The Bag
By Harry Hotmann
The young man sat on the single bench in the old bus station. He deposited the lean leather bag close to his pelvis and lent cleaning his boots and fixing their strings. The lad exerted some effort to avoid looking to the cute girl sitting on the other side of the bank, her beauty is unconventional especially with that red rose in her hair, he thought. As he was raising his head, their eyes encountered for a moment before she introduced herself “Jasmine, the lonely only English teacher in the village. You are a foreigner. Aren’t you?”
“Mark Wilson. Irish, from Belfast. I am an archaeologist. A student. I have a project here in Ashmun” he explained.
“Oh, Yes, Belfast. I remember Liam O’Flaherty from the university years and his story The Sniper.” She reacted quickly.
“Ya, it is a beautiful novel.” He tried to match her.
“It’s a short story about a fighter who kills his brother in the civil war.” Jasmine explained.
She is as smart as pretty, he thought. “Why are you teaching in this rural countryside!?” Mark wondered.
“It’s an official system here in Egypt, each student studies in the government’s universities signs a deal to serve in the rural areas for a year.” The girl justified then added, “Every day, I come here in the morning and leave in the evening. I finish at six p.m. while the bus leaves at seven p.m. I have to wait about an hour each time.”
”Is it the last on the schedule?”
“Yes, sure. Ashmun is a rural town. After seven, most of the citizens stay inside.” She said, “Look around, the streets and the side streets are nearly empty.”
“Oh, ya. We are the solo riders. Aren’t we!?”
“The bus carries a few riders from the previous villages. It pauses for a while and restarts directly to Cairo.” She answered.
“So, we’ll have some companions.”
“Sure you’ll have a companion. It picks up some deserted travelers on its way through the small villages on the desert road.” She explained with charming smile.
“It is a vast desert around.” Mark noticed.
“And dangerous. One should be careful.” The girl explained, “Many lost their lives under the sand. The opportunity to lose directions is occasional. Once it happened to me, a sand storm blew up a while after leaving the village. The sand covered the whole area and the driver lost the traces of the road. The brigades rescued us from the middle of the wilderness.”
“Oh, that’s unsafe. I hope to reach Cairo unharmed.”
“I wish that too.”
“Where have you picked up this charming rose. It outfits your charismatic face.” He smiled in a try to express his admire.
“Oh. Thanks for your politeness.” Her crammed creamy cheeks flushed as her lips revealed bright white teeth, “It’s from the cemetery near the school. In my country here, they plant flowers on their relatives tombs. Consider it a memory from me. Keep it in the bag.”
“Oh, my goodness. Thanks gratefully.” He accepted the flower as he was fetching a folded map from the bag. “But I have a detailed map, it never shows a school or any graveyard or tombs. I have researched the whole area for more than two years.”
“Ha, ha ….” She laughed briskly, “Take care of the rose and keep it alive as long as possible. The school is originally a normal home for one of the rich in the town. He offered and the Ministry equipped it to teach the children. While the cemetery is at the end of this side street behind us.”
Mark looked back in a try to see the graveyard. But the jammed houses, on both sides of the narrow alley, granted only a view of a high cement fence with a high sealed iron gate. “It’s mysterious. I’ve googled and explored the area millions of times. Those locations have never existed.”
“Mistakes occur everywhere.” He accepted as he reinserted the map in the leather bag. Jasmine lent her head nearer inspecting the contents of his half opened sack.
“Something glitters inside. Is it something burning or a piece of gold!?” She asked in low voice.
“Not at all. I have never found any gold. These are mere marble stones. I intend to inspect them in the laboratory.” His voice blurred in irritating tone.
“You needn’t to explain.” She assured, “It’s a mere human curiosity. Rumors prevailed that some villagers have found lumps of the precious metal here and there.”
“I have an official permission for digging here” He thrust his hand seeking the papers.
“Keep it in. Am not any kind of officials. Sorry for the disturbance.” She said with a cozy smile.
He looked to the opposite side closing the suitcase tight. Mark drew the bag closer to his thigh with clear fake smile on his face.
Silence dominated the whole scene around. Both were shuffling unsteady glances staying in complete stationary. A burst of airstream jiggled some trees surrounded the sandy yard in front of them. A mass of dust filled the entire space around the bus station. He looked at the blurred figure of the school teacher. ”Is it the initiation of a sand storm?”
“May be.” She expected in doubt, “May be not.”
The wind continued dashing in intermittent puffs. He observed his watch regularly with his right and sticky over the leather case. “She seems careless and calm. May be she is accustomed to this kind of weather.” He thought trying to calm himself.
“This status is normal here. Sand columns, or dust devils as the locals call them, happens at any time. Sometimes, they overshadow the whole place. Total towns disappear out of sight.” She told him smiling.
“Oooh. That’s calmed my worries. Thanks for the information.” He withdrew a cigarette box from the bag extending it towards the relaxed lady, “Do you smoke?”
She examined the tobacco carton container in suspicious looks, “No. thanks.”
He took a cigarette into his mouth. After lighting it, Mark took a deep breath supporting his head back. He relaxed for a few minutes when his cell phone rang disturbing the deep quietness, but he bothered none of his muscles.
“Won’t you answer!? Have you fallen in sleep!?” She warned him.
“Ya. Ya. Sure.” He slipped out the phone into his ear. “Ya, am fine. … late!? … No, no am waiting for the bus.” He told through the mobile, “She’s my girlfriend … worries about me.” He whispered to the women sitting beside him. He stood up striding forth and back resuming his conversation through the handset. “A couple of hours and I’ll be there. No, no, only wait …”
One meter away from the bench, his legs trembled as his eyes detected the teacher snatching the bag with all its contents. Jasmine turned around the bus station running towards the narrow alley behind.
“Oh, WO, WO. You … thief. No not you darling. A woman here has stolen my rucksack and am running after her. I’ll call you later.” Mark slid the cellphone into his jeans back pocket chasing the girl towards the graveyard. “A thief. I have had suspicion from the beginning that you are a pickpocket. Give back my property … you bitch …”
Mark trailed her to the closed end of the path. He managed to catch her hair tails. She jumped up over the roof of clay house in one leap. He stood in the middle of the street watching her up searching the bag. She brought out two golden statuettes. The sunset rays glittered on the faces of the two Ammon’s mini-sculptures. “These are none of your possessions. You have stolen us. Take your stuffs and leave safe.” She threw the sack at his feet.
He ignored the bag begging her to return the monuments. “They would make millions of bucks. I’ll make you rich when we sell them.”
“Pure spirit needs no money. Ammon is priceless. It holds all our history, the secrets of our ancestors and our son’s future. We live with their blesses. We want nothing of your modern civilizations. Only leave us live in peace.” She told him in poetic tone.
“Rubbish. But you have stolen them from me. I’ve spent years of exploring and researching to find them. Now you are stealing my future and my dreams. My life depends entirely on what you hold in your hands. I insist on recapturing them whatever the cost was.” He threatened.
“Do you know? In reality, I have admired you. I’ve never seen a young man with golden hair and green eyes before. You are a brave handsome man. I wish deeply I can come with you, so I hate causing you any harm. I beg you, take your silly stuff and leave in peace. Please, don’t trace me.” She said as she jumped over the cemetery wall disappearing away from his sight.
Mark picked up his backpack inspecting his materials, “The passport, the map, the money, the lighter, the sun glasses …” he continued repeating the names of objects shuffling them one by one. “The red rose, the most important of all.” He smiled in irony, “This flower cost me two hundred millions. Will anybody believe it.”
The archaeologist pondered for a few moments looking inside the graveyard through the iron gate. “Is she really an ancient soul!? No, no. She is a cunning burglar trying to fool me. I’ll chase the punk. I’ll knock her down.” He murmured climbing the barbwire covering the gate with the sack on his back.
The courtyard was crowded with replicated graves. All were built of brown clay with one tombstone. Identical to the hedge, they were arranged elliptically around a rocky circular patch where Jasmine was standing with the golden monuments in her hands.
Mark sprang into the center of the round. “Leave them. You nasty woman.”, clutching his hands around the metal carvings. He towed tough till he gasped painfully. His disappointing repeated attempts drove him insane as he couldn’t shake even a hand of hers.
“Return them back. You wicked naughty dirty witchy bitch, or I’ll burry you with those rotten bones.” Clinging his fingers inside her black hair in a try to drag her to the nearest grave, he froze scanning tens of Nubians worriers erected from the tombs about with golden spears pointed towards his body.
Jasmine protected him with her body, but one of the sharp pinned spars touched his shoulder leaving a tiny cut. She supported him as he fell on his knees. Foam frothed through his mouth. “What’s going on!?” he spouted the words with his saliva.
“The spears are poisoned. Take this plant.” She picked up a strange kind of peppermint injecting it between his lips, “Suck it. Suck it.” Extracting drops of the plant’s liquid, Mark retained some of his power. “Give me the healing medicine.” She ordered one of guards. “But he must die. He has violated and polluted Ammon’s temple.” The sentry commented handing her a small clay flask. She poured tiny portions inside the sick young man mouth and nose. “He must live. A charming young woman is waiting him outside. Let them live happy. I wish I can keep him here.” She returned the pot to the spearman.
Mark was able to raise his head again. He looked directly into her brown eyes trying to show his affection, “Thanks. I don’t want to leave this place. I desire to lay her in your lap forever.”
“You can’t young man, you can’t. This is the world of dead. Our veins hold no blood. Go out where the hearts are still pulsing with love and hope. Go and get her before it’s too late. She may make you happy.” She told him as they walked to the iron gate. Looking deep in his green eyes, she picked up a red rose, “Keep it fresh and green. Remember me as long as you can.” The woman opened the entrance saying, “Leave now. She is still at the station. The bus hasn’t arrived yet.”
“May I take any gold piece please. Money will make us happier.” He wished.
“Gold won’t make you happy. Happiness is an absolute inner state. If you couldn’t find it inside yourself, you’ll never find in another place.” She pushed him gently out and closed the gate.
Mark stood amazed looking across the thick iron bars. He observed nobody inward. The graveyard was empty of any sign of life. “Where have they gone.” He asked himself as he was watching the sandy wind drifting over the clay tombs. “Jasmine. You beautiful great woman … guards … hay you their!” he shouted. Only the echoes of his shouts resonated over his head with hunks of dust pierced the alley. Visibility became very low and sand grains stung hard against his face. Leaning his head down to protect himself, he found his cigarette pack ramming against the gate bottom, he picked it up into his bag and rotated towards the village patch. “I must leave right now. It’s getting dangerous to stay.” He told himself marching the first steps to the entrance of the lane. The air stream screeched among the houses gathering traces of thin sand thread along the track edges. He decided to run the rest.
At the inlet of the side street, the shades of the dust blurred the whole scene. Nothing was obvious where the sun disappeared behind the vast desert leaving shadows of light winding here and there. The village yard collected enough rays to remain its parts apparent. The bus was there at the station. Mark doubled his speed waving and shouting. The wind roared higher crushing the calmness around diminishing the truck engine rattling. The frequency and volume of Mark’s shouts shattered as the sand spiked his mouth. The bus brake trail lights went off as a sign of leaving.
The huge old van took off trembling left and right. The sluggish revolves of the wheels inspired Mark to pursuit them. He wailed and crossed his hands over his head. The bus continued his slow traffic progress which gave Mark the chance to get closer. The rear windshield disclosed the image of Jasmine peeping capping her eyes with the right hand. “Hay, Jasmine, tell him to halt. Could you hear me. Am here. Stop it. Stop him.” he shouted many times but in vain.
“I’ll wave with the red rose. She may recognize it better in this murky atmosphere.” He thought. He inserted his hand inside the half closed bag, but his finger could feel nothing except cold ashes. “Oh God, where is the rose.” he murmured unzipping completely. Only remnants appeared inside. His papers, clothes, the map, the sun glasses, the lighter and even the cell phone changed into mere remains of soil and scraps. Only a box of cigarettes and two flowers were still fresh and blooming. “Never mind. I must catch the bus any way. It’s the last chance.” He upraised his head holding the two roses, but the vehicle vanished behind the dense layers of dust. He continued rushing regardless of the traces of the route. The sand covered all the land around him. He stopped panting. “I must go back to the cemetery. I’ll find her there.”
Mark turned back to the opposite direction. The village became out of his sight. Just endless dunes of sand surrounded him.
