Young Woman
Do you love her?
The native woman speaks in a low half-whisper that nevertheless shook him out of his stupor. It takes a few moments for the question to sink in.
Gil hesitates. He can hear Kiddu snoring loudly on the other side of the wall. He gingerly sits up in his bed.
Gil
Yeah … I mean, I guess I do. Like a sister.
Young Woman
You are a bad liar.
Gil
What are you talking about?
Young Woman
I have listened to you talking. It is quite obvious. Though I do not believe she feels the same about you.
He tries to ignore her, but what she said stings him. He lies back down. He is glad that she’s talking, but he certainly doesn’t want to talk about this.
What would she know, anyway?
Young Woman
I was in love once.
Gil
Really? What happened?
Young Woman
He was killed by Akkadian soldiers.
Young Woman
And the men who killed him took me and they—had their way with me.
Gil sits up in his bed again. He suddenly feels very stupid and childish.
Young Woman
And now I am here.
He has no response. The torchlight flickers, counting out the seconds of awkward silence.
Gil
Why are you telling me this?
Young Woman
Because … I do not want to hate you, Gil. It is difficult for me, after what happened. It is tempting and easy to simply hate all Akkadians. But I do not want to. I am tired of hating. It is tearing my soul apart.
Young Woman
And also to warn you. Do not let yourself fall in love. You walk a tightrope between sin on the one side and unimaginable grief and hatred on the other. It is better to not love at all, and simply obey the will of Asham.
Gil clears his throat. He realizes his eyes are watery. He wipes them on his dusty sleeve.
Gil
I don’t think I really have a choice about how I feel…
Young Woman
Perhaps not.
Gil
I meant what I said earlier, you know. About not being one of them—
Gil smiles, relieved.
Young Woman
But you are still an unbeliever.
Gil
Psh. I know you are, but what am I?
Gil
I know you are, but—heh, sorry, it’s something me and Kiddu say, when we’re making fun of each other. I didn’t mean anything by it, I just sort of blurted it out.
Gil struggles for something to fill the near silence, punctuated by Kiddu’s tremendous snores. He feels thankful and even a little guilty towards this woman for opening up to him. He wonders if she has ever told anyone what she told him. Or if she’s even had the chance.
Gil
So … what are you reading?
Young Woman
An Akkadian book. They gave it to me several weeks ago. I have already finished it, if you would like to read it.
She hooks her arm out through the gate and around the cell wall, book in hand. Gil reaches out and takes the leatherbound tome, careful not to touch her fingers. It’s dusty green with a scarlet ziggurat-and-eye Akkadian emblem on it.
Young Woman
I offered it to Kiddu earlier, but she said it would only put her to sleep.
Gil flips through the book. He is pretty sure the Temple had a copy in its small library, though he never read it.
She doesn’t answer.
He shuffles around on his mattress, searching for something to say, anything to continue the conversation. Small talk has never appealed to him and he can tell it doesn’t appeal to her either.
Finally, he decides on a suitable subject of conversation.
Gil
Do you want to hear about my dreams?
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