He clenched his fist, as if trying to gather all his strength to reject what was being asked of him, when he heard a movement in the corner next to the door. When he raised his head and saw Zakiya, a shiver ran down his spine. How had she emerged from the shadows, pale-faced, her head unveiled and dressed in tattered clothes that barely covered her body? What did the girl want from him? ‘What brought you here, Zakiya?’ he shouted at her. ‘Didn’t you use my aunt as a go-between? Isn’t that enough?’ He saw Zakiya open her mouth to speak words he couldn’t hear. So he shouted at her again. ‘Young woman, what do you want?’ The response finally reached him as she uttered a single sentence. ‘Aba Zaki, I need your protection’. She had spoken - with eyes locked on him - then disappeared as quickly
