Chapter 28

           ‘ThedefeatedSherifAlifledthecountrywithoutmakinganotherstand,andwhenthemiserablehuntedvillagersbegantocrawloutofthejunglebacktotheirrottinghouses,itwasJimwho,inconsultationwithDainWaris,appointedtheheadmen.Thushebecamethevirtualruleroftheland.AstooldTunkuAllang,hisfearsatfirsthadknownnobounds.Itissaidthatattheintelligenceofthesuccessfulstormingofthehillheflunghimself,facedown,onthebamboofloorofhisaudience-hall,andlaymotionlessforawholenightandawholeday,utteringstifledsoundsofsuchanappallingnaturethatnomandaredapproachhisprostrateformnearerthanaspear’slength.AlreadyhecouldseehimselfdrivenignominiouslyoutofPatusan,wandering,abandoned,stripped,withoutopium,withouthiswomen,withoutfollowers,afairgameforthefirstcomertokill.AfterSherifAlihisturnwouldcome,andwhocouldresistanattackledbysuchadevil?AndindeedheowedhislifeandsuchauthorityashestillpossessedatthetimeofmyvisittoJim’sideaofwhatwasfairalone.TheBugishadbeenextremelyanxioustopayoffoldscores,andtheimpassiveoldDoramincherishedthehopeofyetseeinghissonrulerofPatusan.Duringoneofourinterviewshedeliberatelyallowedmetogetaglimpseofthissecretambition.Nothingcouldbefinerinitswaythanthedignifiedwarinessofhisapproaches.Hehimselfhebeganbydeclaringhadusedhisstrengthinhisyoungdays,butnowhehadgrownoldandtired....

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