Ignoring Father Quibilah’s statement, Nasir placed his elbows underneath himself and tried to sit up, “Ouch!” He exclaimed as a sharp pain erupted from his chest right below his heart.
“You mustn’t sit up yet. Give your body some time to heal.” Father Quibilah said.
Nasir turned to Maarika and asked, “How long have I been out?”
“Nearly a fortnight.” Maarika replied.
“A fortnight! No wonder my mouth tastes like the parched sands of the desert.” Nasir replied.
“I’m sorry, I did what I could to get water into your mouth while you were unconscious.” Maarika replied.
“Let this be the last time woman. Stop apologizing. I know not how you managed to get me, a man of nearly twice your weight, from the middle of the Arabian desert, all the way to the Sinai!” Nasir barked gruffly.
Maarika smiled down at him, “It wasn’t easy.”
“Care to tell me the story?” Nasir asked.
Father Quibilah broke into the conversation, “Perhaps later. You must rest for now and recover your strength.”
Nasir let out a deep sigh in frustration before saying, “Yes Father. Before you go, may I have another cup of water?” Nasir asked.
Maarika made eye contact with Father Quibilah. Quibilah smiled at her and slowly nodded as he said, “Of course my son.”
The raven haired beauty picked up the clay pitcher and poured water into the cup until it was filled nearly to the top. She held the back of Nasir’s head with her left hand and gently tipped the cup full of water into his mouth. He drank slower this time savoring the refreshing taste of the liquid. When he finished, he yawned, and closed his eyes. Father Quibilah and Maarika walked quietly out of the room trying not to disturb him.
Maarika gently shut the door to the chamber behind her cutting off the sound of Nasir’s snoring. She placed a hand on Father Quibilah’s shoulder and pulled gently. Getting the message, the father turned to face her and said, “Yes?”
Maarika asked in a low voice, “How did he do? Will he recover? He seemed so weak.”
“Do not worry my child. He is weak yes. That is to be expected considering the wound, and the long journey you endured to get him here. Now that he is awake and coherent, I think the danger is mostly past. If the fever was going to come, it would have done so already. As long as we keep him comfortable and he gets rest, he should make a full recovery.”
Maarika smiled and said, “Thank you Father.”
Father Quibilah placed his hand on the top of hers and squeezed gently in reassurance, “Do not fret my child. If you continue praying and it is God’s will he will make a full recovery. Speaking of God, aren’t you late for your class?”
“Yes, Father I am.” Maarika replied.
“Well then, I will walk with you to ensure you make haste to your lessons. You still have much to learn about the Lord our God, and his son Jesus Christ.” Father Quibilah said.
“Thank you Father I appreciate it. It’s so easy to get turned around here. I’m not used to being inside a building, much less one of this size. In the desert you can almost always see where you are going.” Maarika replied.
Father Quibilah led Maarika down a series of corridors. They walked in silence and turned every so often at seemingly random intervals. The pair emerged into a large courtyard. Maarika looked up into the pale blue sky beyond the two stories that loomed above and surrounded the lush green square. Walking through the garden was her favorite part of the walk. She took a deep breath and drew in the myriad of scents from the nearby plants. This is more greenery in one place than I think I would see in a week of wandering back home in the deep desert. She smiled as she thought, Each has its own unique fragrance, but when blended together the air itself smells like the perfume the chief’s wife used to wear.
Father Quibilah led her into a large corridor opposite the one they had departed from. They walked side by side for about fifty feet when the Father paused in front of a set of double doors. He gestured toward the door with his right hand and said, “Your lessons await.”
“Thank you, Father.” Maarika replied.
Maarika opened the door just enough so that she could slip inside the room. A dozen pairs of eyes looked up from their wax tablets. An older lady, dressed in black lose fitting robes, walked amongst the students. She was wearing a white linen dress with a shawl of red cloth wrapped around her midsection to conceal her figure. As Maarika closed the door gently behind her, the woman spun around and frowned, “You’re late.”
“I’m sorry Sister Nenet, Nasir awoke.” Maarika said.
“I see. Ensure that it doesn’t happen again. You are already behind the class and cannot afford to miss a single lesson.” Nenet said.
Maarika moved quickly across the room to her place in the class. Several pairs of disapproving six-year-old eyes stared at her as she stepped around the students. Others whispered to each other as she passed.
Sister Nenet drew herself up to her full, yet diminutive height and said, “Now children. Which of you can tell Maarika what she missed by disrespecting God and being late.” The sister threw Maarika another disapproving glare as she spoke.
A hand shot up from the child closest to Nenet. It belonged to a little girl with swarthy skin, “Go ahead Shani.” Sister Nenet said.
Shani stood up and pulled on her green cotton dress to straighten out the wrinkles in the fabric that came from sitting on the floor. She then turned to face Maarika and said, “Sister Nenet was telling us today about the story of Jonah. He was called on by God to be a pro.” Shani paused for a moment before starting the word again, “propet.”
Shani smiled sheepishly as she failed to pronounce the word for a second time. Sister Nenet smiled, a lock of black hair speckled with gray slipped out of the head scarf she wore to cover her hair as she said, “Prophet. Go on Shani you’re doing well.”
Shani stood up a little straighter and beamed at the compliment. She very slowly sounded out the word, “Prophet” and then continued the story. Jonah refused God’s calling to preach to the wicked people of Nineveh and instead left on a voyage across the sea.”
Shani paused and threw Sister Nenet a nervous glance, “You’re doing well Shani, please continue.”
Shani nodded and said, “To punish Jonah for diso.” She paused for a moment and then tried the word again, “disobedience. God raised a mighty storm. The storm went on and on until finally the sailors threw Jonah in the sea.”
“Why did the sailors do that Shani?” Sister Nenet asked.
“To make God happy, so that he would end the storm.” Shani answered proudly.
“Correct. What happened next?” Sister Nenet asked.
“A big fish came up out of the sea and ate Jonah!” Another student, Vaclav blurted out without permission.
“Very good Vaclav, but you mustn’t speak when it isn’t your turn. Shani was talking.” Sister Nenet said.
Vaclav frowned and said under his breath, “Shani is always talking. It’s not fair.”
“What was that Vaclav?” Sister Nenet asked.
Vaclav lowered his eyes and said, “Nothing Sister Nenet.”
“See that it remains so.” Sister Nenet turned her gaze to another student and asked, “Dalilah what happened next?”
Shani glared at Dalilah as she stood and said, “The whale took Jonah to Nineveh and spat him out onto the shore!”
“Then what did Jonah do?” Sister Nenet asked. Another little boy raised his hand and she pointed at him before saying, “Yes Radames?”
Radames stood up and swallowed nervously before saying, “He preached to the Ninevites to repent.”
“What did the Ninevites do?” Sister Nenet looked over the students of her class. Only Shani had her hand raised. She frowned slightly as she pointed at Shani and said, “Yes Shani?”
Shani said, “The Ninevotes.”
“Ninevites.” Sister Nenet quickly corrected.
“The Nin-e-vites listened to Jonah
and God did not smite them!” Shani said enthusiastically.
“Very good class. It seems that at least some of you were paying attention. Now Maarika what does the story of Jonah teach you?”
“Do not disobey God.” Maarika replied.
“That’s part of the lesson.” Sister Nenet replied, “What’s the other part.”
Maarika twirled a lock of her raven black hair in her right index finger nervously as she pondered the question, “Listen to God’s will.”
Sister Nenet smiled, “That’s it exactly. Very good.”
For Maarika, the lessons about God’s teachings in the Bible seemed to go on forever. Her mind would often drift away from what was being spoken to the same thought over and over, Nasir. Bismillah knows this old crone can talk.
Sister Nenet barked, “Maarika!”
Maarika’s mind returned to the class as she nervously glanced up at the old woman standing over her, “Yes Sister Nenet?”
“Your body is here but your mind is elsewhere, see that your focus improves.” Sister Nenet shifted her gaze to the younger students and said, “Class you are dismissed.” The children erupted into squeals of delight as they ran for the door. As Maarika stood to leave the Sister added, “Not you Maarika. Stay.”
“Yes Sister?” Maarika asked innocently.
“Maarika, you must pay attention in class. You are not setting a good example for the other students.”
“Yes Sister.” Maarika replied in a deadpan voice.
“Maarika, I know you grew up a heathen. That is why the priest asked you to take these lessons. We are just trying to save your soul. I don’t think that is too much to ask of you considering the treatment your friend Nasir is getting.”
“I know Sister and I am sorry. I’m just eager to get back to Nasir since he finally awoke today.”
Sister Nenet’s wrinkled face crinkled as she smiled down at Maarika, “You love him, don’t you?”
Maarika’s swarthy cheeks showed a hint of crimson as she replied, “Yes Sister.”
“Then you should marry him and make of thee an honest woman.” Sister Nenet said in an admonishing tone of voice.
“I will Sister, one day soon. We’ve just met, so I want to make sure before I make such a commitment. In accordance with God’s will marriage is forever.”
Sister Nenet smiled again, “Very good. I’m glad to see some of my teachings taking root in that heathen addled brain of yours. Go in peace my child. I will pray for your soul.”
“Thank you, Sister.” Maarika said as she turned to leave.
Maarika, after several wrong turns, managed to find her way back to Nasir’s room. She quietly opened the door and slipped inside. Nasir was in the same position as he was when she left, on his back and snoring loudly. Maarika smiled at the scene and thought, I sure hope he doesn’t keep that habit up once we leave. He’ll bring every hungry in a ten-league radius down upon us.
She closed the door gently behind her, and removed her sandals. She tiptoed across the room and quietly sat down in the chair beside Nasir’s bed. She watched for a few hours as the light from the sun coming in the room’s window began to fade and become orange. Her stomach rumbled in protest at not having been filled since she broke her fast at first light earlier in the day.
Maarika stood and leaned over Nasir’s sleeping form. She gently kissed him on the forehead. As her lips touched his skin, he stopped snoring for a moment and said, “Maarika.” He then smiled briefly and resumed his snoring.
Leaving Nasir to his slumber, she tiptoed back across the small chamber and picked up her sandals. Reaching the door, she quietly opened it and then slipped out into the hallway. Taking one last glance at Nasir as she slipped out the doorway, she stepped back and closed the door behind her. Slipping the sandals onto her feet she followed her nose to the nearby kitchen and walked in. As she opened the door, a rotund lady with long gray hair looked up from stirring a cauldron of soup and said, “Hello dearie. You look famished. Care for a warm bowl of soup?”
Maarika nodded her head emphatically and said, “Yes please.”
The older woman smiled at Maarika and took a wooden bowl from a nearby table. She then dipped a ladle into the steaming and bubbling liquid and filled the ladle. She poured the soup into the bowl and then handed it to Maarika. The younger woman held the bowl under her nose for a moment and said, “This smells delightful. What’s in it?”
The lady smiled at the complement and said, “Oh, a little of this and a little of that.” As she handed Maarika a wooden spoon.
Maarika took the spoon, and eagerly scooped up some of the soup. She blew on the spoon’s steaming contents and slowly put her lips to it. Deciding it was cool enough to try, she tipped the spoon into her mouth. A myriad of flavors exploded onto her tongue. She tasted hints of onion, carrots, cabbage, and a taste that she had never experienced before, “I taste the vegetables but what else is in here? It seems like a blessing from heaven above!”
The old lady smiled broadly revealing several missing teeth, “It’s a spice called pepper dearie.”
“Where does it come from? I’ve never had it before. Is it commonly used in Roman meals?” Maarika asked.
“It comes from a far-off place across the sea called India. It’s very expensive, but a pious merchant that came to pray upon the mountain, donated one hundred pounds of it to St. Catherine’s!” The lady happily replied, “I’ve spent me whole life hearing people complain about my cooking. How it’s too bland. How it’s always the same thing every day. I do the best I can with the ingredients I have, but not much is available out here at the foot of Mount Sinai. Just what we can grow in this awful climate. Which isn’t much mind. Now that we have this pepper everyone loves my soup!”
Maarika quickly consumed the soup, savoring each spoonful. As she neared the bottom of the bowl the lady handed her a piece of bread, “Here use this to soak up the rest.”
Maarika took the bread from the old lady and said, “Thank you so much. You’ve been very kind to me.”
The old lady smiled and said, “What’s your name?” My name is Bella.”
“Nice to meet you Bella. My name is Maarika. I’ve never heard that name before. What does it mean?”
“It a Latin word. The old language of the Empire. It means beautiful. Long ago the name fit, now.” Bella’s voice faded away as she said the last word.
“Bella, beauty just isn’t about your outward appearance. True beauty comes from your heart. I believe the name is perfect for you.”
Bella smiled broadly and said, “Bless you child, for warming the heart of an old woman. Here, have another slice of bread.” Bella then whispered, “Don’t tell anyone you got two. You’re only supposed to get one.”
Maarika smiled, “Your secret is safe with me. Could I have a bowl of this delightful soup to take back to my friend Nasir? He’s recovering from a wound he received from a dagger.”
“Certainly Maarika. How did he get stabbed? Bandits?”
“Sadly no. It was a case of mistaken identity.” Maarika replied.
“Poor fellow. He’s lucky to have someone like you watching over him.” Bella said.
“I don’t know about that. It was I who stabbed him.”
Bella’s jaw fell as she dropped the ladle into the soup, “That must be quite the story. You did not jest about the mistaken identity.”
Maarika’s eyes lowered and her shoulders slumped as she said, “It was a very unfortunate accident. I thought he was another one of the hungry.”
“What are these hungry you speak about?” Bella asked.
“I hope you never have to find out. They are the dead, cursed to rise and walk the earth. They have only one thought in their putrid rotting minds, consume the flesh of the living.” Maarika replied.
Bella exhaled sharply and crossed herself, “Truly? You speak of demons girl! God would allow such a thing?”
Maarika nodded absently, “Yes.”
Bella quickly crossed herself a
second time, “I do not want to hear another word. Here, take your soup, and go.”
As Maarika took the bowl of steaming soup from Bella she said. “Thank you,” and left the room.
She managed to find her way back to Nasir’s chamber with only one wrong turn. She opened the door to his chamber slowly, careful not to make any noise. As she turned to shut the door behind her Nasir said, “That smells delightful. I’m famished. Is that for me?”
Maarika turned and their eyes met. Seeing Nasir smiling up at her, she smiled back, “Yes love, I brought you some soup from the kitchen.”
Nasir attempted to pull himself into a sitting position. The moment he tried to move he let out a startled, “Ow.”
Maarika quickly crossed the room and set the soup down on a small table beside Nasir’s bed, “Here love. Let me help you up.” She grabbed a blanket that was folded up neatly at the foot of his bed and placed it underneath his pillow. She then slowly and gently helped Nasir to sit up.
“I’m dizzy.” Nasir said as he leaned back against his pillow.
“Father Quibilah said that you may feel dizzy when you sit up for the first time. How’s your stomach?”
“It feels fine why?” Nasir asked.
“He also said that you may feel nauseous. I don’t want to feed you any soup if your stomach was not up to it.” Maarika said.
“My stomach is fine woman. Other than the fact that it will devour me from the inside if you do not give me some of that soup.” Nasir barked gruffly.
Maarika picked up the bowl of soup and pulled out a wooden spoon she had been carrying using the goat leather belt she wore around her waist. While holding the steaming bowl with her left hand she dipped the spoon into the soup with her right. She then raised it to her lips and blew on it to cool it down, “Here you are.” She said as she placed the spoon in front of his lips.
Nasir extended his lips around the spoon and began slurping the contents into his mouth loudly, “That’s really good. I taste a hint of pepper in there. This monastery must be rich to afford such luxury for a simple bowl of soup.”
Byzantium Infected Box Set Page 37
