Harmless Poisons, Blameless Sins by Mohammed Mrabet

Author:Mohammed Mrabet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-07-13T16:00:00+00:00

The Rat

Hadidan Aharam had spent all his dananir, and he was now working in the Khalifa’s house once again, where he served at table and delivered messages for the Khalifa. In the morning he would heat the water for his master to bathe in, and bring him his breakfast. By now the general opinion of everyone was that Hadidan Aharam was crazy. The Khalifa himself always spoke of him as a madman. This may have been because he did everything wrong, and did not seem to understand what people said to him. At the same time he was delighted whenever he heard anyone speak of him as crazy. He would merely go on with his work without looking up, all the while making great plans in his head, and all his plans were directed against other people. He did not have a friend anywhere.

The Khalifa often thought about Hadidan Aharam, wondering whether he was really crazy or not. One day he decided to call him in and put some questions to him.

Hadidan Aharam stood before the Khalifa. Yes,

Sidi?

I’ve got some questions to ask you, the Khalifa told

him.

What questions?

Where does water come from ?

From the mountains, said Hadidan Aharam.

How does it come from the mountains?

Sidi el Khalifa, there are springs and wells. You find water everywhere in the mountains. And when it rains the wells fill up and the springs burst with water, and you see it running everywhere between the rocks.

Yes, said the Khalifa. And where does fog come

from?

The old people say that sometimes it comes up from the sea, and they say too that it lives high in the mountains. And sometimes it comes from outside, and can stay two or three days before the wind drives it away.

I see, said the Khalifa. And now tell me how salt is

made.

There’s one kind of salt that forms at the edge of the rivers that have salt water, said Hadidan Aharam. They dig holes and let the water run in, and when it dries out, the salt is in the holes. And there’s another kind of salt from the mountains, and the old people say this is the best salt. The other kind from the rivers is dirty.

Very good! said the Khalifa. You really are surprising. Now I want you to do an errand for me. I want you to bring me a little of each kind of salt, mountain salt and river salt.

Ouakha, sidi. Hadidan Aharam went out, and soon came back with the two kinds of salt.

I’d like to ask you one more question, the Khalifa told him. Which kind do you like better?

How can I say? The sea salt has one flavor and the

mountain salt has a different one.

But which do you yourself prefer?

Sidi el Khalifa, I think the mountain salt tastes better. As I say, it’s cleaner.

I agree absolutely, said the Khalifa. And to think they call you crazy! I must admit, I’ve often believed it, too.

But Sidi, I am! I am crazy!

I see. Well, get back to your work, said the Khalifa.

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