Princess Sultana's Circle

Meanwhile, I was taken by
my new master on the pilgrimage to Makkah. My Master died there
while worshipping at the big mosque, and I became a property of the
Makkah authorities. Those men gave me to the grandfather of Faddel,
who was owed a favor by the authorities in that city.
    “ My time
with that family was not unhappy. My food was the family’s food. At
fourteen years of age, I was entrusted to guard the Master’s wives
and female slaves. Time flowed smoothly until after the deaths of
Faddel’s grandfather and father. I had nowhere else to live, so I remained
with Faddel. Omar looked me full in the face. “Faddel is nothing
like his grandfather or his father, Mistress.” He paused, “For
someone to answer to Faddel is to be sent to hell and be punished
everlastingly.”
    I sighed in despair as I
suddenly remembered the young women who now belonged to Faddel.
Could hell be worse than what those women now endured? Thinking
about Faddel, I was reminded of his wife, Khalidah. She could help
those young women, if she so chose. I spoke heatedly, “To my eyes,
Khalidah is as wicked as Faddel!”
    Omar shrugged his thin
shoulders. “If the Master of the house beats a tambourine, do not
condemn his family for dancing.”
    Kareem looked at me and
smiled.
    With an instinct that came
from being married for many years, I knew that Kareem often wished
that I would dance to his tune!
    “ Never will that happen,
Husband,” I whispered.
    Kareem laughed aloud before
turning his attention back to Omar.
    Omar straightened his
turban as he smiled at Kareem. “But today, I am more happy than I
have been in many years. It is good to live with a kind
family.”
    Just then several female
servants entered the room with refreshments.
    Omar’s eyes twinkled at the
sight of the food, and his fingers reached eagerly for the honeyed
sweets.
    Kareem and I watched in
astonishment as Omar quickly consumed more food than could be
expected from a man twice his size.
    Later that evening, once we
were alone in our private quarters, Kareem confessed that he had
given much thought to Omar. He tried to convince me that Omar
should not live in Arabia, but instead, should be sent to live in
one of our palaces abroad. For Omar’s safety, no one in our country
could know that the eunuch who once belonged to Faddel’s family had
taken refuge with us.
    Even though Omar was
legally free, and Faddel had previously expressed irritation at
housing and feeding an elderly eunuch, he was certain to be
insulted that Omar preferred to live with another family. And, who
could guess whether Faddel would attempt to take revenge on poor
Omar.
    At first I was dismayed at
the idea of sending poor Omar away. He appeared so pleased and
happy with our family. Besides, I adored the little man, and
anticipated that his gentle presence might help to bring welcome
peace into our family life.
    After a night of
consideration, though, the thought of Omar living the life of a
free man in the world outside of Arabia brought a smile of
satisfaction to my face. Besides, we would still see him abroad, I
reasoned.
    The following morning,
Kareem spent some time alone with Omar. The decision was made that
Omar would live at our villa in Egypt. In that highly populated
country teeming with Egyptians, Arabs, and Africans, a small black
man with a high-pitched voice would not be so conspicuous. And the
monthly allowance Kareem offered would provide Omar with a personal
financial freedom that he had never known.
    Omar appeared overjoyed to
be returning to the continent where he had been born, and spoke
excitedly of taking a trip into Sudan, to locate any remaining
members of his family or tribe.
    The happiness Kareem and I
felt at seeing Omar’s joy brought pleasure and contentment. Even
Kareem had to agree that some good had come from my second trip to
Faddel’s palace. While my visit had not benefited the young girls,
the eunuch Omar would now live out his life in a wonderful way that
he had never dreamed possible!
    By the time Omar left for
Egypt, we had grown to love him. That little man had quickly become
the trusted confidante of every family member. To my astonishment,
even Amani cried as she promised Omar that she would remember all
that he had told her, and that she would try her best to become a
more forgiving and gentle Muslim than she had been.
    Each of us greatly looked
forward to the day when we could see Omar’s kindly face once
more.
     

Chapter Nine
    Prophet