"the British were in a continual state of war with the fiercely independent tribes along their northwest frontier." "An extraordinary regiment was raised to deal with them. and it's headquarters were here at Mardan. they wrote some of the most glorious chapters in the annals of military history. which was when this story really began." "[Indian shouts]" "[Indian commands]" "Keep him here." "Sahib!" "sir." "We'll see." "Pelham-Martyn." "Pocketbook." "I knew his brother very well." "Hell of a good man." "What's this?" "I suppose." "He'd better have that back." "I fancy he's going to need it." "Geoffrey." "This brat from the bazaar is the son of Hilary and Isobel Pelham-Martin." "I don't know." "[flashback to the Sepoy Mutiny] [gunshot]" "[Sita protecting Ashok]" "[gunshot]" "[gunshots] and that you are my true son." "my son?" "Ashok." "Yes." "and takes Ashok far to the north]" "[They pass through areas where all foreigners have been slaughtered]" "[Finally they arrive in a state where Sita makes a home [and Ashok is hired as servant to the royal prince]" "to Prince Lalji]" "[children's laughter]" "[Ashok and Anjuli playing]" "[Anjuli and Ashok and pet mongoose]" "[Ashok and Anjuli looking at the Far Pavilions]" "[Koda Dad becomes a father to Ashok] [while teaching him horse training]" "[Anjuli gives Ashok a mother-of-pearl fish emblem] saying...] [that someday they will meet again and put it back together]" "probably put there by assassins]" "[The Prince cries out for help] grabbing the prince and kills the snake]" "[Biju Ram rushes in shouting]" "[Biju Ram comforts the prince]" "Ashok committed a serious violation]" "Buji Ram brands his chest] [with a red-hot pistol barrel]" "[With the help of Koda Dad Ashok and Sita escape the palace]" "Sita dies]" "[Ashok then makes his way to the Corps of Guides]" "like it or lump it you're going to be and licked into shape." "attending school] [becoming acclimatized to English society]" "[Ashok-now called Ashton or Ash-returns to India]" "Pelham-Martyn." "Garforth?" "Don't you think we've been cooped up in this compartment long enough for us by the way?" "mine's George." "commonly known as Ash." "dear." "Bored?" "Mrs. Harlowe?" "However could she be?" "Mrs. Viccary." "That must have been fun." "Being presented at court." "it was at first." "But after three months of parties and dances meeting the same silly girls and same stuck-up young men quite honestly I couldn't wait to get back here." "There's gratitude for you!" "After all the money that Papa's spent on you." "Mrs. Harlowe?" "no." "The Frontier Regiments are preparing for the autumn maneuvres." "either." "I didn't realize he was in the army. he's a prodistry officer." "Oh!" "Army?" "as a matter of fact." "I say." "the Regiment more or less adopted me as a boy." "you're a lucky devil. being shipped home and drilled into conformity." "I'm the same." "What's your line?" "me?" "I'm to be the assistant undermanager of the" "Pashawar Branch of Brown and MacDonalds'." "to you." "The dregs of Anglo- Indian society." "not me." "[Garforth is half-caste]" "[Ash recalls the dying words of Sita]" "Tiarah]" "[I rest only and wait to be reborn] [and that makes life- if the gods are kind-] [it may be that we shall meet again] even though you are not my son]" "a Sahib]" "[The Bombay mail-train arrives in Delhi]" "[Hugh Chiverton comes to meet Mrs. Harlowe and Belinda]" "Debbie!" "There you are!" "Hugh!" "How lovely to see you." "Where's" "Presenting the prize at his own wretched pony club Jimkarna." "Uncle Hugh." "Isn't it wonderful what a season in London can do?" "This is Edith Viccary." "She's traveling with us to Peshawar." "My uncle Hugh." "Indian Civil Service." "That's Mr. Garforth and Mr. Pelham-Martyn." "We met on the boat." "Gentlemen." "How do you do?" "Pleased to make your acquaintance." "They're going on to Peshawar with us." "You must all come and dine with us before you leave." "Ashok!" "[Zarin Kahn a childhood friend of Ashton's] thank you." "Would you excuse me?" "[The English are not at all pleased with this turn-of-events]" "Zarin!" "Zarin!" "ha." "But he's a native!" "Extraordinary behavior." "Why didn't anyone tell me you'd me here?" "Because nobody knew!" "I just asked the Commandant for some leave and I came here without telling anybody." "how did you recognize me?" "you haven't changed since we were boys together." "Look at you." "How's your father?" "Is he well? but see who I brought." "A bearer." "His name is Gul Baz." "Sahib." "Gul Baz." "Go and seek out the sahib's luggage." "too." "[Ashton looks for the party he just left] damn." "[Later that evening]" "[Light dinner conversation]" "Belinda." "Please don't apologize." "We managed wonderfully well without you." "Mama?" "Yes." "Thanks to dear Mr. Garforth." "Ma'am." "Pelham-Martyn." "You aren't any relation to the Dorsest Pelham-Martyns" "I suppose?" "sir." "really?" "aren't you." "Un-huh." "didn't you know?" "Mary was telling me a bit about it on the train from Bombay." "And not only that... he was rescued from the Mutiny by his Hindu foster-mother." "and they had the most tremendous adventures together." "that was before he fetched up in the Guides." "will you?" "go on." "It sounds marvelously romantic. there are some good Indians." "The problem is finding them." "absolutely." "And joking apart with the best will in the world one simply can't feel the same about them since the Mutiny." "it can't happen again." "Don't you agree?" "I think that rather depends upon us. there's no reason for them to rise against us again." "isn't it?" "Not exactly." "it's their country." "steady on old chap." "we stole it from them." "And a damn good job!" "Considering the hash they made of running the place before we did." "[general laughter]" "Ashton walks in]" "Pelham Sahib." "...Zarin." "For this one night let me be Ashok again." "[Zarin give him a warm welcome]" "Sit." "Sit." "[Ashton attends services at a Muslim Mosque]" "[Ashton's English friends come riding past the Mosque] [and observe Aston leaving]" "[Hugh Chiverton sees everyone off on the trip to Peshawar]" "Well... safe journey." "I hope you won't be too uncomfortable." "I'm sure we'll survive." "I dread it." "Mother." "And you young fellows be sure and look us up next time you find yourselves in Delhi." "sir." "that." "Just young." "They'll knock all that nonsense out of him in the Guide." "I shall see you in Mardan." "Yes." "where the Harlowes and Garforth will live] [and then to Mardan where Ashton will serve in the Guides]" "An interesting young man." "Ashton?" "very." "Too unusual for my taste. and such charm." "I'm sure he spends a lot of time though." "I shouldn't wonder." "It's too bad he's in trade." "I saw you coming out or that mosque with your Pathan chum." "In fact I'd have given the game away if Edith Viccary hadn't dug me in the ribs." "Perhaps she thought it was none of your damn business. you're back in India." "And if you don't play the game according to the rules... and nobody knows where they are..." "George." "thought that all Pathans were barbarians." "murders and cattle thieves." "they'd lead me into bad ways." "She fought tooth-and-nail with Koda Dad." "Who's Koda-dad when he's at home?" "Zarin's father." "The master of horse at Gulkote." "Sita and I lived with him for several years." "He treated me like his own son." "How interesting." "he was Muslim." "But eventually Sita and he hammered out a compromise." "I was brought up a Hindu one week and a Muslim the next." "but on Fridays I was always a Muslim." "How did you manage?" "I let it all wash over me." "When I really wanted to pray." "Don't laugh." "I prayed to the mountains." "I'm not laughing." "Sounds to me like a most unsatisfactory upbringing." "Not very British... huh." "Sounds fascinating to me." "This is where Ash says goodbye." "I'm afraid so." "May I call on you?" "But of course." "But with all the unpacking and settling in." "next month." "but uh... look us up then." "I'll do that." "Well... goodbye." "Goodbye Mr. Pelham-Martyn." "Ash." "Thank you." "Bye Ashton." "Bye." "Don't think I won't take advantage of your absence given half a chance." "Why Mr. Garforth!" "Turn... eyes right!" "Eyes... front!" "You looking for someone?" "Yes." "You've found him." "if I say so myself." "Wigram Battye." "Ashton Pelham-Martyn." "expecting you." "Forgotten all about you." "what was the first name?" "Ashton..." "Pelham-Martyn." "isn't it?" "Your report from the Royal Military Academy." "First rate in part." "They seem to detect a streak of wildness in you." "providing it's kept in check." "I'd say your biggest problem will be to resist getting over-familiar with your men." "It's immaterial whether they like you or not." "depend upon you earning their respect." "End of paijol." "You have the look of your uncle." "sir?" "Yes." "We were at Derri Ridge together." "Quentin." "your uncle." "Hell of a nice man." "Ash." "Charge!" "Pull down...." "....reload." "[Ash laughs and converses with his men in native tongue. ]" "Accused admits that while on sentry duty he mistook the missionary for a horse thief and fired at him." "Fortunately he missed." "subject to confirmation 15 days loss of pay and detention." "Do you accept that?" "Yes..." "Colonel Sahib." "sentence confirmed." "Dismissed!" "Sahib!" "Right... turn!" "Quick march!" "how did you arrive at that?" "sir." "The rest for bad marksmanship." "lieutenant." "We shall have to watch that young man." "His men think the world of him." "They'd follow him anywhere." "Very good." "Let's hope he never has to choose between them and us." "Just because he was born out here?" "Dozens of us were." "... we weren't brought up to believe we were Indian until we were eleven." "That's the difference." "forgive three sins that are due to my human limitations] but I worship Thee here]" "but I worship Thee in these forms] yet I offer Thee these prayers and salutations]" "forgive three sins that that are due to my human limitations]" "What are these?" "They're called churches. raised on the spot where the body of an infant" "Hindu has been burned." "The really ornate ones usually signify that his wives have become suttee." "Suttee." "Were burned alive with him." "horrible." "I don't know. why not terminate one of them a bit early?" "Actually it's considered a very devout act conferring great honor on all concerned." "It's barbaric!" "It's history." "We've abolished it." "I have something much more immediate for you to worry about." "How many dances are you going to give me tonight?" "It depends." "On what?" "On how I feel and what the competition is." "[Boxing Day Ball at the Peshawar Club]" "I must say I feel a bit like a fish out of water." "Why do you say this? What is you Regiment?" "It's in the Mardan." "If you're going to talk to me..." "look at me." "but otherwise Gorgeous George will pinch her for the next dance." "Now is your chance." "I'll take care of Gorgeous George." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Belinda." "Do I know you?" "Mr. Ashton Pelham-Martyn." "Sir Andrew Podmore-Smyth." "Sir." "Delighted." "Here he is." "sir." "Husband in the back- of- beyond as usual." "I'm afraid so." "eh Garforth?" "To claim you a dance." "How nice." "I think." "Pray don't concern yourselves about me." "Let's sit this one out." "Did Edith put you up to that?" "Certainly not." "She volunteered." "Poor George." "wasn't he?" "You needn't look so pleased about it." "I hate him dancing with you." "He's only had one dance." "You've had four." "come to that." "that's very unfair of you." "Very sweet." "[Belinda's mother]" "may I have the next dance?" "Thank you." "be just." "Do as you would be done by." "That means you must never be unfair to anyone." "Never." "Not under any circumstances." "Not to anyone." "That's almost all that I can remember my father saying to me." "poor man." "you see." "and" "I rather suspect he was thankful that she and the other servants more or less adopted me." "It absolved him from having to do anything except harangue me occasionally." "Then he got cholera." "The whole camp did." "Sita and I were the only ones to survive." "That's how she became my foster-mother." "She built a hedge of thorns around our tent to keep away the sick." "Held me in her arms and sang to me." "I can still hear the sound of hyenas and jackals quarrelling and snarling over the dead." "And the croaking and flapping of gorged vultures in the trees." "Then you had to escape from the Indian mutiny." "I think you'd better let me have another dance before I get thoroughly maudlin." "Wouldn't you say?" "I never liked snakes much ever since they tried to kill Prince Lalji with one." "Who tried to kill him?" "with the help of a sadistic courtier named Biju Ram." "Nandu." "Luckily I unwittingly foiled her plan." "So you stopped it?" "a couple of times. and we had to run for our lives." "You and what's-her-name?" "Sita. even if you'd wanted to." "Not while anyone who'd remember me is still alive." "Come along." "it's meant to bring you lots of luck." "You've got a good day." "As many as your shoulders will bear." "told me about a valley in the mountains." "I suppose it must have been her home." "Where she was born. with a cow and a goat." "Trouble is she never told me where it was." "You poor dear." "haven't you?" "Permission refused." "I'm perfectly able to support a wife." "for all I care. and I have no intention of giving it to you before you're thirty." "sir." "Because that's how long it takes you to learn your trade." "boy!" "You should be thankful to have another few years before you saddle yourself with petticoats and perambulators." "However... if you insist on playing husband and fathers" "I'm prepared to accept your resignation from the Guides." "sir! and while you're thinking about it you can take your troop and collect taxes that the body villagers have seen fit to withhold!" "Be ready to leave in an hour." "The adjutant will give you the details." "Sir!" "isn't it?" "Do him good." "After all that toodle-faking." "All right." "Give him Zarin Kahn in case he gets into trouble." "Sir." "[Sentry sees one man approaching on horseback]" "[Sentry calls village chief]" "[Chief scoffs at a single soldier riding into his camp]" "Sahib." "I'm come to collect the taxes that are due the government of India." "You will no doubt wish to see my authorization." "Here it is." "[Ashton understands his words]" "[Volley of gunfire shots]" "Not half as foolish as you will be if you use that thing." "Tell your people to throw down their arms." "[Additional volley of shots]" "Pay your taxes when they are due in future." "You shall not be let off so lightly next time." "Zarin Kahn" "[two members from a feuding tribe] [stealing rifles from Zarin's encampment]" "Sahib." "Gul Bas." "I brought you the mail." "is it?" "a personal one." "[This note refers to Belinda.]" "It's impossible!" "saddle my horse immediately." "[Zarin sees dead soldier and sounds the alarm]" "what are you doing here?" "Is it true that you are to be married?" "You shouldn't have come." "Ato shouldn't have let you in." "what's his name? not that it's any of your business." "You were in love with me!" "once. not tried to use it to his advantage." "Are you trying to pretend to be in love with a man who's old enough to be your father?" "He's not." "How dare you say that. someone I can rely upon and look up to." "callow boy." "but it makes me wild when people say things like that. and everybody says he's bound to become a governor." "Might even become viceroy." "Then he must be rich." "he is." "He gives me such lovely presents." "Look!" "too." "Inventing what I wanted like poor old George." "Don't you mention that name in this house." "We've just found out the truth about him." "What are you talking about?" "His mother was a half-caste." "Does that matter?" "it matters!" "Don't think I'm not going to wait until someone else finds out to make us a laughing stock." "I shall tell everyone I suspected it all along and trapped him into admitting it." "Thank you." "Ah..." "Go on Edith." "Why don't you have one?" "George." "Don't you think you've had enough?" "You know..." "Edith..." "you're the only person here worth talking to." "Mrs. Viccary." "Ash!" "George." "I..." "I have to meet my husband for lunch." "Mrs. Viccary." "I envy him." "Your husband." "I... for goodness sake." "before they throw you out. sitting around here listening!" "have some more." "what am I going to do?" "thought you were engaged to Belinda?" "I never really stood a chance." "I don't have any money." "I..." "I suppose that's why I told her all those stories about my rich relations." "I never thought she'd take it that way if she found out." "Found out what?" "My mother was a..." "was a half-caste." "Illegitimate." "The daughter of a bazaar woman." "Who cares what your mother was or wasn't." "aren't you?" "Ash." "You'll never understand." "You don't know what it's like." "No one in there spoke to me." "Except Mrs. Viccary." "The rest just looked and whispered and sniggered." "That's because you were drunk as a skunk." "No one need hear anything if you don't lose your head and you keep quiet." "You really think so?" "You really think it won't get out?" "I.." "I don't think I could bear it if it did. if it does..." "What would do if you were me?" "I'd shoot myself." "George." "What has happened... is a stain upon the honor of your company." "It is the judgment of this pantreat." "That you remove every article of equipment and uniform and that you should not let us see your faces again until you have returned with the stolen rifles." "Now go." "Party..." "left turn!" "Quick march." "Dismiss the parade!" "Parade dismissed!" "He can't do this!" "It's been decided according to custom." "What's it got to do with them?" "It's not their fault." "They belong to the same clan." "At amchain removed." "It's a question of honor." "Dilasah let his clan down." "His own clan will be able to read his mind." "Pick up his trail." "And in a couple of days or so they'll be back with the rifles." "Thus saving their honor and ours." "What's wrong with that?" "What's wrong is they've been punished and publicly disgraced for something that has nothing to do with them." "It's simply not fair!" "That's enough." "This need not have happened if you'd gone after the culprit straightaway instead off chasing of to harass some wretched gal good sense to decide to marry someone else." "And don't come exhibiting your bleeding heart to me." "it's downright unjust!" "you can do a month's duty as orderly officer for damned impertinence." "Gross incompetence!" "Sheer sentimentality." "Large whisky." "have you heard the news about that fellow Garforth?" "I don't want to." "but aren't you being a bit callous?" "I found it quite a shock" "To hear he's a half-caste?" "Was he?" "Are you sure?" "It didn't look it." "Then what are you talking about?" "it seems he bought a couple of bottles of brandy from the Club the other afternoon." "Went home." "Drank them both." "It doesn't surprise me." "And then he blew his brains out." "from Billy Craddock." "I have no idea why." "I have." "I told him..." "Shit!" "Ashton will you?" "Very well..." "I'm going." "Why that silly young ass." "I'll see somebody gives him a talking in the morning." "We don't want you." "Sahib." "Did I not live as one of you for seven years?" "Ashok." "Zarin." "Abahd!" "Who is he?" "Zarin." "Zarin Kahn?" "he." "What do you want?" "Why are you here?" "Where is Dilasah?" "Dilasah?" "Dilasah Kahn." "Where is he?" "Dilasah Kahn." "We've come for our rifles." "[extensive gunfire]" "Ashad!" "I'm all right." "Get those bloody rifles." "[further gunshots]" "[continued gunfire]" "[knocking]" "Come in." "Sir." "Richard?" "[Ashton enters carrying a load of rifles and dumps them on the floor]" "Sir." "we took so long." "Are the others with you?" "all except Absah." "He's dead." "And Dilasah Kahn?" "too." "I hope they're worth such a high price to pay for anything." "For honor." "Honor." "[Ashton collapses]" "Let's get him to his quarters." "Orderly!" "I suppose he'll have to be court-martialed." "Seems a pity." "when you come think of it." "It was a damn fine show." "I've been talking to Abal Shan." "you're wasting your time." "It's my duty to be here." "Now as I understand it." "The young... uh..." "What's his name?" "Pelham-Martyn." "This young man took it upon... himself to go chasing some stolen carbines." "He felt that his friends had been unfairly disgraced." "Never mind what he felt." "What he did was to go absent without leave... for the purpose of recovering the rifles..." "And created a frontier legend in the process." "Insubordinate young bastard. if only to encourage the others." "And we'll cashier him." "Or I'll know the reason why." "you have to keep order in this part of the world. it seems to me you might have to mount a campaign any day now." "can we?" "the most useful thing you can possible have is and that's why young Pelham-Martyn is far too valuable to be thrown away." "could work for him." "We're not like any other corps." "Sir. our borders." "if one of our officers can spend a fair amount of time on the other side of the border without being spotted as an Englishman- or shot as a spy" "and that's it and all about it." "Adrian sir." "so I believe am I." "General." "what are we going to do with him?" "We can't just let him stay on as though nothing had happened." "Can we?" "no. of course not." "the better. preferably a British one and mix with his own people for a change. until he's needed." "Detail... eyes right!" "Detail... eyes front!" "Detail... halt!" "[Singing in the shower]" "Hello." "Are you the chap that's been billeted here?" "Ashton Hilary Pelham-Martyn." "A mouthful isn't it?" "Walter Richard Pollock Hamilton." "I'll call you Ash." "most people do." "I think I'll call you Wally." "So far so fairly friendless." "You're in the Guides?" "myself." "Still one has to start somewhere." "wasn't it?" "that was the 33rd." "A black mark for the beak who taught you history." "You're in fine fettle." "actually." "Why's that?" "I met the love of my life on shipboard." "too." "Like a drink?" "thanks." "A lovely girl. but with eyes like the summer sky. and then two days out of Bombay she passed me over for some old fart in the political department." "A geriatric. 30 if he was a day." "Can you beat it?" "I can." "Really?" "What was the name of your" "Belle Dame Sans Merci?" "Belinda." "Belinda." "Difficult." "Never mind." "I shall commit her to poetry." "if that helps." "Not a lot." "let's see." "[Wally composes poetry with bugle call in background]" "admit it." "You're beaten." "Absolutely not." "The Muse has finally come through. 'thought his courting was proving a smash. 'but couldn't demoralize Ash. '" "[Ashton checking out the inventories]" "Two brandies." "or thought I was a Hindu for almost seven years." "It's almost a lifetime to a child." "But now I'm an outcast." "even my shadow devours me." "That's not the case with Muslims." "I don't believe they really ever forgot that I was a Sahib." "I can't really see myself as being a Sahib." "I suppose I'm what the foreign office might call a stateless person." "A citizen of no man's land." "A paradise of fools to few unknown." "according to Milton." "yes." "Wally." "those two." "Um." "Inseparable." "Um." "Unnaturally so?" "you don't mean to suggest... as yet. you don't expect that sort of thing in your own brigade." "I've been trying to keep an eye on them." "[Wally and Ash watch native songs and dance]" "Do you know what she's saying?" "'My beloved's face is very handsome." "'God makes such faces rarely." "Present... arms!" "Zarin!" "Ashok!" "ha." "It was good of you to come." "But have we both not ridden half way!" "Sit here." "Sit." "d'you think we'll have another Afghan War?" "there's much talk which is above my head." "But the officer Sahibs seem to think it likely." "I hope to God we do better than the first." "That is Allah will." "All I know is we of the Guides will fight bravely." "I'm sure you'll cover yourselves with glory." "And that is what grieves me." "That you will not be there to share our glory." "how much longer do they mean to keep you tied to a desk?" "Soon it will be three years since you were at the Corps." "It's time you came home to us." "but unfortunately the damned authorities don't seem to agree." "Zarin." "What's the matter with you?" "I'm dying." "Dying." "dysentery and dengue." "And now I've finally succumbed to heat stroke." "To cap it all-if that's the phrase- I've put a boil on my bottom." "Gul Bas!" "will you?" "To get him up and get him dressed." "I don't think you could have heard." "buck up." "Best thing for a boil on the bottom is a trip to Kashmir." "[Ow...]" "Wally?" "I can't say I have." "It's the highest mountain in the range you can see from Gulkote." "A great... crown of snow peaks." "I used to say my prayers to them." "Ha." "Silly isn't it." "Have you read of Aurora Leigh?" "No." "and every common bush afire with God;" "but only he who sees takes off his shoes." "that's all." "Ash?" "I was branded." "What?" "With the end of a pistol barrel." "My God!" "nicknamed the scorpion." "He took particular pleasure in tormenting me as a child." "Actually I was lucky he didn't kill me for laying hands on my princely employer." "Why?" "He'd been baiting my pet mongoose so it finally bit him." "He had it destroyed." "so..." "Sounds like a charming sort of fellow." "ha. there were only two people that were bearable." "Koda Dad was one of them." "The Pathan Master of Horse." "Umm." "Who was the other one." "Anjuli Bai." "of mixed blood." "Her mother was half Russian." "but perhaps that's what brought us together." "It's over..." "I haven't thought about for years." "she gave me her most precious possession as a luck charm." "I had nothing whatsoever to give her." "So in a flash of inspiration I broke it in two and I still carry mine around." "really." "God knows where she is now. the gods be thanked that I have found you." "Uncle." "she needs you." "Come quickly" "Shushila." "I will not." "I will not be quiet." "Shu-shu." "you'll ruin your looks." "And no one will ever want to marry you." "Juli." "What have you done to her?" "I simply told her that I'm arranging a marriage for her." "To one of the richest rulers in all Rajpuhtan." "The Rana of Bhithor." "I tell you!" "All the more reason for you to respect him." "he'll die." "He's going to die before I do." "And then I shall have to become suttee." "Have you not been brought up for that?" "Did our own mother not join our father's body on the funeral pyre?" "What more fitting end for ruler's widow?" "Juli?" "Please don't let him do this." "You know the idea of suttee has always terrified her." "She'll do as she's told." "I will not!" "I will not!" "Shushila you must obey Nandu." "No!" "Let me go with her." "As what?" "As her serving woman?" "Don't be ridiculous. and the daughter of a Rajah." "I will not go without her." "Juli!" "Promise me you'll come with me." "Promise me!" "Shu-shu." "Anjuli." "Kaka-ji R'o." "would never agree to such an arrangement." "they will." "If we make it worth their while." "Now take her away before I lose all patience with her." "watches]" "Double wedding? affairs of state prevent you from doing so." "No!" "Why not?" "I did not become Maharajah by arguing with children." "Least of all my younger brother." "No." "You did it by arranging "accidents" for all you rivals." "That will do. you will not accompany the wedding procession." "I hate you!" "Go!" "All of you!" "I say." "Biju Ram." "Was I convincing with the boy?" "Your Highness!" "too." "even more so. could I?" "Your Highness need have no fear on that score." "please." "this place is so boring." "with the Club opened?" "I don't know." "I've had a cracking good day." "no less." "it's not real something." "Still." "Ash." "Nor can I." "One finds that sort of racial snobbery extraordinarily offensive. but you don't seem to care to make friends with Indians of your own class." "how many years you've spent here?" "I would stash it if I were you." "you're not." "is none." "One is merely a visitor." "evidently." "A circumstance which allows for the fresh eye and the open mind." "if you think it's just a case of us cold-shouldering them." "What makes you think they anything to do with us?" "After all we are..." "What?" "Their conquerors?" "You mean as members of a subject race they should be thankful if we condescend to visit them in their homes?" "I said and meant nothing of the sort." "sir." "I apologize." "for pity's sake." "I just people like him were capable of seeing it from the Indian point of view!" "Insufferable young toff!" "sir?" "imagine your England being a conquered territory. and council proclaiming and and silencing any protest with brute force." "the last of those protests was less than 20 years ago." "would you be keen to get on close and friendly terms with your Indian rulers?" "God almighty." "You don't even know what I'm talking about!" "Do you?" "So there." "Rather unorthodox view." "Extraordinary young man." "sir." "Damn bad form." "and bloody bad manners." "We ought to force the young to apologize or get out of the Club." "The Committee can look after it..." "Horsen's a pompous ass." "Uh huh. or ever think it." "that is." "huh?" "Now come along." "We can put your surplus energy to much better use." "Come on!" "[going to give Ash a sound thrashing]" "You bastards!" "[Wally joins the fray]" "[Gul Bas joins in]" "Black." "Black." "hang it all." "it was my fault." "I shouldn't have gone off the deep end." "So... what are they going to do with us?" "Well." "This one's for you." "Bloody hell!" "'I am commanded to inform you that you are to escort the wedding 'procession of the two sisters of his Highness Maharajah of Karidkote." "'to Rajputana to marry the Rana of Bhithor." "isn't it?" "Ash." "You can't think I deserve this?" "with a thorough knowledge of Hindu character and customs." "This takes me even further from the frontier." "too." "Promoted captain." "Temporarily." "That's small consolation for having to be a combination of supply officer and nurse maid to a parcel of squealing women and palace parasites." "too." "though." "it looks as though you'll have to find someone else to share your bungalow." "that won't be necessary." "I'm taking Hamilton back to Mardan with me to be interviewed by the C.O. as a potential Guides officer." "now I know there's no justice." "Don't expect me to wish you luck." "You'll bloody well need it. the old man will jump at the chance of having him." "Hallelujah!" "Wally." "[The wedding procession from Karidkote to Bhithor]" "[The Princess Shushila calls to the guard]" "What is the matter?" "The Princes Shushila is complaining that the swaying of the howdahs but she insists the Raj-kumaris (princesses) be immediately transferred to a carriage." "Very well." "[Ash catches up with the procession]" "[Koda Dad approaches]" "ha." "Father." "my son." "What are you doing here?" "Am I not master of horse?" "Of Gulkote not Karidkote." "They have become one and the same." "The new Rajah next to the nearby state of Karida was granted title as Maharajah of the combined state of Karidkote." "By the new Rajah you mean prince Lalji." "your former master is dead." "Poor devil." "I was afraid they'd get him in the end." "In that case who did succeed?" "A Prince Nandu." "The son of the old Rajah's third wife." "Then who are the princesses? full sister to Nandu." "And the other? used to follow you with adoring eyes." "Anjuli!" "my son?" "I suppose I was too annoyed by this posting to take the trouble to find out." "are there any others in this party who might remember the boy Ashok?" "None who would recognize him." "and a Burra-Sahib (great man)." "I'd better take up my command." "Come." "Have a care." "For if you are discovered Nandu will surely give orders that you get killed." "And Biju Ram is still alive." "Captain Ashton Pelham- Martyn at your service." "Greetings." "commander of the state forces of Karidkote." "Shushila and Anjuli." "Rao Sahib." "Pelham Sahib." "We are happy you are with us on the journey to Bhithor." "stop the procession." "Just hold on." "Give me your hand." "Highness?" "Well done." "None but the Sahib would dare to lay hands on Their Highnesses as you did." "who knows what vengeance the brother the Maharajah Nandu would have taken on us." "I think." "father." "[chuckling]" "[ procession sets up for encampment]" "now perhaps you can help me get the circle into some kind of order." "Very well." "Right." "Horse lines here; camels and billets here; elephants lines there." "Debar tents here; princesses here and here;" "Rao Sahib here; my tent there." "Horse lines here; camels and billets here; elephant lines there." "have you inspected tomorrow's route? we're not moving tomorrow." "Why not?" "The senior bride will not countenance it." "that she is suffering from shock sickness." "She flatly refuses to move anywhere for at least two more days." "doesn't she?" "it's not such a tiresome decision as it might have been." "and we've ample water from the river." "Hum." "Pelham Sahib." "Rao Sahib." "I trust you have recovered from your exertions?" "than the Raj-kumaris (princesses)." "the princess Shushila is still indulging herself somewhat." "she and her sister bid me to invite you to the" "Durbar tent this evening to receive their thanks." "This is an honor I cannot refuse." "as you see." "I am indeed honored." "This is because they owe their lives to you." "I wouldn't go as far as that." "they would be dead." "This very day their pyres would have been lit and tomorrow we would be returning home in shame and disgrace. you are as a brother to the Raj-kumaris (princesses)." "Then I am more than honored." "But I must insist there was no real danger. and it is plain that Pelham Sahib possesses both at full measure." "We will eat with you." "It is a singular mark of favor." "I hope you're not too displeased with me for feeling unable to continue with the march tomorrow." "No." "You had a nasty shock." "Both of you." "Besides I could think of worse places to pass a couple of days." "I noticed black buck as well as jinkara out in the plain." "It will be pleasant to spend a day or two shooting whilst Your Highnesses recover." "Or hawking." "Better still." "Juli?" "If our uncle agrees." "It would not be seemly." "surely there must be some way of arranging things so that Juli and I do not have to observe strict purdah." "Don't look at me Your Highness." "It would be more than my life's worth to express an opinion on such a matter." "It would not be seemly." "why not?" "Anjuli's wrists may be strong enough." "Yours are not." "Then I shall watch." "It is not seemly." "but I cannot." "Rao Sahib." "Your Highness has dropped something." "[Here Ashton places his half of the fish emblem in front of her]" "I think." "Yes it is mine." "We must have some more parties." "[Anjuli realizes this is the other half of her emblem] [and understands who he really is]" "Who is it?" "What do you want?" "Sahib." "A word with me." "I'm listening." "she pays that you will tell her from whom received a certain piece of mother-of-pearl." "Huh." "I cannot help the Raj-kumari." "but I know nothing." "I beg of you." "You'd better come in." "but is this wise? so no one will miss me." "I would not be here." "you should be. and I have no desire to get a knife between my ribs." "before we are discovered." "I swear it." "What is it you want to know? gave... [voices calling nearby] after all." "I would like to know who else you would tell." "I do not understand." "Are there no others who might wish to know about this friend of yours?" "Koda Dad." "if that is your wish." "What about his enemies?" "Most of them are dead." "but he is out of favor with Nandu. as has everyone else." "Except yourself." "Then you see he..." "he was a brother to me." "A true brother as my own was not." "And I do not remember my mother." "She fell out of favor before she died." "She was of Russian blood." "I was called the half-caste." "Even the servants knew they need not treat me well." "indeed." "And you cannot know what that kindness meant to the child that I was." "I had no one else to love." "I thought that I should die of grief and loneliness." "They had to go." "I could not believe that they would send me no word." "Or that Ashok would not come back." "he promised." "Juli?" "What do you mean?" "Do you not recognize your Ashok?" "Sahib." "I'm not!" "Have I changed so much?" "But you are a sahib." "An Angrezi sahib." "How could you be Ashok?" "He was the son of one of my waiting women." "So I always thought." "But it was not so." "Sita had been my mother for 11 years." "She was not my real mother." "I am sahib." "I was Ashok." "ask Koda Dad." "Laola!" "Ashok!" "[Juli crying]" "Juli." "There isn't anything to cry about." "It's all right." "I'm here." "I have come back." "Pelham Sahib." "What's going on here Murash?" "The Maharajah's younger brother has arrived." "Prince Jhoti." "Bloody hell!" "Sahib." "Your Highness." "Though it was an unexpected pleasure." "that's my brother." "He would do anything to stop me enjoying myself." "And he knew how much I wanted to accompany my sisters to Bhithor." "Ah just to spite me." "Biju Ram?" "Your Highness." "Imagine Shu-shu coming hawking with us." "don't you?" "Not all of them not all of the time." "Fancy having to marry one." "hm." "but he can ride." "but I don't like the look of His Highness' girth." "[His Highness' saddle girth has been tampered with]" "Oh my." "Pelham Sahib." "Nothing of any importance." "indeed." "For it is thus that young men look and speak and sigh when they think of their beloved." "Rao Sahib." "I too was young once." "Although to look at me now you might not believe that." "Hm." "Did you never marry?" "when I was considerably younger than you. having given me two daughters." "You should have married again." "and all my family. to be overfull of them." "I fell in love." "you make it sound like a misfortune." "For me it was." "and she was of mixed blood." "her father gave her in marriage to someone who did not care so much about such matters as I." "And afterwards.....afterwards I could not find another woman to take her place." "of the Princess Anjuli's mother." "Pelham Sahib." "that is why Anjuli is the daughter of my heart." "And why I could never bring myself to marry again. because women cause a great deal of trouble and distress." "huh." "one wants peace and quiet." "And leisure to go hawking." "True." "Very true." "one's skill in both pursuits grows somewhat less." "let me see how you are progressing." "At hawking." "Pelham Sahib." "[ Prince Jhoti] Don't you dare." "but you ride as bad as the others." "Do not do this." "Do not do that." "Take care." "I beg of you." "No!" "I will go and I will go alone." "Your Highness." "at least do not ride Bulbul." "He's fresh and you might fall." "Fall?" "I've never fallen off a horse in my life." "Come on." "Prince Jhoti's gone out riding alone." "I think we'd better keep and eye on him." "Fetch Murash." "he knows what he's doing." "Here we are behaving like a load of nursemaids." "[Something causes the horse to bolt]" "Hang on!" "he's in his right mind again." "give me something to drink." "You cracked two ribs and dislocated a wrist." "And you can be truly thankful that Rao Sahib's instead of some religious faith healer." "How's Prince Jhoti?" "He's unharmed." "His only concern is for you." "How is the Pelham Sahib?" "Your Highness." "And I'm to return in the morning." "Then you must bring me news of his progress." "Your Highness." "my son." "Cardinal?" "He had broken both his forelegs." "I had to shoot him." "There was nothing else I could do." "of course." "He was a good horse." "I shall miss him." "it was no accident." "the girth from the prince's horse. a sudden strain and it's a break." "By why should the horse bolt?" "Because of this:" "The double thorn from the Kikak tree." "It was stuck under the lining of the saddle. and it was driven home." "Jhoti." "who the devil is it?" "This we shall have to find out." "my son." "The Princes Anjuli has commanded that Agita is to be your nurse." "She and the hakim will be here tomorrow." "[Ashton converses with his nurse]" "Their Highnesses and Prince Jhoti" "Pelham Sahib." "It is not without irony that Jhoti should have had a riding accident." "He's a much better horseman than his brother the Maharajah." "In fact that was one of the reasons Nandu was so jealous of him." "Jealous enough to try and do away with him." "Pelham Sahib." "Is it?" "I wish you a very speedy recovery." "Rao Sahib." "I'm happy that Pelham Sahib is making such excellent progress." "we all rejoice at the speed of his recovery." "was it your idea to defy your brother and join the wedding procession?" "Umm.." "Yes and no." "what does that mean?" "yes." "But I could never have carried it off without the help of Biju Ram." "Pelham Sahib." "as it is." "my fate would have been sealed." "I suppose Biju Ram being out of favor with the Maharajah is genuine." "If it isn't." "It would be the perfect way to show that there was no complicity between should any accident befall Prince Jhoti. is not called the scorpion for nothing." "I feel a perfect fool being taken to see Their Highnesses like this!" "The change will do you much good." "Pelham Sahib." "they hold what they call the Hunt Ball." "The win...men and women dance together." "indeed." "Actually clasping each other?" "Like so?" "Um...and moving together in time to the music." "I wonder what "Hanemanji" would have made of it." "Imagine jumping about like that in the middle of a pea soup fog." "children." "[Rao Sahib] Most unseemly." "(A)gita." "I say." "[Anjuli's voice] You told me to come." "Juli." "You spoke of "Hanemanji." "That was always how we summoned each other." "You remembered." "I had little else to do but remember." "You shouldn't have come." "It's too dangerous." "Then why did you ask me?" "[sigh] I didn't think you would." "I thought you were angry with me." "I was." "For behaving like a sahib." "while I..." "I know." "Juli." "then you were injured." "more than once." "while she tended you." "Why?" "I suppose to hear your voice." "So that I could be sure that you were really who you said you were." "Let me turn the lamp out so that I can look at you." "that would be dangerous." "too." "they would only think that I was Gita. or the Raj-kumari Anjuli Bai who was to be..." "Don't." "Don't." "you and I. and planted a thorn beneath the saddle." "It must be by Nandu's orders." "You mustn't come here again." "It's too dangerous." "Are you afraid that Gita will talk?" "She won't." "I promise." "and you know it." "What would you say if you were discovered here? sick honorary brother. and you're a grown woman." "It's suicide for you to enter my tent alone; you must know that." "Not if I say what I just told you." "but that's all." "It may be all for you." "I can't claim I see not harm and by night." "you're not a man." "What the devil do you mean?" "When you are well again it will be different." "all trussed up like an old hen." "You could hardly be suspected of doing even if you wanted to." "[scratching noise]" "It is Gita." "She's warning us." "[dog barking]" "[Someone watches Anjuli and Gita walk away from Aston's tent]" "[Biju Ram speaks] May I enter Pelham Sahib?" "you may come in." "I see that our Gita still tends you." "I trust you improve." "but it's a slow business." "may I ask?" "I imagine." "very probably." "goodnight to you Pelham Sahib." "[Ashton's voice] A moment." "It has come to my attention that" "His Highness Prince Jhoti's accident was in fact an attempt on his life." "I am shocked beyond words." "How can I be of assistance?" "In this way:" "Should anything else befall the Prince" "I shall hold you personally responsible." "what possible justification can you have for taking such an attitude?" "None at all." "That's just the way it's going to be." "you die." "[laughter] the Hindu boy from Gulkotte is dead in his place there is a Sahib." "I have learned to become one." "An officer Sahib of the Guides." "You cannot alter that. and I cannot alter that. and I'm tied to it with something just as strong as blood. which is not a very comfortable thing to be. and do not try to be both at the same time. yourself." "Pelham Sahib or Ashok." "I love her." "You can do nothing about it." "We could elope!" "and rightly. and brought black disgrace on both Karibcotte and the British Raj." "Are you even sure that the Princess Anjuli would join you in such a venture?" "She loves me." "I know it." "The question then is whether you truly love her." "Father? but you are choosing certain death or exile." "Is that what you truly wish for her when you say you love?" "I am glad you're better." "My sisters are really forward. she won't eat! she'll be dead before she gets to Bhithor." "as it is." "All eyes." "they do spend a lot of their time cooped up on this journey." "Perhaps we should organize some evening rides to help clear the cobwebs away." "My uncle would never agree to it." "Umm." "We'll see." "How did you manage it?" "By giving Kakuji long enough to think it was his idea." "I was watched leaving your tent the other night." "I know." "You were right." "We'll have to be careful." "that's the beauty of these evening rides." "We can talk in full view of everybody." "I had to see you again." "Why do you put up with Shushida's tantrums?" "She loves me." "it's not a very noble kind of love." "but it is love." "I'm the only constant in her life." "To begin with she was shamefully treated by her mother." "I don't suppose Nandu had much time for her either. and he showed that in plenty." "In fact they got along well enough until he arranged this marriage." "Then she nearly drove us all mad." "Why?" "Because the Rana's old." "She's terrified of becoming suttee." "That was her mother's doing as well." "From the age of five she was made to stir boiling rice with her little finger to teach her not to flinch from the fire." "this country disgusts me sometimes." "suttee's forbidden by low now." "An English law." "Do you think you only have to pass a law for a tradition to die?" "Suttee won't cease until our women refuse to submit to it." "Shushu will never refuse. it is the inescapable duty of a royal widow." "too." "I faced that when I realized she wouldn't go to Bhithor without me." "How could your own brother marry you both off to someone much older?" "Because the Rana of Bhithor is of superior lineage." "a double wedding worked out rather cheaper for our brother than two separate ones." "the cold hearted bastard!" "He will pay for his evil deeds in his next life." "Perhaps for may lives afterwards." "Your Highness." "Ah!" "There!" "You see?" "Shushu." "You're improving." "Biju Ram?" "What are you thinking of?" "[Hindi answer]" "The Far Pavilions" "It's strange to think that I shall never see them again." "once this journey's done." "[Roaring sound]" "[Blowing wind]" "My God!" "quick." "Follow me!" "look!" "I'll take the princess." "Come on." "Get the horses to a safe place." "We will wait here for Pelham Sahib and the Raj-kumari." "Juli." "Quickly." "Juli!" "where are you?" "Juli." "[Juli] Ashok" "[Romantic music begins]" "Do you love me?" "I have loved you all my life." "From the very beginning." "As a brother?" "I loved you first as a brother." "It was not a brother that I waited for." "I grew up and became a woman." "And this you do not know:" "I could not breathe for the beating of my heart." "because I thought you were a stranger." "Yet something in my blood rejoiced to be held so." "my love." "Love me." "now." "I never meant this to happen." "I did." "Lale?" "A long time ago. that I should have to submit to the Rana." "That he should be the first." "It was this that I could not endure." "But now I know love." "I can endure the lust and shame." "My heart's love!" "Foolish love!" "Do you think that I would let you go?" "Now?" "This is the miracle that I've been praying for." "we'll ride on." "When they don't find us they'll assume we're lying dead buried in some sand drift among the hills." "They can't search them all." "They'll give up after a day or two and go on to Bhithor." "please do not." "I cannot leave Shushila." "She loves me and she needs me. and I need you!" "But I promised I would stay with her." "And I cannot break my word." "Do you care so much more for her than you do for me? and if I'm not there to give her courage she will die from fear and loneliness." "She's a selfish and demanding little bitch!" "We can't live without each other! but I will not harm her." "how could love me?" "was selfish as well as faithless." "of rush the all those things if I were to sacrifice my sister for my own happiness." "And my happiness." "To send the magic." "Watch!" "I cannot betray her." "You can't go through with this." "The Rana will find out you're not a virgin the moment he beds you." "If did not know that I could deceive the Rana when the time came..." "I would never have taken you for my lover." "I suppose you've also thought if you conceive? that I swear to you." "I will see to it that he grows to be a prince we can be proud of." "No!" "Promise me." "If you have our child you will come to me." "Can't you understand what it will be like for me to know that my child is the property of another man to do with as he pleases!" "as you and your sister have been!" "You will have other children." "Never!" "Can you tell me that until this night you have never lain with another woman? and you will lie with other women." "and it may be father of other children without knowing or caring." "will know and care. and at the end risk death and endure pain to give it life." "surely you could not begrudge our child to me." "You could not." "It's time we returned." "Rocco!" "Teri-Bai" "I was worried about you." "Where have you been?" "Uncle." "I see." "we must say that all three of us were together this past night." "For you are about to be wedded even if he be a sahib." "my child." "we shall say that the sahib and the Raj-kumari and we three men lay beneath it." "You agree?" "Rao Sahib." "is everything all right?" "yes." "The Raj-kumari is safe in the carriage." "they're back!" "Pelham Sahib?" "Your Highness." "The Raj-kumari took refuge in the carriage and we three sheltered under it." "Juli!" "you were so lucky to be out of it and safe in the carriage." "indeed." "It was most unpleasant." "You have no idea how exciting it was." "and the dust came pouring into it." "Rao Sahib." "If you will excuse me. and said the tent would fall and suffocate her." "Pelham Sahib." "Gul Bas." "trusts that you will enjoy these oranges." "from the very beginning." "[Koda Dad] Forget childhood dreams." "The Hindu boy from Gulkotte is dead." "In his place there is a sahib." "which is not a very comfortable thing to be." "my poor sick honorary brother." "[Ashton] I am not your brother." "beyond anything or anyone else." "[Koda Dad] The question is whether you truly love her." "[Juli] I would have sacrificed my sister for my own happiness." "I cannot betray her." "and having known it" "I can endure the lust and the shame." "I love you." "[Koda Dad] You can do nothing about it." "Indian shout]" "[too dark to see]" "[scuffle and shout]" "[Biju Ram speaks] Pelham Sahib." "What...what are you doing here?" "[Ashton] What the devil are you doing." "taking potshots at me?" "[Biju Ram] In the moonlight I mistook you for a blackbuck." "[A] Where did you get my rifle?" "Sahib." "My servant came to confess to me from your tent." "He was terrified of discovery." "I was over-indulgent. so I undertook to return the rifle to you." "I thought it best to test it." "To make sure that it was undamaged." "heh..." "[A] You always were a good liar." "[B] On my heart!" "I swear it." "[A] There is a proverb from the northwest which says a scorpion and a shin ware have no heart to tame." "[B] [Weak laugh]" "[A] I have a better explanation." "You were trying to kill me using my rifle so you could make it look like one of your accidents." "[B] I?" "But you have been misled by someone who wishes to ruin me." "I demand to know who it is?" "[A] His name...is Ashok." "[B] You have been deceived." "That boy died many years ago." "[A] If the men you sent to hunt him down told you so...they lied." "[A] I am Ashok. by hounding us back and forth across the state until she died of exhaustion." "You murdered her!" "[B] But you're a sahib!" "[A] And I am Ashok." "[Reveals the brand on his chest]" "[B] Sahib." "Forgive me!" "[Ashton attacks Biju Ram]" "[A] You bastard!" "[Fighting ensues]" "[Ashton cuts the throat of Biju Ram]" "would you say?" "Clearly." "He cut himself in an attempt to prevent the creature's venom from reaching his heart." "indeed." "and he must be cremated with due service." "And tomorrow his remains shall be carefully collected and taken to be thrown into the sacred waters of Mother Gunga. his friends must take it upon themselves to perform this pious duty." "Mohan and Sen Gupta to go together with their servants and those of Biju Ram." "It's as only proper." "Hmm..." "Do you suppose Rao Sahib shared our suspicions?" "He certainly used Biju Ram's death to rid the camp of all his supporters." "salute him for it." "Sahib." "I found this by chance within ten paces of the body." "I must have lost it when we inspected the site." "I would have said that you wore a grey shirt with horn buttons that morning." "no matter." "There is in a way a certain justice in the fact that the double thorn from the Kika tree leaves a mark like the bite of a Cobra." "We have no more problems." "At least until we get to Bhithor." "[State Cavalry riding out from Bhithor Palace.]" "[Wedding procession from Karidkote arrives on plain below Bhithor.]" "Rocco" "Greetings to His Highness the Rana and the people of Bhithor." "Rao Sahib." "let me show you the site that has been chosen for your camp." "It won't do I'm afraid." "it has been personally selected by the Rana." "I appreciate that. or even to escape from." "that you are not suggesting..." "I'm not suggesting anything." "Merely that the safety of the Karidkote camp is my responsibility." "I cannot guarantee it here." "That is all." "My master is not accustomed to having his decisions questioned." "Nor am I." "Pelham Sahib. but what we have here is something more than the military consideration." "The whole site is covered with the Rana's cannon." "If I am to avoid bloodshed" "I may have to accept whatever terms he cares to dictate." "dare not insult him. and send them home without their dowries." "I could not answer for what" "Nandu might do in his shame and rage." "that I have to accept this site?" "Pelham Sahib." "that if you do not... then the consequences would be worse than anything you can imagine." "[The wedding procession moves into the designated site.]" "[The valley is surrounded by forts.]" "weakens Karidkote's negotiating position.]" "[Ashton sighs] now bastard's has got us where he wants us." "[Koda Dad] May Allah be pleased to disprove our fears." "Amen." "everyone else seems happy." "I might as well swallow my pride and shut up." "Rao Sahib." "thank you." "according to the Diwan there's good shooting in the hills." "in abundance." "Sahib. and at such speed." "A true sign of maturity." "This will be a much more convenient place for you to conduct the business in hand." "What business?" "the terms of the marriage contract between the Maharaja of Karidkote." "they've already been exchanged." "they're judged to be unsatisfactory." "that they must be renegotiated on a more realistic scale." "[Prince Jhoti] They worship the drinker of blood." "Let's hope they only sacrifice goats to her." "Your Highness." "The bride's uncle and their brother." "[Rana] Welcome to Bhithor." "Pelham Sahib." "[Ashton does not bow.] but on behalf...of all the people of Bhithor. will mark the outset of a joyous and fruitful union the Maharaja." "we share." "May the gods grant a fruitful outcome to our negotiations." "Let us withdraw." "that you have no intention of paying the full bride price for the princesses." "no reflection on the merits of the Raj-kumaris." "that the price was exorbitant." "[Rao Sahib] Your ambassadors did not dispute it." "they gave a written undertaking to pay the remainder as soon as the princesses reached Bhithor." "[Rana] They exceeded their authority." "[Prince Jhoti] And you did not have us under your guns at the time." "I must protest at the Prince's inference." "[Ashton] And I withdraw it unreservedly." "You said there was another matter." "Yes." "It touches on the Princess Anjuli." "What of her." "You must understand that we made a great concession in considering marrying an ator." "[actress or singer] besides being of mixed blood." "None of this was concealed from you." "We would not dream of imputing anything so unworthy to a brother ruler and a Maharaja. you will understand that the priest insist that His Highness is very highly to be purified for taking such a woman to wife." "that is so." "And our purse is not bottomless. we greatly regret that we cannot marry the Princess Anjuli." "the price is trebled." "But you've already taken it!" "One moment." "is paid and the remaining half of the bride price for the Princess Shushila is not then you will have gained two brides and their dowries for nothing." "You will also make a profit on the transaction." "...if you say so." "I must speak to the Princess Anjuli." "Rao Sahib." "I must see her!" "And alone." "Pelham Sahib." "what good would it do?" "There is no way that she can help us." "And to tell her what is being said about her would be an unkindness." "She has a right to know how things stand." "Perhaps you are right." "I will warn her." "No." "I must do it." "The negotiations are my responsibility." "Love." "You can't marry him." "even if it were safe for you to do so." "My Heart." "He says that the bribe he accepted from Nandu is not enough." "He demands three times as much to wed you." "I can't authorize that. in which case you'd be sent back to Karidkote without your dowry and in disgrace." "I cannot go back." "You know I cannot." "You will have no choice." "That's not true." "but he cannot if need be." "Lala." "he'll be able to do exactly what he wants with you." "You'd have no status at all." "Your position would be intolerable." "and can do so again." "Shu-shu..." "Shu-shu!" "You don't know what he's like. and arrogant and cruel." "He's steeped in vice." "I tell you." "Every word you say is another reason for me to stay and help my sister." "when she's Rani of Bhithor." "Do you carry our child?" "[Shakes her head "no"]" "I'm sorry. more than I can ever say." "Heart-of-my Heart! and you are wrong to say that she does not need me. ... I gave her my word." "If ever you should need me... and I will come." "I know." "I will come." "I shall think about you every hour and be thankful to have known you." "And I you." "my lord and my life." "I have been blind." "Blind." "And foolish. and I am much to blame for your pain. for both of you." "The best thing that we can do now and not as one of her sister's waiting women." "The gods know that is difficult enough." "As we have both brought her so much sorrow." "and making the future sadder." "and more desolate for her." "by my negligence and folly." "We must try to get a message through to the British Resident in Ashmir." "I fear that my not be possible." "Why?" "They say that the forts speak to each other with small shields of polished silver that reflects the light of the sun." "You shouldn't believe everything you hear." "[Koda Dad points to a flashing shield.]" "If you try to send a messenger through they will hack him to pieces." "Damn!" "If we do not agree to the Rana's terms do you think he'd order his cannon to fire on us?" "Murash." "Pelham Sahib?" "Move out." "When?" "Tonight." "If it should come to a fight with the Raj we'll take the two princesses and Prince Jhoti with a cavalry escort and make you way out across the hills." "And you? to cover your retreat." "Make sure there are plenty of fires lit tonight." "That should help fool them. you and I will visit the Rana in the morning." "[Karibkote wedding procession surreptitiously leaving encampment]" "[Ashton] Make sure there's as little noise as possible." "Pelham Sahib." "[Bhithor guards discover empty encampment at daybreak]" "[Guard shouting orders]" "Your Highness saw fit to man the forts which commanded our camp. lay them and train them at us." "The fact that they were not fired is immaterial." "The threat itself was tantamount to an act of war against the party under the express protection of the British Raj." "For which reason I desire this meeting." "within 24 hours you come to terms over I hereby inform you that I shall submit a report of the whole incident to my superiors together with the strongest possible recommendation that the only appropriate response to such an act of unprovoked aggression" "is for you state to be taken over by the government of India and sent away to live the remainder of you life in exile." "like this!" "In the circumstances...." "I assure you the British authorities will accept my recommendation." "That is all I have to say." "Your Highness..." "You are a fool!" "Your Highness." "Go." "Your Highness." "[Heavy breathing]" "Pelham Sahib!" "[Diwan] Let us not be hasty." "My patience is exhausted." "Rao Sahib." "I beg you." "if this unfortunate misunderstanding cannot be resolved by older heads." "Let it never be said that we left any avenue unexplored." "after all." "Blood-thirsty brat." "[Rao] The Rana has decreed that this palace be regarded as Karibkote territory for the next six weeks." "We have to look upon it as our home." "it is we who are obliged to invite the bridegroom's party to attend the wedding." "courteous gesture." "[Diwan] It means that you must play the host according to custom." "I hope you don't find it too expensive." "but the Rana is a very cunning fellow. so we must put a good face upon it." "perhaps we should leave half our company where it is." "[Jhoti] In case of further misunderstanding." "be a wise precaution." "Mmm." "[Ashton] Your idea and a good one." "Murash." "I'm going on shika with Koda Dad." "[Koda Dad] I think the time has come for me to retire from the Maharaja's service the better to care for all my sons." "[Aston] I'm not hungry. and then you will be no use to anyone." "Father." "[Koda Dad] The path you now tread is a hard one." "I believe it to be best for both of you." "[Ashton] And so does Anjuli." "... cannot you?" "[Ashton] In my head I have already done so." "I have no choice." "[Koda Dad] None?" "Therefore what profit is there in trepining?" "You should rather give thanks..." "for that which was good." "[Wedding preparations] she will be the ugliest bride in all India." "Do you suppose the Rana will beat her?" "and all she could do was cry." "but unmanned." "Come on." "[Wedding parade begins]" "[Purification of the Rana]" "[Decoration of the Rana]" "[Entrance of the brides]" "Lord forgive three sins that are due to my human limitations." "but I worship Thee here." "but I worship Thee in these forms." "yet I offer Thee these prayers and salutations." "Lord forgive three sins that are due to my human limitations." "[Ashton] I cannot bear it!" "my son." "You must bear it." "Festivities last for three days." "Father." "I have orders to return to my regiment as soon as possible." "May I have your permission to leave?" "today is the final day the brides will leave for their husband's house." "too?" "I must ask you to do so." "will you have fully discharged your duty." "and my life." "[Having discharged the bitter duty of seeing] [the love of his life married to the]" "Ash made the long]" "] back to Mardan." "]" "] [and the Guides were on active service.]" "Charge!" "[Cannons firing]" "[Sabers clashing]" "[Bugles blaring]" "[Wally views the devastation]" "[and the dead]" "sir." "I say to you all..." "Well done!" "Mr. Hamilton." "and see to the wounded." "Wigram's dead." "I know." "apart from the wounded." "you've put up a fine show." "that the political wallahs make sure such sacrifice is not wasted." "Major Cavagnari will see to that." "There's not another man alive that knows the Afghan mind better." "I'm in no position to accept a British mission in Kabul." "man?" "I cannot guarantee its safety." "You're talking about your own capital." "But you don't understand." "My country is deeply divided." "am not yet established as Amir." "Very few of my troops have actually experienced defeat at the hands of the British." "They will see no reason why I should permit you to establish a permanent British mission in Kabul." "Yakub Khan. or we shall go to war again." "And this time we won't stop until we've annexed Afghanistan for good." "you put our own puppet on the throne." "That's why I wanted to talk to you alone. you lose." "Never mind about being humiliated." "If you want to remain Amir of Afghanistan you go out there you smile you sign" "and you make damn sure that when our British mission it doesn't come to any harm." "sir?" "Waded in like some second class head man." "It seems to agree with him." "Like he has when you head the British mission" "Yours very truly." "It's all arranged with the Viceroy." "the KCSI into the bargain." "Louis Cavagnari." "eh Jenkins?" "sir." "My congratulations!" "Hmm." "Is that damn Conjuruity?" "I believe so." "We'll get along famous now that it's all settled." "You'll see." "you're going to have to get used to" "Gul Bas." "then?" "No." "Nor the pay either." "after all you achieved in Bhithor." "And I managed to miss the war." "well." "Gul Bas." "[Knocking]" "Come in." "Wally!" "It's good to see you." "too." "by the way." "On what?" "come on." "cannot be offhand about having won the supreme award for valor." "I'm not." "I mean." "and everything." "let's hear about you Val Chevyhoff." "Did you fall in love with the princesses?" "I did." "And was the sentiment reciprocated?" "it was actually." "I do believe you're serious." "Wally." "Very." "And it didn't work out?" "No." "I'm sorry." "could it?" "You've just joined the majority." "I had hoped you'd be less prejudiced." "an Irishman?" "Do you want to tell me what happened?" "didn't I?" "she didn't want." "And who didn't want her." "well." "What can I say?" "obviously." "I see I'm going to have to cheer you up." "Did you know that Cavagnari has asked me to command his escort?" "Ash." "And it's another long step towards my field marshal's battle." "Not that I'm counting any chickens before they are hatched." "you'll pray that this particular clutch turns out to be addled." "What d'you mean by that?" "Wally?" "You know I do." "then you ought to know that we're exactly the same position we that were in at the end of the first Afghan war. we've left every part of Afghanistan bristling with our enemies." "That's why this mission ought to be called off." "it's too late for that! long enough for us to convince the Amir and his people that we do not intend to take over their country as we took over India." "rot!" "The Amir's agreed to accept the mission." "Under duress." "you're wrong." "won't they?" "we'll win them round." "Cavagnari will twist them around his little finger. and I think you'll find the Afghan far less susceptible to Cavagnari's charm than you seem to be." "They view our present withdrawal as a retreat." "so why should they let us set up a permanent mission in Kabul?" "Wigram used to say he wouldn't be in your shoes for anything in the world." "Because you didn't know where you belonged." "I think he was wrong." "I think you've taken sides." "And it isn't us that you've chosen." "is there? you won't get me to turn to down command of the escort if I'm lucky enough to be offered it." "That bloody medal's gone to your head." "Go to hell!" "When did this happen?" "I was promoted Resaidar in the field at the battle of Fatehabad." "You must be very proud." "Almost as proud as our father." "yet?" "Not officially." "will you?" "are no longer boys." "who can make up their own minds." "Zarin." "Zarin." "Sahib." "'and my life.'" "[The Palace of Bhithor]" "Highness?" "now!" "Quickly!" "It is not right that Shushila Rani should be so indulged. and dreaded so greatly." "All the less reason for her to cause you to be treated in this way." "Confined in these two wretched rooms. and even your trousseau taken away." "That's not Shu-shu's fault." "Your Highness summoned me?" "I did?" "I wonder why." "The message was that you had a present for me." "ha." "It's only a little trinket." "A mere bauble." "Show it to me!" "But of course." "Here." "It is beautiful" "Don't be impatient." "What do I get in its stead?" "My thanks." "For this?" "My grateful thanks?" "Oh." "Hm." "I do believe you're teasing me." "Perhaps......a kiss?" "That might do.... ...for a start. such as you." "Because they're more like boys." "And this allows to jealousy." "I tell you." "She knows I want nothing less than to please the Rana." "she loves him." "I do not think so." "You've never understood her." "it's you who have never understood her." "I do not believe that Shushila-Bai love anyone but Shushila-Bai." "Or ever has." "and I'll hear no more of this." "Now go." "As you please." "I must ask you to accept my resignation." "Victor." "sir." "Ash." "sir." "Cigar?" "thank you." "why? perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." "Let him step to the music he hears." "I haven't the remotest idea." "Neither have I." "I think that time has come for me. but I can't say I'm entirely surprised." "What'll you do?" "I imagine." "and eventually produce some tome on even less familiar dialects of Hindustan." "In two volumes?" "Ideally." "Very well." "I won't attempt to alter it." "and I'll see that there're difficulties are put in the way of your leaving the Army." "sir." "In return..." "I would ask you..." "to do something for me." "Or rather....." "for the regiment." "if I can." "Will you adopt native disguise? for the Escort of Guides?" "that this infernal British mission becomes a reality." "Can't you get that stopped?" "but I doubt it'll be enough." "if the mission is abandoned" "I'll let you know straight away." "And you can regard yourself as a civilian from that moment." "sir?" "Then I would ask you to remain in Kabul as long as the Guides are there." "You can lodge with one of our pensioners." "he's 100% reliable." "As soon as the escort is relieved by another regiment you are free to go." "Will you do that?" "[Escort of Guides arrive in Kabul]" "Look at them." "They're like a bunch of children on a school treat crowding up for a slice of the cake." "Since we're outnumbered even by the ruffians lining the route there's not assembly the great big comfort to me." "Suppose we turn out to be the cake!" "[Bugle call]" "This should serve our purpose well enough." "Mr. Hamilton." "sir." "[Escort entering compound]" "Company.....halt!" "Company.....halt." "sergeant." "Infantry....dismissed!" "....what did you expect? and they wore rich furs and great boots of leather." "but this... this was a poor show. how is it possible that a government which could not afford to send a proper embassy will be able to pay the Amir soldiers all they are owed." "Nachban Khan?" "There was no mention of that in the treaty." "Was there not?" "half Kabul believes that Cavagnari and that is the reason they were dismayed by how small a train he has brought with him. that he had come laden with riches." "I hope your people won't find us quite so trepacious ogres as they feared." "also." "and all the members of my mission will do everything we can to foster the most cordial relations between our two great nations... and need I say proudly independent nations." "[Clock chimes]" "Asper Seuce would've done us rather well on this occasion" "Jenkins?" "sir." "Rosie." "If those chaps up there decide to pick us off they can do it as soon as wink. and exchanged presents." "All well." "Splendid." "Send it off." "I'd be less worried if Sir." "Louis hadn't said that if his death resulted in the frontier line being changed he'd die a happy man." "This place is indefensible." "I must talk to him." "Mr. Killy." "Sir." "I must advise you to ask the Amir to provide us with alternate accommodation. it would be grossly discourteous to the Amir." "that there's precious little anyone can do to make it safe against attack." "Any attempt to do so would be just as grave an insult to our hosts." "Sir." "Tell him Jenkins." "The point Sir." "Louis seeks to establish is that it would take an army to guarantee our safety." "Precisely." "I didn't remon so as not to provoke the Afghans." "Our only alternative is to trust our hosts." "it's no bad thing that the residency should be so accessible." "Let people walk in and out." "Our first duty is to establish friendly relations. and nothing done that may suggest in any way that we wish to keep you at arms length." "Gita?" "Rani Sempa?" "Who are you?" "My name is Permila Dehbi. that the Dai Gita has met with an accident." "no." "Take me to her." "You will only distress yourself." "It is not a pretty sight." "Take me to the senior Rani." "I am sorry Rani-saba." "I wish to see her now." "but the senior Rani does not wish to see you." "[Door closes]" "[Bugle call]" "Forward! this is the way they would come." "sir." "that young Mr. Hamilton here has been telling me about." "I take it you know of Sgt. Major Kelly?" "Should do." "I patched you up the last time you came back from one of these jaunts." "Rosie." "my secretary and political advisor." "I don't think I've had the pleasure." "I think you should know that the Harati regiments and are on the rampage." "ho." "they don't bite." "sir." "Particularly when they believe you have their arrears of pay." "I'm hanged if I'm going to pay Her Majesty's enemies." "if you don't sir. and our deaths would be avenged." "the 77 men comprising your escort don't count. to inform Mr. Hamilton of any intelligence that you have managed to gleam." "Sir." "but a brave one." "To be a spy takes a lonely sort of courage." "yes." "he was always apt to fly off the handle but that's his upbringing." "There could be something in what he says." "if the Afghan army is really looking to us for its arrears of pay...." "It's in for a shock!" "That's it and all about it." "[Native speech] they can only have one month's pay." "They mean to take the remainder." "sir. 'should you judge this advisable.'" "I'm damned if I do!" "Avadar!" "Leave that gate open." "Let them come in." "Sir!" "No one fires unless I give the order." "[Guard] Open the gate!" "[Crowd roars outside]" "[Continuous roaring]" "please don't let them open fire!" "make sure none of your men fire unless I give the order." "sir." "I want six men." "Sir!" "dress your men along here." "[Native speech]" "[Rebels roar]" "[Rebels enter demanding pay] to go out there and speak to them?" "Certainly." "They're not likely to leave until I do." "We really cannot put up with this ridiculous home disturbance any longer." "sir." "What hells that got to do with it." "Maldeen." "if you go out..." "I'm really not in my dotage." "What have you all come here for?" "What is it you want?" "you." "You seem to be the ring leader." "Step forward. and how dare you come battering at the doors of an officer and under His Highness's protection" "[Native speech] and they want the money from us." "[Crowd roaring]" "I grieve for you." "But what you ask is impossible." "I cannot interfere between you and your ruler. and it would not become me to attempt it." "I'm sorry." "[Angry response]" "Barbarians." "Not a jot of discipline." "Get back!" "fellows." "Back!" "Back!" "Hamilton Sahib!" "There's fighting in the horse lines." "[Crowd becomes angry]" "[Fighting begins]" "[Crowd begins to attack Escort Guides]" "[First gunshot]" "Steady men." "Volley fire." "Aim atop their heads." "Fire!" "[Fighting subsides]" "sir!" "I'm afraid." "Sergeant." "Sahib!" "That foraging party back yet?" "Sahib!" "[Gate closes solidly]" "I'd better send a message to the Amir." "It's high time he detailed some responsible person to control this rubble." "[Preparing message]" "[Escort Guides await trouble]" "[Medical center prepares for wounded]" "messenger has returned." "Sergeant." "[Open gate command]" "Sahib." "Take it to Cavagnari Sahib." "Sahib." "I am making preparations." "Making preparations!" "Good God!" "Is that all he has to say?" "[ The Amir] My gisbut is bad." "What can Allah ask of me?" "Your tears won't help them." "[Cries of returning rebel army]" "[Escort prepares for attack]" "[Battering ram]" "Volley fire!" "Fire!" "Fall back!" "Fall back!" "Volley fire!" "Fire!" "Fall back!" "Volley fire!" "Fire!" "Back to form double line." "Double time!" "[Indiscriminate gunfire]" "[Escort falls back]" "[Escort falls back]" "[Drawing sabers]" "[Hand to hand fighting]" "[Escort retreats into building and closes gate]" "[Foraging party returning]" "Halt!" "Pelham Sahib!" "they're mobbing the Residency." "[Native commands]" "[Rebels press attack]" "[Cavagnari hit]" "sir?" "Jenkins?" "only a scratch." "But it makes my head swims like the devil." "sir?" "of course not." "He's got far more important things to do. will you Jenkins?" "will you?" "Yew!" "Oh!" "Jenkins!" "Bring up brigade!" "[Aston brings in Reserve brigade]" "[Ashton shoots his way into the foray]" "Give them covering fire!" "Pelham Martyn." "Ash!" "Thank God you're here." "Drop it and get your men up here." "If Cavagnari were to agree to pay them there's still time." "Ash!" "You know what these beggars are like once their blood's up!" "sir." "Easy does it. sir." "Jenkins?" "Sir." "there you are." "won't you?" "Yes sir." "Hamilton." "What the bloody hell's the Amir doing? he'd best do it a bit quick." "They seem to have gone very quiet." "I have no supplies left." "no bandages." "Hamilton Sahib." "Look there!" "[Cannons rolling into the compound]" "sir?" "We're going to have to take them." "Organize covering fire." "No!" "I'm coming with you." "Ash." "I must have one line officer here." "Kelly?" "Of course." "then." "load these up." "[Calling soldier]" "[Door blasted open]" "[Rebels attack]" "[Escort Guides soldiers attack to capture cannon]" "Pull!" "back." "[Rebels overcome and counterattack]" "[Guides close door]" "[Amir] There's nothing I can do." "Nothing." "If I go out there." "They will kill me! than disgrace Islam." "nor border to the mercy of Allah." "We're going to have to have another bash at those cannon." "What!" "You can't go again! but I'll thank you to remember who's commanding the Escort." "Wally." "I want six volunteers." "Sahib." "It's the duty of all of us to defend this Residency to the last." "You must choose the men to go with you. and we'll have a go at spiking the guns." "How's that for and idea?" "Nearly a daft as you are." "too." "Be ready men." "The golden evening brightens in the west." "Charge!" "[Ashton is hit]" "[Entire Corps of Guides Escort wiped out]" "Nachman Khan searches]" "Sahib?" "Sahib." "Sahib!" "let's go!" "Sahib!" "Ah." "Let's go before the mob returns." "first." "[Ash places Wally on the cannon]" "[This must be a ceremonial burial]" "soon to faithful warriors come to their rest." "For All The Saints]" "[As the British sought revenge]" "]" "] [journeyed back to Mardan.]" "Pelham Sahib." "Gul Bas." "[Koda Dad greets Ash]" "the doctor] at the urgent request of Shushila Rani." "Has something happened to Anjuli?" "Not as far as we know." "Shushila Rani sent word that she is worried about her husband's health." "My master Rao Sahib felt she must have been dunched." "then?" "Who can tell?" "He's known to have had heart trouble." "I bring you a letter from Rao Sahib." "[Ash's voice:] He's anxious about his nieces. that they are well and happy. is dead." "Her Highness would have mentioned as she would." "[Rao Sahib's voice:] wherefore this summons as he will be able to learn how is with" "His Highness's sisters." "I have instructed him to devise some means of passing on any news to you. would wish to satisfy yourself that all is well." "send word." "Do you know what is written here?" "The Rao Sahib did me the honor of reading it to me before he sealed it." "I can tell by your face that this is not all." "No." "We have learned that his wives will be burned with him according to custom." "suttee's against the law!" "My master says you will know what the law means in Bhithor." "wives and concubines followed him into the flames. but only catamites." "It's an ugly jest!" "even the jesters believe that the Ranis will become suttee for the honor of Bhithor." "as a symbol or a substitute for all those widows who or were prevented or by your laws." "I'll alert the authorities here." "and let us know the moment the Ranis condition takes a turn for the worse." "How?" "For I shall not be allowed out in that case." "I will show you how. and release the carrier pigeon." "It will return." "We will find a way of hiding it in your saddle bags." "of course I can't send a squadron into Bhithor to serve the flag." "In all my life's work doing such things." "I'd expect orders from the GMC." "I'd have to wait for confirmation from Camp Cutter." "it's not even if you were still in the regiments." "is no." "The Rana of Bhithor is quite enough of a handful as it is." "And you want me to get the political officer to shake a stick at them on the strength of some tittle tattle in the women's quarters?" "the police wouldn't touch it with a barge pole." "you know." "The laws against suttee have been enforced for more than 40 years." "His Highness the Maharajah of Karibkote?" "The political site?" "the agent of the governor general of Rajputana?" "I cannot send these... telegrams." "They are not secret things." "And these......." "not even in secret code." "They'll cause much gossip and scandal." "And what if this Rana should not die? and getting into all hot water boiling." "no." "I'll be losing my job." "Pelham Sahib." "The carrier pigeon's returned." "The Rana is dying." "I shall have to go to Bhithor." "That would not be wise." "I must have proof that they mean for the Ranis to become suttee." "we must come with you." "don't be silly." "All couple of bloody Pathans?" "You'll stick out like a sore thumb in Bhithor." "there are people there who'd remember you from the wedding." "Sahib?" "We have discussed this possibility and are agreed." "my son." "Very well." "I must have ridden past this place a hundred times without seeing it." "for it is not easy to find again from this side. for you may need to leave in haste by the same route." "It is the only one that is unguarded." "Huh." "Always assuming we can get into the city." "You had better leave me those rifles." "the people of Bhithor are more than ever suspicious of strangers." "[Native language farewell]" "Hakim." "Well?" "The Rana will have died tonight." "at once." "You do not understand the temper and the disposition of these people." "All they want is a barbaric spectacle. is something that few will see more than once in a lifetime." "Huh." "A great damasha. but you were reared as one of us long enough to know one that bestows merit on everyone who is present." "the people of Bhithor will be enraged if anyone attempts to prevent it." "The Raj will send a political sahib and a regiment from Ajmere to arrest him." "He will not believe you." "that you are not an accredited spokesman for the Raj." "you would not have like a thief and in disguise." "You will only throw your life away to no avail." "you must get us into the Rung Mahal." "a fellow hakim and his servant." "Kings are not permitted to die alone and in peace." "there well be more guards and wakeful people in the palace then ever before." "I will let you know when I have worked out a plan that will succeed." "you will come with me to the funeral grounds tomorrow." "Gul Bas." "That's probably for the purdah women who want to sit and watch." "I dare say." "They'll get an excellent view from there!" "Pelham Sahib....." "It would not be possible." "We could never get away from here even if we cut our way through the crowds." "except back through the city." "now I know." "ha." "Sahib." "why not?" "It's a relief to know where I stand." "They say drowning's quite pleasant once you stop struggling." "lets eat." "I'm starving." "Gul Bas. that a cat may look at a king." "I must tell you." "On the wedding procession I came to love one of the brides." "Anjuli Bai beyond reason." "I can't believe that." "Nobody knew. leaving my heart in her keeping. and why I cannot leave." "Sahib." "either. to my mother." "he was never more than the shell of a man." "But he could not more prevent my mother's death than you can prevent the Ranis." "I can and will save her from death by burning." "Gul Bas." "sir." "[The Rana dies and gongs sound]" "[Religious chants]" "Shushu." "How dare you come into my presence showing no sign of grief." "I hoped to comfort yours." "Now that our husband is dead I can meet with you again." "It was not my husband who had you banished." "It was I." "Shushu." "I could not endure the thought that you too were his wife." "It was I who had you starved and humiliated." "Shushu?" "Why?" "So you would become old and ugly. he would turn away from you in disgust." "that you were jealous of me." "Shushu." "Don't you think it's your pain to make be suffer so?" "I kept my promise." "I came to Bhithor with you because you were afraid of becoming suttee." "I intend to die on my husband's pyre." "And I will accompany you." "Shushu." "Never!" "You will not be permitted to defile the Rana's ashes." "it is not fitting that you should share the honor of becoming suttee." "I have made other arrangements for you." "[Chants]" "God be praised!" "Thank god we found you." "You shouldn't have come." "My mind's made up." "We have learned that Senior Rani has ordained that the Anjuli Rani will be spared the fire if she would visit the ceremony." "What!" "Who is that?" "Look!" "What shall we do?" "Get her out!" "[Funeral procession]" "[Continous religious chants]" "[Both Ranis under guard]" "Ashok!" "Juli." "You can't help her now." "by watching a sight that will haunt you the rest of your life." "I cannot leave her." "my dear love!" "Now we have a chance!" "I came her to shoot you out unless you become suttee." "Then do the same for her." "No." "let her die quickly and without pain." "We shall all die a death worse than Shushila if they hear where the shot comes from." "It will not be heard above the noise." "I beg you." "Just because that little bitch spared you from the fire?" "you fool." "She only spared me because she had ordered that the last thing that I should ever see would be the flames uniting her body with the Rana's." "my eyes were to be put out with hot irons." "My God." "And yet you would risk our happiness to put her out of her misery." "Yes." "We loved each other once." "And I pity her." "[Chanting in background]" "Gul Bas." "the wife of the dead Rana]" "[Jewelry must not burn with the dead wife]" "[Wife chanting]" "She's not afraid." "Not yet." "It's still early a game." "not a game." "A part she is playing." "[Wife continues to chant]" "Now!" "before she starts to be afraid." "Not yet." "It's too quiet." "[Wife speaks command]" "[Crowd chants loudly after fire starts]" "we go." "[Gunshot]" "[Crowd chants loudly]" "They will send more men after us." "up there." "You ride on with Her Highness." "That's crazy." "There's going to be more than one come." "The only chance we have is to hold them off until nightfall." "There is a ruined temple across the plain take Her Highness there." "Gul Bas." "Pelham Sahib." "She will be safe with me." "I will be with you tonight." "Hakim?" "will stay." "you cannot fire a rifle." "but I can load them for you." "then put the horses in a safe place first." "Right." "my love." "Hakim." "He gave us time." "Master of Horse?" "Hakim." "That is good." "I usually work to save lives." "Hakim?" "Yes." "I'll take the leader." "You bring down the second man." "Hakim." "what?" "[Remaining guards attacking on foot]" "Hakim!" "Behind you!" "Five!" "[Hakim is hit]" "[Remaining guards retreat]" "[Hakim is dead]" "did we not?" "[Koda Dad is also hit]" "Father." "my son." "now." "Go and leave me here." "I think." "[Koda Dad coughs]" "Zarin loved this." "Will you give it to him for me?" "Nay." "To moan thus is to question the wisdom of God." "that all who live on earth are doomed to die." "Tell Zarin. be granted to one who is now in paradise." "[Coughs] that I may take a few more pittori with me." "delay them till morning comes." "[Cough] but I think that your true self." "Now go." "My son." "Pelham Sahib." "[A terrible price has been paid for her rescue]" "Your father?" "my love." "I love you with all my heart." "I think I always have." "now." "I've been searching for my true self." "With you I know who I am." "And once you are my wife." "Ashok." "You know you are the husband of my heart." "What more do you need?" "Nothing."