tall as men outside another. The ceiling was made with dark strips of fabric. The white blades of
light that peierced through the occasional gaps illuminated the swimming dust and shone still and
beautiful on the arches and floor, but darted like sparkles on the heads and down the bodies of
passers-by, making the shadows seem much darker than they were.
Outside, the square was flooded with sunlight. The ground was almost white with brightness, making
the dark shoes and figures crossing it look like things floating above the world. I wished I had
left the sesame sticks with ther. Small nedles were now pricking my arms. I told myself off for
being stubborn and for letting her buy me so many. I looked at them in my arms and felt no appetite
for them.
I leaned against the cool marble pedestal of Septimius Severus. The Roman Emperor stood above me,
his silver-studded belt curving below his belly, pointing his arm towards the sea, 'Urging Libya to
look towards Rome,' was how Ustath Rashid described the pose. Ustath Rashid taught Art History at
el-Fateh University and was my best friend Kareem's father. I remembered our Guide standing in one
of his military uniforms like this, waving his arm as the tanks passed in front of him on Revolution
Day. I turned towards the sea,the shining turquoise sea beyond the square. It seemed like a giant
blue monster rising at the edge of the world. 'Ghrrr,' I growled, then wondered if anyone had heard
me. I kicked my heel against the pedestal several times. I stared at the ground, into the heat and
brightness that made me want to sleep with my eyes open. But then, not looking for but falling
directly on my target, I spotted Baba.(p4)