The Snake-Catcher’s Daughter. Michael Pearce
and demanded that he tell me where it was being held.’
I’ll have a word with Osman, Owen said to himself.
‘It was in one of those houses on the edge of the Gamaliya, a big old house with both an outer courtyard and an inner one.’
‘Could you show it me?’
‘Well, I suppose I could. But I’d rather not. They placed me on my honour, you see –’
‘They also drugged you.’
‘Well … I’m not sure they did. Someone did, certainly. But not them. I was there on a basis of trust. Which was mutual.’
‘You made a bargain with them?’
McPhee hesitated.
‘Well, not initially.’ He looked uncomfortable. ‘There was, I’m afraid, an element of deception. On my part. I told them, you see, that it was a police raid. I pretended to have men with me. I demanded to see what was happening. They said it was out of the question. Very well then, I said, I will have to call my men. There was a bit of humming and ha-ing but eventually they said I could take a look through a window. I did and, my goodness me, Owen, it was fascinating! A ring of women, robes, candles, dancing –’
‘And then?’ Owen prompted.
‘Then all the candles went out. There was a great hubbub and lots of people came jostling me and told me I had to leave. And then the priestess came out –’
‘Priestess?’
‘Aalima. The witch. Well, I call her a priestess because, really, it was all most religious. It does have a religious basis, you know, Owen, there were religious sheikhs there, not in the Zzarr itself, of course, but in the courtyard outside –’
‘The Aalima?’ prompted Owen.
‘A most striking lady, Owen, most striking. Well, at first she absolutely refused. Said it was completely out of the question. And then I said that in that case I would have to arrest them.’
‘On what grounds?’
‘Causing a disturbance. The sheikhs didn’t like that, I can tell you.’
‘The sheikhs? You threatened to arrest the sheikhs?’
Oh Christ, thought Owen.
‘It was a bluff. And then I cunningly said that all I wanted to do was make sure that nothing untoward was happening, so I would be quite satisfied if they just brought me a chair and let me watch for a bit and satisfy myself on that score. In the end they agreed, provided I just listened – the music was marvellous, Owen, cymbals, you know, dubertas, timbrels. I agreed, of course, but then –’
He looked shamefaced.
‘I peeped.’
‘You did?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid I did. And, you know, Owen, it was most interesting, for what I saw –’
‘How did you come to get drugged?’
‘They brought me drink. They brought everyone in the courtyard drink. It was part of it, you see –’
‘Who brought you drink?’
‘A most charming girl. Dressed in white virginal robes –’
‘Yes, yes. Was she part of the, well, witch’s entourage?’
‘Yes. She came out with the bowl and took it round.’
‘She gave everyone a drink?’
‘Yes. Which is why, Owen,’ McPhee said with emphasis, ‘the drug must have been administered on a different occasion.’
‘Such as?’
‘Well, I can’t actually think –’ McPhee admitted.
‘Unless, of course, she put something special in just before she got to you.’
‘Oh, no, Owen. Really! A girl of integrity.’
Owen was beginning to see an argument for Gavin’s position.
‘And then you fell asleep?’ he said.
‘Yes. You know, Owen –’
‘Yes?’
‘I was very tired that night. You don’t think I could have just fallen asleep in the ordinary way and that afterwards someone administered –?’
‘While you were asleep? That strength? No,’ said Owen.
‘You see, I feel sure the lady was genuine.’
‘Well,’ said Owen soothingly, ‘perhaps, in her way, she was.’
McPhee looked pleased.
‘You think so? I must say, I’ve had doubts myself. Could it be a genuine survival, I’ve asked myself? Or –’
‘I shall want to know about the people in the courtyard,’ Owen said.
‘Hangers on,’ McPhee said, ‘excluded from the real mysteries.’
‘All men?’
‘Yes. They’re fascinated, too, of course. Can’t keep away. But frightened! The Aalima is a pretty compelling figure.’
‘Could you identify any of them?’
‘I might be able to recognize them. They’ll be local, of course.’
‘If you could just give me a start …’
McPhee nodded.
‘I’ll do my best. But, Owen,’ he said sternly, ‘there must be no messing about with the ladies. The Zzarr is a remarkable institution. It is, I am sure, pre-Islamic. I wouldn’t be surprised if it owed something to the Greek mysteries. I thought I caught some Greek words. Some Roman influence, too, perhaps. After all –’
‘Yes?’
‘Bacchantium instar mulieres vidimus.’
‘Quite,’ said Owen.
‘I protest,’ said Sheikh Musa.
‘I quite agree,’ said Owen heartily, ‘and I join myself in your protest.’
‘Wait a minute,’ said the Sheikh, ‘you’re the man I’m protesting to.’
‘If the subject of your protest is what I think it is,’ said Owen, ‘the deplorable assault on the Bimbashi a couple of nights ago, then we are on common ground.’
‘It’s not the assault I’m bothered about,’ said the Sheikh. ‘It’s his presence there in the first place.
‘At the Zzarr?’
The Sheikh winced.
‘We don’t like to use that word. The ceremony, you know, is not entirely regular. It’s not something that’s, well, officially recognized. We know it goes on, of course. There are people who, not to put too fine a point on it, are drawn to such things. I dare say you know the kind of people I mean?’
Owen, thinking of McPhee, said he did.
‘I wouldn’t want to encourage them by letting them think they have my approval. So I would prefer, if you don’t mind, not to use the word. To do so would be to admit that I know about such things.’
‘Well, yes, but … then why are you here?’
‘I have come to lodge a formal protest at Bimbashi McPhee’s presence.’
‘At what?’
‘An unspecified event in the Gamaliya district.’
‘You can’t protest at his presence if you’re unable to say what he was present at!’
‘From