I briefed Hobson as I showed him the weapons and ammo dump. It was only half filled. “You must have ridden like the wind when a Wah! Pathan rode to fetch you!”
“He rode like the wind!” Hobson laughed. “So I could do no less!” Corp of Guides three days behind!”
“Just treat the Khans of the Dacoits ABSOLUTELY equal in every way! Secure the depot before the wedding. Then help the Royal Munshi organize the wedding. The Corp of Guides can be the frosting on the cake. Imperial honor guard! Queen Victoria’s own wedding gift. Or some such! The curse is over so the wedding hopefully will pep up morale no end! Jaisalmer needs a bright sparkly occasion to be happy again!”
“Where are the Godfathers and Godmother finding the target of romance?” Hobson laughed.
“Kidnaping if extortion fails. They know every piece of princely dirty paggri near and far!” I replied. “They have three unsuspecting targets and are simply making the final selection. It is between a homely but very kind hearted but not topnotch Rajput youngest prince, or a socially high standing Rajput minor prince, or a bastard of a top Rajput royal. By bastard I mean born out of wedlock. Nautch girl. But acknowledged! And apparently very nice. I told them I just want the Princess Royal to be happy! Like Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Happy and in love! Why can’t even royals enjoy love eh? The rest will follow!”
“Ledgers sent by secured dak to your mother?” Hobson whispered as he peered over the tops of his dark blue goggles.
“Yes. Under seal. Only to be opened if the truce fails.”
“So you are on to your next city on your hunting walkabout?”
“Yes! Piece of cake!” I pulled out my unexpectedly lucky talisman of a two foot long albino bustard feather and presented it to Hobson. “Yours! Enjoy it! It as been a very lucky talisman for me!”
Hobson laughed that incandescent laugh of his and promptly thrust the preposterous feather into the paggri of his canvas covered wicker tropic helmet and then flashed his most dazzling smile as he saluted me!
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John Nicholson and the Great Mutiny of 1857 