R.B.R. BARRETO
... destiny is only the result of coordinated actions.
Kadir entered the tent carrying freshly coffee and a piece of goat cheese. It looked good-humorous, always kind and without any suspicion. He shared the food with the young wanderer, waited for him to eat and finally asked:
– So brother, tell me, by Allah, what happened?
How did you end up here in such a precarious situation?
The wanderer cleared his throat and spoke in a weakened voice without to look at him.
– I have been walking for many days, Lord. I came following my master and got lost...
– Your master?
– Yes – he continued between another coughing fit – my master Balam, the wanderer. I lost it while following it a little further north. Wouldn't you have seen it by any chance?
Kadir froze for seconds and, with a frown, tried to better examine the face of the young man who was thinking about shrinking even more in the tiny tent:
- What are you saying? – he repeated in disbelief – is Balam your master? Balam, the wandering dervish?
- Himself. Master Balam.
Kadir was somewhere between surprised and suspicious. Of everything he could have expected, that was the most surprising. Could fate be trying to play some trick ?
"But destiny is a strange thing", he thought. "We never know where it actually is".
Balam had already told him once that destiny is only the result of coordinated actions. He didn't understand anything about it, nor did he know if the master was right or not. Only Allah could know. It looked in the young wanderer's direction once more, examining him thoroughly while weighing the circumstances that had brought him to him. Still thoughtful, he asked:
– A little while ago – continued Kadir – before getting up, you murmured words in a strange language... where do you really come from? What is your name?
Later Aisha would have time to be surprised at how quickly ideas poured out of her head. At the moment, however, she just wanted to get rid of that uncomfortable interrogation. So it let the words flow as if they were actually coming from somewhere in her memory:
– I come from the interior of the great desert, Lord. I have no memory of the language I spoke... I must have repeated phrases I heard as a child, but I don't know the meaning. I wouldn't know how to repeat them even if you ordered me to. – For the first time she looked up at Kadir, her deep black eyes in which he could find a hint of sincerity.
– My name is Randú. – continued the young man – My tribe it was dispersed like many other tribes in the most arid regions and I would have become a slave if it weren't for Master Balam.
– Are you then a convert to Islam?
The young man hesitated a little, thinking carefully before answering:
– Not quite yet, sir.
– Call me Kadir.
– Well, Lord, Kadir... I was following Master Balam, trying to learn from him, but he went on pilgrimage and I lost him. I've been on your trail for days. Would you, by any chance, have seen him?
Kadir moved away a little. No matter how inexperienced he was, he felt that something couldn't be right. How would the young man survive all this time in the desert? Then it spoke out loud:
– Balam was a guest in my tribe for a long time. He left on the week close to Ramadan and I have no idea for where. You seem to actually know him. But one thing I can't understand? How did you survive, alone, all this time? With so few provisions and just this fragile animal?
Randú thought quickly:
– But I was only alone for a night or two!! Before that, I accompanied a caravan heading North. I had a dream, I think two nights ago. I dreamed that Master Balam showed me a small oasis nearby.
– The "Small Oasis"?
– I don't know, but it was as if he told me that I would meet him there. I had no doubts. I left the caravan and rode towards the Oasis. It seemed so close and I actually found an oasis. But the master wasn't there! I then tried to go back to the caravan, but I couldn't find them anymore... maybe they left... so... I don't know, I ended up getting lost.
– Do you have any idea how long you were away from the caravan?
The young man hesitated for a moment as if he was thinking and continued:
– Two moons ago, sir. I didn't find them anymore... I thought I was going to die, and then you found me.
Saying this, he threw himself at Kadir's feet and tried to express his gratitude in a way that the young man considered exaggerated. Then urged him to get up with an impatient gesture.
– Enough of that, boy. Get up and try to be okay.
We have a long way to go.
Aisha then felt great relief. This meant that she had finally achieved her goal. Your young Lord had not recognized her and, more than that, had consented to her company for the rest of the way. She didn't know for how long, but any time was longer than she expected.
– Can I continue in your company then, sir?
– By Merciful Allah, boy! Who do you think I am? Why would I help you and than abandon you to his fate again? I am a follower of the Prophet. I would never abandon a brother to death's door.
– Even so, I am very grateful to you, lord. My life is
at your service...
Kadir took a deep breath, uncomfortable with such exaggeration.
A little irritated he said:
– If you want to please me, wake up early and get up. Take care of your things, don't interrupt my prayers or my readings, talk little, don't throw yourself at my feet all the time and don't get stuck in any dune.
He noticed that the other carefully followed his words as if these were crucial rules to be followed. He felt a certain compassion for the young man's naivety and tried to speak in a more affable way:
– I don't know how far we are from the next oasis, whether it will take days or hours to get there. In truth, I don't really know where I'm going and it's crazy to want to follow me. But you don't have much choice now. We both look for Balam and so we can help each other.
The other just nodded in agreement.
– We need to save energy, water and food.
– continued Kadir – When we arrive somewhere safer then we will see which destination to take. Are you agree?
Aisha nodded . She avoided looking at Kadir so he wouldn't see the contentment and relief in her eyes.