Wednesday 19 September 2007

Fatima al Sammha the Redox (the first draft of a work in progress by Indana Simonde)

In a small coastal village beside the river lived a girl by the name of Fatima. She lived with her grandmother and her mother who gave her the name Al Sammha because of her mystical beauty. The men of her village lost their minds when she walked past them and the women hated the dawn that gave birth to her. Her scent needed no pass nor introduction nor permission to scintilate the senses, it was everywhere in the village. Everyone needed her. the beauty of her face healed the wounds of the weak except for those suffering from passion wounds. Fatima was growing and the worries of her grand mother were growing with her.

In her sleep Fatima's grandmother hears voices talking to her.

(Scene one)
The grandmother sleeps calmly in a serene corner of her traditional cottage. Three ghosts appear and begin to caress the air around her body. Gently they begin to whisper.

Nanjerii: This one has been tainted by the waters that run beside the village. Behold! the saints have damned her.

Nerantii: The eyes are blind and the heart is sad!

Nehimii: Forgive her Mordecaii, for her hunger, there is no food!

The grandmother wakes up in a daze seeing that Fatima is not lying beside her, she stumbles out of bed and says;

Grandmother: I must find her, where is my blessed granddaughter, where is Al Sammha?

She leaves the room and the ghosts gather to remark to one another in fear.

Nanjerii: Where there is the clacking of footsteps on empty roads and the sound of clacking on empty streets and the sound of leaves rustling, there she will find him.

Nerantii: Who, what is the name of this hero you talk of?

Nehimii: He is a troubled one, his eyes, tell her to stay away from his eyes.

(Scene two)

Since Fatima was a child her mother was protective over her children. The fire and desire to save her from a fate worse than death caused Nehimii to rage within herself like she was battling the gods, the stars and the planets themselves. So much so infact that when one day they were walking in the forest close to the village to collect food, they came across a wolf. Fatima's mother Nehimii, then called Nansheeva was savaged by the beast but not before she had the opportunity to send her daughter to safety. Upon escaping from danger, the young Al Sammha reaches a village to see two girls playing.

Girl one: Hi, how are you doing?
Al Sammha (out of breath) My... My Mother.. is...
Girl two: Spit it out we haven't got all day!
Al Sammha: I need help my mum, I think she might be dead already, I just know it. A monster attacked her in the woods.

The three ghost reappear as the girls move to mobolise the village into action.

Nanjerii: They don't get it yet? Do they not see?
Nerantii:Heaven's alive, I don't think they do!
Nehimii: My ancient bones!
(to al Sammha)
Nehimii: Have no fear when the darkness comes for things will never be the same again. He will change everything.

Al Sammha stops running and turns to see the apparition. Her mother and some of her relatives from the grave.

Nehimii: I just can't believe it, it feels lik i've been a reflection in this cold, barren existence for an eternity. I want to hold you till i cry, until i cry, but I don't even know if i can cry in this shell of a body. Trapped within my own darkness i thought i had forgotten your face, what your beauty was, your scent. When the time comes I will stop drifting through the astral planes and i will find you like a dream. Close your eyes as i can't say goodbye with anything other than words.

With that Fatima's mother formed a peaked harp of serenity out of pure air.

Nehimii: Don't cry, you will grow to be a beautiful woman. Play this harp for the one you love. Not for me, I will always be with you.

Twenty years later, as clarity dawns on the young Al Sammha, the tears drown out the pain of the cuts on her arms. The hlood covers her dress as well as staining her skin like an evil taint, she sits on a rock next to the river just a few minutes away from the village. The young womans blood brings into existence the monster that manifested itself as a wolf in order to bring forth destiny and the eventual passing of her mother...

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