Chapter 5. The Weak Link

In the darkness of the shed she couldn’t see Malik, but she could smell him and hear him breathing. She told him, “Really, I am okay. You can go back to the boys.”

He squatted down beside her and said, “You aren’t okay. Like I said I heard Atticus. You are not ugly, you are not a monster. You, unlike Atticus, are true to you calling.”

Nisreen was grateful for the darkness. She felt her face flush. While Malik hadn’t said she was beautiful, and no one would ever say that about her, he had said she wasn’t ugly and she was honorable. She hissed, “Thank you.”

Malik sat down on the floor beside her and stretched out. “Can I hide here with you for awhile?”

There was risk of being linked to Malik if anyone saw them together. Under usual circumstances, Nisreen would have declined. Now wasn’t usual. She dreaded the cacophony of her solitary thoughts. “Yes you may.”

In silence they sat. Malik’s presence was a comfort. She laid her head back on her knees. The sound of his breathing soothed her and she slept.

*

Later, Nisreen awoke, Milak was still beside her and he too was sleep. Alarmed she stood. Her sudden movement woke Milak. She said, “You need to leave.”

Groggy he grunted, “Oh, right.”

Nisreen moved away from the door and Milak opened it. A shriek echoed in the sky. Both Nisreen and Milak looked up. It was Atticus! He had followed her! He dipped low and then took off like a shot. This was bad. He was off to gossip. What was worse though was that Atticus had also caught the attention of the family. Eyes were upon them. Nisreen felt her entire body flush with embarrassment. Of course this made her look guilty…even though she wasn’t.

Behind her, she heard the trap door open. Uncle Possim came up from his hovel. He limped to the door and waved to everyone letting them know Nisreen hadn’t been alone with Malik. The gaping mouths closed. The family went back to their business. Softly he said, “You two best get on your way.”

With Malik, Nisreen stepped into the yard, and then went to where the young females were gathered. Malik joined the young males. Nisreen set her teeth to endure the rest of the day and she did.

Later after everyone left, Papa said to Nisreen, “Let’s go for a walk.”

The sunshine was fading. Papa held out his arm, and she slipped her arm into his. Nisreen kept her eyes on the ground as they walked. She waited for Papa to speak only he didn’t. When they were a good distance from the house, he stopped and turned to face her. He asked, “Was today the first time Atticus harassed you?”

“No Sir.”

Papa let out an angry grunt. “For the time being don’t go anywhere alone. Atticus has history of harassing females he is fascinated with.”

“What? Why would he be fascinated with me?”

Papa shook his head. There was fire in his eyes. “I don’t know. Perhaps he sees you as a challenge, and gods help us all, that beast loves a challenge.”

Confused, Nisreen asked, “Why would I be a challenge?”

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Papa looked her right in the eyes and said, “Atticus is perceptive and smart. Historically he and his kind, toy with their prey. It excites them and makes the kill more satisfying.”

Confused, Nisreen asked, “He wants to kill me?”

“No. He doesn’t kill our kind but he has studied our weaknesses. He would not dare torment a male, but a female he sees as easy game.”

’I am not easy game!”

Papa squeezed Nisreen’s hand and said, “No you aren’t. Still, it seems he has chosen you as his next player.” There was a pause before he said, “You must always be accompanied for the time being. Don’t even go to the garden shed alone. At heart Atticus is a coward. If he can’t get to you alone, he will find another victim .”

*

The rest of the family was asleep. Only Nisreen and Sister were still awake. Both we’re staring up at the dark ceiling. Sister asked, “How did you and Malik come to be with Uncle Possim?”

Not wanting to even speak Atticus name, Nisreen said, “You know, neither of us like crowds. I was there first and then he came along.”

A glint sparkled in Sister’s red eyes. “I bet he just came along. I do find it funny that Malik doesn’t like crowds and yet he attends all our family gatherings.”

“So?”

Sister started to say something, but stopped herself.

Though nothing had been said, Nisreen thought she knew what she was going to say and blurted out, “He doesn’t come because of me.”

“Oh no, I know that.” Sister made the wheezing sound that represented suppressed laughter before she said, “Malki comes because of Nate and only because of Nate. But why does Nate go to Malik’s family gatherings?”

Nisreen knew why, and it wasn’t because of Milak, it was because of his sister Misha. Of course she did’t say that. Instead she said, “Because they are best friends.”

Sister shook her head. “Seriously, that’s what you think?”

“Yes it is.”

“Okay Sis. You get to believe what ever you want.” Sister rolled onto her side.

After awhile, Nisreen was the only one awake in her home. The seed Sister had planted in her brain was growing. She had never thought anything about Milak. He was her cousin’s best friend. That was all, wasn’t it? Did he think of her as a potential mate? Mating season was in the Spring. It was a long way off. Surely he would find someone else. He was kind and good, and she didn’t like the idea of rejecting him. She knew how it felt to love someone who would never, could never return that love.

The dark hours slipped slowly by. Nisreen did her best to banish Atticus from her mind, but she was not so successful in evading the thought of Milak. The only peace she had experienced that day was the time she was with Malik. She had even been able to fall asleep when she was beside him. And she hadn’t had any nightmares. Often after a ritual, she would have horrible dreams. Were those dreams just waiting to pounce as soon as sleep stole her away? Probably.

Another hour passed. Nisreen was forced to listen to the sounds of the night. The wind sang around the corners of the house. The tree limbs creaked and groaned. She heard the wing beats of the old owl who lived in the oak tree. As she listened her mind continued its churning. Weary of her thoughts, she got up and went to the back porch. From the garden shed door light seeped. Uncle Possim must be awake. Though Papa had warned her not to even cross the yard alone, she hesitated before she disobeyed. She sniffed the air. Her keen sense of smell didn’t detect Atticus. Swiftly she crossed the yard and knocked on the shed door. The door opened. Uncle Possim stood holding a candle in his hand. He smiled and said, “Good to see you child. Would some company?”

She nodded and stepped inside the shed. Granny’s medicinal jars, experiments and ingredients were shelved on the walls. The wavering candle light cast Uncle Possim in odd shadows. He didn’t look like the rest of the family. His right arm was twisted at an angle and he had a clubbed left foot. He was small and withered. His skin was a mottled gray and not shinning black like the rest of the family. The robe he wore was dark brown without petals. He couldn’t fly in the body he had been born in, nor could he transform into a being who exterminated contagion. Uncle Possim, was a foundling and not a blood relation. Someone had wrapped in linen, put him inside a bucket and left him by Granny’s back door. Whoever it was, who left him they had defied social constructs. Uncle Possim was born a weak link. According to the rules of polite society Uncle Possim should have been exterminated the instant his deformed body appeared in the world. Only he hadn’t been. With a bright smile Uncle Possim asked, “Would you like some camomile tea?”

Nisreen nodded. “Yes please.”