BAMAKO by Aribert Raphael (smart books to read txt) đ
- Author: Aribert Raphael
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âAlmost two years, why?â
âDid you ever see her like this?â
âNo, nor have I seen her much outside of our office. Why?â
âBecause, and to answer your question, yes, I am in love with her and I feel totally responsible for her current behaviour. I knew, or I could sense that there was more than friendship between us and I pushed her into a corner. When she responded, I went off the deep end.â Hassan lowered his gaze and continued to twirl the swizzle stick in his juice.
âThank you for your honesty, Hassan. I want Talya to find peace. Sheâs had a very troubled childhoodââ
âYes, Mohammed told me about that.â
âYou mean, Monsieur Fade? How does he know about Talyaâs past?â
âItâs a long story. But, at some point, Mohammed had to run a background check on her and although he couldnât tell me much, he led me to understand that her life had not been simple.â Hassan drank his glass empty.
âI donât know much about her myself,â James admitted, âbecause she wonât talk about it. All I know is that there is more to her than meets the eye.â
After a moment spent in silence, Hassan got up. âI think Iâll get myself another juice. Do you want something?â
âAnother scotch will be nice, thank you.â
Hassan was standing by the bar, when he saw Samir walk down the steps looking round to find them.
âHey, Samir,â Hassan called out. âWeâre sitting by the beach. Do you want something?â
âYes, since youâre buying, Iâll have a large one of whatever is on offer. Whereâs Talya?â He had noticed that James was the only person sitting at their table.
âShe went back to her room.â
âWhat? What happened?â Samir looked at Hassan a flash of resentment in his eyes.
âCome and sit down, weâll tell you.â
âDonât bother. Iâll find out for myself. Just keep my juice cold will you? Iâll be back.â
Samir walked away toward the hotel once again.
âDidnât I see Samir just now? Doesnât he want to join us?â James asked.
Hassan put the glasses down on the table. âHeâs gone back to get Talya.â
âHowâs he going to do that? Sheâs probably sulking right now. I bet he wonât get anywhere.â
âDonât be too sure about that. Samir is a Touareg. He is a nomad, a man of the desert. Talya knows this. Sheâs been brought up revering their freedom and their word of wisdom. She knows he will bring her peace. If for no one else, for him sheâll open her door. Iâm sure of it.â
âYou seem to know a lot more about that childhood of hers than you led on.â
âNo, itâs not what I know itâs what I see. The way she behaves when sheâs with him or with elders of our faith. Her reverence wasnât learned, as an actor would learn a part. Her every gesture, every word comes from her heart. She is goodââ
âDonât I know itâŠ.â James looked down at his drink musingly.
âThen why are you so abrupt when it comes to her emotions?â
âAnd youâre not? I saw the way you look at her when it comes to dealing with Hjamalââ
âWhen it comes to him, I can see she feels something for the man. And itâs difficult for me to accept it. I fear that heâll turn on her. Somehow I canât get it out of my mind that heâs going to hurt her.â
âYes, I know and thatâs what worries me. You heard what I said this afternoon.â James paused then looked up from his glass to Hassan. âHow does Samir feel about Hjamal? Maybe he could make her see that she should be cautious with him, especially when sheâs going to have to work with him.â
âWeâll ask him when they get back.â
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When Talya closed the door, she was in tears. She couldnât believe the way James had treated her. âFace facts,â he said. Well, if thatâs not pointing the finger at the wrong person. Couldnât he see what this was all about? Hassan being in love with meâthat was a laugh. All he wants is a wife to keep and to own. He couldnât care less about what I feel. He just wants me because I am white like his mother, just like a feather to put on his cap.
She heard a knock at the door. That better not be him, or heâll get an ear-full from the one âwho needs to face factsâ. She flung the door opened and saw Samir. God, what now?
He stood there, looking down at her. âMay I intrude?â
âYes, why donât youâeveryone else does,â she flared, although Samir was the one person Talya wanted to see. She knew he understood how she felt.
âI see Allah hasnât appeased your anger.â The words had been spoken with softness and understanding.
âNo, Samir, He hasnât. Heâs probably turning away right now and saying Hassan and I are hopeless.â
âI donât think he would be one to deprive you of hope, Talya. Youâre the one doing that.â
âDonât start scolding me will you? Iâve had enough for one night.â
âAgain, youâre putting the blame on the wrong one.â
âMe? Am I not the one whoâs been facing facts all this time? Am I not the one who told Hassan to stay away? Am I not the one who rejected his advancesâŠ?â
âSo, youâre blaming the world for their misunderstanding? All of these rejections youâre speaking of, arenât you the one who proffered them? Such as you are rejecting my scolding right now?â
âSure, because I am the one whoâs trying to keep in touch with reality. Not unlike some people who are forever asking the impossible.â
âYou mean Hassan asking you to marry?â
âYes, thatâs what I mean. Then I turn around and my boss is telling me that I should face facts and that I should keep my head out of the clouds so that I could manage my future.â
âTalya, listen to me. There is no need for your frustration. Let men speak. They have nothing better to do and you of all people should know this. Men only speak many words, which make no sense, and women listen to engender truth. So why donât you come with me and face these men who speak many words so that you can engender truth?â
It was as if Talya had heard her father speak. They had been standing on the terrace and now she threw herself in his arms to feel the peace that her father used to give her in his embraceâtoo long ago.
After a moment, Samir said, âLetâs go back, Talya,â releasing her gently.
âDonât you think I should let them brew for the night?â
âAnd let me go down alone to face these two imbeciles?â
Talya opened her mouth and closed it again. Samir smiled.
She didnât think James or Hassan would have liked Samir calling them âimbecilesâ. She knew what Samir meant though.
âAll right, just let me wash my face. I donât want them to know that I cried.â
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A few minutes later, Samir and Talya were sitting at the table with James and Hassan. Talya chose to sit between Samir and James, and across from Hassan.
âIâm glad youâve decided to come back, Talya,â James rushed to say. âIâm sorry for flying off the handle like I didââ
âItâs okayâŠ.â Talya cut him off with a faint smile. âForget it, shall we? Letâs talk about something else.â
âSamir, Hassan tells me youâre a Touareg,â James began, an inquisitive look on his face. âFor the average Westerner, a Touareg, or any Bedouin for that matter, is a man of mystery. Are you? A man of mystery, I mean.â
Samir seemed to have expected the question. He smiled. âYes, thatâs what people call me: a Touareg. I am an Imouchar-Imajeren to be precise. This is a noble order.â I knew it. âIn the majority of cases, the lineage dates back to the eleventh century. At present, we are called âKel Oulliââpeople who tend goatsâin Berber language. My family, however, does not raise or tend flocks. We still transport goods and people throughout the Sahara and the Sahel to serve remote communities located mainly in the oases where they have farming plots. Their meagre plantations often do not raise enough crop revenue to provide for their modest living, so my family tries to supplement their requirements with some of lifeâs necessities.â
Talya was fascinated.
âVery interesting indeed.â James was looking at Samir with renewed awareness. âWhat about your social setting, is it mostly as in the rest of Islam?â
âNo, it is notâfar from it, in fact.â Everyone at the table stared at the man whose nobility became obvious by the minute. âThe main difference resides perhaps, in the way we treat women.â Samir shot a meaningful glance in Hassanâs direction. âThe Touareg woman enjoys a privilege status whereby she benefits of autonomy unheard of in the rest of Islam. Men are due to listen to her. Our tent, or the family home, belongs to her. If she were to dismiss her husband for some reason, or any man in the family, the man would be ousted without recourse.â
Talyaâs mouth fell open. She had no idea. The words Samir spoke earlier made all the sense in the world now. âWomen listen to engender truth ...â
âMoreover,â Samir went on, âand perhaps more importantly, Touaregs are monogamousâwe marry only once and do not have harems such as most of Muslim men do.â It was Jamesâs turn to look at the Touareg agape. How ignorant we are. Samir then turned his head to Talya. âWould you like to go and have dinner somewhere else?â
She raised an eyebrow. âWeâŠ? HuhâŠ, and where would we go?â
James and Hassan locked their eyes on him, somewhat taken aback at the unexpected invitation.
âHave you forgotten? Iâve been here before,â Samir replied with a grin. âCan I borrow your car, Hassan?â
âMy car? Donât you want us to go together?â
âNo, Hassan. It is time for you to realize that this woman is not yours yet, and she wonât be yours until you step aside and let her accept your love with graceful and peaceful thought. You should know the way of Islam,â Samir added with reproof in his voice. He turned to James. âMonsieur Flaubert, if you donât mind, I will take this woman away for a while. She needs to be reminded that you care for her and that her work here will only be done properly if she listens to your words.â
âIâm glad for your patience with Talya. By all means, Samir, please go,â James replied.
He watched Talya and Samir walking awayâwise fellow, very wise indeed.
When the two men were alone again, they looked at one another and laughed. In the gentlest way, they both had been told to mind their manners.
A few moments later, they decided the night was getting colder and dinner should be better enjoyed in the restaurant.
When they walked in, Hassan was surprised to find Mohammed alone, finishing his appetizer.
âMohammed? How are you? May I introduce you to Monsieur Flaubert? James, this is Mohammed Fadeâand just let him be a friend for tonight. All of his lengthy titles are tiresome.â
âIâm
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