Khartoum Page #5

sit down.

May I ask a question?

If it's impertinent,

I withdraw it.

Why did you let them

talk you into this mission?

As is well known, I regard

myself as a religious man...

yet, I belong to no church.

I'm an able soldier,

but I abhor armies.

I could even add

that I've been introduced...

to hundreds of women,

yet I've never married.

In other words, no one's

ever talked me into anything.

Does that answer your question?

No, sir.

Then let me suggest that

my life is not an open book...

to you, to any man,

least of all to myself.

With your permission, General,

I think I need a turn on deck.

Send a telegram

as soon as we reach Calais.

Sir Evelyn Baring, Cairo.

Locate immediately

whereabouts Zobeir Pasha.

Signed, Gordon.

That's spelt Z-O-B-E-l-R.

Yes, sir.

I expected outrageous nonsense

from you, Gordon.

I expected the worst,

but Zobeir Pasha.

Even the Khedive was appalled.

I see nothing outrageous,

Sir Evelyn.

Zobeir's a Sudanese.

He used to be the most

important man down there.

He's able, wise,

still has a powerful influence.

You'd like to take Zobeir

with you to Khartoum...

to give him control

over the Sudan.

Gordon,

the man is a slave trader.

Was a slave trader.

My instructions

are to evacuate Khartoum...

and leave

some sort of order behind.

How?

Well, most of the chiefs...

Ioyal to the Mahdi today

used to be loyal to Zobeir.

I think

they'd come back to him.

Sir Evelyn, I cannot go

to Khartoum without a plan.

- I insist on seeing Zobeir.

- Why would he see you?

You not only put him

out of the slave trade...

you killed his son

in the process.

I must take the chance.

One must always take chances.

Why is Towfik making us wait?

Well, Sir Evelyn,

it's been my experience...

that when you're giving

orders to sovereign princes...

you have to expect

a little humiliation.

It makes them feel better.

Humbly, Highness,

I accept this command...

as Governor General

of the Sudan...

and I swear to you

my devoted service.

Do you understand,

Gordon Pasha...

that your wages

will only be 6,000 a year?

It is all I can afford.

I'll take 2,000.

It's all I need.

What about a B & S?

Sir.

God be with us.

Zobeir Pasha, you are well?

General Gordon

goes to Khartoum...

as Governor General

for the Khedive.

He pays you his compliments,

and he would speak with you.

This is my aide,

Colonel Stewart.

We come from London, Zobeir.

My government is determined

to lend Egypt no support...

in the face of the uprising

and to prevail on the Khedive...

to relinquish control

over the Sudan.

Sir Evelyn

will confirm what I say.

This is unwise.

There will be ruin...

and death, and tears,

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