Improvisations 1 for Hager Fikir 3/7/’97
in Eritreia/Tigray.
She comes in. Something terrible has happened. She is like dizzy. He
makes a small joke, she does not react. She tries to wash her hands all
the time. He tries to go to her but she evades him. She has tears. Asks
mechanically what he wants to eat tonight. After he answers, she asks again.
in Eritreia/Tigray:
It is too late. They have to leave immediately, they have waited too
long. They are looking in the house, in panic. What to take? Where are
the ID cards? Where are the children? One of the children is missing. Is
it with an aunt? Can we reach them?
Let’s forget it. We can’t go.
But we must. It is too late.
What will happen to the house?
How can we pack all the clothes?
Where are the photographs?
It is too late.
We must go. Now.
On the road.
She cannot go on. She sits. He wants her to get on her feet again.
He pulls her, beats her. She gets up. He takes her suitcase. He cannot
carry it. What is in it? He must leave it. She sits down with it. He pulls
her, they must go on. What is in the suitcase? She falls. Is he leaving
her?
On the road.
One lays aside, dying, with luggage. They pass, search the luggage
for food. Take some. The dying person asks for water. They have none. They
go on.
In the shelter
They are put in a tent. After some time, more people are put in the
same time, they move. After some time, again, and again.
In the shelter.
They get food. The day passes by. They wash, they get food.
In the shelter.
Farinji (foreigners) come to help. They give only to the weakest. After
some time everybody is the weakest.
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