Chapter 10
They arrived in Taoudenni's oasis seven days ago but still nobody talked about leaving so Jedjiga understood that the departure was not imminent.
She was grateful for this time. Not having to travel in the desert soothed her. Of course, the desert had its charm, but it was still a treacherous place. The Abu-Mokhammed's tribe used to travel early in the day then they camped and left again in the late afternoon, according to the custom of many Berber tribes, because, travel during the hottest hours of the day could be dangerous.
Since they had arrived to the oasis, Jedjiga had got into the habit of taking long walks, always accompanied by Lila.
Over the last days, in the oasis other nomadic tribes had arrived and often in the evening the men were all together to talk about their journeys, their businesses or just to exchange greetings, being perhaps distant relatives. Then everyone returned into the area within the oasis where the tribe had its camp. The tribal chiefs are often found together to speak of the political situation in the country. Jedjiga sometimes caught a few sentences of their speech and she began to get an idea of the problems that Mali was going through. During one of her walks, she had come behind the tent of Abu-Mokhammed and she heard voices inside, voices that she did not know; they spoke in French so she stopped to listen, although she could not hear everything they said because they spoke in a low voice. This had already become her suspicious. What she had heard alerted. She tried to leave the tent without a sound; from that day, during her walks with Lila, she began to feel observed. She continued to act as if nothing had happened, but her senses became very receptive: she caught furtive glances, nods of the head, hands moving in particular ways as if it was a secret language. As if that were not enough, she had noticed that several people came and went in the tent of Abu-Mokhammed, when he was not there.
One evening, while she dined with Lila and her family, Dassin came up with two rather young men.
"Ghumer, Khennuj" the woman greeted "sorry to trouble your evening, but the sons of Abu-Mokhammed insisted to know Jedjiga"
"Tesedan, my lady," Ghumer said standing up out of respect "my tent is your home. Sit. The tea is ready"
Lila had gone to get cups for guests. It was the custom of the desert people to be extremely hospitable and sharing tea was a gesture of respect for those who came to visit.
"Jedjiga" said Dassin "these are Mebruk and Yebraim, sons of Abu-Mokhammed and his deceased first wife, Fatma"
Jedjiga stood up and noticed that Dassin seemed quite nervous and embarrassed. She did not look directly at the two men until they spoke directly to her.
"Your name is suitable for you" Yebraim said to her. Jedjiga nodded her head in thanks, but she did not say a word. Dassin looked at her, then she looked down and pulled an imperceptible sigh of relief. Jedjiga knew: she had to pretend to be silent with them also.
"Actually we know that is not your real name," Mebruk said "our father told us how you were found, that you are a foreigner and that you've lost your memory"
Jedjiga nodded again. They were speaking in French so that she could understand them. They sat with the Ghumer's family and they had been drinking tea that was offered to them. They chatted for a few minutes with Ghumer then Dassin motioned to get up.
"Well, we leave you to your meal," the woman said trying to take the two young men away from the tent of Ghumer. "Yes sure. I hope to talk again to you, Jedjiga." Mebruk added smiling. She nodded again and she noticed that the young man's smile seemed very forced.
When they had gone, a multitude of thoughts began to swirl in Jedjiga's head. The voices of those two guys, to begin with, were the same voices she had heard in the tent of Abu-Mokhammed when he was absent, but a person was missing, perhaps a friend. Then, the fact that they wanted to meet her had upset her a little "Who knows why they wanted to meet me" wondered Jedjiga.
In the following days, during her walks, she tried to remain far from Mebruk and Yebraim, although she felt their eyes on. She was glad that Lila was always with her, at least she could respond in her place and, anyway, no matter what the two guys had in mind, they would not do anything in front of the young girl.
During one of the following afternoons, Ghumer and other tribesmen had killed some sheep and women were working wool and skins. Jedjiga and Lila were told to go to the well to fetch water and had already made the trip several times. In one of those coming and going from tent to the well, Jedjiga discovered who the person was that she had often heard talk with Mebruk and Yebraim. She recognized the voice almost instantly, but she pretended not to notice so she looked inconspicuous. She wanted to know who he was and why they always spoke in the absence of Abu-Mokhammed. She stayed more than necessary at the well with Lila, trying to invent other signs to make credible her silence, but her attention was all on the three men talking nearby.
"The required load will be ready in few days" said the man.
"Well, you'll get your money when we have checked the goods." Yebraim said.
"I will send a message to my provider to make sure of the date and time of delivery."
"It is a pleasure doing business with you, monsieur Garrett" The three said goodbye and parted
"So" thought Jedjiga "he speaks French, but he hasan English name. PerhapsAmerican. Andwhat kind ofgoodsare?" she resolved to find out more. She tried to follow them with her eyes: Yebraim and Mebruk stopped at one of the stalls of the oasis, while the stranger went into the tourist caravan that had arrived a couple days before. Mr. Garrett mingled with the crowd of tourists and for a few days she would not have seen him.
However, among the tourists, three other men caught the attention of the young woman. They spoke English, most likely American, taking photographs to people and objects of every kind and they asked a lot of questions. Too many questions, in fact, for being ordinary tourists. Jedjiga decided it was better not to attract attention, so she covered her face with her veil and turned off by the tourists' caravan.
The following morning she went to the well, followed by Lila. She was filling the bucket when a strong hand grabbed the rope that she was pulling.
"Let me help you" it was one of three tourists who she had noticed the day before. Jedjiga looked down and nodded in thanks.
"May I ask what your name is?"
"She does not speak, she is dumb" said Lila.
Jedjiga did not answer and she continued to keep her eyes lowered.
"Oh, I'm sorry" the man replied. Meanwhile Khennuj arrived and looked at him sternly.
"I did not want to embarrass you, I apologize. Can I ask your names?"
"Can I ask why you want to know?" Khennuj asked in turn.
"I'm a journalist. I took many pictures and I am preparing an article for my newspaper. I wish to match the names to the faces that I photographed."
The suspicious look of Berber woman does not escape to the man "You are not obliged, of course" he said
"Good" replied Khennuj. Then she turned to Lila and Jedjiga: "Let's go, my daughters"
"In one way or anotherI'll knowyour names" the man thought while the women and the child were leaving.
The opportunity came the next day when he saw a group of children that were playing and, among them, he recognized the girl who accompanied the woman at the well
He walked over and began to talk to them. It was not easy because they did not understand much French.
"Je suisJack" he said, clapping a hand on his chest. The kids had fun watching him. Within a few hours he knew their names and had learned some of their games. He met up with them for a couple of days, during which he had learned at least the name of the mute woman.
"Now I just have to make me a picture" he announced to one of his traveling companions
"Jack, do you think she is...?"
"I do not know Ethan. However if we can send a photo in Langley, certainly they will tell us who she is. Certainly she does not belong to these people, although she dresses and behaves like them"
Ethan nodded "In two or three days our caravan starts to Agadez. There we will meet the rest of our team. Maybe Calder Michaels has some news about that"
"The radio silence is really a problem. Well, we will inform Mike. Who knows that one of the three of us is unable to photograph the foreign girl"