seen her before, and he pranced around the fire showing just how he had seen her. At this, they all roared with laughter.
Shabazz laughed louder than any of the others; but once his laughter subsided, another expression appeared on his face-the same one Felicia had seen that night when he and Na’im had sat before the campfire. One of pure lust Shabazz toyed with a long stick he’d picked up in the clearing, before he began to poke Felicia with it. She covered her breasts with her arms as he used the branch to circle them. Leisurely, he raised her dress as she clasped her arms tightly to her sides.
“That’s enough, Shabazz,” a male voice called out from the edge of the clearing.
Felicia could not believe her eyes or her ears as she turned and saw Na’im.
“So you speak to me in English this time, huh?” “Yes, because I want the young lady to understand everything we’re saying. Don’t try to go for your guns because I am not alone.’ ’
More than ten men, along with Akeel, stepped out of the shadows to show that Na’im was telling the truth.
Fatimah wasted no time shaking off the cut ropes. Relieved, she ran across the clearing to stand between her cousin and Ilyas. The second woman who Felicia had managed to set free followed suit, to another young man in the group.
‘ ‘How did you get loose?’ ’ Na’im asked.
Fatimah pointed to Felicia. “This woman freed us. It was while she was trying to free the others that Shabazz’s lookout caught her.”
“Where is Waheedah?”
“They split us up once we neared the borders of A1 Kharijah. Two of Shabazz’s men took her and Khalilah (Kah-lee-luh) with them. I do not know where they have gone.”
“Where are they, Shabazz?” Na’im demanded. “They are being taken to Hassan, but don’t worry, nothing will happen to them. At least nothing that you’ll be able to look at them and tell. I understand you have a special interest in...”
“You only need answer the questions that I ask you, Shabazz, and nothing else.”
Na’im crossed over to Felicia and lifted her up from the ground.
“I must say, Na’im, you seem to have impeccable timing.”
“Only where you are concerned, aros al bher. As my mother would say, our karmas are intertwined.”
Feeling a flow of heated relief rush through her, Felicia responded, “Whatever the reason. I’m thankful for it”
Na’im decided to remain at the campsite the rest of the night. After all, the women had had enough excitement for one day.
Felicia was put into the tent with all of the single women. The other tents contained the men and one married couple. Shabazz and his men looked on from their vantage point, tied to the same trees that had earlier held the women captive.
Na’im had been busy with the men, getting the camp ready for the night, securing the tents and taking care of the camels. The women took on other chores. Once Na’im was done, he asked Felicia if she’d like to walk with him.
All eyes were upon them as they left the campsite. Felicia had noticed how everyone looked to Na’im for instructions and how he naturally commanded and got their respect.
“So who is this Na’im Raoul Rahman that can order a small army of men about without the slightest show of disobedience? Don’t tell me I’ve been in the company of a king or prince and I didn’t know it.’ ’
“No, sorry to tell you. I’m neither of those. The men are all members of our village. Every one of them had been personally affected by the abductions and wanted to do something about it,” Na’im explained with a casual air.
“But I didn’t ask you to walk with me so I could talk about myself. I want to know more about Felicia Sanders.”
So Felicia began to talk. She was careful not to tell him much about her childhood because, in some ways, she felt life had truly begun for her once she left home and went off to college.
It didn’t take long before her talk had brought her to Egypt. She told him of
Shabazz laughed louder than any of the others; but once his laughter subsided, another expression appeared on his face-the same one Felicia had seen that night when he and Na’im had sat before the campfire. One of pure lust Shabazz toyed with a long stick he’d picked up in the clearing, before he began to poke Felicia with it. She covered her breasts with her arms as he used the branch to circle them. Leisurely, he raised her dress as she clasped her arms tightly to her sides.
“That’s enough, Shabazz,” a male voice called out from the edge of the clearing.
Felicia could not believe her eyes or her ears as she turned and saw Na’im.
“So you speak to me in English this time, huh?” “Yes, because I want the young lady to understand everything we’re saying. Don’t try to go for your guns because I am not alone.’ ’
More than ten men, along with Akeel, stepped out of the shadows to show that Na’im was telling the truth.
Fatimah wasted no time shaking off the cut ropes. Relieved, she ran across the clearing to stand between her cousin and Ilyas. The second woman who Felicia had managed to set free followed suit, to another young man in the group.
‘ ‘How did you get loose?’ ’ Na’im asked.
Fatimah pointed to Felicia. “This woman freed us. It was while she was trying to free the others that Shabazz’s lookout caught her.”
“Where is Waheedah?”
“They split us up once we neared the borders of A1 Kharijah. Two of Shabazz’s men took her and Khalilah (Kah-lee-luh) with them. I do not know where they have gone.”
“Where are they, Shabazz?” Na’im demanded. “They are being taken to Hassan, but don’t worry, nothing will happen to them. At least nothing that you’ll be able to look at them and tell. I understand you have a special interest in...”
“You only need answer the questions that I ask you, Shabazz, and nothing else.”
Na’im crossed over to Felicia and lifted her up from the ground.
“I must say, Na’im, you seem to have impeccable timing.”
“Only where you are concerned, aros al bher. As my mother would say, our karmas are intertwined.”
Feeling a flow of heated relief rush through her, Felicia responded, “Whatever the reason. I’m thankful for it”
Na’im decided to remain at the campsite the rest of the night. After all, the women had had enough excitement for one day.
Felicia was put into the tent with all of the single women. The other tents contained the men and one married couple. Shabazz and his men looked on from their vantage point, tied to the same trees that had earlier held the women captive.
Na’im had been busy with the men, getting the camp ready for the night, securing the tents and taking care of the camels. The women took on other chores. Once Na’im was done, he asked Felicia if she’d like to walk with him.
All eyes were upon them as they left the campsite. Felicia had noticed how everyone looked to Na’im for instructions and how he naturally commanded and got their respect.
“So who is this Na’im Raoul Rahman that can order a small army of men about without the slightest show of disobedience? Don’t tell me I’ve been in the company of a king or prince and I didn’t know it.’ ’
“No, sorry to tell you. I’m neither of those. The men are all members of our village. Every one of them had been personally affected by the abductions and wanted to do something about it,” Na’im explained with a casual air.
“But I didn’t ask you to walk with me so I could talk about myself. I want to know more about Felicia Sanders.”
So Felicia began to talk. She was careful not to tell him much about her childhood because, in some ways, she felt life had truly begun for her once she left home and went off to college.
It didn’t take long before her talk had brought her to Egypt. She told him of
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