Tiroriro.com

Andaleeb (IV)

           After dropping her off at the market square at a nearby florist, the devil’s vehicle travelled along, continuing on its mission of destroying lives in other places… places that were still happy. Until now. She watched the driver’s mouth as it smiled, shouting a promise of meeting up again soon. One impudent tear dropped from the girl’s eye as she waved back at the driver, giving a whole new meaning to bidding farewell. It was almost time.
 
              Her leader had chosen the moment perfectly. There was no doubt about that. The market was full of people shouting, smiling, moving around. People everywhere. There were hundreds of people - people under awnings and under tents. Groups of school children just out from school.  Children running in between their mothers and the stalls that were selling jewellery, fruit and other wares. There was hardly any sun. Under the tents, people sat around tables playing card. Having conversations… there was ice in their beverages. Cars, trucks, contests, skies... People. Lots of people.
             
              Too many people. Andaleeb felt lost amongst the crowds. She must focus. To forget the knot in her stomach, and focus. It’s good that there are so many people. It’s perfect. Assef’s eyes would light up at the sight of such favourable conditions. Now all she needs to do is to concentrate. To focus and choose her target. To die at your own will for the glory of God shouldn’t be in vain. She needs to pluck up the courage so that she can take with her as many daughters, sons, wives and brothers as she could. They should hear the blast across deserts and oceans.

             But Assef was not by her side. He was in his dark cellar, and there would be music and light in his eyes. How many of these children’s eyes was she ready to shut forever? How many smiles would disappear today by her blazing sword? Tonight the flooding of tears would shatter doors and windows.  There would be screams, shouting her name with a hatred beyond compare. And tomorrow, tomorrow the brothers would say goodbye to their sisters at funerals. Parents would caress the intangible bodies of their dead daughters. Dead, father. Dead. “What should I do, father? What should I do?”
 
             She starts to cry. Andaleeb cries. She needs to drink some water, otherwise the nausea would kill her. She looks around, without knowing what she is looking for. Then she remembers the fountain near the market. One where weary birds go to drink from the mouth of a stone fish. She drinks. With her eyes closed and the cold liquid rushing over her skin. She drinks. She drinks and drinks until she finally sees it.  She dries her mouth with her scarf, opens her eyes and sees it.  A group of soldiers, guarding a corner of the square, with the expressions of soldiers on their faces.  They repulse her. Far away from the crowds, far away from the music. Only soldiers and guns. No sons, no brothers, no parents, no... names. Only soldiers.
 
             She walks towards them, with a detached and aloof look on her face.  With the determined steps of a solider she walks towards them. She is going to fulfil her mission. They are not far now. They are not far. Only about forty metres. Fifty, perhaps. She must get closer, as close as possible… “Ma’m! What are you doing? Get your baby away from here! Please, ma’m!” The woman must be asking for directions or something, because the soldier is pointing somewhere into the distance. Okay, let’s get this done now. Quickly. She is now less than fifteen metres away from them. But the woman is still there, holding her baby to her breast. “Why doesn’t she leave?” thinks Andaleeb. “Get out of the way, please, ma’m!”