THE GIRLS OF PAPER by Rahman, brigitte arlette

from Anataalie's Psychic Duels Book

Anataalie reached Joseph's house, the door was unlocked and there he was, as she had dreamt she would find him. An old emaciated man, with a fierce look in his eyes. As she came near to him, he had a hard look on his face, and cruelly planted his gaze in her eyes. She did not budge or said a word, and slowly she saw the hard stare melt into the gaze of an old man near to death. He asked her in French: "you are French! "

"Yes. My mane is Anataalie ,Joseph."
He asked quickly:
"What is it that you want? I have nothing left to give, to share."

Anataalie did not reply. She stood there, and went to take some water from the backside of the house and warmed it on the stove. She poured the warm water and gave it to drink to Joseph. There was nothing else to put in the water, she knew. There was but one white metal timbale and the old man drank slowly.

"Thank you.", Joseph said in a very low voice.

Anataalie slowly came closer and said:
"Joseph, please do not fear me. The Star of David is but a star to me, among stars, in the sky. None can take it down. I know Joseph. Please do not fear me."

As she said the words, she came close to the side table, the old man muscles hardened, and he looked, as if he were ready to hit Anataalie.

The atmosphere in the house became very tense, as it never had been before. Anataalie continued to come closer to the small table, slowly she put her hand forward, the old man's eyes became cruel.

He hated her, he said:
"No"

Anataalie replied:
"Yes, it is time Joseph. I must"

And she continued advancing her hand towards the small table, and her fingers gently took the old photograph. The old man took Anataalie's wrist and cruelly pushed his hard nails until blood ran from the white skin of Anataalie onto the photo.

Blood dripped in tiny tears over the photo and Joseph collapsed in his armchair, sobbing uncontrollably.

Anataali took the photo and said gently:
"It is alright Joseph. Please. Be gentle for them."

Anataali had tears in her eyes and the old man was fascinated. He looked at her taking his despair of decades between her soft white hands.

The Madness of the Sufi Poet-

Excerpts from Anataalie's Psychic Duels Book

Al Wahab stood in the middle of the podium and started reciting his poetry.

It was magical, from the prison rhymes he had written when he had been captured and jailed for his beliefs to the softer poems of love, the flow went uninterrupted. Everyone was under his spell…. None spoke; his fiery stare and gentle voice hypnotized everyone….

"The white dove in my heart refuses to eat
I tried to feed her sweet words and serenades
But she will not eat. The wailing of her anguish
Maddens my days and nights"

He recited, his eyes closed. Oblivious of his surroundings

Some strange noise came from the background, like a sob. None really looked as everyone was enthralled by the poetry.

Soon everything was over, and the Egyptian orchestra proceeded to play dynamic music and Mona Ayyed, the most famous belly dancer of Egypt, was dancing on a mesmerizing music, she was quite a sight too, and everyone was too hypnotized by her dance…. It was so vibrant, so oriental…The soiree was another success. Mrs.Blanchet and her son in law were engaging the guests into conversations, gleaming with pride.

Everyone was there, except Abdul-Wahab and Anataalie who were in the green house

Anastaalie was sitting near an orchid, crying gently. She heard some footsteps coming closer as she looked up, Abdul-Wahab said:

"I am so sorry Anataalie, I should not have recited those verses."

She said:

"Yes, you should not have, those were the verses you last wrote to me. "

He said:

"Yes, I could not help it. :"

She said:

" Have you got your reply?"

He said:

" I look for no reply, I am a Sufi I have no expectations."

She asked:

"Has she died?"

The poet replied:

" She is dying, yes, she tries to do so but she cannot die and you know why?"

He said: "

"Please let her die, I am a prisoner of your heart, free me…You have captured my soul and as long as the white dove is alive, I am tortured. Let go of me, Anataalie.All my life is in vain, cannot you understand?"

She said :

"No."