Chapter Fifty Seven: Welcome News
Kiya was almost dozing off when Nadia Djar came back with boiling water and a coffee pot. The girl poured a cup of coffee and offered it to Kiya. “I have been remiss in my duties as a hostess,” she said.
Kiya thanked her and took a sip of the thick brown liquid. It was flavoured with cardamom and very pleasant. Nadia Djar poured herself another cup and the two of them sat and drank, while Sabu slept.
“Soon it will be time for the gathering of the tribes,” Nadia Djar said.
“Will they be coming here?” asked Kiya.
“No, we meet in the desert.” Nadia laughed. “For the first time I will be old enough to join the Dance of the Maidens. We sway our hips in the hopes of attracting a husband. It is every girl’s dream that she will be chosen.”
“Well, I hope you are lucky,” said Kiya. “Any man who chooses you will be fortunate.”
“I do not wish to be chosen,” said Nadia Djar with a pretty pout. “I wish to do my own choosing.”
Sabu opened his eyes. “I would choose you,” he said to Nadia Djar.
“Have you been listening to our conversation?” said Kiya. “You are a disgraceful man.”
Sabu grinned and sat up. “I am feeling much better.” He turned to Nadia Djar. “You are the one who has saved my life.” He seized her hand and kissed it. “I am yours to command.”
“In that case, I command you to drink another cup of herbal tea,” she said with a smile.
“Such cruelty,” he sighed, but he obediently drank from the cup she offered him. “Now I feel well enough to get up and look around,” he said. “Where are we?”
“We are in a Bedouin camp,” said Kiya. “Nadia and her family are very kindly looking after us.”
Sabu got to his feet and wobbled slightly. Kiya and Nadia Djar hurried to support him. He put his arm around Nadia Djar’s shoulders.
“Come,” she said. “I will take you to my favourite place, where we can sit and look at the desert.”
The three of them walked across the little valley and up the ridge on the other side. Kiya gasped with wonder. Below them the desert stretched away to the horizon. She could see no limit to the sea of sand.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” said Nadia Djar. She helped Sabu sit on a smooth rock and she and Kiya sat on either side.
“Over there is the nearest oasis,” said Nadia Djar, pointing into the distance. “We Bedouin know every oasis in the desert so we can go where we want.” She pointed in another direction. “Over there is a sea where the fishes smile and play with sailors in their boats.” Her pointing finger moved. “Over there are sacred mountains shaped like seated lions.”
“I would love to see such wonders,” said Sabu.
Kiya stared at the desert. No vegetation spoilt the line of the rolling dunes. There was no green or any other colour but the golden sand and blue sky. Nothing moved in that vast space, it was a world before man, before life itself, majestic in its simplicity. Kiya felt her soul expand. Always before her world had been full of movement and noise – birds singing, leaves rustling, the river burbling. Now the silence brought peace. One could think great thoughts here, contemplate the infinite and leave the distractions of the world behind.
“This is where I am meant to be,” said Sabu.
Kiya looked around and saw that he was holding Nadia Djar’s hand. Quietly she got to her feet and walked back to the camp.
Huy was with Djar Badawi, Nadia Djar was with Sabu and Laylos was with Wadha Zayed - everyone but Kiya had found a friend in the camp. She felt deserted by those she loved and decided there was nothing to do but retire to the tent for a rest.
She slept well, for when she was shaken awake by Laylos the sky beyond the opening of the tent was already tinged red by the setting sun.
“Wake up child, Djar Badawi has sent for us.”
They hurried to the men’s tent, where Huy and Djar Badawi were waiting with a young boy of disreputable appearance. Djar Badawi pushed the boy forwards. “Come, my son, tell our visitor what you discovered.”
The boy bowed and looked at Kiya with eager eyes. “Soldiers arrived at the port yesterday. They wanted information about a girl of great beauty and a young man who is her bodyguard. Nobody could tell them anything for you had not been seen. They stayed on guard until the evening when they left and marched back towards Akhetaten.”
“That is wonderful news,” said Kiya. “We can safely catch the ferry to Gesem.”
The boy shook his head. “Ferries no longer run from Wadi el-Nakhla. All the limestone is now taken by ox cart to the new city.”
Kiya’s heart sank. “What do we do now?” she asked Huy.
“We have no choice but to continue north,” he said.
Kiya nodded then turned to the boy, who was waiting expectantly. “You have done well. Thank you.” She reached in her waist purse for a copper ring and handed it to him.
“Thank you, my Lady.” He grinned happily and ran off, ducking past Wadha Zayed, who was carrying a loaded tray towards them.
“Ah, our evening meal,” said Djar Badawi, “Come Huy, we will dine in the men’s tent.” He took the tray from Wadha Zayed and ushered Huy into the tent.
“What about us?” complained Laylos.
“You will eat with the women and children,” said Wadha Zayed. “Follow me.” Kiya and Laylos followed her to where two women were seated beside a fire. “This is Ar-Dab Yuni and Alanood Tchay, they are married to my brothers, who are away tending goats in the far pastures.” The two women bowed and indicated that Laylos and Kiya should sit beside them. There was a large cooking pot suspended over the fire, Alanood Tchay got to her feet and spooned out bowls of stew, which she handed around.
“It tastes delicious,” Kiya said and she spoke the truth. The stew was flavoured with aromatic herbs and was rich and meaty. She finished her bowl with gusto.
“Would our guests like more?” asked Alanood Tchay.
Kiya was aware of the children sitting hungrily in the background. “No thank you,” she said. She turned to Laylos. “Your hunger has been satisfied also, Aunt, has it not?”
Laylos looked at Kiya and then beyond her to the children. “Yes, indeed. My congratulations, Alanood Tchay, this is the best stew I ever tasted.” She got to her feet. “It is growing dark. Come, Kiya, let us go to bed, we must make an early start tomorrow.”
The other women rose to their feet and bowed. “Good night, dear friends,” said Wadha Zayed. “Sleep well.”
“Good night,” said Kiya and smiled as she watched the children rush forwards to take their places around the stew pot.
Kiya and the God of Chaos Page 57
