She stopped abruptly as she realized what she was doing. Her life and her husband’s were probably hostage to her silence. She let the thought go uncompleted, and switched the topic instead to the management of the temple and the job that Yusef bin Nard was doing in Umar’s place. From there, the topic drifted to the quality and price of winter vegetables.
Finally, unable to endure the trivia any longer, Alhena excused herself, citing pressing matters at home. As she got up to leave, Barakah grabbed her by the elbow. Alhena looked down and saw a look of desperation in the other woman’s eyes.
“I will see you again, won’t I?” Barakah asked. “We can meet again here in the hammam.”
“Sometime, I’m sure.”
“I’m in here every week. Every week, this same day, this same time.”
“Next week, then, i
