Locked In

Friends in Secret Places

"Why are you stealing food?"

"We aren't stealing anything. We got this food out of trash cans. It isn't a crime to take food from trash cans is it?" Abdel asked.

"Well no it isn't. But you shouldn't have been taking food anyway."

"All we want is this food we've got here to feed ourselves," Mary said.

"Why don't you have jobs?"

"We are nomads," I said.

"What are nomads?" Asked yet another man.

"Nomads are people who travel from place to place, usually following their livestock Benjamin. Didn't you pay attention in school?"

"Heck no I didn't pay attention in school. School is for wimps."

"That attitude explains why you are bumming off of your friends."

"Hey don't they look funny to you?"

"What are you talking about Christopher?"

"Well they aren't saying anything about where they come from."

"Didn't you pay attention? They said their nomads."

"Don't nomads eat their livestock?"

"You got a point Christopher. Where's your livestock?"

"They are on the far hill grazing."

We shifted uncomfortably for it was only a matter of time before they figured out who we were. Our arms were getting heavy with the food as well.

"Let them go," Benjamin said.

"Why?"

"They are afraid. Can't you see that your questions are making them nervous?"

"What do they have to be nervous about?"

"What if their livestock wander off? Then they'll starve to death."

"I don't hear anything."

"Honestly Jacob sometimes you are an idiot. Let them go and let's return home. They don't pose any threat to our community."

Benjamin hesitated and then jerked his head. They turned and went back to their homes. When they were out of sight Benjamin looked at us. "Next time Muslims don't risk coming into town."

"How do you know we are Muslims?" Abdel asked.

"I saw your friends before they left. It didn't take much to put it together. Do you have anything to carry that food with besides your arms?"

We shook our heads. "I thought as much. Come on to my shop and I'll get you some more food and some coolers and a wagon to put the food in. If you are going to be traveling then you need a better way to store food."

Hesitating we looked at each other. Should we trust this man? It had been different with Ronnie. He had been a secret Muslim. If we went with him and he told the authorities where we were then all would be lost. The rest of our group would starve. But if we didn't go with him then we wouldn't have a way to carry our food. Benjamin seemed to sense our hesitation.

"If you stay here they'll come back. With me you have a chance of getting out of here without the camp guards coming for you."

The survival of our families was more important to us at the moment than the risk of capture so we followed Benjamin down the street to a small store. He pressed a keypad which unlocked the door. "You know most of that food you have is probably spoiled. Just leave it on the floor and I'll take care of that later."