4
A few days later, when they next gathered on the same spot, the old men were finally compelled to discuss with each other what they had always avoided mentioning: namely when they would relocate. Like it or not, this had to be resolved, before the problem forced its own resolution. Naturally, after quite a bit of beating around the bush, the council got underway. Hodja spoke his mind first:
“’Shipmates share their soul’ they say, and if we’ve gotta go, let’s not drift off one by one, but let’s pick a day and ship out together.”
Everyone looked away and shuffled uneasily, as if a bright light was shone at them in the dark.
“Seems Kebe grandma finally agreed,” remarked fat Rejeb, glancing around and sharing the news he’d heard from his wife at noon. “If she has seen the house set aside
