“Don’t tell anyone. Don’t tell even Girzilla.”
“No.”
“Swear it.”
“By the beard of the prophet, I swear!”
“Well, you know the Mahdi has a great deal more ceremony shown him now than at first. His hands and feet are washed before he stretches himself on your uncle’s sacred carpet.”
“Yes, I know that.”
“You also know that he must pour the water into the basin himself.”
“Yes.”
“Well, the Mahdi stood ready for the water. A big Arab held the basin, another came with a leather bottle, filled with the sacred water. The Mahdi took the bottle and poured some into the basin; but he nearly fell with fright.”
“Why?”