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March 1942
FILMINDIA
His ministers gazed at him, and at each other, with startled eyes and a murmur cf dismay and protest. Only General Salaar was silent. But young Shah Alam Khan heeded none ot them. Bright-eyed, he turned to the great clay map that was marked with the miniature swords. He snatched the jewelled dagger from his belt; and raising it high in the air, he plunged it point downwards into the kingdom of Yaghistan.
THE FOURTH CROWtf
Amazingly, he was successful. In the teeth of all reason his tiny army, attacking suddenly and with a fierceness out of ail proportion to its size, stormed the mighty walls of Yaghistan, and broke through. Led by Shah Alam Khan himself, elated and inspired by the very prophecy that served to demoralise their opponents, there was no withstanding that tiny army. Less than two days saw
the power and pride of overbearing Yaghistan humbled to the dust, her king a captive, her army defeated, the shadow of her constant menace removed at last from the people of Zarzar.
Shah Alam Khan stood in the sacked and ruined palace and tried on the royal crown, which was of rubies, and famous. It became him well.
"This goes to my Trophy House," he said. "But first send quickly to the state prison and release the Court Astrologer. Have him taken to Zarzar in state, with a fitting escort. He is a man to be honoured."
They freed the Court Astrologer, and brought him before Shah Alam Khan. He was a plump, well-ordered, woridly man, Arif by name; the ccuriier rather than the ascetic; but his eyes were fathomless.
"It would appear," said Shah Alam Khan, "that Allah has blessed you with great knowledge and cursed you with a rcsh tongue."
"My royal master insisted on hearing the truth. Majesty," said the astrologer simply.
"Seeing it was so unpalatable, were you not afraid of being slain?" asked Shah Alam Khan.
"No, Majesty. The time of my death is known to me, and it is not for many years yet," said Arif. "But I hated prison."
"Cast my horoscope," said Shah Alam Khan. "Leave out nothing; you need fear no punishment from me. I am curious to know what the future holds for me. I know what I wish it to hold."
ARIF'S PROPHESY
While the horoscope was being cast he walked again in his Trophy House; but this time alone. He looked with pride at the fresh array of spoil that heaped it. He took down the new crown from its place, the ruby crown of Yaghistan; and his eyes were fierce with greed of gain and lust of power. He stood with it in his hands, gazing far beyond the beautiful inlaid walls of the Trophy House at a vision of illimitable conquests.
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