The Moghul Page 18

  "Your beginning has been impressive, Captain Hawksworth. But now youmust still maintain your advantage." Mirza Nuruddin watched asHawksworth threw a double five and a two, advancing two of his fourpieces into the central square. The crowd groaned, coins began tochange hands. "You have gained _rasida _for two pieces. I'll save timeand concede this game. But we have six more to play. _Chaupar _is a bitlike life. It favors those with endurance."

  As the board was cleared for the next game, Mirza Nuruddin rose andstrode to the end of the court. The wind was coming up now, as italways did on this monthly night of full moon and tide, sweeping up theriver bringing the fresh salt air of the sea. And the currents would beshifting along the coast, as sandbars one by one were submerged by theincoming tide. He barked an inconsequential order to a hovering servantand then made his way back to the board, his guests partingautomatically before him. The drinking crowd had already begun to turnboisterous, impatient for the appearance of the women. As always, the_nautch _girls would remain for additional entertainment after theirdance, in private quarters available in the rambling new palace.

  "This game I will throw first." The Shahbandar seated himself, andwatched as Hawksworth drew on a tankard of brandy, especially providedfor the Europeans present. Then Mirza Nuruddin made a deft twist of thecup and the ivories dropped on the carpet in a neat row of three sixes.A servant

  barked the numbers and the crowd pressed forward as one to watch.