"Chris Lawson - Written in Blood" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lawson Chris)

тАЬShow us,тАЭ demanded the woman. тАЬProve she is clean enough to
travel with this camp.тАЭ

Da refused, which made the woman lose her temper. She slapped
him so hard she split his lip. He tasted the blood, but stood resolute. She
reached around and tried to unlock my arms from DaтАЩs waist. He pushed
her away.

тАЬShe is not fit to share our camp. She should be cut, or else she will
be shamed in the sight of Allah,тАЭ the woman screamed. The other women
were shouting and shaking their fists, but few of them knew English, so it
was as much in confusion as anger.
 My father fixed the woman with a vicious glare. тАЬYou call my daughter
shameful in the sight of Allah? I am a servant of Allah. Prove to me that
Allah is shamed and I will do what I can to remove the shame. Fetch a
mullah.тАЭ

The woman scowled. тАЬI will fetch a mullah, although I doubt your
promise is worth as much as words in the sand.тАЭ

тАЬMake sure the mullah speaks English,тАЭ my father demanded as she
slipped away. He turned to me and wiped away tears. тАЬDonтАЩt worry, Zada.
No harm will come to you.тАЭ

тАЬWill I be allowed to play with Ala?тАЭ

тАЬNo. Not with these old vultures hanging around.тАЭ

By the evening, the women had found a mullah gullible enough to
mediate the dispute. They tugged his sleeves as he walked toward our
camp, hurrying him up. It was obvious that his distaste had grown with every
minute in the company of the women, and now he was genuinely reluctant
to speak on the matter.

The weathered woman pointed us out to the mullah and spat some
words at him that we did not understand.

тАЬSir, I hear that your daughter is uncircumcised. Is this true?тАЭ

тАЬIt is none of your business,тАЭ said Da.

The mullahтАЩs face dropped. You could almost see his heart sinking.
тАЬDid you not promise . . . ?тАЭ

тАЬI promised to discuss theology with you and that crone. My
daughterтАЩs anatomy is not your affair.тАЭ

тАЬPlease, sir .. .тАЭ