The procession turned a corner into an identical street and there in its sun-drenched centre, shimmering gloriously, stood Sinàn’s only sister: the Morning Star – Laila. The princess was accompanied by a group of smiling, bearded sheykhs, impossible to miss in their distinctive turbans that looked like miniature white millstones. Red sashes hung diagonally, right to left, across their chests and they wore white woollen capes that reached down to their knees.
Laila’s heart leapt as she saw the princely figure of her brother approaching. Sinàn wanted to thrust the senjaq into someone else’s hands and run to embrace his sister, but he could not. He had to go on to the next village host.
Laila stepped aside as the sheykhs joined the procession one by one. As Sinàn passed Laila, his eye was caught by a girl standing in her shadow. After the last sheykh had joined the procession’s serpentine path, Laila grabbed the girl’s hand and led her to the back.
The festivities continued throughout the day and into the evening. The new host slaughtered a goat to feed the many men and women from his village who came to converse with the unexpected guest and to kiss the base of the Peacock Angel. They all left money, as was customary, for the Baba Sheykh, and for the absent Mir.
Late in the evening, when the men of the village had left the host’s rug-filled living room, the princess entered and introduced Rozeh to her brother.
‘My Sister of the Hereafter. She wants to be a doctor.’
‘I know.’
‘Will it happen?’
‘She’s the niece of the Kochek of Bashiqa.’
This was considered a sufficient answer to the question. He looked at her intently; the girl covered her face with her long black hair and blushed. ‘Please don’t be shy. I’m so sorry to hear what happened to your mother and father. Another tragedy.’
‘Did you know them, Sinàn?’
‘The Baba Sheykh told me about them. We had so much time to talk. We discussed many things. Important things. Little things. They were good people. True Yezidis. Faithful to the tradition. I do not think Baba knows yet what evil befell them on that day. He will be very sorry.’
He looked again into Rozeh’s wide, moist eyes. ‘Please don’t cry. You want to be a doctor, don’t you? You will see many terrible things. Many terrible things. Things you would never believe. You will hear the cries of the lost and the cries of those who fear losing. You will look into the eyes of death and find life. You will look into lively eyes and see things, things you wish you’d never seen. You cannot cry every day, or you will see nothing.’
‘I want to serve the people, like you have done, sir.’
‘Very well, young lady. I’ll see what can be done.’
Rozeh smiled. ‘I thank you, sir. May I go now?’
‘Of course, Rozeh! You run along and enjoy yourself.’ Laila patted her spiritual sister on the back. ‘Yes, it is time to go and gossip with your new friends in Shariya.’
‘Have you got the tape, Highness?’
Laila looked into her handbag and brought out the cassette of Madonna’s Ray of Light album she had bought in Cairo.
‘Do you like her, Sinàn?’
‘I’ve only just met her.’
‘You seem to know a lot about her.’
‘The Baba Sheykh knew her parents well. He spoke of her. Not very much. I knew she wanted to study medicine. Her family had very high hopes.’
Mamo, the host, brought coffee to his guests in tall glass goblets.
‘Is there anything I can do for you, Highness?’
‘May my sister and I be left alone for a while, Mamo?’
‘Of course.’
Mamo, a serious-looking man of about thirty with a short wispy moustache, tightened the thick cotton sash around his robed waist, backed away to the door of his house, then slipped into the darkness. The day had been long, and had cost him much – even more than his satellite dish. Now he might have to sell it. But to have given shelter to the senjaq! This was ample recompense.
‘I thought I might never see you again, Sinàn.’
‘I don’t understand how you found me here so quickly. I’ve only been in Kurdistan a few days. Toby Ashe told me he thought you were in Cairo.’
‘What did you think of him?’
‘I cannot say, Laila. It was very strange in Germany. He has a good mind. I think I like him. He knows a lot about us. Perhaps he has saved my life. But it is all so complicated. There are Americans involved and strange things happened in Istanbul. But, yes, I think somehow Toby Ashe may have saved my life.’
‘We owe him much.’
‘The Baba…?’
‘I’m sure he will help find him. He found you.’
‘But I’m lost, Laila. I’m being asked questions all the time. What can I say?’
Laila put her arm round her brother. ‘You’re tired.’
‘I’ve been tired for a long, long time. And I failed. I was supposed to protect the Baba Sheykh. With my life. My hands. And I allowed myself to be tricked.’
‘Stop it! Stop it, Sinàn! This will get us nowhere. Here, drink this!’
‘Nonsense. I thank you. We all thank you.’
Sinàn shook his head and looked around the simple house. ‘It’s another world here. They will not understand. The Autumn Festival’s coming – the Great Assembly at Lalish! What can we say? Only a few weeks. And no Baba Sheykh! We have never held the Assembly without the Baba Sheykh! It is unheard of! People will think the world is falling apart! Everyone knows he would never stay in Germany while the lights of Lalish are lit for the Assembly!’
‘Don’t worry! What were we singing this morning? Amen, amen, The blessing of the faith. The angel wills it; good will prevail for our people. This is a test! Every generation is tested somehow. I tell you, brother, I believe in this Tobbi Ashe.’
‘Ridiculous woman! He is not one of us.’
‘No, but…’
‘But nothing.’
‘Whatever you think of him, you must speak to him. He says he must speak to you.’
‘Why didn’t he ask me his questions in Hamburg?’
‘He says you were whisked away by the American—’
‘The amiable Mr Beck!’
‘And before Tobbi knew it, you’d been flown back here in a US plane.’
‘And interrogated for days.’
‘Did they hurt you?’
‘No, but I would have preferred to be somewhere else.’
‘What did you tell them?’
‘That it was not me they should be interrogating, but another.’