BLOOD BY THE HAND OF GUILT

Chapter Six

Weeks later she was strong enough to go back to her normal duties but for some reason Kaseem would not let her do anything. He treated her with so much care, he bought her clothes and never did he force himself on her again.

But soon she got suspicious when Kaseem was no longer asking her for sexual favours. She found out the girl was a child he had found on the streets. She had no home and offered to take her in. Apparently she had been caught stealing and almost had her hands cut off when Kaseem stepped in, paid the price for what she stole and took her home. But he was not the saviour she thought him to be, for saving her, she had to pay back, she had to replace Dassa!. Kaseem was having sex with this child.

For crying out loud had he no limits?

Dassa was disgusted especially having to think it was because of her this girl was in his bed, she could not stand the thought. Her name was Tamara and she too was a Jew.

Tamara hardly spoke to her. They were distant, Dassa could understand. She was just a kid, she felt sorry for her.

One day, Dassa was filling the pots with water, she had just come back from one of her trips when she heard screams from Kaseem's room. She rushed in to find them both naked and Tamara was on her knees. In his hand was a belt.

"What is this?" She blurted out.

"She's not doing it the way I want it"

"Leave her alone, she is just a kid"

"Would you take her place?" Kaseem said.

Dassa looked down at the whimpering child who had hugged herself and was sobbing. Dassa took off her veil and covered Tamara up then she helped her stand.

"It's okay, he wont touch you again, come on now" Dassa helped her up and led her out.

"Go to the room" She instructed her once and returned to give Kaseem what he wanted.

At the end of it he said.

"I am almost tempted to tell you where your brother is" Dassa stopped fixing her hair and turned to him.

"You owe me that"

"That will depend on how good you are next time. You need to get better"

"When?" Dassa asked.

"Tonight" He said with a grin.

"Deal?" Dassa asked.

"Deal" He nodded. Then she put on her clothes and walked out.

But Dassa should have known better. She was asleep when she heard whimpering. She opened her eyes to find Kaseem trying to have his way with Tamara right there in their room.

Dassa was so mad. She quietly stood, since he had his back to her he had no idea what was coming. Dassa picked up the empty bucket which was at her side and with one swing hit him hard on the back of the head, without given the opportunity to at least know what had hit him or who, he fell face downwards unto Tamara who immediately pushed him aside.

"Oh my God, is he dead?" Tamara said still crying.

"We need to get out of here, put on your clothes" Dassa said. She grabbed her raffia bag and Tamara's hand and the two made their way out before Hadira returned. They run for hours on bare feet and finally found themselves at the well she had found.

"Get in!" Dassa instructed and looked around as Tamara got in. She did too and they both went down the ladder.

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know but we need to get out of here, preferably to the border.

"The border?'

"Yes. We are in M'Hamid, its not far from the border to Algeria but we need to stay out of this town for some time, we would be wanted for murder if Kaseem really is dead. The Sheik will hunt us down.

"Sheik Aziz?"

"Yes, do you know him?"

"Yes, everyone knows Sheik Aziz, he leads a Caliphat that hunts Jews. Its believed they are an extension of the Nazi's.

"The Nazi's?"

"Uh huh?"

"He has my brother, I need to find him"

"If he is lucky, the Sheik would try to recruit him into his army, if not, he would probably be dead by now"

"No, he isnt dead, I would know. Do you know of any American's?"

"I heard some people say they had captured two American spies, the Sheik holds them in a prison somewhere in Sefrou.

"Sefrou?

"Yes" Tamara confirmed.

That would mean she would have to go back home if she was to find Dante. But how did Ali escape?

"The spies were two, one is not in jail, I saw him out"

"Then he is not a spy"

"I knew it, Ali is with them" Dassa said through clenched teeth.

"We need to find Dante"

"Your brother?"

"No, an American, I owe my life to him, he can help us find Jamal"

Tamara nodded.

"Come on" They kept walking through the tunnels. They walked for hours, thirsty and hungry yet determined to find Dante.

They walked for what seemed like hours and soon they came to the very spot they had set fire two years earlier, she Ali and Dante. They came out and found themselves in the desert. They both looked round and saw a town ahead. We need to get to that town.

"We don't know what is there and we cant just go about asking of an American"

"We will get whatever information we want" Dassa said and took the first step towards the town but Tamara grabbed her arm.

"I don't want to be captured again"

"No one is going to take you captive, I swear it.....no one will force you to do naything you don't want to do okay?"

"Promise?"

"I promise" Dassa smiled at her and took her hand and together they went out searching for the American.