"And who could turn them better than Rudyard?" she said. Her voice
dropped the bantering tone. "What's this bit about making Guemama
war-chief of the Tuareg? Isn't he on the young and enthusiastic
side?"
Cliff scowled. "You mean that youngster? Why he can't be more than in
his early twenties."
Crawford was looking after the young Targui who was disappearing into
his uncle's tent on the far side of the rapidly growing encampment.
"You mean the age of Napoleon in the Italian campaign, or Alexander at
Issus?" he asked. Isobel began to respond to that, but he shook his
head. "He's the Amenokal's nephew, and traditionally would probably
get the position anyway. He's the most popular of the young tribesmen,
and it's going to be they who do the fighting. Having the appointment
come from El Hassan, and at this early point, will just bind him
closer. Besides that, he's a natural born warrior. Typical.
Enthusiastic, bold, brave and with the military mind."
"What's a military mind?" Cliff said.
"He can take off his shirt without unbuttoning his collar," Homer told
him.
"Very funny," Cliff grumbled.