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toward the stairwell with the servant. James waited until she had climbed the stairs and disappeared along the gallery before he went in to his wife.
    “An official protest will be lodged with the embassy today,” James said to her.
    Bea shot him a furious glance. “Official protest, my eye. What good will that do? It’s obvious the Sultan can’t subdue these rebels or they wouldn’t be terrorizing every traveler in the country! This is all your fault, James, if you had gone back to the States to get Amelia none of this would have happened.”
    “I couldn’t leave the business that long, Bea, it doesn’t run itself.”
    “At the very least you should have met the train instead of asking two women to take the coach alone.”  
    James sat next to her on the divan and patted her hand consolingly. “Don’t be silly, Bea, these bandits are everywhere. Amelia could have been seized at any time, and my presence would not necessarily have made a difference. There were two men in the coach with her, remember.”
    “That’s just my point, it isn’t safe for any of us to be here!” Beatrice replied, her thin face pinched with worry. “And why did we have to move out of the city? We used to live within walking distance of the station. Being so far away makes us easy prey for these hoodlums.”
    “You wanted to move, Bea, to escape the heat,” James replied wearily. “Don’t you remember?”  
    Beatrice made a dismissive gesture. “Never mind that, can’t you exert some pressure through your business connections to get Amy back?”
    “Not until we know who did it.”
    Beatrice threw up her hands in exasperation. “Everyone knows who is responsible for these raids, it’s that wild brother of Osman Bey’s, the one who thinks he’s going to depose the Sultan.”
    “We can’t prove that.”
    “You don’t need proof. Even the papers say that he’s financing his anti-government activities by robbing Western travelers and selling kidnapped women into slavery. And that’s the fate in store for my brother’s girl unless you do something about it!”
    “If he’s Osman’s brother he must be a decent sort,” James said mildly. “I don’t think he will hurt Amy.”
    “I’m sure he won’t, she’s much too valuable a commodity to damage. She’ll be worth more in good condition, don’t you think?” She covered her face with her hands.
    “Calm down, Bea.”
    “You’re calm enough for both of us. It strikes me that you were a lot more upset when Sarah disappeared. Is that because she’s your cousin and Amy is related to me ?”
    “Don’t be absurd, Bea, I know very well that there is great cause for concern. But both of us getting into a state is not going to solve this problem. As soon as the embassy opens in the morning I will be there, and I promise you I will do everything in my power to get Amy back.”
    “Have I been talking to myself, James? The embassy isn’t going to help you, didn’t you learn that ten years ago when Sarah was taken? Diplomats can’t affect the behavior of rebels who don’t care about anything except raising money for their cause.”
    “Then what do you suggest, Bea?” James asked in a tired voice.
    “Call in the only person who might have a chance of negotiating with them.”
    “And who is that?”
    “Kalid Shah.”

 
    Chapter 2
     
    “Mother, why is the Sultan of the United States called the President?” Tariq asked, looking up from his book. His wide dark eyes, so like his father’s, were lively with interest.
    “There is no Sultan in the United States, Tariq, the President is chosen by the people, who vote for him. The office of head of state is elected, not inherited,” Sarah answered.
    “So there is no crown prince, like me?”
    “No.”
    “But then the people don’t know who their President will be until the last minute,” Tariq said, puzzled.
    “That’s true. But they have a chance to change things if they don’t like their present leader,