The Last Earth by Baroud Ramzy;

Author:Baroud, Ramzy;
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2017-12-13T07:30:31+00:00

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The first shot was not from a rifle but a pistol. It was exactly a quarter to midnight when the first bullet’s crack woke up a startled Badia, who had just had a frightening dream where a bullet had pierced her chest. In actuality, a battle had just commenced and a rush of bullets was heard in the distance, only to be interrupted by the heavy sound of shelling. “Samir is dead,” Hana muttered to herself, guided only by a sisterly intuition. The family stepped outside their home to find that the whole neighborhood was already in the street. The skies north of Burqin, where the Beisan Valley met Marj Ibn Amer, were lit up as if they were the northern lights. Then silence and darkness resumed and there was a palpable heavy feeling in the air. All the villagers looked at each other in distress wondering if anyone they knew had been hurt or killed or if there would be any consequences for them after what had just ensued. An hour later, Israeli soldiers entered the village covered in blood that was not their own. They stormed the Shalabi home asking about Samir, but arrested Sahir instead.

With her insides twisting, Hana ran to the roof where the family land was visible, and where she could clearly see ambulances rushing in and out of the area. Israeli helicopters were still circling, creating more confusion for the distant onlookers. “Samir was martyred ... Samir was martyred,”

announced a voice in the distance as is the custom when a youth is gunned down in Burqin. The village erupted in chants: “With our blood, with our souls, we shall avenge you, Samir.”

Omar came rushing into the family home, exclaiming about the rumor going around that Nidah Khalouf, not his brother, 134

Death Notice

was the one killed in the battle. He quickly called the local hospital but was told that the body of Samir al-Saadi had arrived, after he had tried to avenge the death of his brother who was martyred in the Jenin battle a few years earlier. Even though their son’s death had not yet been confirmed, the dread of having lost their son was too much for the parents to take.

The mother had already fainted by the time Omar came in and Yahya was no longer able to breathe without the help of local medics. When they were finally stable, they were assured that Samir was still alive and when dawn came all the villagers, including Yahya and Omar, gathered together spontaneously and began moving towards Beisan in their hundreds. The Shalabi family all stood outside for final assurance that Samir was safe.

When Yahya al-Shalabi finally returned, walking ever so slowly towards his house, he was joined by a thousand men all wearing grim expressions. His face conveyed intense emotions, but somehow he managed to control the tremors in his lips and keep the tears hidden for a while longer as his arms carried a khaki jacket, a discolored white t-shirt and a hat.

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