Authors: Eboni Snoe
‘ ‘Do you remember my friend, Imam Anwar Jabar of Mauritania? He visited us here at Karib nearly three years ago during a special festival. I saw him in A1 Kharijah yesterday. He and a young woman, who I suppose must work with social matters in his country, were responsible for it.”
“But how would they have known about the problem Falam faced unless someone here told them about it?
Maybe someone from the Egyptian government informed them. That is good and bad news, my father.”
“Yes, it is. But you know that Allah in his mercy cannot always protect us from the karma that we ourselves have created. Your mother does not always agree with me on this. She says we are one with ‘The One’ if only we would allow ourselves to claim the power.”
“Yes, that I know. But what karma do you now speak
of?”
“There are two things. First, though I look healthier and feel better, I am not a well man. The doctors in Cairo say that I am quite ill. They say I will need blood transfusions from time to time, if I am to stay alive.”
‘ ‘Well, that should not cause you great concern. Blood transfusions are routine in the western world. It should not be difficult in a major city like Cairo.”
“It is not a problem for the doctors in Cairo. It is a problem for me, Na’im. I have a rare blood type that they do not have. It would have to come from someone who is of blood kinship to me with the same type blood.”
“Since I am your only surviving relative, it would have to be me.”
“But you cannot help me, my son. We have already checked. We sent for your medical files while we were in Cairo. Your blood does not match. It is like your mother’s. That is why it is so important for you to decide on the marriage I have arranged between you and Waheedah Farouk. I want to know you are married to an Egyptian woman who will strengthen our bloodline for generations to come before I die. It is also important because she has scheduled an Awya in two days. She and her family will arrive tomorrow with an entourage. I received an official announcement from her father this morning. He speaks of
the shame his daughter faces because you have not claimed her. She feels performing the ‘challenge dance’, carrying on the traditions of our ancestors, is the only honorable, way to force you into making a decision.”
Na’im walked over to the window and gazed out over the wall that surrounded his home, into the village of Karib. The villagers had always looked to his father to guide them and protect them. In his absence, they would look to him for the same things.
“Don’t worry, my father. After the challenge dance,
I will make the right decision.”
Chapter Thirty
“The problem is we’ve developed a serum that will only be administered to less than one-fourth of the people who really need it.”
During the entire project, Felicia had never seen William so emotional. Lines of frustration creased his forehead as he continued to speak.
“As a liquid, we found it simply evaporated when placed in extremely hot temperatures. As a tablet, the heat simply reduced it to a liquid and then it evaporated. The serum has to be kept at temperatures no higher than forty- five degrees Fahrenheit, and that means refrigerators or coolers of some sort would be a must. These people are not equipped for that.”
“That’s true,” Phillip added, “but even if they were, electricity is a problem here. When the power is switched off in most of these smaller villages, the refrigerators wouldn’t do them any good anyway.”
‘ ‘I know,’ ’ Felicia stated, ‘ ‘I thought about all of this on my way over here this morning. Our problem has been trying to find a form of trehalose that would be easy for the people to use. My mind is full of everything that’s
happening
now-the project, Kareem. He seems to be in limbo. A sort of coma, but a self-induced one. So I thought, what if we could reduce trehalose to a limbo state, freeze- dried state.”
“Alright. What if we could?” George countered.
‘ ‘I catch your drift. Filly,’ ’ Phillip interjected, his eyes narrowing with understanding. “A freeze-dried state would mean there would be no liquid to evaporate, but the essence of the trehalose would be the same.”
“That’s right Say it was freeze-dried into powder form; all that would be needed to activate it is a liquid of some kind, even saliva.”
“Felicia,” William said, slapping his clipboard, “I think you’ve got something there.”
“Hey, well what are we waiting for?” an impetuous George edged them on. “Let’s get started.”
George and William patted Felicia on the shoulder, while Phillip gave her a meaningful hug. At that moment their appreciation and acceptance of her meant more than they could have imagined.
Later that afternoon, Fatimah brought word to Felicia that Aisha had arrived. She also announced that they were expected to attend dinner that evening in order to meet the sheik.
“Whoa, so the big cheese is back. It’s good that we’ve just about completed our work. He might not have the same reason to welcome us as Na’im did,” Phillip quipped, casting a meaningful glance in Felicia’s direction.
“Well I’ve heard that the sheik’s a pretty nice guy. I don’t see any reason why he would want to throw us off his property,” George countered, defending Fatimah’s uncle.
‘ ‘George, if you heard that from the person I think you did, I know you’d believe anything she told you,” Felicia teased.
George blushed with embarrassment.
Well, I think we’ve done all we can do at the moment. Let’s get ready for dinner. And remember, wear your finest, lady and gents,” Phillip grinned. “You’ll be in the presence of semi-royalty.”
Felicia stopped by Kareem’s room on her way to her own. She was glad she hadn’t seen Na’im since last night. Somehow it made things easier.
Aisha was seated on the bed next to Kareem with her back turned. Her tiny frame appeared almost as small as the child’s. Peaceful slate gray eyes turned to meet her as she entered the room.
“Felicia, my child.”
“It was so kind of you to come, Aisha. Just your presence seems to soothe me. ”
“That is good for my heart to hear. But my presence does not seem to help the little one,” she replied, looking down at Kareem.
“What do you think is wrong with him?”
‘ ‘I know what is wrong with him, my child. But there is nothing I can do unless I can encourage his soul to want to remain here with us.”
‘ ‘You mean he wants to die?’ ’
“That is true. Do you know why?”
“All I know is he talked of joining his mother, who is dead, before he slipped into this coma-like state.”
‘ ‘And that’s what he has willed himself to do. His spirit lingers in the doorway between life and death.”
“Is that possible? Well, how do we call him back, Aisha?”
“We cannot. I must convince his mother that she
should encourage him to come back. I have done all I can to call his spirit back to this side. Did the boy speak of seeing his mother?”
“No. He seemed to communicate with her through his dreams.”
‘ ‘Then we must wait until tonight when his mother will be nearest to the portal through which he would join her. I will try to reach her then.”
Aisha tilted her silver gray head to the side. ‘ ‘And how are you, my child?”
“Aisha, so many things have happened since the last time I saw you.”
“We will talk. You determine the time.”
Felicia hugged the small woman and replied, ‘ ‘I will.’ ’
The table was more elaborately set than Felicia had ever seen it. Silverware with golden handles lay beside china patterned with ancient Egyptian figures and hiero
glyphics.
Felicia was the last to enter the dining room. She had dressed to perfection. A sky blue, floor length dress with a full skirt floated around her as she entered. To herself, she had commended Na’im for his taste in clothes when she saw herself in the mirror. The wide neckline was enticing, showing part of her smooth shoulders, but modest enough to show only a hint of bustline.
The bodice resembled a leotard, form fitting and smooth.
She wore her braided hair away from her face. Mas
sive curls tumbled down from the top of her head, and down the center, ending in a profusion of ebony loveliness below her shoulder blades. Large topaz earrings glowed brightly against her dark skin.
‘ ‘Well done, my dear,” Phillip whispered as she seated herself between he and William.
Sheik Rahman nodded his head in her direction and Na’im’s mother did the same. Na’im, who was seated to the sheik’s right, simply stared.
‘ ‘I understand there is much that has happened here in my absence, my son.”
‘ ‘Yes, much indeed. These people are members of the science research team that I spoke of to you earlier.” “Yes, you did mention that. I did not know that you had such a strong interest in these things,” the sheik said, looking at Felicia. “But after reading the letter we received from the Egyptian government, I commend you for taking advantage of the subsidies program. I believe it does promote international relations, as well as provide an opportunity for villages like ours to increase our economic position.”
Turning to Felicia and the others, the sheik questioned them with just the right amount of politeness. ‘ ‘Have you had an opportunity to enjoy any of the sights of our country, or has your work occupied the majority of your time?”
“I was able to get out some. Sir, and so has Felicia,” George answered, ‘ ‘but most of our time has been spent on our work.”
“I see. So maybe you will find the festival to be held here day after tomorrow of interest. That is, if you can take time out to join us.”
Phillip leaned forward, trying not to drop any of the hummus, or chickpea puree on his clothes. ‘ ‘What kind of festival is it, may I ask?’ ’
“It is called Awya, an ancient custom among our people. It is a challenge dance.”
Felicia’s dark eyes flew to Fatimah’s face and then to Na’im’s. The challenge dance! So that’s what the special
announcement
was about. Waheedah was challenging Na’im to make a decision about their marriage. Felicia suddenly felt as if she could hardly breathe. First she hears from the sheik that Na’im had not just offered them the use of facilities for their science project out of the kindness of his heart, and now this!
She took several sips of the warm minty concoction that sat near her plate in an attempt to regain her compo
sure. Felicia’s reaction was not lost on Na’im’s mother, who sat at the opposite end of the table from the sheik. She’d studied Felicia from the moment she’d seated herself at the table.
“Did the young man say your name is Felicia?” “Yes, he did.”
“You look so familiar. Are you not the young woman who we met yesterday in A1 Kharijah with Imam Jabbar?” Felicia had not had time to recover from hearing about Waheedah’s planned Awya. Now Na’im’s mother had recognized her. There was nothing she could do but tell the truth.
“Yes. I did have the pleasure of meeting you and the sheik yesterday.”
“Yasmin, you are right,” the sheik confirmed.
“You mean Felicia is the young woman you spoke of, who helped arrange the transporting of women from Mauritania to Falam?” Na’im could barely conceal his astonishment.
The sheik regarded Na’im questioningly, as he heard the current of underlying emotions in his voice. “Yes, she is the one of whom I spoke.”
Felicia didn’t blink an eye as Na’im looked at her. She no longer cared how he felt about what she had done. He hadn’t thought enough of her to even tell her about his government “deal” or to inform his parents about their relationship.
In meeting them at the table tonight, it was obvious that their interest in her was no more than they had in the other research team members. There Na’im sat so quietly while his father announced the challenge dance. She was glad she had something to throw back in his face; to hurt him just as he was hurting her by his silence.
From that point on, the conversation took a turn. The sheik and Yasmin showered Felicia with questions about the transaction and about Jabar. She answered them as best she could. It wasn’t easy because Na’im’s emblazoned eyes were glued to her face.
After dinner, everyone moved to the reception area. Phillip and the other research members soon excused themselves to work on the project. Felicia walked them to the door and told them she would join them shortly.
Na’im had situated his tall frame against a column that stood between Felicia and the adjoining room. Defiantly, she walked right past him without casting him a single glance.
“Felicia, I need to speak with you.”
“You do? I can’t imagine why. You didn’t think enough of me to mention me to your parents.”
‘ ‘The time was not right.”
“When will the time be right, Na’im? After you have married Waheedah and I’m back in the States. I don’t know how I’ve allowed this to go as far as it has. I should have trusted my instincts, and not my body and you.”