hen　Olive　boasted　that　he

was　keeping　guard　over　the　forbidden　dervish　lodge。　If　they　didn’t　trust　me；

suspecting some ruse behind my words； the dagger was in their hands； they

were　free　to　mete　out　my　punishment　then　and　there。

Butterfly landed two more heavy blows of the dagger that most armor

could　not　have　withstood。　He　turned　to　Black；　who　believed　what　I　told　them；

and　screamed　at　him　childishly。　I　came　up　from　behind；　put　my　armor…plated

arm　around　Butterfly’s　neck　and　drew　him　toward　me。　Bending　his　other　arm

back with my free hand； I made him drop the dagger。 We weren’t quite

struggling； nor were we entirely playing。 I recounted a similar； little…known

scene　in　the　Book　of　Kings。

“On　the　third　day　of　a　confrontation　between　Persian　and　Turanian　armies

fully equipped in armor and weaponry and arrayed at the foot of Mount

Hamaran； the Turanians sent the wily Shengil into the field to learn the

identity　of　a　mysterious　Persian　who’d　killed　a　great　Turanian　warrior　on　each

of　the　previous　two　days；”　I　began。　“Shengil　challenged　the　mysterious　warrior；

403

and　he　accepted。　The　armies；　their　armor　glimmering　brightly　in　the　afternoon

sun； watched with bated breath。 The armored horses of the two warriors

engaged　each　other　with　such　speed　that　sparks　flying　from　t