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about a month, she will give birth to our child.” His voice was becoming thick. Whatever he had to say, it was something he had not discussed with his father. I had become adept at when he was confiding in me and me alone. “I am worried . . .” he said quietly.
    “You are worried that what happened to your mother will happen to Sanura?” I asked compassionately. He sighed and nodded as he sipped. “Well, Absko, this is a concern, but an unlikely one. The hospital is a few miles away, and I believe it has French doctors. This is something your mother did not have access to, and medicine has come far since you were born. I would not fear such an improbable occurrence. Just enjoy your wife and family. I think you’ll be fine.”
    “What about you? Are you going to be fine?” It had been a long time since someone had asked me that.
    “I’ll survive.” After a moment, we dropped this line of conversation and gazed upon the ’geti. “Have you thought about my offer?”
    “University?” he said joyfully.
    “Yes, have you made any decisions?”
    “Yes, in two years I will take you up on your offer. I want to take Sanura and Sherri to America.”
    “That’s good, Absko. I will do everything I can to make sure you have a good start. Don’t be upset if I don’t come along. I have a feeling I’ll be here a while.”

 
     
    Like a portal to another universe I found myself dreaming for the first time in months. And there she was. Malaika was at a distance, looking right at me. Happy. Her coat had recovered, and her body was strong. “Come back,” I asked.
    “I’m far away,” she said. It felt far to me.
    “Will you come back?” I asked again.
    She hesitated a moment. “Not likely. I am too far away,” she said, and then turned away into nothingness.
    When I woke the next morning, I felt recharged. I was elated to have heard from her. I knew that she was fine.
    Another week had gone by and I still hadn’t seen her. She doubted that she could come, and I understood. One day I was with Absko at the tobacco fields.
    “You got that all right?” I asked. He looked at me like I was an idiot as he wrapped up a bundle of last season’s tobacco for me. As usual, he was shirtless—and ever more so had grown into a man. His baby was expected any day, and it showed with his bright smile shining wherever he walked. He was as big, if not bigger than some of the men around him—most of which were adjacent to us on a break from the fields. Banter and friendly insults flew around, most not understood by me.
    I walked to a cooler about thirty feet away from him as he finished up the bundle. As I lifted the lid, I felt a familiar bump against my leg. Malaika was radiant, joyful, and sweetly beautiful with her golden self, beaming with affection. I hugged her and rubbed her side. Just as Absko was about to raise the bundle, he caught her eye. Playfully, she hunched down into her pouncing stance and launched toward him. He was nearly ready for her when she pressed him to the ground. It happened so fast. In hindsight, I can’t figure out why I didn’t think this wouldn’t happen. Of course it would happen. The men on their break, seeing a jungle cat on top of a boy would react in no other way. As Absko fell to the ground, although clearly laughing, these men, unaccustomed to the subtleties of pretended aggression grabbed their machetes. Raising them high above their heads, they had begun running toward the boy.
    I couldn’t move my feet fast enough as I shouted to the men, “She’s just playing!” I shouted it again and again. The first blow hit her flank. Yelping in pain, she rolled off Absko. Fearing for her life, she prepared a formidable defensive stance against the continuing onslaught. But there were just too many men coming down on her. With each blow and slash she writhed, her body wavering and bewildered by the blades buffeting down on her.
    “NOOOOO!!” Absko yelled, but the mob could not be