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turned the knob and slowly pushed the door open. She peered hesitantly inside. She was met by the blue light of the room. Frowning, she looked around.
    N’Gone was in bed in her nightdress. At the foot of the bed sat El Hadji Abdou Kader Beye, hunched forward, his head in his hands.
    Followed by the other woman carrying a cock, Yay Bineta entered the room. The Badyen examined the sheets for traces of blood. Then she placed the cock between N’Gone’s things, ready to kill it in sacrifice.
    â€˜No! No!’ N’Gone cried, closing her legs like a large pair of scissors. Sobbing, she tried to thrust the cock away from her.
    â€˜What has happened?’ demanded the Badyen.
    N’Gone’s sobs faded into silence.
    â€˜El Hadji, I am talking to you. What has happened?’
    â€˜Yay Bineta, I did not manage it.’
    N’Gone let out a cry, the cry of an animal in distress. The two women raised their hands to their mouths in astonishment. The cock escaped, crowing.
    â€˜ Lâa . . . lahâa illala ! Someone has cast a spell on you.’
    The Badyen muttered to herself, while the other woman tried on all fours to catch the cock. The bird ran out of reach. The Badyen raged. ‘I warned you this would happen. You and your like take yourselves for Europeans. If you had listened to me yesterday you would not be
in this situation now. The shame of it! What difference could it have made to you to sit on the mortar? (She pointed to it.) Now that you are as you are, what are you going to do about it? You must find a cure. You must see a marabout.’
    The other woman cornered the bird behind the mortar and caught it by its legs. Nearby stood the tailor’s dummy wearing the wedding-dress. She went up to El Hadji.
    â€˜The xala 5 is nothing to worry about! What one hand has planted Another can pull up. Get up! You have no need to feel ashamed.’
    Xala ! El Hadji Abdou Kader Beye was aghast. He could not believe what had happened to him. When he had talked about the xala to other men he had always treated it as a joke. This morning he was completely shattered. He felt numbed. He could barely realize what had happened. All night he had stayed awake, his body separated from his desire, his nerves disconnected from his nervous centre.
    The Badyen went over to the bride.
    â€˜Stop crying now. You have nothing to blame yourself for. It’s up to your husband to take the necessary precautions. I am sure you are a virgin.
    Holding her cock tight the other woman admonished El Hadji. ‘Pull yourself together, El Hadji! Get up! You must do something! Do something! You must find a cure.’
    El Hadji went into the shower. While he was away, Yay Bineta hunted under the pillow for the licence and the keys of the wedding gift car. Having found what she was looking for, she proceeded to call the co-wives all the names she could lay her tongue to.
    When El Hadji reappeared he was dressed.
    Outside it was day. The courtyard was strewn with empty bottles, broken glasses, overturned tables and chairs. There were flies everywhere.
    Modu was waiting for his employer. When he saw him coming he threw away his cigarette. El Hadji’s scowling face suggested to him something quite different from the truth – an exhausting night.
    Installed in the Mercedes El Hadji Abdou Kader Beye did not know what he should do. He thought of going to see Adja Awa Astou. Twice he rejected that idea. What would he say to Asta? He could not order his thoughts. Which of his wives had planned it? Which of them
had made him impotent? And why? Which of them? Adja Awa Astou? Unthinkable. She who never said anything out of place. It must be his second then, Oumi N‘Doye. The xala could easily be her doing. She was very jealous. Ever since he had told her of his marriage moomé spent with her had been nights of hell. Yet in his heart of hearts El Hadji rejected that idea. Oumi N’Doye was not so spiteful. His