you’re a highly gifted statesman. But what you’re proposing now fills me with real concern and trepidation.”
“My work is only half completed,” Hasan replied. “Until now I’ve trusted to my statesmanship. But now I’m going to see what faith can accomplish.”
He gave that word particular stress. He turned toward the grand dai and spoke.
“Go call the commanders to council. All men should go to battle stations immediately. Tomorrow our novices are going to have to pass a test so they can be sworn in as fedayeen. They need to know everything.
“You will conduct the grand council in my absence. Tell the commanders that we have visitors approaching, and that I have ordained that we will wait for them here. Have each of them share his thoughts. Once you’ve heard them out, come back and report everything to me. Have the captain order his men to make all preparations for the defense of the castle.”
“Everything will be done as you command,” the grand dai said, and hurried out.
The rumble of drums and a blast from the horn called the men to arms and the commanders to assembly. With a serious mien, Abu Ali awaited them in the great hall. The dais and the officers filed in.
When they were assembled, the grand dai looked them over and spoke.
“The sultan has deposed the grand vizier and ordered him to crush the Ismailis. The emir of Hamadan, Arslan Tash, has set out for Alamut with thirty thousand men. A vanguard of Turkish cavalry will reach Rudbar today or tomorrow. Within a few days black flags could be waving outside our castle. The mayor of Rai, Muzaffar, has promised us help. But our own preparedness is an even surer thing. Sayyiduna has sent me to find out how you think we can best resist an attack. Once he hears your recommendations he will take the necessary steps.”
Sitting on their pillows, the commanders exchanged surprised glances with each other. Here and there some of them whispered remarks to their neighbors, but for a long time none of them rose to speak.
“Captain, you’re an experienced soldier,” Abu Ali finally said to Manuchehr. “What do you think is our first priority?”
“We don’t have anything to fear from the Turkish cavalry,” the captain replied. “The fortress is ready for an attack, and anyone who takes it on will be badly burned. But how long we can hold out under siege against thirty thousand men with machines and assault equipment—that’s a difficult question.”
“How long will our food stores last?” the Greek asked.
“A good half year,” the captain replied. “But if we can dispatch a caravan to Rai, then Muzaffar will supply us for another half year.”
“That’s important,” Abu Ali commented, noting something down on his tablet.
Abdul Malik spoke next.
“Here’s what I think,” he said. “We mustn’t let ourselves get locked up in the fortress too soon. We can wallop the Turks on an open battlefield, especially if Muzaffar really does send help. The core of the sultan’s army is still a long way off.”
The young officers who were present enthusiastically supported his plan.
“We mustn’t rush into things,” Abu Soraka commented. “We have to bear in mind that we have our wives and our children with us in the castle. They’d be finished if we were foolhardy enough to risk a battle in the open.”
“Haven’t I always said,” Ibrahim said, losing his temper, “that women and children don’t belong in the fortress with warriors?”
“I’m not the only one who has his family here,” Abu Soraka countered. By this he was referring to Hasan’s two daughters.
Dai Ibrahim angrily compressed his lips.
“I have the perfect suggestion,” al-Hakim said, laughing. “Let’s put our wives and children on the camels and donkeys and send them to Muzaffar. We can use that same caravan to bring needed foodstuffs back to the castle. There you’d accomplish three things at one blow. We’d reduce the number of mouths to feed, we’d rid ourselves of painful concerns for our families, and the caravan wouldn’t make half its trip for no purpose.”
“Good idea,” Abu Ali acknowledged, making some more notes on his tablet.
The discussion grew more and more impassioned. They tallied all the things they would need at the castle, argued about the rightful duties of various commanders, and recommended first one thing, then its opposite.
At last Abu Ali gave a sign that the assembly was over. He told the commanders to wait for their precise instructions and returned to join Hasan at the top of the tower.
In the meantime Hasan had learned from the former mayor of Isfahan what recent changes at the court had caused the sultan to move so suddenly. Up until that point he had had very good connections to court circles, considering that Taj al-Mulk, vizier to the young sultana Turkan Khatun, had been his confidant.
Sultan Malik Shah had legally designated his first-born son, Barkiarok, heir to the throne. He was the sultan’s son by his first wife. Just then the twenty-year-old heir apparent was conducting a military campaign against a number of rebellious princes on the border with India. The young sultana used this absence to secure the Iranian throne for her four-year-old son Mohammed. Most strongly opposed to this plan was Nizam al-Mulk. The sovereign vacillated, submitting first to the influence of his old vizier, then to the charms of his young wife. The grand vizier had powerful support, primarily in the caliph of Baghdad and the entire Sunni clergy. The sultana had the support of Nizam’s numerous enemies and the many individuals whom his power had reduced to insignificance. But so that her side could gain a counterweight against the Sunni clergy as well, the sultana’s vizier sought out contacts with the Shia, among whom Hasan’s Ismaili sect had the greatest influence. This court intrigue was practically made to order for the master of Alamut. He assured the sultana that his adherents throughout Iran would support her cause. Taj al-Mulk promised him that he and Turkan Khatun would try to prevail on the sultan not be too concerned about Hasan’s exploits in the north of Iran.
In the course of two years the sultana and her secretary had kept their word. Whenever Nizam al-Mulk pressed the sultan to move against the Ismailis, the two of them would downplay Hasan’s exploits and point out that the grand vizier’s efforts were no more than the result of his personal hatred for Hasan ibn Sabbah. The sultan was glad to believe this. Since he was more inclined to Nizam’s side in the choice of an heir, he was all the more willing to concede to the sultana and her vizier when it came to the Ismailis.
Now reis Abul Fazel told Hasan what Muzaffar’s messenger from the court at Isfahan had told him. When Nizam al-Mulk learned that Husein Alkeini had become ensconced in the fortress of Gonbadan and was rousing all of Khuzestan against the sultan in Hasan’s name, he was nearly frightened to death. He knew that he and Hasan still had a grim score to settle, and this led him to resort to extreme measures with the sultan. Years before he had manipulated Hasan’s disgrace in the sultan’s eyes by using a trick to portray him as a flippant jokester who had tried to deprive him, the vizier, of his position at court. The sultan grew angry, and Hasan was forced to flee Isfahan overnight. Since then the sultan had been unable to view Hasan’s exploits as a serious matter. Now the grand vizier confessed to him that he had tricked Hasan back then, and that the Ismaili leader was in fact a dangerously capable man. The sultan went pale with insult and rage. He shoved the old man, who was abjectly bent down on his knees before him, and withdrew to his chambers. From there he issued a decree that Nizam had ceased to be grand vizier and that the sultana’s secretary would fill that position in the interim. Simultaneously, Nizam was issued an order in the strictest terms to defeat Hasan and eliminate the Ismailis immediately. It goes without saying that the sultana and her s
ecretary could now abandon their ally of convenience since her worst opponent had been eliminated and the two of them now had unlimited influence over the sultan.
After these tumultuous events, the sultan and his entire court set out to travel to Baghdad, so he could visit his sister and her husband, the caliph. He wanted to persuade the latter to designate the son he had had by his sister as his heir.
By the time Abu Ali returned with his report, Hasan had been fully informed of the intrigues at the court in Isfahan. He now listened carefully to the advice of his commanders. When the grand dai had finished, he got up and started pacing back and forth across the room. In his mind he was surveying the situation and deciding what to do.
Finally he said to Abu Ali, “Take the tablet and write.”
The grand dai sat down, crossed his legs, set the tablet on his left knee, and reached for his pencil.
“I’m ready, ibn Sabbah,” he said.
Hasan stopped beside him so he could see over his shoulder and began half-dictating, half-explaining his instructions.
“Concerning the Turkish cavalry,” he said, “Abdul Malik is right. We mustn’t let ourselves become surrounded in the castle too soon. We’ll wait for them out in the open and defeat them there. We have to be sure that Muzaffar gets his units here to help us in time. Abu Ali, you will have command of the force that meets the sultan’s vanguard. Manuchehr will be responsible for the defense of the fortress. This will put his nose out of joint, because he loves the smell of battle, but we need his skills to make sure the castle is ready for any eventuality.
“Next, and this is very important, we need to get rid of all unnecessary mouths to feed and other appurtenances. By tonight after last prayers Abdul Malik is to load the harems, both wives and children, on our pack animals and set out with his caravan. Muzaffar is a kind soul and will have no choice but to take on responsibility for our live cargo. Send a messenger to Rai immediately, so that he’s informed in advance. He’s to have foodstuffs ready for our caravan to transport back, and he should immediately dispatch as many of his men to Alamut as he can spare. Tell him he can put the women and children straight to work, so that he doesn’t incur too much of a loss … And what are your plans, my dear Abul Fazel?”
Smiling, he cast a stinging glance at the reis.
“I’ll be taking off with Abdul Malik’s caravan,” the former mayor replied. “I wouldn’t be caught in this mousetrap when the sultan’s army arrives for anything in the world. Muzaffar’s and my advice has not been in vain. I’ve done my duty, and now the only thing remaining for me is to make a quick exit.”
“Your decision suits my plans perfectly,” Hasan laughed. “Your presence will be enough to protect the caravan, so that Abdul Malik will only have to take a handful of men along. Muzaffar should add a few men of his own for the trip back. I’m counting on you to look after our harem kin.”
Then he turned back to Abu Ali.
“Send a messenger to Rudbar immediately with an order for Buzurg Ummid to come to Alamut. I need him personally. It’s a pity Khuzestan is so far that Husein Alkeini couldn’t get here in time. But he needs to be informed too. Things will happen here that will make our remote descendants gape in awe …”
He chuckled to himself quietly, absorbed in his own thoughts. He was silent for a while, then he spoke to the reis.
“Listen, Abul Fazel! I have the impression you still take me for an idiot, like you did in our Isfahan days, because what you see is an army of thirty thousand soldiers marching against our handful of men. But what you don’t see are the angels gathered to help and protect us, like they once protected the Prophet and his people in the battle of Beder.”
“Always joking, you’re still always joking,” Abul Fazel replied with a sour smile. He was a little offended, because he thought Hasan was making fun of him again.
“I’m not joking, no, old friend,” Hasan said cheerfully. “I’m just speaking a bit in parables. I’m telling you, I’ve got such surprises ready that people won’t believe their own ears. I’m going to show the world what kind of miracles faith can work.”
Then he resumed dictating instructions. Finally he gave orders to Abu Ali.
“Inform everyone of the tasks I’ve assigned them. Select your messengers and write out the appropriate commands. They must set out at once. Have Abdul Malik bring my daughters to me before he leaves. Once you’ve taken care of all that, assemble all the men and tell them that the sultan has declared war on us. Order the novices to get ready, because tomorrow morning will be the beginning of their test. Be firm and demanding with them, squeeze everything they can do out of them. Threaten them that they won’t earn their ordination. But tomorrow evening you’ll assemble them in the mosque and ordain them as fedayeen. Make that the most solemn moment of their lives and their highest achievement in this world. All of this following the model that you and I experienced in Cairo … Is all that clear?”
“Perfectly clear, ibn Sabbah.”
Hasan dismissed both of the old men. He stretched out on his pillows and once more thought through all of the measures he had just taken. When he was certain he hadn’t left out anything of major significance, he drifted peacefully off to sleep.
All this time the men stood waiting in the courtyard under the baking sun. They watched their senior officers disappearing inside the building of the supreme commander for long periods of time. The soldiers could barely control their impatience.
The novices were assembled in two rows in front of their building. They stood as straight as cypresses, gazing fiercely ahead. The honor of having been chosen to escort the old dignitary still filled them with pride, but gradually their patience eroded too.
Suleiman was first to break the silence.
“I’d like to know what’s going on,” he said. “Maybe there’s going to be an end to this schooling after all.”
“I think you’d like to have a beard before you’ve even got peach fuzz,” Yusuf scoffed at him.
The ranks snickered.
“Well, I think you’re afraid of the fat on your belly melting,” Suleiman shot back. “Which is why you’re none too enthusiastic whenever the drums and trumpet sound.”
“I’m just curious which one of us the enemy will spot first.”
“You, no doubt. With your long shanks you’ll stick up proudly from behind my back.”
“Cut it out,” ibn Tahir intervened. “You don’t even know yet where the lion is that you’re planning to skin.”
“If I were a fly, I could hear what the commanders are talking about now,” Obeida said.
“You’d be even happier to be a fly when the enemy shows up,” Suleiman laughed at him.
“If heroes won battles with poisonous tongues, you’d be first among them,” Obeida replied. “All of Iran would tremble at the sight of you.”
“Hmm, a certain Obeida would also tremble at the sight of my fist,” Suleiman returned.
Sergeant Abuna hurried past. He whispered to the expectant youths, “It looks like things are going to get hot, boys. The sultan’s forces are bearing down on us.”
They fell silent. At first they felt anxious, but gradually that feeling gave way to enthusiasm and wild excitement.
“At last!” Suleiman said, the words coming from the bottom of his heart.
They exchanged glances. Their eyes and cheeks glowed. Now and then one or the other of them smiled. Their imaginations began to work. They saw heroic deeds before them, and they saw themselves accomplishing arduous tasks, earning glory and immortality.
“Damn! When is this waiting going to be over?” Suleiman lost his temper. He couldn’t stand being at peace anymore. “Why don’t they order us to mount and attack the infidels?”
Abuna and two other men led three horses across the courtyard—two of them black, plus Abu Ali’s Arabian.
Somebody whispered.
“Sayyiduna is going to speak.”
The word sped through the ranks.
&nb
sp; “What? Who’s going to speak?”
“Sayyiduna.”
“Who says? The Arabian belongs to Abu Ali, and one of the black horses is the captain’s.”
“So whose is the third?”
The guards outside the entrance to the high command stood stiffly to attention and shouldered their arms. The grand dai and other commanders came out of the building. Abu Ali, the captain and dai Ibrahim mounted the horses that the sergeant had brought out. The other leaders headed off toward their various detachments, stood before them, and ordered them about face toward the building of the supreme commander.
Abu Ali and his two escorts trotted out to the edge of the upper terrace. He raised his arm in a call for silence. A deathly quiet came over both of the lower terraces. The grand dai stood up slightly in his stirrups and called out in a powerful voice.
“Ismaili believers! In the name of Our Master and supreme commander. A time of trial and decisiveness has come. With weapons in hand you must now prove your devotion and your love for the holy martyrs and for our leader. At the sultan’s command, his henchman, the son of a dog Arslan Tash, has set out with a large army to slaughter all of us true believers. Within a few days the trumpets of his cavalry will sound outside of Alamut and the black flag of the dog Abas will flutter in front of our fortress. I therefore now order in the name of Our Master that from this moment on, by night and by day, no one will part with his weapon. Whoever disregards this order will be put to death as a rebel. When the trumpet sounds, you are all to be at your assembly points within the time allotted. Your officers will give you detailed instructions …”
He turned his horse around, looked out toward the novices, and called out to them.
“You who are prepared to sacrifice yourselves, hear the command of Our Master! Tomorrow you will be called to a test. Whoever passes it will be ordained in the evening. I appeal to you: focus your mind and spirit, because for each of you ordination into the fedayeen will be the most illustrious moment of your life …”