Translating Nouzha Fassi Fihri's La Baroudeuse: A Case Study in ...

wondering eyes of a dada who was barely able to believe she was seeing such a
pile of diverse treasures.
Incredible objects appeared among the silver coins: jewels, precious
stones, metal ore, gold pieces, ancient bronze coins, bills that had been out of
circulation for ages, foreign currency dating from the previous century. Some
bank notes were nearly new and others seemed to have gone through the hands of
all the needy people of the city before getting to the tired and pessimistic mother
who was using the last of her eyesight in the light of dusk doing poorly paid
needlework. Thus she offered her country the proceeds of the infinite stitches she
had made on uncountable slippers and belts during still evenings after days of
labor.
In the pile were stones some pious people had brought back from the
sacred Ouhoud Mountain during their only, memorable pilgrimage to the holy
places. There were other fetishes among the gifts. What fantastic powers had the
givers perceived in them? What happiness had they seen reflected there? What
evil spirits had they kept away? What good luck had these objects brought,
wherever they had been? What had people expected these ridiculous good luck
charms to do that they were not able to do for themselves?
Giving the excuse that they needed to rest their sore feet from so much
walking, the negafats stayed a long time in the kitchen that was warmed by
several braziers of coals crackling under large copper kettles. They told their
exploits and all the tricks they had to use to extract the savings of the miserly.
They salted and spiced their stories, adding color and making their tales slightly
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