Chapters 22-24 Summary

Riding a sailboat into exile, survivors of the three-day battle talk about the dead: Mehmed Haidar, the Nachararyan whole family (killed by Ali's machine guns), and most men of the mosque, already wearing shrouds. Iljas has survived but fled town. The Shirvanshir home is sacked. Nino, who had heard rumors of Ali's death, sits trembling. Safar Khan discussing legends with the boatman angers Ali, for Asia has fallen. His father corrects: the borders have merely shifted again. Even if the Muslims had won, Baku would have been further Europeanized. One need not lust wildly for blood. Like all old Persians, Safar Khan knows of another world into which he can withdraw and be unassailable. Ali and his contemporaries see only present events. As Ali looks out over the Caspian, Nino asks what they will do in Persia, a land asleep for...