Authors: Eboni Snoe
“I wonder if your granduncle ever had to use it.”
“I believe he did. And that is why we are here now. Once we pass the next curve, there is a space large enough for a room. It is located in the center of the tunnel between the two openings. As children, Na’im and I considered it our personal treasure room. We took a vow of secrecy not to tell anyone, not even our parents. To this day, I have told
no
one. I don’t know about Na’im. After we got older, Na’im and I no longer played together. I only came to the estate with my mother to visit. I had forgotten about it until today.”
What Felicia saw when she rounded the comer was quite a disappointment. To children it may have been a treasure room, but to their adult eyes it was far from that.
There were a few canvas-like bags piled closely together, and because of the years that had passed, they fell apart with the slightest touch from Felicia’s hands.
‘ ‘Well, I guess anything we might have used from these bags has rotted just like they have,” Felicia remarked, trying not to sound too disheartened.
“I knew we could not use the clothing that is in the bags, but there may be something else we can salvage.”
Fatimah set the oil lamp down on the ground and removed a file from inside her dress. Taking both hands, she began to dismantle the pile of bags. Beneath them lay a large metal case made of heavy copper.
“Felicia, this is what we came for. I do not believe there is anything of great value here or my granduncle would never have left it. Those sacks were full of plain pagnes and melayas, perhaps for my grandaunt and her servants. This case may have been hers as well. Once Na’im tried to open it with a stone,’ ’ Fatimah said, pointing to several dents in the rusted lock.
Fatimah struck the lock several times with the metal file. Because of its age, it gave way. It took both of the women to open the lid and lay it back against the wall of the tunnel.
A canvas bag like the ones that were now scattered about lay flat over the contents of the case. Fatimah removed it. In the left hand comer of the case lay several pagnes of quality, but the fabric was not what Fatimah or Felicia had in mind. At the bottom of the stack they found a bundle wrapped in goat skin.
“Allah be praised,” Fatimah expressed with amaze
ment. Inside laid the most remarkable material Felicia had ever seen. It looked like spun gold and felt metallic to the touch.
Fatimah lifted it out of its wrapping and found it to still be strong and viable. Evidently, the moisture in the tunnel was not able to penetrate the metal, even after all these years.
“This is so beautiful,” Felicia remarked breathlessly. ‘ ‘It looks like a dress that was never finished.’ ’
‘ ‘I think you are right. Here are more pieces of the same material that is uncut.”
Fatimah held the material against Felicia’s dark skin. The contrast of brown and gold was stunning.
‘ ‘Now this is the material for your costume,’ ’ Fatimah said with conviction.
Felicia wholeheartedly agreed.
They also found some hair ornaments that were unique, and a small brass container with ornamental beads inside. Several strings that Fatimah said were from a camel’s tail were also inside the container. It was evident the beads were intended to be strung into a necklace or a bracelet, using the camel hair as the cord.
It was hard for Felicia to believe her good fortune. Before, life had consisted of only what she could see and touch, and what could be explained through the many branches of the scientific realm. Meeting Aisha had helped to change that. Her beliefs were far from scientific, but they had worked for Aunt Esme, for herself and for Kareem. And now this. For over three generations, this
metal
case had rested here unopened, as if waiting for the precise time when she would need its contents. Could it be coincidence, or was Aisha right again, that her will was actually one with ‘The One’?
Fatimah looked at her friend. “Let us wrap the material and beads and take them with us.”
“Alright.” Felicia’s thoughts at that moment were so profound, that was all she could manage to say.
They did not bother putting the bags on top of the case before making their way back to the hidden door. Fatimah cracked the door before opening it. The room was silent, clearing the way for them to leave the east wing and make it back to Felicia’s room undiscovered.
Felicia walked over to one of the bedroom windows, stretching all the way.
“You know, it’s funny, I haven't seen Na’im all day. I know I’ve spent the majority of the day here in my room, but I thought I would have heard something from him.” Wistfully she added, “Maybe my challenging Waheedah won’t do me any good.”
“It is not you, Felicia, that keeps him away. He has been placed in solitude. It is one of the customs of Awya. He will not be seen by anyone except the keepers before the ceremony begins. There is something you must do as well. You must find someone to present you when the time comes. I cannot because I am a blood relative of Na’im’s.” ‘ ‘Then I will ask Aisha.”
“Good. Now we must hurry with the beading. You will need to be well rested for tomorrow.”
In the distance Felicia could hear a vaguely familiar noise, followed by another and another, until the clear sound of cymbals was heard coming from somewhere on the estate grounds.
“Were those cymbals I just heard?”
“Yes. The day of Awya has begun.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
It was nearly two in the morning when Fatimah and Felicia finished her costume. Felicia was exhausted, but it was hard for her to sleep. She awakened early that morning. The excitement and the enigma surrounding Awya seemed to dominate her sleeping and waking hours.
Her dreams were filled with the clashing of cymbals. She could see herself twirling around and around like a ballerina doll in a jewelry box. She knew she had slept, but she didn’t feel rested.
Feeling the need to talk with someone, Felicia threw on a top and her jeans. She thought she would stop by Fatimah’s room for a few moments to bolster her confi
dence and calm her nerves. Surprisingly enough, she was met by Fatimah who was approaching her bedroom door.
“Good morning, Fatimah. I was on my way to find you. I’m so nervous, I don’t know what I’m going to do.’ ’ “I think this is natural. So donot worry. I myself am rather afraid this morning. Someone has told Ilyas that George has asked the sheik for my hand in marriage. I believe it was one of the servants. I could hear him talking loudly as I reached the kitchen this morning. When I entered, there was silence. I have seen Ilyas angry before.
but never like this. His eyes were like black coals when he questioned me. I thought of George, but I could not deny it. This is not good, Felicia. As you will see, my people’s emotions are very high during festivals like Awya. I must go and warn George to stay away from Ilyas until the sheik has given his permission. Then Ilyas would be prohibited by law from harming him. George will not like this, I know.”
“Yes, I think you better warn George. So much is going on now.” Felicia could tell that Fatimah was shaken by whatever Ilyas had said to her, and she felt a little guilty for her calm reaction. ‘ ‘I suppose it seems like I can only think about myself, Fatimah, but you know Tm just as concerned as you are.’ ’
“Yes, I know you are,” Fatimah smiled apprehensively. Oh-I just left Aisha. She is looking forward to seeing you this morning. She remains in the room with Kareem. You should go right away and talk to her. She also has something for you. I will meet you in your room, later.’ ’
Felicia gave Fatimah an encouraging squeeze of the shoulder as they both left the room. Fatimah disappeared out of the west wing entrance, while Felicia continued further down the hall into the interior. As she passed the front foyer, one of the servants was holding the door open, while another threw shredded lotus petals inside and outside the entrance. She also noticed the women were dressed in white melayas instead of the customary black ones Felicia was used to seeing.
Roasting spits were being set up inside the wall near the west end of the grounds. Several servants were skewering a goat and mounting it over one of four pits. Smoke billowed from piles of damp wood, while fish from the Nile was placed above it and enclosed in mini-canvas tents.
Felicia could see a large platform being erected in the distance. The faint melodic voices of some of the workers flowed on the wind, reflecting their anticipation of things to come. Felicia, too, could feel the excitement, and tremors of expectation ran through her.
Aisha was alone when Felicia entered the room. It had been rearranged to accommodate the small guest. The sheik had offered Aisha a separate room, but she had refused, stating the length of her stay at that point did not merit it.
Aisha had wound her extremely long braid in a coil on top of her head. To Felicia it looked like a crown of twisted silver. Her armchair had been replaced with a twin-sized bed, and a table with two chairs occupied the only available space that was left. There, in one of the chairs, Aisha sat waiting for Felicia.
“Come and sit, my child. I am told that you and Fatimah worked until the early morning hours on your dress fat Awya. So, it is correct to assume it was hard for you to sleep?”
“Yes. It was.”
“That is why I invited you to visit with me this morning. From my own herbs, I have prepared a special elixir to calm your nerves, as well as strengthen you for the event to come.”
Aisha placed a tiny cheesecloth-type pouch, tied with string, into the ceramic cup in front of Felicia. A scent similar to apples wafted up to Felicia’s nostrils, and she inhaled deeply the pleasant fragrance.
“Chamomile has been used by my ancestors for centuries. They thought it so precious it was dedicated to ‘Ra’, the god of the sun. I have also added a touch of ginseng from the Orient. It is the ginseng that will give you endurance.”
“You sound like I’m going to run the Boston mara
thon.” Out of nervousness, Felicia attempted to lighten the mood. “I admit I’m somewhat out of shape. I haven’t exercised since I came here, but how hard can one dance be?”
“Awya is not a single dance, Felicia. Once you challenge Waheedah, it will continue until one of you drops from exhaustion.’ ’
“Oh...so that’s how it goes. So she has a definite advantage over me,” Felicia stated, realization setting in. “She's a dancer, and she has probably been preparing for this for the last few weeks.”
‘ ‘But she does not know that she will be challenged. It is you who knows that.”
Felicia sipped the elixir and reflected on what Aisha had said.
“Right now, I just wonder what I will prove by doing this.”
“Only you know the true answer to that. It is still not too late to change your mind, my child.” Soft silver eyes looked into Felicia’s almond-shaped brown ones.
“I won’t change my mind. Will you present me at Awya this evening, Aisha?”
“I will be most honored to do so.”
After returning to her room and taking a nap, Felicia woke up feeling
well-rested and exuberant. The chamomile had done its job in relaxing her. Reaching on the nightstand beside the bed, she retrieved the pouch of chamomile Aisha had given her before she left Kareem’s room.
‘ ‘Add this to your bath, Felicia. It will soothe and relax your muscles. One hour before Awya, drink no more than a thumb’s length of ginseng tea. It is very powerful in its pure form. You will need it.”
The tile felt warm beneath Felicia’s feet as she walked to the tub. Turning on the tap, she sprinkled the entire pouch of chamomile into the running water. Sitting on the tiled edge, she trailed her feet in its bubbling mass until the water reached an inch below her knees.
The water seemed to enfold her, as she slipped into its wetness, reminding her of the feeling of Na’im’s warm arms when he used to hold her.
Felicia moaned as she lathered her body with myrrh scented soap. Her need for Na’im was so strong, even her own hands seemed to stimulate her. She closed her eyes, allowing her mind and its fantasies to ease the pang of her desire. Her thoughts of Na’im were so strong, it was as if he were there beside her. The feel of him, his smell, as real as her own.
Na’im sought comfort in the foaming hot waters that surrounded him no more than two miles away from where Felicia bathed. The heat of the almost scalding water was a welcome balance to the fire in his groin that had plagued him throughout the night.
Hambir had not lied when he said ‘ ‘the drink of the one who waits fires the body making it a tormentor of the mind.” Na’im longed for relief, his mind conjuring up many images. Felicia haunted the ones that plagued him most.
A rap on the door and a masculine voice had broken his hours of affliction. He was instructed to stand clear of the door with his back facing it and his eyes closed. Moments later, feather-like hands, scented with citrus, placed a
blindfold over his eyes and tied it. He was then led, by unseen hands, down the back hallways of the masjid.
His mind, which had tortured him throughout the wee morning hours, began its onslaught again. Were these women who guided him? Or were they scented boys presented so to cause him more strain. He could tell they were not tall in stature, for they both held the top of his forearms with ease as they guided him through the dark
ness.