Was he never to reach this land? Were all the
dreams of his youth to come to naught, and the prophecies made by
the woman who had told his mother that he was to be a hero, to
remain unfulfilled? And was Masa to remain unavenged in her cold
grave? He has duties to fulfil toward wife and children. But revenge
is also a sacred duty, and he has sworn to himself a thousand times,
that he will perform this duty. Vengeance for Masa! Vengeance on
him! The hour has come! Grasp the occasion! He may fail in his
career, but, if successful, his success will be great, divine. It
will be heavenly, if he must die, to fall on the field of battle
amid the roar of artillery, and the clash of arms. Such a death were
far preferable to a life like that he now leads, protracted through
long, weary years. Who has brought about this struggle, and
implanted these aspirations in his breast? It is Allah's work! In
his early youth, his mother had told him of her dreams, and hope for
her boy! Who was it that arose from the waves and permitted him to
see in her dewy hand a sword and a crown! It was Masa, his Masa!
These three, Allah, his mother, and Masa, have spoken to him, and
Mohammed has heard and understood their words.
As he stands there on the verge of the cliff, gazing out into the
distance, and listening to the sea murmuring at his feet, he now
feels that he is the instrument chosen to do great deeds.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362