Winds of Eden by Catrin Collier Page A

officers.’
    â€˜I remember another, almost as good called Somerset. Do I still own them?’
    â€˜You left them up river before the Turks took you.’
    â€˜I remember being captured. I was riding a camel.’
    â€˜A poor beast that is all the poorer now for being in the care of the Turkish bastards.’ Mitkhal finished rolling the cigarette, and handed it to Hasan.
    â€˜My horses? Are they with the Turk or the British?’
    â€˜Who knows?’
    â€˜I dreamed of a house, upriver where the land is fertile. It was surrounded by grazing, lush enough for horses. I was breeding greys, beautiful animals that my children – and yours – could ride …’
    â€˜That really is a dream, Hasan. Perhaps a dream of the future, but still a dream,’ Mitkhal interrupted. ‘This is the only house you live in, and it’s your wife’s.’
    â€˜We have no other?’
    â€˜You had a black tent in Shalan’s camp in the desert until Shalan forced you to divorce Furja so she could marry Ali Mansur.’
    â€˜Why did Shalan make me divorce Furja?’
    â€˜Desert politics. Ali Mansur had more guns than you and Shalan wanted to marry Ali Mansur’s sister.’ Lying came easily to Mitkhal. He’d done it all his life. But his heart always quickened when Hasan was the recipient of his fabrications.
    â€˜Shalan would kill us if we tried to return to his camp?’ Hasan asked.
    â€˜Without a doubt. Me for helping Furja leave his camp and her husband Ali Mansur, you for disobeying his orders not to attempt to see her.’
    â€˜And the children and Furja and Gutne?’
    â€˜Would be sent out into the desert without food and water to die. We cannot return to Shalan’s camp, Hasan. Or allow anyone to know other than a few trusted friends like Zabba that Furja bought this house for us to hide in. There is no foretelling what Shalan would do if he discovers us in Basra.’
    Hasan finished his cigarette and stubbed it on a clay tile. ‘The Turks asked me questions about the British defences in Kut. Did I leave my horses in the town?’
    â€˜I was here with Furja and Gutne when you rode out of Kut on your camel so I don’t know for certain, but if I had to guess, I’d say you left your horses in the town.’
    â€˜If they are half as magnificent as they appear in my dreams I need to go up river and find them.’
    â€˜The Turks are fighting the British upriver.’
    â€˜All the more reason to find my horses before they are shot or injured in the shelling.’
    â€˜In all probability they are already dead, my husband.’ Furja entered the room.
    Hasan lifted his head to look at her. ‘I have to be sure.’
    â€˜You are not going anywhere until you are well again.’
    â€˜I will go.’ Mitkhal rose to his feet.
    Furja laid a hand on Mitkhal’s arm. ‘No one is leaving this house. It is too dangerous. Between the war, the Turks, the British and my father …’
    Mitkhal interrupted. ‘Your father won’t be looking for me on the river, Furja.’
    â€˜My father will be looking for you, me and Hasan everywhere, Mitkhal. He knows it was you who helped me flee Ali Mansur. I will not allow you to leave Gutne, your son and the safety of this house to search for horses that are most likely stolen or dead.’
    â€˜Furja is right.’ Hasan moved restlessly on the divan. ‘Horses like the ones in my dreams will be stolen and long gone.’
    Gutne joined them, ‘The doctor is here, Hasan.’
    â€˜Good, he can give you a draught that will enable to sleep through the night and then perhaps you will stop turning day into night and night into day, my husband.’ Furja rearranged the cushions Mitkhal had sat on.
    Mitkhal followed Gutne out of the door.
    â€˜You’re not really thinking of going upriver to look for Hasan’s horses, are you?’ Gutne asked as