That shook up all the elders. They did not like his suggestion, but they could see the honour in what he suggested. When he brought them around to his way of thinking I excused myself, hiding the joy they’d filled me with.
As I arrived at our centre, Irfan came out to meet me. That was unusual, so I waited for him with some curiosity.
If you wish to read from an earlier book, from Book 01 to Book 10, use this link button to open the LC Book Index:
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“You had the opportunity to stop all deaths, to rid them of the death penalty and you didn’t. I don’t understand you, but I will consider you responsible for all future deaths.”
“You may consider me responsible for whatever you wish!” I could feel my skin was flaming with my anger as I walked away.
If I’d thought about it, I would have expected Robbie to be the angriest. Feeling that it was Cherine did wonders for my ego, but I quickly insisted everybody minds their own business and leave Irfan alone. This is the only time I can recall that all my loves united against me, even angry with me, and it made me happy.
As I’d expected, it did not take long for Efineh to come to me. I could see evidence of past tears, but now her face was set hard and cold. Her eyes met mine, but I did not need to see them to sense my love’s misery. The girls also sensed her and everyone went silent.
“I’ve left Irfan.”
“Because of my short argument with him?”
“He had no right to say that to you.”
“Efineh, my lovely daughter, you are wrong, he did have the right, everyone has. Even if he did not, in this instance you are wrong; he is your husband and your first loyalty should be to him, not me. Go back to him and patch things up - I can handle my own fights.”
“That is not what you taught me! I’ve watched you fight with Robert and my other mothers whenever you thought they were wrong. You always say that we must not allow our love to blind us to any wrongs a loved one commits.”
“I’m a bad example love, I’m just a bully because they allow me to be one. Go back and talk it out with him.”
“I know what is right and what is wrong. I will not return to him unless he apologises to you.”
“I don’t want him to apologise to me. Now scoot, I want to go for a shower.”
She looked at my loves and then joined them, standing by them to stare at me, part of the wall of love that is willing to fight me for the right to fight for me. Robbie put his arm around my shoulder and led me away. I chose to go to the roof.
“Not your tree Sam, let’s use a bench.” I sat on the edge of a pool and placed my feet in the water.
“I don’t want her to lose Irfan because of me Dad, she really loves him.”
“I see, was that why she wanted to have a baby?”
“What?”
“You’d be surprised how often people want a baby for the wrong reasons my love.” He pulled out his cigarettes, glanced at me, I nodded and he lit one. I took it and dragged a couple of puffs before returning it. “I think coming here with him has been a bit of an eye opener for her. You painted a picture for her of how they would work together, even if all he did was support her and give some advice now and then. He’s too much of a moral coward to give advice, so he’s been almost no help at all. His loss of interest in helping the Asians because they’ve shown bad taste in not developing the same philosophies and religions as ours was a big disillusionment for her.” He gave me a little smile. “I think you’re the only one that hasn’t seen this coming.”
“How can you call him a coward - he attacked me!”
His peals of laughter could be heard down in the surrounding park. “God love, anyone dares cross a Samantha deserves a medal!”
“No need for you to go overboard - unless you’ve got a ton of medals to give to Arthur.”
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“Him?” He laughed. “Just wait until he’s here - then I want to see him cross you in any way.”
“He would you know - just like Allan does. I don’t know how to resolve Efineh’s problem, I hadn’t even seen it coming!”
“Would you like to do the right thing?”
“Apologise to Irfan?”
“Don’t be silly! The right thing to do is treat Efineh like an adult and let her make the decisions that are right for her. She knows we’ll all be there for her if she is hurting and that is all she needs from us.”
“I think she’ll patch things up with him - she’d be too afraid not to. She’ll cringe at the thought of Sebura having the last laugh so to speak.”
“I think our little girl is going to surprise you.” He would not explain so I delved deep into my thoughts, trying to find a face saver for both Irfan and myself.
I realised that Irfan was very upset for he was sitting in the park having a beer. I climbed over and sat on the bench next to him.
“According to our culture you are right. What I would like for you to do is think about their culture and decide what would be right for them. Do you want the Orati to be like the Feshidi and have prisons? Do you want them to stop considering honour an important element of their culture? Those are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself. Once you have done so, I’ll be happy to listen to your arguments or, if you want, you are welcome to go to the elders with your ideas.
Irfan, I have no wish to come between you and Efineh, but I remind you, she comes from this culture, keep that in mind when the two of you meet to patch things up.”
“There is a lot about this culture I don’t like. Her people, where she comes from originally, they are a much nicer people.”
“Is that so?” I grinned. “We should have followed their customs when you wanted to marry Efineh. You would have had to attack them to prove you are a man and capable of protecting your woman and children. I suspect you had an idealists impression of the noble savage and reality is teaching you otherwise. Life is harsh for them and they cannot afford our luxuries - prisons are a luxury you know. As I said, try to understand who they are and which is the best way to lead them to becoming those noble savages of our dreams.” I stood up and as I was about to walk away I said, without turning to look at him, “Don’t be an idiot Irfan, you love Efineh, don’t allow your pride to spoil what the two of you have.”
Isn’t life ironic. Irfan told Efineh that he thinks he has misunderstood me and that I’m a nicer person than he’d realised. Now we’re ostensibly split into two camps, all the girls backing Efineh against Irfan and me. Lol.
Three weeks have passed since Sebura delivered the prisoners to the Feshidi border patrol and he returned with his men for a brief rest, fresh supplies and to return the kids. Pirusi is looking gorgeous; the hardship, sun and exercise is good for her, but the best tonic for her was being in the wild with Sebura.
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I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love - and should some of it be true for our reality, I hope you will love our Cherine.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)- posted: 13th Jun, 2020
If you wish to read from an earlier book, from Book 01 to Book 10, use this link button to open the LC Book Index: