Chapter 256: Diplomatic Efforts to Ensure the Arab Revolution Begins
"Wa 'alaykumu s-salam"
These were the words spoken by Faisal I bin al-Hussein bin Ali al-Hashemi, the third son of the Grand Emir and Sharif of Mecca, who in Bruno's past life had become the First King of Iraq. There was a genuine tone of hospitality in the words of the Arabic leader as he spoke with the agent of the Kaiser.
Maximilian was a Christian, and a European, a descendent of those primitive barbarians that the Arabic world used to look down upon during their glory days. But there were nearly a thousand years removed since then and now.
During the centuries the Arabic world had stagnated, and eventually fallen behind the Christian European nations whose military might combined was more than enough to rule the entire world, and for the most part they did.
The number of countries in this world that were truly independent, and not subjected to the European sphere of influence at this time could be counted upon with a single hand and its digits. Assuming, of course, one had all of their fingers intact.
Yet despite the arrogance which Europeans were well known for outside their own personal bastions of civilization, there was none on Maximilian's face as he genuinely bowed before the foreign ruler and offered his respect both verbally and in the form of lavish gifts.
The fact that this German emissary had gone out of his way to learn the Arabic language to the point of absolute perfection as a means of preparation for this meeting was even further impressive to the son of the Grand Emir and Sharif of Mecca.
Because of this, Faisal I responded to Maximilian's words with an equal tone of sincerity, as he began to question the reason that he was approached at this time.
"Though I am indeed flattered by the gifts you have brought me, I have to ask, to what do I owe the unusual pleasure of being approached by an agent in service of the German Kaiser? I can't help but wonder, considering the circumstances we find ourselves in, why you would undertake such a dangerous effort simply to speak to a man in my humble position."
Faisal's suspicion was well warranted. After all, Maximilian and his guards had come a long way, penetrating deep into enemy territory in order to speak with a prominent leader among the arab population within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire.