Cristian felt free to tell the news to his wife.
“I brought you to this country and almost immediately you're wrapped in a war that is not yours.” Zoubaida expressed with regret.
“It's mine if my family is involved.”
“But it is not your people.”
“My people are where my wife and my son.”
The woman was stunned by the response. Cristian had not shared with her or with anyone the internal evolution he was undergoing and the identification with the members of the ethnicity of his wife, and in fact he himself was surprised for expressing it so clearly.
“However.” Added the young man. “I would prefer that you were evacuated as soon as possible. I want to get you and our child safe from any danger.”
“That's impossible.” Answered Zoubaida. “My son is the future of this tribe and it must be born among them. He cannot be a fugitive since before birth. At least not by something that, for now, is only a diffuse menace. In any case, we will leave this decision in the hands of my father.”
“You have to understand that I am the ultimate responsible for my family, and I will not delegate fundamental decisions in your father or anyone else.”
He made a stop to emphasize the words he had said and that had struck significantly Zoubaida.
“Well.” Continued then Cristian. “At the very least we will delineate a contingency plan just in case the situation gets worse.
CHAPTER 7
Two months passed by, with moments of tension by alarming news that arrived and were then belied by the facts but allowed to maintain and monitor the degree of alert necessary for the safety of the village.
The gestation period of the son of Zoubaida and Cristian was completed, and the baby was born normally on May 15 at the start of the rainy season due to the inter-tropical convergence zone, which normally occurs in the area, although sometimes it fails producing droughts of tremendous consequences. In that year it did not fail and rain fell at times torrentially.
A French doctor and his team were mobilized from N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, to be available and assist in the delivery if necessary, but to their relief there was no need of his help and the birth was attended by midwives of the tribe according to traditional methods. This was conceptualized as of good omen by the family Djalali, and increased the satisfaction of Ousmar and Souady as grandparents.
“The birth of a successor is also news that unites us when we need it most.” Greeted Ousmar to Zoubaida.
The baby was named Hubert, French name but relatively usual in Chad, and acceptable since his father was a foreigner.
In a moment in which the mother had been separated from him Cristian approached his son´s cradle and observed him in silence. His skin was noticeably lighter than Zoubaida´s, hair was not visible yet and the eyes had a watery shade that did not yet reflect their future color. Although Cristian loved his wife surprised himself wishing that the baby had some of his traits. He tinkered by placing a finger in the small hand and allowed the baby to instinctively hold it tight. He had the intuition that was been observed and when he turned back saw Zoubaida looking at him from up close with a smile.
“Very tender.” She said. “This is the first gesture you have with Hubert.”
“Because it is the first time that I am alone with him.”
“And you cannot do it if someone is watching you?”
“I'll have to get used to this parenting business.”
Zoubaida passed a hand through his hair and her smile became provocative.
“Not only the baby needs your touch.”
Cristian knew already his wife and the way she used to express her desires without false modesty.
“I know. It has been a long abstinence also for me.” He said, introducing one hand under her robe.
She dragged him to the bed. She was wearing a very light negligee and friction with the outline of her body excited her husband. Cristian lifted her from the ground and placed her on the bed. They merged into a long kiss on the mouth, and then he began to kiss and caress her long neck and breast.
“I see you have not changed your preferences.” Said he.
“Shut your mouth and place it where already you know.” Was the terse response.
No doubt Zoubaida had an excitation accumulated for a long time and was insatiable. After a receiving oral sex for a while, she turned on her back and asked her husband.
“Now penetrate me and stay within me until I tell you.”
After sex they remained exhausted lying side by side for a while. Zoubaida soon heard his man snoring and got out of bed. On the way to the bathroom she looked toward the exit and was startled to see a sitting figure there.
“For how long have you been there?” Asked her mother with a tone of anger.
“Long enough.” Replied Souady with rogue tone.
“Is it possible that I cannot have relations with my husband without finding you snooping?” The anger was increasing. “You always enter on the sly.”
“Dear, I came to visit you and not on the sly. I even stumbled upon a chair and made a loud noise. What happens is that you were twisted in a bundle and did not hear it.”
“Did you like our show in your honor? The private function especially for you? At least you could have coughed to warn us.”
“In no way. I did not want to distract you. You know I expect from you a grandchild every year and that is precisely the way to achieve them.”
“Well.” Said Zoubaida somewhat calmer “let´s go out of the house to talk. I don't want Cristian to wake up and realize that we have been doing a little number. Let´s save him an embarrassment by a sneaky mother-in-law.”
They left the room while Souady went on shamelessly.
“Looks ardent the Italian. Well, they have that reputation. And still lets you sit in his face.”
They suddenly heard the baby crying. Zoubaida left his mother alone and quickly entered the house; passing along the bedroom he saw that her husband was rising entirely naked.
“Ah! Mon cher, dress up because my mother is arriving.”
“Oh! And where is she?” Asked Cristian flushed.
“Don't worry, she has not yet entered.
The hot July day was forcing them to drink from their water bottles permanently. Haroun had chosen a path towards the Northwest to make daily patrols. Two other men followed them away. Their camels were advancing silently by the sands and had not changed a word in the last half hour.
“Haroun, have been there any news about the marauders in the North, Goran or whatever they are called?”
“Unfortunately yes. We did not want to spread the word not to alarm the villagers, but we have strengthened our precautions.” The warrior reported in a low voice. “Three days ago a patrol surprised four riders in a canyon. There was a hard confrontation and three of them fell dead, while the fourth escaped. We lost Habibi, one of the men in charge, coming from one village to the South. Ousmar has a date with a French delegate in the capital in a couple of days. He will ask them to have a contingent of rapid deployment prepared and to give us more modern weapons. Many of our men are armed with rifles one century old and are low on bullets.”
“Haroun, I would like to devise a contingency plan to be able to evacuate Zoubaida and Hubert in case of attack. What escape route would you recommend me?”
“A retreat to the port of Douala in Cameroon. You never know if there may be a massacre like the one in Darfur, and it may be necessary to travel abroad to put distance on this continent. Do you have relatives in your country?”
“Yes. My parents and two siblings with their families. They have a farm, a medium-sized farm.”
“What is medium size for you?
“Four hundred acres.”
“And would they receive you back in case of need?”
“Yes, I can go back any time and I would be received with joy.”
“And you can return to your country or have something pending?”
“I am completely free to return. I left it only for the sake of adventure.”
“Do you keep contact with your family?”
“I write every now and then. In New York I had a weekly online contact, but here I have no connection.”
“Do they know that you've married?”
“Yes and that we were expecting a child. From there on I didn't give any more details.”
“As a military strategy.” Said Haroun half-jokingly “I suggest that you prepare a rearguard retreat at your parents. Only your wife and your father-in-law should be informed. As for the rest don´t let know for now.” Added enigmatically.
Two days later Zoubaida told Cristian that she was traveling with Hubert to N'Djamena to pay visits to the pediatrician and the gynecologist. She was to join her parents in their trip.
“My father goes on a semi-official visit.” She added. “But I have no further information.”
Cristian hid the information available to him, but answered.
“I'm going to write several letters to my family in Argentina and send them with some photos of yourself and Hubert. I ask you to send them by mail once you are in N´Djamena.
“Yes. I will do it gladly. Finally you think about them! As for you, you can move temporarily to my parent’s house, so some workers can come here to carry out repairs which were pending when we moved.”
When Zoubaida went with his parents to the capital, Cristian walked the distance between the two houses, carrying in his backpack all necessary for a three days stay at his in-laws home. He was received by the servants, who drove him to the guest-room Zoubaida and he had already occupied when newly arrived at the village. He then left to meet Haroun for their usual patrol, and four hours later returned to the house.
Just after taking a shower and getting dressed he was looking what to do in a house that was not his own and wandered through the long external Gallery when he suddenly crossed with Charfadine. Blush rose to his cheeks despite his attempts to control his emotions. This time it was the girl who took the initiative to initiate a conversation.
“Hello Cristian, are you well?”
“Yes, very well. We haven´t seen in a long time.” His festive tone reflected his state of mind.
“Twenty days.” Replied the young woman with unusual precision. “You've been absent in patrols and were not at home on the two times I went to visit my nephew.”
“Ah! Yes. Hubert.” Cristian responded somewhat absent-minded. Charfadine raised an eyebrow a little surprised.
“Forgive me.” Continued Cristian “It is the first time that I see you with your head uncovered.”
Indeed, the women wore all her hair combed in thin braids leaving her broad face exposed. The face was exquisite and Cristian look sunk in her large almond-shaped eyes. When he recovered self-control he noticed an enigmatic smile outlined at Charfadine´s lips.
The two youngsters walked along the groves behind the house as if they unconsciously wanted to evade third parties eyes. Both felt lighthearted and failed to notice the passage of time.
“Tell me. How is your country?” She asked.” I don't remember its name, but I know that it is not Italy as the others say.”
“Argentina. It is a huge country.”
“Larger than Chad?”
“Yes, I suppose it is quite larger. It has...”
The talk went on for more than one hour, in which the girl satisfied her curiosity about the birthplace and the adventures of his brother-in-law although carefully filtered by him.
At one point she said.
“We must return, it is getting late and I don't want the people at home to worry for me.”
Two days Zoubaida returned from N'Djamena along with her parents. She looked radiant.
“Both Hubert and I are very well." Said answering Cristian´s question.
“The child has grown and gained weight satisfactorily. But before we continue the conversation let me take care of lunch. I have to tell you important things and we will do so after eating.”
After lunch both spouses sat in the living room while taking a concoction of herbs of the desert. Zoubaida started talking.
“My father is very concerned about the political situation and our security; I am referring to the whole village.” She paused “He had an interview with the consul and the attaché militaire of France in N'Djamena. I think that he has requested military support in the event of aggression of the Muslim tribes of the North.” She looked at Cristian and noticed that she had failed to impress him. “Is it you do not care about us?”
“Of course that it is not so. What happens is that Haroun had put me abreast on the topic in a general way.”
“My father insisted I consider the possibility of leaving Chad if the situation becomes very complicated. In addition to the military theme we have managed to renew my passport and French visa, as well as documentation for Hubert. This is in accordance with your concern in recent days. Is your Passport valid?”
“Yes. Have you finished?” As Zoubaida answered affirmatively he added. “Now listen to me, I have to tell you about the rest of my talk with Haroun.”
When he finished his talk, Zoubaida recalled.
“Ah! My father told me that he wants to talk to you this evening. I think that it may be related to these topics.”
Cristian came to his in-laws house and a servant lead the way and made him sit in the room. Ousmar appeared almost immediately.
“Thank you for coming. We should have had this talk long before and I am to blame for the delay.” He continued without waiting for any answer. “Now you are a full member of this family and our clan, and there are things you need to know, because the future of one and the other depends on them.”
As it was his custom, was a moment of silence to emphasize what was to follow.
“Chad borders as well as the frontiers of almost all its neighbors are artificial; they come from the administrative divisions in the former French Equatorial Africa. They have mixed very different people and with a very troubled past among them under a single Government. That is why since independence and the formation of the Republic our history has been filled with coups, ethnic cleansing and slaughters. Of the more than 200 different ethnic groups the majority belongs to two large racial and religious groups. The Muslim Saharan North, speaking Arabic, and Black peoples of the South, related with the Sudanese, divided into numerous ethnic groups, of animist confession, although many have been Christianized by the French. The southern strip of the country is the most fertile, and is the area where cotton crops are obtained so it formed the basis of the economy of Chad until the appearance of the oil. Anyway, we are in one of the poorest countries in the world and the northern tribes have always wanted to expand into our lands.
Cristian listened his father-in-law clear explanation whilst grew inside him a certain admiration for this man, apparently a chieftain of a remote and primitive tribe, but who revealed as a fine politician well adapted to his environment.
“The French colonial period.” Continued Ousmar. “which had created this ethnic monstrosity, got to keep it in an unstable balance, but as I said before, from the independence the rivalries exploded, and now we have to deal with the consequences.” Here Ousmar made a prolonged break.
“But it was not only to make you aware of our history and our problems that I called it. I need to discuss with you your role at this stage. The safety of my oldest daughter and my grandchild are in your hands and with them the future of our people.”
“Trust me. I have the utmost interest in those people. Besides the succession of your clan they are my wife and my son.”
Ousmar was not accustomed to that talk in plain and challenging language, but he always knew how to adapt to new situations. In addition he was glad that his son-in-law was not a prude.
“Well, now listen...”
Ousmar began to outline a contingency plan based in part in his own ideas, and partly in responses that Cristian was givin
g him. When there were no more questions they finished the meeting.
As the young man left the living room he met Souady who also expressed interest in talking with him.
“It seems that after their return from N'Djamena I became suddenly a very important person.” He thought.
“Yes, Madame, I´m listening.”
“Leave the Madame treatment to a side. You are already my son-in law. Call me Souady or Maman.”
“All right Souady.”
”There is an issue theme that my husband has probably not mentioned, but which also affects our family, and you must be aware of.” Cristian noticed that she in turn began to talk to him in a colloquial way. “Our village does not constitute an actual ethnic group, but that we are a clan within the Sara ethnicity a, one of the largest in South Chad. Further South of our territory extends that of the Mbaye clan, one of the most powerful of the Sara ethnic group.”
“I understand.”
“The Mbaye have always had intentions of annexing us so we would lose our independence and we would become something like their vassals.”
“So Muslims from the North are not the only danger.”
“It´s a different kind of danger. But yes, there are permanent conflicts among all ethnic groups in Chad, this has always been so. The novelty is that the son of one of the heads of the Mbaye intends to marry my daughter Charfadine.”
Souady made a break and observed the reaction of Cristian. This, much to his regret, had been visibly affected by the news.
“Well, I understand.” Finally said with a voice thread. Souady continued
“This would be the first step in a series of dynastic conflicts at the heart of our tribe. The Mbaye will try to move to Zoubaida off the line of succession by all means. You understand the danger.”
“Yes, of course.” The young man was obviously tense. “And... what does Charfadine think? Rather, what does she want?”
“She does not you want that suitor at all. I think that she is already in love with a man. As well as my husband must deal with situations of war and male issues, you will understand that it is my duty to take care of these affairs.”
Sahara Page 6
