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Night Eighteen

Hamza's Song

Nobody knew that Hamza ibn Saïd could sing. He had never said so. That evening, in the great hall of Tafat's house, something changed.

Hamza stood up. He went to the center of the room. He closed his eyes. And he sang. What he sang, Youssef recognized immediately — it was a melody from the manuscript. But Hamza sang it with the words of Andalusia — Arabic words, images of gardens and water and light on the white walls of Granada.

— How did you know that melody? — I did not know it, said Hamza. I heard it tonight for the first time. But I understood what it wanted to say. And I had the words.

✦ Night Nineteen awaits you — The Cedar Road ✦