CHAPTER 9THE NEXT FRIDAY MORNING I heard the sound of drumming. Guards led me into a courtyard full of rows of benches, all occupied. A full house, I thought.
The drumming had stopped. There was a murmur as some spectators caught sight of me. The view of others was impeded by the canopies under which they sat and they rose to their feet and moved to one side to get a better view. The murmur rose to an angry clamor. One man raised his fist and called out an insult I could not understand. Some sort of official banged a gavel on his table and called the assembly to order, but without noticeable effect. I was led to a chair at a table, with a guard seated on either side of me, the hostile audience behind us. I was scared. Such was the animosity of that crowd that I thought I might well be dra
