Words All The Way Down

Hassan cringed at the cries from the top of the minaret. Ever since Warlord Nadim invaded the oasis two months ago, the welcome calls to prayer had been replaced by calls to witness. To witness the power of one only focused on taking. None desired to come to come to the agora, but all were forced to. None dared resist.

Today, someone had dared to be married to a woman that Nadim fancied. The pour soul was tied to a post in the middle of the square. His former wife of eight years was already sequestered in a tent. Hassan knew that today was to be a day of sentencing followed by the swift execution of that sentence. He gripped tightly at his the fabric of his kaftan when he spotted Nadim reclined in a pile of cushions behind the bound man.

A crier next to Nadim cleared his throat and spoke, “We are gathered here today to sentence this man.” He turned, “For daring to cast your eyes on a woman Prince Nadim would hold so dear, your sentence is as follows. One eye will be burnt in it’s socket. Let it not be said that Prince Nadim is not a merciful ruler.”

The crowd murmured. This was barbaric. This was unjust. Hassan made ready to rush at Nadim, consequences be damned. He was about to break free of the crowd when another man broke free before him. The man made a beeline for the post, only to be swiftly clubbed by the crier. “And this man will be exiled from the oasis.” Hassan shrunk back into the crowd.

Behind Nadim servants shuffled about, and a case was brought out. When opened, the case was shown to be filled with glasses lenses. In accordance with oasis superstition, no fire would be started, but a man’s eye would be burnt out all the same.

Just below the tortured screams a slight sizzle could be heard, followed by an even quieter pop.

Later that night, Hassan lay in his tent unable to sleep, feeling for all the world a coward. His only solace was hope. Hope that one day the minarets would once again cry the calls to prayer. That one day Nadim’s toxic influence will be expunged from the oasis. As the moon traveled across the sky and night turned into day, that hope transformed itself. It became indignation, rage, and despair. Then, as the sun rose, that hope transformed one last time into conviction.