In Love with the Czarina and Other Stories (Paperback)

Excerpt: ...Dzsin." "That is impossible. A Dzsin is not a doll, my darling. Do you not know, from the tales your women tell you daily, that if you tread upon a talisman you will force a spirit to appear who will be always at your bidding, but who will rend you asunder if you do not keep him continually employed?" But she was so delighted with this new idea that she would not allow herself to forget it for a moment. Next day she said to Bajazet, "Bring me a Dzsin, and be here to order him about for me " "It is impossible. Dzsins do not tolerate the presence of another man near a woman." "What idiots the Dzsins must be " The third day she said to Bajazet: "My Pg 85 lightning, my love, I have a desire which I want you to fulfil." "It is already fulfilled, if you really desire it." "What I wish is this, that when you next start against the Dzsins you will take me with you." Oh tempting heart of woman "My morning star, my darling, what would you do in the midst of battle? It is a cruel tempest, where lightning rages. The glittering stars have no place there. The thoughts of your heart are alluring songs heard amidst the thunder and tempest of the battle. There is no room there for your sweet soul. If you pass a mown meadow, you weep over every flower which has been trampled under foot. The battle blood flows from the cut-down human flowers. How could you see this? You would die at the sight of it." But women do not give way. "I want to see how thousands of Dzsins melt away at your glance; to note how they fall to the ground when you only look at them. Does not the song say this? 'They are numerous and come in great numbers. Their noise, like thunder, makes heaven tremble. My Djildirim steps forward, and they fall to the ground, and their voices fill hell.' Does not the song say, 'The opponents' leader is a metal idol, but Bajazet is the lightning, and the lightning melts the metal.' Does not the song tell the truth?" Bajazet had to admit that all was true which...