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

in steams. Singers of the holy verses will only stop to make way for the next relay
of singers. To smooth the way for you to meet with the angels of judgment, all the
beggars in Fez will eat their fill the first three days of the funeral. I will hire a
public crier to let everyone know that the prodigal son returned to die in his
birthplace. I will make sure that the community pays its respects to you, that the
whole city blesses your body. You will leave with honor, as you lived."
Before moving away, she looked at him one last time, and, her heart torn,
in spite of her efforts to maintain dignity, she pronounced the ritual words
choking on her own tears, "You and I are under the protection of the Prophet
Mohammed."
Then began a headlong race against the clock, which left no time for
emotions. A good Muslim had to be buried as soon as possible. Family members
came from Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech, and each person felt
obliged to give a spectacular demonstration of grief. From the North, only his two
sons came: they were the only ones, besides their dead father, who had passports.
Tetuan was under Spanish rule, and even nationals needed passports and visas to
enter or leave. Even so, they came too late for the burial which took place after
the afternoon prayer.
The boys did not get to Fez until after dark. They had had to go through
endless checkpoints and various harassments going from one zone to another in
their own country. The officials were afraid of contraband--there were a thousand
ways to get around the vigilance of the customs officers--and of the distribution of
pamphlets, underground newspapers, and weapons.
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