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Amber awoke to insistent tugging on her left arm. She stretched before opening her eyes to the light of a rising sun. Something kept tugging at her arm; she looked down into the face of a goat.
“Eeek!”
The goat let go of her sleeve, bleated, then rejoined its herd passing the alley. The man shepherding them gave her a mean look as he passed.
Her joints were stiff and her stomach growled. She stood, stretched again then frowned as she sniffed her underarms. For a brief moment the seriousness of her predicament escaped her until the unfamiliar voices of Marai seeped into the alley. She tipped to the edge of the alley then poked out her head. The streets thrived with people. Women in long dresses and skirts similar to the one she wore but more brightly colored strolled with baskets fill with goods balanced on their heads while others carried gourds or held the hands of children tugging and pulling for freedom. The men wore loose fitting pants and large shirts rivaling the women’s dresses in color. Some wore turbans, others cloth caps, while most went bare-headed despite the sun. Many carried goods and tools, while others herded goats through the throng. The crowd flowed in one general direction, toward the city center. With no idea where to begin looking for her great grandfather, Amber joined the crowd. Surely there was someone that could tell her where to find him. He was a great man in the city. Someone would know.
Marai reminded her of Timbuktu with its wide streets and mud brick compounds. The difference was the magnificent towers rising into the sky, each crowned with huge white flags signifying the end of the mourning period for the old Sana. Amber’s stomach tightened. This was the reason she had come so far, to choose the next Sana. Despite everything she’d done and seen she still wasn’t sure if she could do it.
She followed the crowd a few more yards before the people dispersed in every direction. Amber saw what she recognized as a market. Her senses were assailed by sights, smells and sounds both compelling and off putting; spices, the aroma of cooking foods, animals crying out over the voices of haggling people, and the stench of offal and death lingering in the background. The hunger in her stomach struggled with the nausea from the sight of slaughtered goats and others animals hanging before the butchers’ stalls. She wondered if the goat that pulled at her shirt was somewhere dangling from a hook, its blood dripping onto the sand. The thought made her head spin and before she could gather herself she collapsed onto the ground.
“Make room, make room!” a woman shouted.
Amber felt her head lift. A smooth hand stroked her cheek.
“What is wrong, daughter?” the woman said.
“Grandma?” Amber asked.
“No daughter, I am not your grandmother.” The woman sat her up. Amber looked into a kind sepia cherubic face graced with a gentle smile.
“Let’s get you up, daughter,” she said.
Amber struggled to stand. Another wave of nausea hit her and she slumped against the woman.
“When was the last time you ate, child?” she asked.
“Yesterday afternoon,” Amber slurred.
“So that’s it!”
The woman turned her head.
“Solonke!”
A girl appeared that seemed no older than Amber. She tilted her head, looking at Amber as if she was a strange bug.
“Who is she? What’s wrong with her?” Solonke asked in an irritated tone.
“I don’t know who she is,” the woman replied. “I do know she’s weak and she’s hungry.”
“Where is her husband?”
“You ask too many questions,” the woman said. “Watch my stall. I’m taking her to our compound. She needs to eat.”
“Why are you taking her there?” Solonke asked. “If someone is looking for her she’ll be with you.”
“Be quiet and do as I say!” the woman shouted.
Solonke frowned then trudged to the stall.
“Come, put your arm around my shoulder,” the woman said.
Amber obeyed. Her head still woozy, she stumbled beside the kind woman into a walled compound near the market. She was suddenly surrounded by children, each of them struggling to get a look at her. One child, a boy wearing a red cap and a mischievous smile jumped in front of them.
“Who is this, Nana? What’s wrong with her?”
The woman gently pushed him aside.
“Make room little ones,” Nana said.
The children decided to help Nana, each one of them placing their hands on Amber as if helping carry her to the nearest house. Nana took her inside then lay her down on a woven cot, placing her head gingerly on a padded head rest. She then handed Amber a gourd of water. It was lukewarm but refreshing nonetheless.
“Now daughter, tell me where you’re from.”
“I’m from...” Amber stopped. Where was she from? She had to be careful.
“Can I have something to eat?” she asked, stalling for time.
“Of course.” Nana shuffled from the house. Amber took a long drink of water then looked around. Besides the bed there was a small stool and some sort of storage trunk. It was a sparse, especially compared to what she had at home. But there was no time for contemplation and comparison. She had to have a story about where she was from before Nana returned. After wracking her brain, she realized the only thing she could do was tell the truth.
Nana returned with a bowl of stew and a piece of flat bread that reminded Amber of a flour tortilla. She took the bowl and spoon then tasted the concoction. It was spicy, strange yet filling. She took two more gulps then cooled her mouth with the coarse bread and water.
“Now,” Nana began, “tell me who you are and where you are from.”
“My name is Amber. Jele Jakada is my great grandfather.”
Nana looked at her strangely then frowned.
“I know you are weak Amber, but that does not give you the excuse for bad manners. I have taken you into my home and fed you. The least you can do is tell me the truth.”
Amber was confused. “That is the truth, Nana. Jele Jakada is my great grandfather.”
“Jele Jakada has no children,” Nana replied. “His daughter died long ago and his wife died giving birth to the daughter, so there is no way you can be kin to him. I can tell by your clothes that you belong to a lineage family, but not Jele Jakada. Now let’s try again, and please do not insult me any further.”
Amber had no idea what to say. The truth didn’t work and she didn’t know enough about the city to make up any other story. Out of desperation she looked into Nana with her abilities, seeking something that would help her concoct a reasonable answer.
“You are hiding, aren’t you?” Nana said.
“Hiding?” Amber decided to let Nana lead her to an answer.
“What would I be hiding, Nana?”
“You are marrying age,” Nana said. “You are not the first woman to flee an arranged marriage.”
Amber lowered her eyes as if what Nana said was true.
“Ah, I thought so!” Nana took her bowl then filled it with more stew.
“I bet you were promised to someone long before you were born. That is the way among those of lineage.”
Amber remained quiet as she ate her stew.
“Running away will not solve your problem,” Nana said. “When your family finds you, they will still insist you marry. But there is always a way out.”
“That is why I must see Jele Jakada,” Amber lied. “He can help me.”
“He is a powerful man and well respected. When my husband returns I will ask him to take you to the city center. He may be able to get you an audience.”
Amber smiled. She had no idea how to find the others, but if she could get to great grandfather maybe he could help.
“You lie down and rest now,” Nana said. “I must get back to my stall. Solonke is lazy. She would give my merchandise away just to be done early. Such an insolent girl!”
“Thank you, Nana,” she said sweetly.
“See, now this is how a daughter should be.”
Nana left the room and went back to her duties. Amber lay back and managed to fall asleep. It seemed only moments passed before she was shaken. She swatted at the perpetrator.
“Go away, goat!” she mumbled.
“I am no goat, stupid girl!”
Amber sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her sight cleared to the angry face of Solonke.
“My mama helps you and all you have in return is insults.”
“I’m sorry,” Amber said. “I thought you were...”
“A goat,” Solonke finished. “You thought I was a goat.”
This was not going well. Amber sat up then smiled.
“I’m very grateful for your help.”
“I would have called the constables,” Solonke said. “Let them sort this out. Nana is always taking in strays.”
This girl could be trouble. Amber considered taking her chances in the street.
“Maybe I should seek out the constables,” Amber said.
“Don’t be stupid,” Solonke snapped.
“What’s wrong with the constables?”
Solonke rolled her eyes. “Nothing is wrong with them. If Nana comes back and you’re gone she’ll punish me. You’ll stay here until she gets back. After that I don’t care what you do.”
Solonke grabbed her wrists and looked at her hands. Amber snatched them away.
“What are you doing?”
Solonke smirked. “Looking at your hands. Not a callous on them. Rich girl hands. What are you really doing here? Your baba wouldn’t buy you a new camel so you ran away? Decided to spend a day among the servants?”
Solonke stood, and then folded her arms across her chest.
“You should go home now and leave us alone.”
“Solonke? What are you doing?”
Fear flashed across Solonke’s face.
“Go home!” she snapped.
Solonke fled the room.
“Ow!” she cried out.
Nana entered the room frowning. She was followed by a man with ebony skin and a bright smile.
“Amber, this is my husband Amadou. He is a leather master and well known among those of lineage. He will help you reach Jele Jakada.”
Amadou came closer to Amber.
“Who is your father?” he asked.
“I wish not to say,” Amber replied. “I need to talk to Jele Jakada before I reveal my family.”
“She doesn’t have the best manners,” Nana replied. “But she needs our help.”
Amadou pinched his chin. “We will go to the Circle tomorrow morning. I have a delivery to make to the Diops. I will ask for Jele Jakada while we are there.”
“Then it is settled,” Nana said. “You will stay with us tonight. Solonke will attend to you.”
“No, I will not!” Solonke shouted.
“Yes you will!” her father shouted back. “Disrespectful girl! It seems to be spreading.” He gave Amber a long look before leaving the room.
Nana waited until Amadou was gone before speaking again.
“Don’t pay attention to either of them,” Nana said. “Amadou is stubborn and defiant and Solonke is his mirror. I think she will always remain in this compound because no man would marry such a woman.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to marry yet,” Amber said.
“That may be so, but that is not her choice,” Nana said. “Some ambitious man will come along thinking he can change her. She is a beautiful woman despite her attitude. But he will find that the leopard does not change its spots.”
Amber said nothing. She was not fond of this arranged marriage situation, but it was the perfect cover for her being somewhere she shouldn’t.
Nana had a large family. A procession of daughters, sons, children and grandchildren filed into her room to see her. All were pleasantly curious except Solonke. She glared and insulted Amber whenever she appeared. Amber didn’t know what she’d done to get on the girl’s bad side. She was tempted to peek inside her emotions but thought better of it. The last thing she needed to do was tell this girl what was truly in her heart. Her issue might become physical and at this point Amber was not about to let anyone harm her.
The rest she was urged to get never occurred. That night, torches were lit to continue work in the compound. Solonke brought a strong-smelling lamp into Amber’s room then dropped it on the nearby table.
“You will be gone tomorrow,” Solonke said.
“Yes,” Amber replied.
“Good.”
Amber couldn’t take it anymore.
“Why do you hate me? I have only been here one day.”
“One day too long,” Solonke snapped.
“I’ve done nothing to you.”
“You are here. That is damage enough. Someone like you shows up and all I hear is how I should be more obedient, humbler, more everything.”
“You are like your father,” Amber said.
“How would you know?”
“Nana said so. Your parents criticize you, but that’s what parents do. They think they are trying to help you, but sometimes their words hurt.”
Solonke’s sneer faded. She tilted her head as her hands fell from her hips.
“Is that why you ran away?” she asked.
Amber’s eyes widened. She never considered coming to Marai running away but that’s exactly what it was.
“Yes,” she answered. “My parents give me everything except their time, which is what I want the most.”
The two looked at each other for a moment in silent understanding.
“You should try to sleep,” Solonke said. “It’s a long walk to the Circle.”
“I know,” Amber lied.
Solonke’s smirk returned. “No, I don’t think you do.”
Amber smiled back. “Thank you.”
Amber attempted to sleep with no success. She was nervous about her journey the next day to meet her great grandfather, and she was anxious about the whereabouts of Grandma and the others. She sat up on her cot, listening to the sounds of the compounds; snoring, coughing, whispers and soft laughter. It was so much like home yet so different. She didn’t know what Marai possessed that made it such a threat to the rest of the world, but she did know there were things beyond the Veil which could bring much comfort to the city. Things she missed like air conditioning, ice, cable television and cell phones. She laughed; most of what she missed was things she didn’t need. They were wants, plain and simple. She fell back on her cot then eventually succumbed to sleep.