The Weeping Desert Read Online Free

where he could be.
     
    John found himself in a strange narrow yard, beyond which was another inner wall built of slabs of rock crystal, and above the top of that wall he saw a plane tree, the leaves green and vivid. There was another gate in this inner wall, a double gate made of wood and studded with iron. John heard bolts being drawn from the other side and flattened himself against the wall, hoping he would not be squashed as the gate swung back.
    A guard in white robes, rifle slung over his shoulder, went to investigate the noise from the mob outside the iron gate. The guard was shouting at them, ordering them to be quiet and make less noise. But it was impossible for him to make himself heard. In the confusion John edged out from behind the gate and slipped inside the inner wall.
    Then he was in a cool and shady garden with trees and flowers and water trickling out of ornamental fountains. It was so unexpected and beautiful that for a moment he hesitated, forgetting the need for caution. He heard the twittering of birds in an elaborately constructed aviary and caught sight of a flash of brilliant wing. The lush growth of the creeper betrayed its regular watering. The air was full of perfume from the flowers, and the coolness and the gentle sound of the water and the birds made it a place where one wanted to linger.
    John moistened his mouth and wished he could have a drink from the fountain, well water or not, but he did not dare to stop.
    He came into a large courtyard flanked by an arcade of five arches supported by marble pillars, and he saw that through the arches were other, smaller courtyards with doors and archways leading off. Above him was the slender tower of a minaret, and inside its slatted onion-shaped dome shone a vivid blue and gold enamel.
    The mob had somehow convinced the guard that there was an intruder in the gardens, for John heard the guard hurrying back for help. It would only be seconds before the gardens were being thoroughly searched.
    John sought the long shadows and the slim cover of the marble pillars, then slid into the furthermost courtyard of the five. This small courtyard was even more beautiful than the first. In the centre was an ornamental fountain of polished green marble, the water sparkling like crystals as it dropped into the wide basin. There were small palms and climbing plants, jasmine and bougainvillea, urns spilling with flowers, and large exotic dragonflies darting among the blossom.
    John could not pause a moment in this paradise. He opened a creaky, iron-studded door. The hallway was dark and cool, with narrow corridors branching from it in several directions. The size of the place was bewildering; the buildings and grounds must have covered several acres, and yet it was so carefully hidden within the souk that John had not even been aware of its existence before.
    He knew he was in a most dangerous situation. He must hide until it was dark, and then hope he could climb out the way he had climbed in.
    He passed a number of small, tawdry furnished rooms, each a jumble of living and sleeping suites, but which appeared to be in use.
    The last room had an air of quietness and emptiness as he cautiously opened the door. It was larger than the others and the floor was paved in marble. The centre of the ceiling was domed with four carved marble pillars supporting the weight, and glass had been cut into the dome to let in the light. Under the dome was a large oval sunken bath in fine white marble, with a curved armrest and delicately panelled surround. Round the sides of the bath were small ornamental gold pipes which supplied water from all directions, and small steps led down to it.
    John drew back his breath in amazement. It was quite the most beautiful bathroom he had ever seen. It seemed to be from another world, another century, for the walls were exquisitely tiled with ancient floral designs and in each corner of the room was a small fountain above a shell-shaped basin of