Bandiagara, Part 9b
No one welds like a Cobb. The Captain and the Village Elder make a deal.
A/N: Chinese words and phrases are translated at the bottom, as well as all the words and phrases of Wolof used in this story.
Kaylee's days on Bandiagara were busy. She got up at first light, because she and Simon had found that it was impossible to lie a-bed late here in Fajara. Nothin' against the Fajarans—they were the kindest, most hospitable people ever—and nothin' against the rooftop guest quarters, which were comfortable and romantic as anything. She loved cuddlin' under the stars and snuggling up with Simon and feeling like they were the only two lovers in the 'Verse. The Fajarans had no problem with the idea of an engaged couple having night visits, and she and Simon had enjoyed lots of good lovin' on their rooftop bedplace. But as soon as the sun popped up over the horizon, the rooftop began to heat up like a griddle, and after the first day they'd learned there was no fighting it. Best just to get up, make your way to the long drop, and get on with business before the whole world heated up like a griddle. They coulda slept aboard Serenity, of course, but the Captain felt it was important for good trade relations to accept of the villagers' hospitality, so Serenity stayed buttoned up at night, and they all slept in guest quarters. Which, except for the gettin' grilled alive in the morning part, was just fine and dandy in Kaylee's view.
She felt queasy in the mornings, but things settled in soon as she had something to eat. She reckoned it was on account of working so hard she was so hungry. There was no denying, she'd always loved fresh fruit, and it was no surprise she'd acquired a craving for papayas sprinkled with lime juice for breakfast every morning. Then she made her way over to Serenity, checked in to see how her girl had passed the night, and set to work fixing up machines as fast as she could put 'em together.
People were comin' in with requests now, and when she was able, she filled 'em, like the fella that wanted a ten-speed bicycle with an extra-sturdy frame and carry rack welded on. She also just kept fixin' and making whatever she could put together, because there wasn't a machine yet hadn't found somebody here wanted it. Most days, Jayne turned up before long to help with the work, and Captain and Zoe lent a hand whenever they weren't busy smoothing the workings of the trade and dealing with the village elders. Ip and River had taken over the small electronics department, and the communicators and vid devices they fixed up went like hotcakes. Kaylee had met the two mechanics who lived in the village, Baaba and Bintou, and while the fella was kept pretty busy at his own shop—he mainly did vehicles, much as he could—the gal stopped by frequently, lending a hand at assembling small machinery in return for first pick and a discount on certain items.
Jayne had revealed superior talents as a welder, a skill that came in real handy as Kaylee assembled some of the larger items especially. One day she just asked him.
"Wherever did you learn to weld like that, Jayne?" The man was a true artist.
"Never thought about it," Jayne answered truthfully. "My old man's a welder. Reckon I just kinda took it in."
"If you can weld like that, whatcha doin' slummin' here with us? You could get you a good-payin' steady job on any Rim world where things need puttin' together."
"Not a lot of excitement in puttin' things together," Jayne answered. He looked at Kaylee with a wicked grin. "Blowin' stuff up, though—now we're talkin'."
. . .
"Salaamaalekum," Mamadou greeted Mal.
"Maalekum salaam," Mal answered, beginning the ritual exchange of greetings that began every new encounter in Fajara.
"Nanga def?"
"Maangi fi rek," Mal replied. He had learned the first few questions and responses by heart by now.
"Naka waa kër ga?"
Mal always chose to construe this as referring to his crew, so he answered, "Ñunga fa."
"Naka liggéey bi?"
This was where it began to break down for Mal, so he answered in English, "The work is fine, thank you."
"Nanga fanaane?"
The elder always seemed to enjoy askin' him that particular question. "I slept very well, 谢谢 您 xièxie nín," Mal answered as he always did. And he was—sleepin' better than he ever had in his life, cuddled up under the stars with Inara. The part of the night that they actually spent sleepin', anyways.
"You played oware with the children yesterday, Captain," Mamadou said.
"I did," Mal affirmed with a smile. "Haven't had such fun in years. Those kids are tough competitors."
"It teaches them math skills," Mamadou replied. "They learn to plan ahead." He looked at the Captain. "You're a natural with children, Captain. I hope you and Jabaru Reynolds are planning to have children soon."
Mal felt his face turning red and he looked at the ground. "Haven't really thought about it yet." It was a safer answer than that 白痴 báichī he'd spouted when Kaylee had asked him the same kind of question. Oh, four. Maybe five. But he couldn't help but feel his heart warming at what the elder had said. He looked up and smiled at Mamadou. "Say it again."
"What?"
"Jabaru Reynolds. I like the sound of that. Still not used to hearing it."
"Children are a gift, Alhamdulillah. May you and Jabaru Reynolds have many fine children." Mamadou watched the Captain glow. "Jabaru Reynolds will make a good mother. I've seen how kind and caring your wife is with the children who have been to see the Doctor."
"She's a very caring person," Mal answered, feeling the thrill of hearing Inara referred to as his wife. "She has always been good at caring for people."
Mal smiled again, thinking that he could get used to the notion of being Inara's husband. He didn't know where the Fajarans had got the idea they were married—he never said a thing about it one way or the other, Mamadou and all the others had just started calling them jëkkër and jabar and tucked them into married couples quarters from day one. He didn't object in the least—wished they really were married. But the best part was, Inara didn't seem to object neither. She didn't start or jump when the villagers called her "Jabaru Reynolds" or, now that some of them were becoming more familiar, "Jabaru Mal," and relations between the two of them had been loving and easy the whole time they'd been here. It gave a man hope.
Mal brought his mind back to the reason he'd sought out Mamadou today. "When I was a kid, back on Shadow, we played oware with marbles. Or seeds."
Mamadou nodded, seeing exactly where the Captain was taking this conversation.
"But the kids, yesterday, they were playing with rock crystals. I've never seen anything like."
"All the children here play with those. It's nothing out of the ordinary."
"Where do the kids get the game pieces?"
"You mean the timonium crystals?" Mamadou returned, sharply. As a Bandiagaran, he'd had enough of outsiders coming in to exploit the world's resources, assuming that the locals were too ignorant to put a proper value on what they had.
"Yes," Mal replied, unflinching. The village elder was no fool, and Mal had expected him to be aware that the children had made playthings of high-grade timonium crystals. The question was why.
"This planet has abundant timonium resources. The children know where to find them. I will not share that information with you, nor with any outsider."
"Reckon I can understand your reasons for that." Mal wasn't about to let the matter drop, however. "You mean Allmine don't know about the timonium crystals you all have here, neither?"
"Allmine operates on another section of the planet, where timonium ore is abundant. They do not know that we can find the much purer crystalline form—without even digging—over here."
"Why don't they know?"
"They never troubled themselves to ask us." Mamadou was unable to keep bitterness out of his tone. "They bribed the World Council for access to what they wanted. They never thought about engaging the cooperation of the people in a mutually beneficial arrangement. Their one thought was exploit, exploit, exploit." He gave a thin smile. "They are the losers for it."
"That they are," Mal said. "It's all on account of they have no thought of trade for mutual benefit. Works out best when everybody wins from the arrangement. If they'd thought of giving heed to you all and what you need, there wouldn't be no place for me on this world, because you wouldn't be wanting the pumps and generators and medical supplies I brought here." He paused to let the thought sink in. "What you have here is a mineral resource that is more valuable than platinum."
"But not to us. For it to be valuable, there has to be a buyer. We cannot sell this timonium. There is no market on-planet. We have no access to markets off-planet. We are already making the fullest use of the timonium crystals we can—by using them as game pieces."
"You need a way to get the timonium to market."
"We do. But that is unlikely to happen. Allmine has rights to all timonium resources on the planet. 狐狸 Húli Network controls all imports and exports besides the ore transports run by Allmine. There are no ore processing facilities on Bandiagara, no markets for timonium. There is no legal way for us to market this resource for our own benefit."
Mal understood what the elder was hinting at. "Then what you need is an alternative way of getting the timonium to market." He paused. The Fajarans had taken well enough to his illegal landing and contraband goods. He studied Mamadou for a moment. The next step was decisive, and there would be no turning back. "What you need is a smuggler."
"What we need is a smuggler," Mamadou echoed. The two men locked eyes. "Someone who can take these things to market off-planet." They both knew they meant black market.
"Alright, I think we got ourselves a deal."
. . .
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glossary
Salaamaalekum [Peace be upon you (Wolof)]
Maalekum salaam [And on you, too]
Nanga def [How are you]
Maangi fi rek [I am fine]
Naka waa kër ga [How is the family]
Ñunga fa [They are fine]
Naka liggéey bi [How is the work]
Nanga fanaane [How did you spend the night]
谢谢 您 xièxie nín [thank you (formal or polite)]
Jabaru [Wife of] Reynolds
白痴 báichī [idiocy]
Alhamdulillah [Allah be praised]
jëkkër [husband]
jabar [wife]
Jabaru [Wife of] Mal
狐狸 Húli [fox]
So, now you know how to carry on a conversation in Wolof, which might come in handy the next time you visit West Africa ;-). In the meantime, I hope you will leave me a review.