Anthropology Pt. 03

Chapter 16 : Day Twenty - The Courtyard

The bay window high up in the wall of the Seragla looked out across the palace courtyard. Karen sat in the bay on a pile of velvet cushions, busy with her embroidery making the best of the light that came through the iron grilled window to see her stitches of black thread on black cloth.. The concubines had few tasks apart from entertaining the men but the creation and care of their costumes was one of them. On the cushions beside her were her materials, the squares of black silken cloth, the black silk thread, the gold wire and cords.

Each square was to become a new veil. New concubines, Karen assumed. Twenty squares, twenty veils, twenty more slaves.

Karen stitched the lighter gold cord along the top edge of the veil, the heavier along the bottom so that the veil would hang as it should. She took a length of the gold wire stitching it to form the inverted fleur-de-lys that marked the centre of the veil. When the veil was in place the gold embroidery would point downwards from the bridge of the nose directing the eye of the observer down towards the woman's breasts and belly.

Karen twisted to change her position on the cushions, the chains from her anklets, clinked as she did so. She was wearing her own veil - seated where she was she could be seen from the courtyard and so it was possible she could be seen by one of the men in the palace. To be caught without the veil, she knew, would only invite punishment. Today, though, there were only the comings and goings of the doenyes as they went about their domestic duties.

Karen finished stitching the veil she was working on, folded it neatly and added to the pile of her completed work. She took another square of silk so that she could start on the next. As she did so, there were sounds of commotion from the courtyard. Dogs were barking and men were shouting orders in Kushtian.

A naked woman was being pushed across the courtyard by two of the palace guards. Her arms securely bound with think rope, a sacking cloth tied across her head and shackles on her ankles meant she could offer little resistance although she struggled against her guards as they pushed her along. As the guards and their prisoner passed below her window Karen saw the intertwined K's tattooed on the woman's naked thigh and she realised that the captive woman was Alana.

Now Karen knew the cause of the noise the previous night after Alana had left. She watched miserably as the captive woman was pushed towards the door in the courtyard that led to the small palace prison where she herself had been confined the day before. As she did so, she decided to see what she could do to help her lover. And to achieve that she knew she had to get to where Alana was being held.

To get to the cells where Alana was being held captive took longer than she planned. As she was about to make her way there, one of Kustanki's entourage had insisted she amuse him with a game of tavla. She played backgammon well and she would have found it easy to beat him even if his play hadn't been hampered. He'd allowed himself to be distracted by her cleavage and he found himself with two of his pieces on the bar as Karen began to bear off. When his hand moved from the dice to her thigh, though, Karen thought that tavla probably wasn't his main interest. It was only a call from one of the palace guards that Kustanki was looking for him that took him away from Karen and the gaming board.

Once the man left Karen was free to go in search of Alana. As she turned the corner into the cells, carrying a jug of cold herb tea ostensibly to refresh the guards, she saw that Alana had gone. The cage was empty; the door standing ajar. As Karen put down the jug, the chief guard was complaining. "They bring her in. Keep her here they say. Then she has to go, his Excellency wants her, then he doesn't, then he does. Do they think I have nothing better to do?"

Karen said nothing. She knew he wasn't interested in her views. She poured some of the tea into a small tin drinking bowl on the guard's desk. She nodded, gave a curtsey and left. Now she had to get into the palace apartments if she wanted to help Alana. She dreaded what Kustanki might be doing to her but felt she must do what she could to find her and try to help.

Back in the Seragla, Karen had enlisted the help of Suzie. Now, Karen watched as Suzie did as she had promised. At the doorway from the Seragla to the palace staterooms Suzie tried to engage the young guard in conversation. As she knew no Kushtian and the guard no English, the discussion was a little stilted but the guard was soon engrossed, his eyes drawn to Suzie's own, and of course, her cleavage.

As the guard's attention was focused on Suzie, Karen slipped past the pair of them and into the corridors of the palace. Walking as though she had every right to be there, she stepped out along the corridors towards the rooms that Kolani Kustanki and his guests occupied. The women from the Seragla were only permitted to be in this part of the palace with the express permission of one of the males. Karen just hoped that no one would ask who she was there to see.

The corridor got wider, the rooms more grandly decorated, the couches and tables that lined the corridor became more and more sumptuous. A guard walking the other way along the corridor looked suspiciously at her. She dropped her eyes to the floor in the approved manner of respect and he passed her by without comment. She passed a room from within which came the sounds of animated love making; the squeals of a concubine and the grunts of her Kushtian lover.

Karen had almost reached the end of the corridor when she came to an enormous double door that stretched the full height of the corridor. From beyond the door he heard the sound of Kushtian voices. A man and a woman in animated conversation.

The voices were those of Kolani Kustanki and a woman. Karen was sure it was Alana.

Karen knelt beside the door, her head bowed, her hands clasped behind her back in the way that she had been taught to wait when summoned to any of the palace rooms. No one would think it odd that a concubine was waiting there like that but it did mean she could hear what was being said in the room. A group of doenyes, carrying cleaning things, passed her by without comment. Karen concentrated trying to hear what was being said in the room.

"And the UN Ambassador?" the woman said.

"He is happy. He does not see beyond their simple ideas about heritage. He has little understanding of the political realities," Kustanki explained. "He will continue to support the programme with Geneva. It is mainly British and Americans that are participating anyway. Their governments seem to believe that their nationals can make their own minds up about these things. A convenience of the western democracies as far as we are concerned."

"And Karench? What of her group?" You know they are the greatest threat to you. To us."

"My friend the Minister for Security and Internal Affairs is most anxious to ensure that any elements that might be involved in revolutionary activities are prevented from causing trouble. I do not think you need worry about them. Your help has been most useful."

Karen, horrified by the apparent betrayal of Kalassa by Alana, edged closer to the door and peered around the edge at the two people within. Sure enough Alana was deep in discussion with Kolani Kustanki. Kustanki wore his traditional robes but Alana was wearing western dress, a dazzling white linen trouser suit over a pale chocolate coloured blouse. Most scandalous of all was that there was no sign of the veil that Kustanki insisted every other woman wore in his presence.

"And when does the Minister for Security expect to act?" Alana asked

Karen, desperately clinging to the idea that somehow Alana was tricking Kustanki into revealing his plans in some way, listened all the closer.

"I do believe," Kustanki said looking at his watch, "that things are already in hand. Beside I think you have seen something of the efficiency of my own guards. How was your time in the cells?"

"Irrelevant. It was the simplest way to get to see you," Alana snapped, irritated by his manner. "As for your colleague, I hope that he is as efficient as you claim," she said in return. "Failure could make things difficult for me. And of course there is the matter of the programme members that she holds."

"Do not worry, young lady," Kustanki said patronisingly. "I have high confidence. The girls of the Seragla are already working on the costumes for those that will join them. I am certain that their efforts will not have been wasted. I would hardly have them spend their time on other things than my own amusement unnecessarily."

Karen thought of the work she had been doing that very morning on the costumes.

"Well, we shall know shortly," said Alana. "Now if you'll excuse me, there is one of your concubines that I need to talk to."

Outside the door of the room, Karen realised that Alana was almost certainly talking about her. She turned and fled along the corridor as quickly as her long skirt would allow. The guard showed no interest in her as she left the palace apartments and made her way back to the Seragla. He was used to seeing distressed women passing that way.

Suzie was sitting in the great communal hall of the Seragla when Karen returned. She saw Karen's eyes, reddened by tears, and ran towards her. "Whatever's the matter?" she urged, hugging Karen.

Karen shook her head. "I'm not sure," she said. "I think that something terrible is going to happen to Kalasa Karench and that Alana – the woman that came to our cubicle – is behind it."

As Karen finished speaking, the door to the hall opened and in came Alana, now dressed in the robes of one of the palace doenyes. Seeing Karen she came across to her. "You're upset, yankee," she said, seeing Karen's tears. She turned towards Suzie. "Lover's tiff?" she asked. Karen said nothing. Suzie kept quiet as well. Alana shrugged. "I need to know what you have found out," she said.

"Why?" Karen responded, sullenly. "What difference could it make?"

"I thought you wanted to free your friends? I thought you wanted to help us?"

"Yes to the first; who knows about the second?"

"You can't tell me that you approve of the programme. I thought you wanted to help end it."

"Is that what you are trying to do Alana?" Karen's voice was quiet and determined. "Is that why you were talking to Kustanki just now? Just how is betraying Kalasa going to end the programme?"

Alana looked discomforted for only a moment. "What sharp little ears, you have yankee. I do believe you have been listening at doors. Well, no matter, things are moving in any case. I doubt I need your help for now. Don't judge me too harshly. You'll see. What I am doing will build a stronger place for women in Kushtia. The first woman in government. The first with her own Seragla. That will mark a change. You will be part of it, Yankee, part of my Seragla, wearing my properta." She looked across at Suzie who had listened to Alana's rant with a dumbfounded expression. "And you too, my sweet."

It was preposterous, Karen thought. The men would never let it happen. How could Alana let herself believe that they would? In one way she didn't care; any feelings that she had for Alana had been crushed by what she had heard outside the door of Kustanki's room. But, on the other hand there was still the question of how she could help the others and how she would get herself home. She looked at Alana with a defiant glare. "Do you think that you will make things better for women by becoming a man? By having your own Seragla? Your own properta? And even if you do, do you really think they will let you?"

"Of course," said Alana, "they could not have done this without me. They would never have suppressed Kalassa and her group. She would have carried on her irrelevant campaign. Women would have been diverted from their real goal. You can't break the system; you have to make the system work for you. They know that I can solve the problem. There are not many like me. It is easier for the men to let the few like me have their wish. They can seem generous. Other women will see what has been done; they will be content. There is little to threaten the established order. No danger of insurrection or rebellion."

"Is that what you call betrayal; 'making the system work for you'?" Karen's distaste for Alana's behaviour was clear on her face.

"Be careful yankee, you are earning some time in a moaungf. You'll find my Seragla less comfortable than this if you defy me."

Karen turned her back on Alana, took Suzie by the arm and walked away. Behind her, she heard the slam of the outer door of the hall as Alana left. Suzie spoke at last. "Can she do it?" she asked.

Karen shook her head. "It's impossible," she said, "Kustanki wouldn't let it happen and even if he did he'd soon find himself thrown off the governing council. They won't see it as Alana does. To them it's not 'let in a few women, they won't cause much trouble'; to them it's overturning their entire history. That's why they constructed the whole cultural heritage programme. I can't imagine that they are going to turn that upside down for anything. Certainly not because of Kalassa's activities. They are just pinpricks to the likes of Kustanki. He knows he could ride out any criticism with the backing of the UN and the claim that it's part of the 'rich cultural heritage of Kushtia'. But if they start changing things maybe other people will want to see changes. No, they'll be planning to hold the line. Alana won't get her way."

Chapter 17 : Day Twenty - An Evening Meal

Suzie and Karen did not have to wait long to discover whether Karen was right. That evening, when the palace overseer came to select the concubines to entertain that evening, Suzie and Karen were taken out from the Seragla to Kustanki's quarters.

Kustanki was dining with Alana in one of the large salons, Kustanki in traditional Kushtian elders robes, Alana in her western trouser suit. The two of them were sprawled on cushions beside a low table. A procession of doenyes were bringing food on platters to place on the table in front of them. Kustanki beckoned to Suzie and Karen to sit with him; Karen to kneel at one side holding a tray with a wine jug and goblet, Suzie to the other holding a bowl into which Kustanki tossed the chicken bones, fruit skins and stones as he finished with each morsel. Alana was managing to eat her meal without assistance.

"I hope you won't mind our evening being interrupted," Kustanki announced.

Alana looked at him with a mistrustful expression. "Why?" she asked.

"I thought you might like to see my new concubines," he said. A moment later one of the palace guard appeared. Kustanki waved for him to approach and the guard whispered something to Kustanki before he nodded and the guard dashed out. Moments later the guard reappeared with two Kushtian soldiers. Behind them, being dragged by a rope that linked them together by the necks, were five of Kalasa's militia.

They looked in a sorry state. All five wore the same white tee shirts and combat fatigues that Alana had been wearing when Karen first encountered. Now they all showed signs of fighting. All looked bruised and bloodied; all five had rips torn in their clothing; all were bound helplessly; all five were gagged; all five were glowering at Alana. Kustanki smiled. "Welcome, ladies," he said. "I hope you haven't come alone."

The soldiers herded the five militia across to one side of the room and another soldier appeared. This one had Kalassa Karench with him. Her neck and wrists were locked in a heavy wooden yoke. Her mouth filled with a maoungf of a size intended to cause extreme discomfort in addition to its muffling qualities. The soldier pulled her forward by jerking a chain that was linked to the lock of one side of the yoke. Kalassa looked defiant but Karen could see that her contempt for her captors was unlikely to improve her position.

"Hello, Kalassani," Kustanki greeted his captive.

Kalassani", Karen thought, "the bastard!" The Kushtians added "ni" to names when they were talking to children. It was probably the most insulting thing Kustanki could have said to Kalassa. She scowled at Kustanki in response.

"I'm pleased you do not appear to have been hurt. I know that our military can sometimes be a little heavy handed. I'm told by my friend the Interior Minister that you will have to be brought to trial. I had hoped that you would be able to join my Seragla but, I suppose I cannot stand in the way of due process of law. We must, after all, rid our society of those elements that seek to overturn our traditions and our heritage."

Karen looked at Alana, She was smiling triumphantly. Karen couldn't understand why Alana didn't see what Kustanki's words implied for her plans too. Kalassa growled through her gag.

"Your militia will face charges too, of course. But I know that you will be pleased that others will not suffer. Your associate here," Kustanki gestured at Alana, "has behaved in a public spirited manner, bringing the attention of the authorities to your activities. She will form part of the evidence at your trial." Karen thought the use of the word evidence was odd, why not witness. Then she remembered that of course women had no standing in Kushtian courts. They could not speak or be cross examined. Only a written deposition could be admitted. Not, Karen thought, that it would make much difference to the outcome of the case that Kalassa would face. Kalassa tried to lunge forward at Alana. Her guard jerked her to a halt with the chain from her yoke. "No, Kalassani, no," said Kustanki. He turned to the palace guard. "Where are the others?" he asked. The guard disappeared. In a few moments her returned ushering in a large group of young women all wearing manuses around their wrists and ancluses at their ankles.

Karen saw Anouk, Natsumi and Miyako at once. They failed to recognise her behind her veil. There were six others; the five already "liberated" by Kalassa's group from the programme and Lucy Baildon. Karen saw her, standing at the back of the group her mousey hair long and loose, her eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"Now, these young ladies, will not need to come before the court. Foreign nationals, innocent of your corrupting influences, Kalassa. They will rejoin the programme. They should not be prevented from what they came to do. They will have the privilege of joining my Seragla, wearing my properta." The girls looked dismayed. If they had thought that they were being rescued or repatriated they now knew this was not to be. Karench turned to the troops. "You can take Kalassa and what's left of her militia. If you feel the need to amuse yourselves, I am sure the Minister for Internal Security will not mind, providing they are fit to stand trial." The guard grinned as he jerked Kalassa's chain to drag her out.

Kustanki walked across to the six abducted programme members, taking stock of his new acquisitions. Karen watched him assessing each in turn, fondling their breasts, feeling their buttocks and thighs, ignoring their protests and struggles as worked his way around the group. He beckoned to one of the palace guards. "The Seragla," he said. "Have them join the others but keep them chained for now." He returned to his couch and watched as the guards took the dismayed and distressed women away.

Kustanki looked satisfied. Alana did too. "So you have what you wanted," she said.

Kustanki nodded. "I'm pleased," he said. "In the end they were little trouble but your help was useful." He reached out to either side placing one hand on Suzi's thigh, the other on Karen's neck. "And now you want to play with these two. Take them. I have other things to do tonight. I assume you'd like them shackled." Alana looked lustfully at Karen and nodded. Kustanki gestured to Karen and Suzie to turn around, cuffing Karen around the head when she was slow to obey. He secured their wrists in manuses before tossing the keys to Alana. Kustanki got to his feet. "Enjoy them," he said as he left.