R.B.R. Barreto
As children we still keep the echo of angels in our ears.
When Kadir and his friends had their blindfolds removed, they saw that they were in the middle of the desert and that there was not even a shadow of the ravine where they had found the Cave of Whispers. Ladslav, with all his sense of recognition, looked around in a daze.
— Where are we now?— he asked at random, without addressing anyone in particular.
— Far from the paths you took the first time, — replied Zaruh. — We will accompany you to the vicinity of Medina. There is an inn about two days ahead. There you can organize yourselves and then we will say goodbye.
—I must confess that I want so much to get far away from those paths ,— said the Portuguese man, — especially from that cave.
— Good that you have come to your senses, sir!!,— replied the horseman.
The group was now quite large, but everyone knew that the time for socializing was running out. Each one would follow his own destiny. Sheikh Sayad would continue with his group to Mecca and from there he would take other directions that he did not reveal. Meirinho and Ladslav would continue their mission to the Holy Land, and from there, Meirinho would return to Portugal.
— I have never missed my lands as much as I do now – he said – How I wish I could return to the Sintra Mountains! How many things can they tell me about everything I discovered here? The mysteries of Káf, the mysteries of Simorgh, the mystery of the "Nine Unknowns". Sometimes, the answers we seek are right next to us, since childhood, and we do not recognize them.
— When we are children, we still keep the echo of angels in our ears. Later, we grow up and confuse things with the expectations that others create about us – commented Sheikh Sayad.
Ladslav, on the other hand, maintained a dreamy air of someone who had found more questions than answers. He stated that he would continue to the East. He would continue his career as a "mapmaker", as Balam had called him.
— How many paths can still be discovered throughout the world? – he explained – Who knows, maybe there is a common path that connects all the others? The monks of Tibet believe in that.
— Whatever you find, Zaruh replied, we hope you know what to put on your maps and what not.
After these words, spoken in a stern tone of warning, the horseman turned to Hamad.
—And you, brother? Will you really return to your lands?
Under the watchful eyes of the group, Hamad nodded.
—Yes, at least for now, that is the most important thing to do. — Confirmed the Tuareg.
—Know that there will always be a place for you among us, brother. We will be waiting.
Hamad did not know if he would return. Nor did he know if he wanted to. If for others that adventure had brought new perspectives, for him it had seemed like the end of his dreams. Dreams of recovering his origins, of saving his soul mate, of forming a home and becoming a clan chief in a prosperous and peaceful tribe. The misfortune with Aisha had closed almost all the doors of his heart; the only one that remained open was the one to fight. Fighting for his people, for the freedom to come and go, seemed to him, at that moment, the only honorable and possible destiny.
Kadir, standing a little to the side, listened and reflected on the destiny chosen by each one. Had all these stories already been written by the great pen? – he thought. Earlier, Sheikh Sayad had invited him to stay with his group and perfect himself in the art of healing. "Think about it, my prince," he had said. "I already have a young disciple of Balam with me, I have no problem accepting you too. "The young man, however, kindly declined the offer. He claimed that he still needed to find Balam and wanted to complete a period of practice and purification before reaching Mecca. The truth was that he did not want to be tied down to anything, for now. He had resources, but he knew that he would not need much to live in the desert. Solitude did not worry him, and if he encountered dangers, they would not be greater than those they had already faced. Almost a day and a half later, they reached a stretch of desert that already announced the proximity of some city. Other groups and caravans began to share the space of sand and small oases they found. Almost at nightfall, they arrived at a large Caravanserai, whose owner was very kind in serving them. She seemed to know both Zaruh and Sheikh Sayad very well.
— We are very full tonight. It is lucky that I received your message earlier – she said, addressing the Sir Zaruh – or I would not have been able to reserve the rooms that Sheikh Sayad usually stays in.
And turning to the others, he asked:
— Do you mind sharing a tent outside? It will only be for tonight. Some merchants are leaving, — he said, pointing to a group of men who were eating around a table.
— No problem at all,— replied Meirinho, — we won't stay for long either. If there is food and baths, I'll be satisfied.
Later, after eating, bathing and sheltering the animals, everyone fell into the deep, restorative sleep that takes over most pilgrims after a long journey. A dreamless sleep, the kind that one has when fatigue overcomes the anguish of the soul. However, it was still dawn when they were awakened by Sheikh Sayad. With a slightly altered voice and a worried expression, he announced:
— Excuse me for waking you, gentlemen, but I need your help! One of my disciples girls, the youngest and the one entrusted to me by Balam, has just been taken by those men who claimed to be merchants.
— How did this happen?— asked Hamad, jumping up.
The others also got up quickly. The situation was urgent. They could not waste time.
Sheikh Sayad explained that a group of men had sneaked into the room where the hakims womens were sleeping. They woke up, raised the alarm and confronted them. The wandering women are also excellent warriors and fighters. They know how to use daggers and swords that they carry hidden in their clothes. Even so, according to the Mullah, the bandits managed to take one of them.
— I learned from the hostess that among those who presented themselves as merchants there could be slave traders,— concluded the Sheikh with dismay.
—Then we have no time to waste,— Hamad said. —Let's follow them right now.
In the shortest time they could organize themselves, the group that included the foreigners, Hamad, Kadir, the horsemen and even the women followers of the Sheikh began a fierce search in the direction they had been told.
It took them only a few hours to spot the group ahead. The slave traders, armed and mounted on horseback, were leading a group of men, women and even children, tied together with a rope. This complicated route was probably what was slowing them down and allowing them to be overtaken.
Hamad immediately drew his sword, covered his face and was about to set off towards the bandits with the characteristic cry of desert warriors. But he was stopped by Zaruh.
— We had better try to negotiate first, my friend tuareg.
— Of course,— said Sheikh Sayad, — they outnumber us. I also fear that they will decide to sacrifice the victims before we can save them.
They then decided to approach peacefully, as if it were a desert accident. Even all this caution did not prevent the bandits from arming themselves in defense, surrounding the group of captives and wielding pistols and swords.
—Salam Aleikum, gentlemen!!,— said Sheikh Sayad, stepping forward.
One of the men who seemed to be leading the gang approached and quickly responded to the greeting and then spoke, keeping a safe distance:
— What do you want, gentlemen?
— You took us a young woman. A hakim disciple who is under my protection and care. – replied Sheikh Sayad, dismounting from his horse.
The man took a few more steps and stood proudly, determined to protect his "merchandise".
— Here we only take slaves, whether bought or runaways. There is no one hakim girl.
— I insist that the you entered our quarters and seized a young woman. I have here the testimony of the other women who were with her.
The man then smiled disdainfully, spat on the floor and continued:
— Ah! So you are referring to a runaway slave that I captured? All I care about is delivering her to her owner and receiving the reward that was placed on her head.
— Lord, by Allah! – pleaded the old Sheikh. — I ask you to return the young woman to us. A hakim disciple who is under my protection and care. – replied Sheikh Sayad, dismounting from his horse.
The man then gave a sarcastic laugh and said:
— If you want her so much, everything has a price.
— Then name your price, Sir. I will see if I can pay it.
Until then, the rest of the group remained silent, following the conversation. Hamad, however, upon hearing the mention of "price," became agitated on his horse, almost rearing up in anger and launching himself toward the bandit. Kadir didn't know how he found the strength to contain him. He held the tuareg and took the lead, speaking in a loud voice:
— I will stay with her! — he shouted loudly — no matter the price. With her and all the others.
The man resumed his irritating laugh and, sizing Kadir up and down, said:
— So, a wanderer, a ragtag man from the desert? Do you think you can buy slaves? Do you think you can afford that luxury?
— I don't want to buy slaves, but their freedom — replied the young man — It is for their freedom that I will pay the price you ask.
Before the man could shake off his surprise at the proposal, Kadir continued by taking out from inside his clothes a small bag of gold and precious stones that he had inherited from his mother and that had been given to him by his grandfather.
— Say the price you want, but be quick! My friends won't take no for an answer. We are all tired, but we are willing to rescue our sister no matter what.
With a quick glance at the group that was confronting him, the man realized that although they were a minority, they had more drive and preparation for fighting than the mercenaries who were with him. With a very displeased expression, he went to the line of tied slaves, cut the ropes of a young woman and dragged her until he threw her at the feet of the young prince.
Kadir quickly dismounted and ran to the young woman's aid. The man then shouted, gesturing fiercely:
— Sister? You call her sister? This young woman is a runaway. How much do you think you can pay, my young lord? — he said mockingly — This slave belongs to a tribe in the west. They will certainly pay a high price to get her back. Just look. I speak the truth.
Saying this, he gave a violent tug on the fabric covering the young woman's shoulder, pointing to the mark that had been made on her back. Kadir fell silent in surprise and looked up at Hamad, who was also looking at him in astonishment. In the scar made with iron and fire that the man was pointing to, he had just recognized the mark of his own tribe. It took him a while to recover from his astonishment, but then he knelt down next to the young woman and with a careful gesture he adjusted her clothing.
— Aisha!! — he exclaimed, half surprised and moved.
The young woman remained quiet, curled up as if she wanted to disappear once more among the sands. Hamad also dismounted and approached, visibly stunned.
— Aisha??
Regaining control of the situation, Kadir stood up and spoke firmly:
— What do you want with this young woman? She belongs to my tribe. She is part of my estate.
Saying this, he showed the insignia of his tribe on his horses, personal belongings and on the cord he wore around his neck, the same as the mark on the young woman's shoulder.
This time it was the man who was surprised. Upon recognizing the insignia, he realized that he was in front of someone with wealth, even in wandering clothes. He would not risk creating problems with the tribes he traded with. Any slip-up would mark his reputation forever. He made an awkward bow in Kadir's direction and tried to explain himself:
— Excuse me, sir... I mean, prince? I have been dealing with your tribe for years. I did not recognize you. I could not guess. This young woman was posing as a hakim girl . I simply wanted to return her to her rightful owners.
— I don't care about your reasons, sir! Let's settle things and get this over with. I keep my word. I want to get the girl and the rest of the group back. I will pay whatever you ask if it is fair. If it is not fair, we will negotiate again until it is fair for everyone.
As the young prince concluded the negotiations, agreeing to pay more than half of what he brought in gold and precious stones, the women quickly surrounded Aisha, helping her to stand up and arranging her clothes and hair. Hamad also approached silently and with a delicate gesture greeted her and offered her water. Until that moment he had remained silent. Choked, stunned, with a feeling in his chest that he could not explain. Aisha was alive and smiling back at him with a nod of recognition. The same eyes that had accompanied his visions and dreams. She had been among them all this time.
Sheikh Sayad, along with the foreigners and the gentlemen who accompanied Zaruh, went to attend to and untie the other prisoners, bringing them bread and water. Later, back at the inn, with Aisha now in the care of the women and the rest of the captives also being treated, Zaruh gathered the group and said a brief farewell, announcing that he would return.
— As for me, — said Sheikh Sayad, — I will continue my course to Mecca. It remains for me to know what the prince will do now with young Aisha. Since she, like the others, belongs to him.
— Sir, I do not intend to interfere in Aisha's choices. If she wants to follow him, she can do so. As I said before, I intend to free everyone. Let's go to Medina. There I will provide the necessary papers to ensure her freedom and that of the others.
Going to Medina was a good option for everyone, especially Ladslav and Meirinho, who could stay long enough to communicate with the magazine and organize their departure to the Holy Land.