fascism
by Mahmoud Al-Bayaty
Under the palm tree, in the public garden, sat a handsome young man with his head lowered. Around his neck, hanged a cardboard sign which displayed clearly in big letters the statement: I AM FREE. No one paid attention to him except a young child passing by along with his mother. The child slowed down to read the sign. I…I….I...A...Am. His mother reprehended him "move, what's wrong with you".
She eyed her son before diverting her attention to where he was looking. She stopped walking. A fat man also passing by stopped, read the sign then said sarcastically "Free? How?". The presence of the fat man encouraged the mother to approach the seated young man. The number of spectators began to increase, their curiosity egging them on.
The child inquired in a loud voice:
- Is he poor? What's written on the sign?
His mother answered in a low voice:
- (I am free), it means….he is free….come on lets move on.
The child wanted to ask another question however he noticed an armored vehicle parking near the pavement. Three policemen descended and made their way through the crowd, pushing and shoving aside anyone who obstructed their path.
- What is this?
- A lunatic.
The fat man answered the policeman and laughed at his reply. No one else laughed. The child's mother commented:
- Perhaps he is mute, or drunk…..drunk at this time of the morning!
With swift, harsh movements, the police carried the young man along with his cardboard sign. They shoved him into their vehicle and departed from the scene. The child followed the vehicle with an astounded look as it disappeared amongst other vehicles on the street. He asked his mother: "Why? What did he do? Where are they taking him?"
by Mahmoud Al-Bayaty
Under the palm tree, in the public garden, sat a handsome young man with his head lowered. Around his neck, hanged a cardboard sign which displayed clearly in big letters the statement: I AM FREE. No one paid attention to him except a young child passing by along with his mother. The child slowed down to read the sign. I…I….I...A...Am. His mother reprehended him "move, what's wrong with you".
She eyed her son before diverting her attention to where he was looking. She stopped walking. A fat man also passing by stopped, read the sign then said sarcastically "Free? How?". The presence of the fat man encouraged the mother to approach the seated young man. The number of spectators began to increase, their curiosity egging them on.
The child inquired in a loud voice:
- Is he poor? What's written on the sign?
His mother answered in a low voice:
- (I am free), it means….he is free….come on lets move on.
The child wanted to ask another question however he noticed an armored vehicle parking near the pavement. Three policemen descended and made their way through the crowd, pushing and shoving aside anyone who obstructed their path.
- What is this?
- A lunatic.
The fat man answered the policeman and laughed at his reply. No one else laughed. The child's mother commented:
- Perhaps he is mute, or drunk…..drunk at this time of the morning!
With swift, harsh movements, the police carried the young man along with his cardboard sign. They shoved him into their vehicle and departed from the scene. The child followed the vehicle with an astounded look as it disappeared amongst other vehicles on the street. He asked his mother: "Why? What did he do? Where are they taking him?"
***
In the middle of a cold room, the young man stood opposite a short man seated on a chair designated for those carrying out interrogations.
- Tell me brother, what do you mean by: I am free? Explain.
The young man did not answer, he was still distracted. From the next room, a very tall man entered and stood beside the seated short interrogator. He said:
- Look, we are all free……even my rear is free.
They exploded in laughter. However, after a while the short man's face clouded with impatience
- What do you mean 'I am free'?
The tall man repeated the question also then he looked at the short man who was getting up in anger. The tall man said:
- Don't bother. I bet he's a member of an opposing organization. Leave me with him for few minutes and then you'll see.
Shorty exited the room and he heard his tall assistant say from behind the door:
- Kindly remove your trousers.
The young man did not move. The tall man came closer and began to strip him of his clothes; however, the cardboard sign stayed hanging from the young man's neck.
He looked into the youth's eyes and then he lowered his gaze before embracing him with his soft hands. He started to rub, kiss and lick with his sticky tongue all the while panting deliriously.
Shorty opened the door and coughed politely. The tall man got up and left the room, his face ruddy with embarrassment. Shorty moved quickly towards the young man, hugged him from behind and pressed himself against his behind. His hot breath fell upon the young man in cascades. The youth took off the sign from around his neck and hanged it on the arm of the interrogation chair. He went down on his hands and knees and began to circle the room, whilst bleating in a loud voice like a distressed lamb about to be slaughtered: baa, baaa, baaaa.
***
As soon as the child was home, he told his father what he saw in town:
- The police took away this drunkard in their car.
Then turning to his mother:
- What was written on the cardboard sign?
- I told you a thousand times. 'I am free'. Don't ask what that means. Don't concern yourself with such matters. You are young.
His father put his newspaper aside and said:
- Freedom means….(then after a long pause) you'll understand what it means when you're older. Go now and play in the garden with your sister.
The young child was still not satisfied:
- At least tell me if it's a dirty word or not?
- Of course not. Go on then. Go to the garden.
The child went away but did not get far before returning with another question.
(Prague 1986)
Translated by Dr. Hassan Razak
- The police took away this drunkard in their car.
Then turning to his mother:
- What was written on the cardboard sign?
- I told you a thousand times. 'I am free'. Don't ask what that means. Don't concern yourself with such matters. You are young.
His father put his newspaper aside and said:
- Freedom means….(then after a long pause) you'll understand what it means when you're older. Go now and play in the garden with your sister.
The young child was still not satisfied:
- At least tell me if it's a dirty word or not?
- Of course not. Go on then. Go to the garden.
The child went away but did not get far before returning with another question.
(Prague 1986)
Translated by Dr. Hassan Razak
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