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Amber awoke cramped and incredibly hot. She tried to move but Grandma sagged against her.
“Grandma? Grandma?”
Grandma didn’t answer. Amber pushed against the hard surface pinning her in place. It gave; she sighed and then shifted, placing her feet on the opposite wall then pushed with all her strength. The wall against her back cracked. She gathered her strength again then pushed. She was rewarded with a loud crack then she fell. Her back and head smacked against a hard surface then she blacked out. When she came to Grandma lay on top of her still unconscious. She looked up into a dozen faces, their words assaulting her as she lay hurt.
“Someone help them.”
“Help, them? Where did they come from?”
“Get a doctor! The elder one is injured!”
Hands grasped her then lifted her to her feet. A man covered in blue garb carried her grandmother; Amber stumbled alongside a woman covered in a brightly patterned dress with a headscarf covering her braided hair. The buildings were all the same color and sand was everywhere.
“Where are we?” she asked. She didn’t know which language she used.
The woman gave her a kind smile. “Timbuktu.”
Amber and the woman followed the blue robed man into the only modern building in Timbuktu. The woman standing before them was dressed like someone from Atlanta; short khaki pants and hiking boots with a sweat-stained tank top. Her reddish-brown hair was tied up over her head. She smiled at Amber, her honey colored face creased with wrinkles. Her smile faded when she saw Grandma.
“Bring her here,” she said.
They followed the woman into the next room. An examination bed rested against the opposite wall accompanied by a grey metal cabinet. The room, to Amber’s relief, was air conditioned. The man laid Grandma on the bed as the woman went to her desk, taking out her stethoscope from the top drawer. She smiled as he hurried to the bed.
“What’s your name, honey?” she asked.
“Amber.”
“I’m Dr. Ann Dunaway. You can call me Dr. Ann. What happened, Amber?”
“We fell.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Uh huh.”
She felt Grandma’s head. “Doesn’t seem to be any obvious injuries.”
She placed her stethoscope to Grandma’s chest then listened.
“Heart rate seems fine.”
The woman nodded at the robed man and his companion and they left the room, both giving Amber a curious glance on their way out.
“Looks like your grandmother may have a concussion,” the doctor said. “I’ll keep an eye on her until she comes to then do a more thorough examination. Now let’s take a look at you.”
“I’m okay,” Amber said.
“You just fell a long way,” Ann replied. “You are not okay.”
Ann shined her pen light into Amber’s eyes then listened to her chest. She examined her head then took off her gloves and sat opposite her.
“Your grandmother will be fine, but she can’t be moved for a while. I’m going to contact a colleague in Djenne. He has more experience with head injuries.”
Amber’s relief forced tears in her eyes. “Thank you so much!”
Ann shook her head. “You’re lucky you had your accident today. This is my last day in Timbuktu. The local doctor his good, but he’s not me.”
Dr. Ann flashed a confident smile. “Now I have a question. How did you two get here?”
Amber looked away from Dr. Ann as she tried to come up with an explanation. She failed.
“I don’t know,” she finally said.
Ann rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Looks like you may be suffering from short tern amnesia. Head trauma can sometimes affect short term memory.”
Amber brightened. “That’s probably it.”
Dr. Ann still seemed curious. “I’ve been here a week and no one has mentioned either one of you. The people who brought you in say you fell from the sky.”
Amber laughed nervously. “An attic maybe, but not the sky. I think we would be in worse shape.”
“I’ve seen stranger things,” Ann replied. “A boat is coming for me tomorrow. You can come with me and sort things out later.”
“No!” Amber blurted. “Ah, there’s something we have to do here.”
Ann folded her arms. “The plot thickens. Well, the offer stands if you change your mind. Everything depends on your grandmother’s recovery.”
Dr. Ann stood. “Stay here with your grandmother. I have rounds to make in the city. There’s water and something to eat in the fridge in the other room.”
“You’re very trusting,” Amber commented.
Ann smiled. “You look like a good kid. Besides, where are you going to go?”
You have no idea, Amber thought.
She waited until Dr. Ann left the room before going to Grandma. She looked like she was sleeping. Amber let herself cry for a moment before reining in her emotions. She had to get them out of this office and back to finding Marai. She had no idea what happened to Bissau, but it was becoming obvious that as cute as he was, Bissau was not going to get them there. He had his hands full keeping the woman trying to stop them at bay. It was up to her and Grandma to get to Marai.
She went to the mirror then looked at her reflection. She was dirty and her perm was growing out. A laugh burst from her lips.
“I’m stranded in Timbuktu and I’m worried about my perm?”
She took a pinch of Grandma’s concoction and flicked it onto the mirror. The silvery substance swirled, making her dizzy for a moment. An image finally solidified but it was not the image she hoped. It was a street scene of a city she did not recognize and she had no desire to go to another unknown adventure. The next time she entered a mirror she wanted to emerge in her great grandfather’s chamber.
“Amby? Baby, where are you?”
Amber rushed to Grandma’s side then clutched her hand.
“I’m right here Grandma, right here.”
Grandma faced Amber and smiled. It was the sweetest sight Amber had seen in days and it almost made her cry again.
“Where are we?” she asked, her voice weak yet hopeful.
“Timbuktu,” Amber said.
Grandma’s smile grew. “We are close then. I knew it. I could feel it.”
“How close?”
“Very. Marai is one of the three Sisters. The others are Djenne and Timbuktu.”
Grandma looked about the room. “Where is Bissau?”
“He went back to stop the woman,” Amber said with an edge in her voice.
Grandma shifted in her bed. “I hope we see him again.”
Grandma’s words startled Amber. It never occurred to her that Bissau might be killed by the woman pursuing them. As a matter of fact, it never occurred to her that the woman might try to kill her.
“I have to find another mirror,” Amber concluded. “Maybe this one will take us to Marai.”
“No, it won’t,” Grandma said. “Marai possesses a barrier that makes it invisible to the rest of the world. It keeps the world out, but it also keeps the Maraibu in. No nyama can easily penetrate it.”
“Then how did Bissau get outside?”
Grandma looked thoughtful. “I suspect it took my father great effort to get him through. But we don’t need it now. I know the way from here.”
The bottom slowly disappeared from Amber’s stomach.
“I hope Bissau is alright.”
Grandma grasped her hand. “I hope so too, but Bissau knew the risks when he came to find us. Whatever his fate, he will be satisfied with it.”
The thought made her sick to her stomach.
“I don’t feel good,” she said.
Grandma stroked her head. “It’s okay, Amber. I’m sure he’s all right. In the meantime, we must be on our way.”
“You’re too hurt to travel.”
“I am now, but I’ll get better. When I am we’ll have to move as soon as possible.”
“I don’t know what to do!” Amber exclaimed.
“Yes you do, child,” Grandma said. “Let your instincts guide you.”
Amber calmed with Grandma’s soothing words. She closed her eyes and concentrated on their situation.
“We need clothes,” she said. “We left ours in Dakar.”
“You’ll have to go to the market,” Grandma said.
“By myself?”
Grandma chuckled. “Of course. Your language ability will help. And go with your instinct. Choose what you feel is right.”
Dr. Ann interrupted their conversation.
“So my patient is conscious. Excellent!”
Amber moved aside as the doctor went to work. She flashed her pen light in Grandma’s eyes and took her vitals.
“Seems you do have a slight concussion,” Dr. Ann finally said. “The fall didn’t hurt you as much as I suspected. How old are you?”
“Eighty,” Grandma replied.
Dr. Ann rubbed her chin. “Well, all I have to say is I hope I’m in as good shape as you when I’m eighty.”
“It’s the local climate,” Grandma joked. “It suits me.”
Amber looked at her Grandma and her eyebrows rose. She did look younger. Grandma looked back at her, her brows raised as well.
“Dr. Ann, is there somewhere I can go to find some clothes?”
Dr. Ann’s curious expression returned. “You don’t have any clothes?”
“We lost our luggage on the way here,” Amber lied.
“There are a few stores at the market, but you won’t find much as far as the latest fashions. This is Timbuktu.”
“Something local would be fine,” Grandma said.
Dr. Ann shrugged. “Okay, but you’re not going anywhere. I’ll get Pemba to take Amber. She helps me around the city and I think she’s about your age.”
“Thank you,” Amber said.
As soon as Dr. Ann left the room Amber shuffled over to Grandma.
“You do look younger!”
“I feel younger too,” Grandma replied. “That’s how I know I’m closer to home. Marai reaches out to me.”
“This is amazing,” Amber exclaimed.
“And dangerous,” Grandma added. “The sooner we leave the better.”
“Dr. Ann is leaving tomorrow. She said we can go with her.”
Grandma shook her head. “She’s heading in the wrong direction. We’ll stay here a few more days to see if Bissau comes. If not we’ll set out on our own.”
“With what?” Amber asked. “We don’t have a car or anything!”
Grandma smiled. “We’ll take camels.”
“Camels?” Amber shivered.
Amber was about to protest when Dr. Ann entered the room accompanied by a girl with ebony skin and dancing eyes. She wore a pair of worn jeans and a Boston Celtics t-shirt with matching green sneakers. She smiled at Grandma and Amber.
“Amber, this is Pemba,” Dr. Ann said. “She’ll take you to the market.”
Pemba rushed Amber then gave her a tight hug.
“Welcome to Timbuktu,” she said in English with a heavy accent. She grabbed Amber’s hand then pulled her toward the door.
“Be careful with her, Pemba!” the doctor called out.
“I will!”
Pemba looked at Amber with a big smile. “You are the first girl I’ve met from America!”
Amber smiled back, a bit overwhelmed by Pemba’s enthusiasm. “You’re the first girl I’ve met from Timbuktu.”
Pemba’s eyes widened. “You speak Mandika!”
“I guess so,” Amber replied.
“Good! You can tell me all about America, and I will tell you all about Timbuktu!”
Pemba led Amber out of the doctor’s home and into the dusty streets of Timbuktu.