by Taki Drake
As she turned to move back to where Abdul stood with his mouth agape, flanked by the beaming faces of Geri and Jean, Mary met the disbelieving gaze of the player that she continued to back. His disbelief changed to a fierce fire as he realized that her belief in him was more powerful than ever, and his whole manner changed. Like a fire ignited from a spark, the man straightened up and accepted her belief transforming him into a man who understood his own power.
The effect on the other players at the table was startling. The two men that had been doing the most winning regarded her with a tinge of fear. Mary could see the first tendrils of doubt entering their minds, but that was not her purpose there. Initially, she wanted to gain the accreditation to negotiate for the group's absolute best price. While she still wanted that, the exposure to the Afghani culture and people had taught her to look beyond the country's borders and into the hearts of people.
As she stood frozen for a moment surrounded by men who lacked any understanding of who and what she was, Mary was assailed by the familiar faint perfume that Jean always wore and the weathered and worn clasp of Geri’s hand, as her two friends came to flank her.
Before either of them could speak, the gong sounded again, and once more, the dragon lizard players flipped their plaques. There was a moment of stunned silence. No triumphal yell from the table sounded, and there was nothing to give Mary a clue as to what had happened.
Chapter 10 – Master Trader
In the air exploded with shouts, and the player that Mary had backed looked up at her with his eyes burning with gratitude and admiration. Still silent, he reached forward and swept the entire pot into his area. The woman would have stood there frozen except that at that moment, Abdul reached her and grabbed hold of her arms with an iron grip.
Ordering the two other women to stay with him, Abdul dragged Mary over to a small table to meet the official's astonished and admiring gaze. Mary watched in numbed surprise as the elderly man pulled the tithing away from the coins and indicated that she could take the rest. Seeing their friend’s inability to move, Geri and Jean quickly swept the winnings into her bag.
However, the official was not done with Mary yet. Stepping over nearer to her than was comfortable for most Afghani men, the old man reached his hand out, gently touching the center of one of her trading tokens and saying in a respectful voice something that Abdul translated immediately. His own voice somewhat shaken, their devoted guide announced, “He says it is well deserved.”
Wrapped in the reputation of a Master trader, the group leader quickly moved on to the textiles and rugs that were her main focus. Negotiating and closing on several exquisite rugs satisfied Mary’s yearning and left her standing in front of a booth that featured roving and handspun yarns. The variety of the shades and the textures intrigued her, and she stepped into the confines of the booth to see what other treasures were hiding there.
Both Jean and Geri wanted to explore a more significant area of the market, and Mary could see that Abdul was torn as to the correct actions. Reassuring him, Mary said, “I just want to look in the yarns store here. It should be easy for you to locate, and I will call for help if I need it. Take the other two where they want to go and rejoin me when you can.” Although reluctant, their guide and driver eventually took the other two women off to run their errands, leaving Mary in a relatively protected spot.
When her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, Mary caught her breath in excited amazement. The tiny booth was jammed with many types of naturally sourced fibers and spinnings. Entranced, Mary ran her fingers over silky cashmere and softer than silk goat hair.
The woman in charge of the booth could not seem to take her eyes off Mary. Even with her headscarf on, Mary knew that she did not look like a typical Afghani and wondered what the woman made of her.
Tentatively at first, Mary explored the smells and textures of the fibers in the small crowded booth. As the woman saw how much Mary was luxuriating in the sensation of the yarns, she slowly emerged from the back, offering a gap-toothed smile to her possible customer.
Exchanging hand gestures with both the shop owner and two other customers, Mary finally pulled her current knitting project out of her tote bag and showed the women what she was making. The group leader could feel the other women’s excitement when they saw and touched the result of her knitting.
At some unknown signal, one of the women, an elderly woman with a slightly stooped posture, grabbed Mary’s arm and pulled her energetically into the booth to the immediate right of the one she was visiting. The shop was filled with rugs.
Mary could see at a glance that these rugs were created with more skill than those she had seen until now. Running her hand lightly over the nap of the carpet, the elderly woman grabbed her wrist and shook her head at the foreigner's mistake. After that, what ensued was an intense short course in identifying a carpet's quality, all conducted by pantomime and gesture.
Mary was pleased to interact with the woman but unsure why she was pulled to a different booth. Indicating with her hands that Mary should choose three rugs when the American woman had complied, the elderly woman called out, and the salesperson from the yarn shop slipped to the back flap of the booth enclosure to lay a massive pile of yarn on the table.
The American woman was getting an inkling of where this is going and could not believe the circumstances that had conspired to produce this result. Her suspicion became more confident when the younger woman leaned over and gently touched three of Mary’s knitting needle size sets and then pointed to the rugs and yarn.
Reaching into her tote bag, Mary pulled out a zippered container that held a complete set of more delicate knitting needles. Opening it up, the woman laid it out on the table and indicated the younger Afghani female should look at it. At first, the American needed to demonstrate how the needles attached to the connecting cord to form a solid base, but once she did, the two women were off at breakneck speed in a discussion that left Mary far behind.
Looking carefully at the token Mary had received from Bibi and hung around her neck, the two Afghani women exchanged glances. While the younger woman disappeared into her yarn booth, the older one began to pull out carpets from her store and pile them up.
Mary knew enough not to object to them raising their offer but was conscious of complete and utter amazement at what they were offering for something which to her was a small item.
The younger woman was back shortly with an even bigger load of unique and custom spun yarns. This time she had included twists of paper that for a moment left Mary confused. Suddenly, the American woman had a lightbulb moment and realize that the twists of paper were the method in which they kept dyes separate and contained.
Looking at the pile of paper knots, Mary realized just how valuable those knitting needles were to these two Afghani women. It was both humbling and exhilarating to the American. She thought to herself, I do not need to make a better deal than this. I want them to enjoy the needles and succeed. There is no need for me to overcome them in a competition where their necessity and survival drive them.
When Mary signaled her agreement, both women’s faces erupted in brilliant smiles, and they impulsively both hugged the American. Mary’s eyes sparkled with the emotional sense of belonging, and she attempted to focus on completing the deal and rejoining the remainder of her party.
Emerging from the negotiations' intensity to her current reality, Mary worried that Abdul would be panicking and unable to find her. Looking helplessly at the pile of rugs and other items she had just bartered for, the woman was greatly relieved when the elderly woman in charge of the rug store called out in an imperious voice, and two young, teenaged men shambled into the store.
In a commanding tone, the woman uttered several sharp instructions to the two young men, causing them to straighten up and nod to Mary. Clumsily, one of them asked in broken English, “You with tour? We take items to bus. All good?” When Mary nodded yes, the young man broke into a surprisingly sweet and shy
smile before answering, “We do now. Grandmother happy. We both thank you.”
The two men made quick work of loading up Mary’s purchases in a small hand-drawn cart and trundling off through the market toward the bus. Still unable to see Abdul, Mary turned toward the two women and offered her hands in a friendship clasp. The older woman was obviously emotionally touched, while the younger one just looked overwhelmed. After once again hugging the American, the older woman put her hand out in a clear command of “Wait!” before disappearing into an enclosed area of the booth.
Emerging a short time later, the elderly woman carefully stretched up, draping another lanyard with a token around Mary’s neck. Arranging it so that it was prominently displayed on the center of her chest, the older woman pointed at herself to say, “Jamila,” before pointing to the younger woman and saying distinctly, “Mir.”
Mary responded by pronouncing her own name, and all three of the women beamed at each other. Just then, the group leader heard Abdul’s voice raised in escalating alarm as he called out her name. Responding loudly resulted in the concerned guide erupting into the middle of the rug shop, looking around wildly for his charge.
When Abdul saw Mary’s unharmed and unstressed expression, the young man took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. Geri and Jean were with him, both of them holding packages and full tote bags but with widened eyes that still rebounded with fearful concern.
While Abdul caught his breath, Mary self-consciously introduced her two friends to Jamila and Mir. Breathing her relief when the four women seem to like each other, Mary moved around to pat Abdul on the shoulder, saying soothingly, “I stayed very close to where I started. Remember, I promised to call for you if there was a problem.”
Although the young man nodded his head in agreement, Mary could tell he still was shocked by her temporary absence. Vowing to herself to be more considerate in the future, Mary murmured to Jamila in English that Abdul was a good boy and very conscientious.
The American was surprised when the older woman in partially understandable English responded, “Dependable is good. Perhaps he should court my granddaughter.” When both younger people flushed deep, brilliant red, the older women exchanged amused glances but were kind enough not to carry the teasing any further forward.
Reluctantly taking her farewell from someone she felt was a new friend, Mary followed Abdul into the market's central aisle. With amusement, the older woman observed their guide and Mir exchanging shy but interested glances before the guide herded his charges away.
Their party regained the central aisle just in time to intercept Patty trailed by her twin Pam and Jumal. The energized chef all but grabbed Mary by her shoulders and dragged her off toward the spice market's central areas. Chattering faster than the group leader had ever heard her speak before, Patty did an unorganized dump of information into the older woman’s ears, telling her what she had seen, wanted, and needed.
Mary was confused and heartened, feeling that this was a significant milestone for Patty and her recovery. The emergence of enthusiasm and creativity was something that the group had waited anxiously to see from the damaged and grieving woman. For that indication of healing to show up here in response to the promise of spices and herbs typically not found in the US was one of the significant benefits that Mary had thought of when considering the trip.
Smiling, Mary almost stalked through the bazaar, feeling like the healing in her friends offset any trouble that they ran into worthwhile. It was a good feeling and one that she wanted to cling to, at least for a little while.
Chapter 11 – Spice of Life
Patty delivered a rapid-fire summary that laid out the spices that she thought were the best and where they were located. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Geri began to ask excited questions about which spices might do well incorporated into her version of American South cuisine. When the chef answered her, Geri asked in a livelier voice than Mary had ever heard her use, “I would love to try to revamp some of my old family recipes and take advantage of the different spices and herbs. Perhaps Mary can negotiate a quantity for me too.”
Mary immediately responded, saying, “I will just negotiate for larger amounts of everything. That way, the merchants will take me more seriously, and we can always divide up the spices later.” Looking worried all of a sudden, Patty said uncomfortably, “It depends on how much money we are talking. After all the things that you bought, your funds must be running low, and I know that I do not have enormous tons of cash.”
Jumal and Abdul stopped immediately as Mary came to a complete halt. The group leader looked over at Patty and asked, incredulously, “How much do you think I have spent?”
Looking uncomfortable, Patty responded, “Pam and I sort of estimated that you spent about $5000. That is a lot of money, and I do not have anywhere close to that.”
Abdul stared first at Patty before turning his head to Mary and saying, “I think you had better do their negotiating for everybody from this point forward. They are too used to purchasing things in your country and do not understand how things are done here.”
Pam and Patty looked from their guide to the group leader in bewilderment. Finally, Pam asked quietly, “How much have you spent? You have at least fifteen rugs and lots of other things, including pottery and some metalwork.”
Keeping her in her voice very calm, Mary admitted, “I spent a total of just under $75 and traded sixteen T-shirts and nine pens. Although that is probably not an entirely accurate total. I think I made about $51 in the dragon lizard game, which would then net me out to $24 spent.”
Aghast, Patty exclaimed, “I spent over $200 in the first village and only got one rug!”
Abdul suggested softly, “Please do not declaim money amounts in this market. It is very dangerous to do so. Also, be aware the man you just paid $200 typically earns less than six dollars a month.”
Patty let out a little yelp and demanded, “Mary, does that include what we bought in the city? All the things we got from the spice merchant are included in that total?”
When Mary nodded her head, the chef closed her eyes in pain and murmured, “Please forget I said anything. You definitely are the right person to negotiate for us.” Pam patted her sister comfortingly on the shoulder, murmuring soft words that brought a slight smile to the embarrassed woman’s face.
The group leader happened to be looking at the twins when she saw that a man in the crowd was staring fixedly at her group. When he saw that Mary noticed him, he turned and slipped away, quickly blending into the rest of the people milling around in the market. The shiver ran through Mary’s body, and she wondered if there was a cold front coming through. She thought to herself, It is either weather change or someone just walked over my grave. Shaking off the morbid thought, the uneasy woman headed for the first of the spice merchants.
The following couple of hours were an exciting adventure in bargaining for Mary. The first shop had been a definite lesson, but not for the American woman. Instead, that interaction taught the merchants in this market that she was not someone that it was safe to disrespect.
At first, the shopkeeper had appeared respectful and all jovial, making humorous comments and going out of his way to be courteous to the women. He watched how they moved around his store, and Mary could see that he made mental notes of everything that Patty, Pam, or Geri lingered over or discussed. The woman could tell when he decided that he had his customers hooked because his manner changed.
Then his tactics shifted to protestations that such a spice was already promised to someone else and another one was scarce. When Mary got him to define a price, it was many times what the city merchant had charged. The group leader disliked the difference between his apologetic words and the greedy gleam in his eyes.
Finally, after the third outrageous price he quoted, Mary turned to the rest of her group, saying sharply, “We are leaving now, ladies. This man thinks that we are stupid, and I know his prices are ridiculous. They are not
even close enough to negotiate into something more reasonable.
“If worse comes to worst, I will request the same spices from our friend, Numatullah Ahmed. I am sure that he will sell us the others we want under the same agreement that he and I have already worked out.”
Looking confused but obedient to Mary’s assertive commands, the other women follow Jumal out of the shop before the shopkeeper could protest. Bursting into impassioned speech, the merchant addressed Abdul at length. When Mary looked over at their guide, she could see the amusement buried in his eyes, but his face was carefully held motionless.
The woman raised her eyebrows in an unspoken question, and Abdul said carefully, “Merchant Asadullah is feeling quite annoyed because he did not realize that you knew the Honorable Numatullah Ahmed. He has suggested that perhaps it would be better if we two men discussed the purchase, rather than leaving it to the volatile emotions of a female.”
Without thinking about it, Mary felt a little used expression spring to life on her face. It was the one that told someone they were discussing and not telling the truth, and she was aware of it. It was a combination of disdain and contempt, leavened with impatience, not typically something that the woman felt about another human being.
Taking one step toward the merchant, she drew his eye and pointedly lifted the trading tokens that she had received off where they lay against her chest to dangle in midair. She tapped the center of each medal with her other hand’s index finger before pointing to herself. Still without a word, she turned and stalked out of his shop.
Ignoring the shopkeeper’s fervent pleas to return, Mary gathered the rest of her party with a glance, and they headed off to the next shop of interest. As the group moved, the woman noticed the young runners that sprinted to other stalls and knew that she would not have the same problem again.
The next shop was not one that sold spices. Instead, it was one that specialized in tea and coffee. Some of the women in the group had become quite fond of the strong-flavored teas that were served everywhere, while others had grown to love the thick Turkish coffee. The intense aromas that greeted Mary as she stepped into the depths of the shop washed the unpleasant aftertaste of the previous encounter out of her mind leaving her with senses that were awash with the mystery of the Middle East. She could not help the smile that came to her face, nor did she want to hide her response.
