Birds of Prey

"Deck!" The hail from the lookout rang out of the lightening sky.

"Masthead?" Hal threw his head back and looked up. "Signal from the shore!"

Hal turned quickly with the cloak swirling about him.

Above the walls of Zulla three bright red lights hung in the dawn sky, and as he watched they floated gracefully back to earth.

"Three Chinese rockets!" Aboli said. "The recall signal." "Put the ship about, please, Mister Tyler," said Hal, and went to the rail as the ship swung round.

"Boat putting out from the pard" came Aboli's hail.

Hal peered ahead and, out of the gloom, saw the shape of a small dhow coming to meet them. As the range closed and the light strengthened, he felt his heart leap and his breath come shorter.

In the bows stood a figure in unfamiliar garb, a woman who wore a blue caftan and a head cloth of the same colour. As the boat drew alongside she lifted the cloth from her head and Hal saw the glorious dark crown of her hair.

He was waiting for her at the entry port When Judith Nazet stepped onto the deck, he greeted her awkwardly. "Good morrow, General Nazet."

"I am a general no longer. Now I am only a common maid named Judith.".

"You are welcome, Judith."

"I came as soon as I was able." Her voice was husky and uncertain. "Now at last Iyasu is crowned, and the Tabernacle has gone back to its resting place in the mountains."

"I had despaired of you," he said.

"No, El Tazar. Never do that," she answered him.

With surprise, Hal saw that the dhow was already on its way back to the shore. It had unloaded no baggage. "You have brought nothing with you? "he asked.

"Only my heart, "she replied softly. "I am southward bound," he said. "Wherever you go, my lord, I go also."

Hal turned to Ned Tyler. "Bring the ship round. Lay her on the other tack. Course to clear Dahlak Island, and then south for the Bah El Mandeb. Full and by, Mister Tyler."

"Full and by it is, Captain." Ned gri

As the Golden Bough ran out to meet the dawn, Hal stood tall on her quarterdeck, his left hand resting lightly on the sapphire in the pommel of the Neptune Sword. With his other arm he reached out and drew Judith Nazet Closer to him. She came willingly.

The End