The migrant and the smuggler lay in the shade of the broken down car<\/p>\n
They were waiting for the day to cool<\/p>\n
How long do think our water will last? <\/i><\/p>\n
Probably about three days if we are not greedy <\/i><\/p>\n
Has this ever happened to you before? <\/i><\/p>\n
Yes it has happened many times but normally I am nearer the large towns <\/i><\/p>\n
Do you know what is wrong with the car?<\/i><\/p>\n
If I did we would not be sitting here would we?<\/i><\/p>\n
I think it has overheated<\/em><\/p>\n The smuggler looked at the vast desert that surrounded them<\/p>\n The Murzq Desert is an unforgiving place my friend you must treat it with respect <\/i><\/p>\n All deserts need to treated with respect otherwise they will kill you<\/i><\/p>\n We are lucky as the terrain here is quite flat <\/i><\/p>\n A Cormorant flew past<\/p>\n And then an Albatross<\/p>\n Followed by a Hummingbird<\/p>\n Both men followed the flight of the birds until they vanished from view<\/p>\n Why are you seeking a new life in Europe?<\/i><\/p>\n Because my country is poor So is mine but I stay <\/i><\/p>\n You are rich man <\/i><\/p>\n If I were a rich man I would not be talking to you <\/i><\/p>\n The whole thing is run by the gangs<\/i><\/p>\n I only do this as a small enterprise <\/i><\/p>\n If I was found out I would most probably be harmed <\/i><\/p>\n Would you consider migrating to Europe? <\/i><\/p>\n Maybe but not now <\/i><\/p>\n Have you any skills?<\/i><\/p>\n Yes I am a trained teacher <\/i><\/p>\n Fuck man then what are you doing out here? <\/i><\/p>\n There are no teaching posts for me <\/i><\/p>\n Why?<\/i><\/p>\n Because more than anything I would teach my pupils to think <\/i><\/p>\n Explain that to me <\/i><\/p>\n Before I taught my pupils anything technical <\/i><\/p>\n Maths English History <\/i><\/p>\n I would teach them to think <\/i><\/p>\n You can only understand things if your thinking is correct <\/i><\/p>\n You have lost me man<\/i><\/p>\n Did you have an education?<\/i><\/p>\n No<\/i><\/p>\n Can you read or write?<\/i><\/p>\n I struggle with both\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n You will need to read and write if you are to be successful in Europe <\/i><\/p>\n I agree <\/i><\/p>\n The Europeans will help me <\/i><\/p>\n You speak good English <\/i><\/p>\n I was taught English by the nuns in my village <\/i><\/p>\n They were good people <\/i><\/p>\n Then why are you here with me? <\/i><\/p>\n Because the rebels drove them out <\/i><\/p>\n They threatened to kill them <\/i><\/p>\n I am a Catholic <\/i><\/p>\n They requested that I follow the faith <\/i><\/p>\n I too am a Catholic <\/i><\/p>\n It is a wonderful religion <\/i><\/p>\n In the distance a woman walked towards them she was wearing a ball gown<\/p>\n Why is she walking towards us?<\/i><\/p>\n The woman stopped and pulled at the strap of her gown<\/p>\n What is she doing? <\/i><\/p>\n She will expose her breasts to us and then she will simply vanish <\/i><\/p>\n The woman exposed her breasts to the men and then vanished<\/p>\n Who was she? <\/i><\/p>\n She is a Desert Nymph? <\/i><\/p>\n A Desert Nymph?<\/i><\/p>\n A whore long dead <\/i><\/p>\n In times past the soldiers used to drive from the towns into the desert with numbers of whores <\/i><\/p>\n They would consume alcohol and fuck the whores <\/i><\/p>\n Sometimes the whores died <\/i><\/p>\n Died? <\/i><\/p>\n They were murdered my friend <\/i><\/p>\n Why?<\/i><\/p>\n Because they were expendable <\/i><\/p>\n They were only whores <\/i><\/p>\n You only see their ghosts now <\/i><\/p>\n They try to seduce you with their exhibition but fail <\/i><\/p>\n That is why they fade <\/i><\/p>\n I do not have a woman <\/i><\/p>\n I am hoping to find one in Europe <\/i><\/p>\n I am very fit <\/i><\/p>\n Women like me <\/i><\/p>\n They say I fuck well <\/i><\/p>\n XYANDZED<\/b><\/p>\n I am in love with Juliette Binoche <\/i><\/p>\n I have seen all her films <\/i><\/p>\n I want to lay with Juliette Binoche in my arms <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler closed his eyes and watched the actress move about her room<\/p>\n A fan tumbled in the corner and the actress walked towards it<\/p>\n She lifted her arms exposing her dark underarm hair<\/p>\n Thomas you must ventilate this room more I am beginning to stink <\/i><\/p>\n But you own my dreams <\/i><\/p>\n Civilised people do not smell<\/i><\/p>\n How many times do I have to tell you that?<\/em><\/p>\n Near where the migrant had seen the whore a camel train was passing<\/p>\n The migrant shook the shoulder of the sleeping smuggler<\/p>\n Perhaps these men can help us <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler opened his weary eyes<\/p>\n They are just ghosts like the whore <\/i><\/p>\n The desert is full of ghosts <\/i><\/p>\n We might be ghosts soon for all I know <\/i><\/p>\n Do you think we will die? <\/i><\/p>\n No we will be discovered <\/i><\/p>\n This is a well-known route <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler closed his eyes again but the actress was no longer in the room<\/p>\n She has left me <\/i><\/p>\n Who has left you? <\/i><\/p>\n The fire with the green face<\/i><\/p>\n I do not understand you <\/i><\/p>\n There is little to understand <\/i><\/p>\n The migrant rose to his feet and walked into the afternoon sun<\/p>\n How far is it to walk?<\/i><\/p>\n About forty kilometres<\/i><\/p>\n Then I will walk it is better than rotting here<\/i><\/p>\n You will not make it <\/i><\/p>\n I will walk at night <\/i><\/p>\n You will die <\/i><\/p>\n The stars will guide me <\/i><\/p>\n The stars lie <\/i><\/p>\n You will become lost and disorientated and the morning will herald you last day <\/i><\/p>\n How do you know?<\/i><\/p>\n Because others have tried it <\/i><\/p>\n You will find their bones\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n That is unless the desert has swallowed them up <\/i><\/p>\n The desert gives <\/i><\/p>\n The desert takes <\/i><\/p>\n The desert is a whore and a virgin at the same time <\/i><\/p>\n She promises much but delivers little <\/i><\/p>\n The migrant returned to the shade of the car<\/p>\n As I noted we will await the cooling of the day then I will examine my car <\/i><\/p>\n If it is dead then we will await the next smuggler or the next <\/i><\/p>\n About two a week pass this spot <\/i><\/p>\n I often meet them <\/i><\/p>\n Are these the gangs you mention? Sometimes <\/i><\/p>\n Do they threaten you with violence?<\/i><\/p>\n No they just rob me if I am unlucky <\/i><\/p>\n So you lose your money but not your life <\/i><\/p>\n They are stupid I keep a great deal of my money hidden in the fabric of the car<\/i><\/p>\n Is there money hidden in your car now <\/i><\/p>\n Yes <\/i><\/p>\n Then I might kill you<\/i><\/p>\n Perhaps but you would not survive<\/i><\/p>\n You are stranger and have darker skin than me <\/i><\/p>\n You would be killed because you are a stranger <\/i><\/p>\n Then why do they not kill you?<\/i><\/p>\n Because I am a known face <\/i><\/p>\n Why would they kill me if they can rob me again sometime in the future?<\/i><\/p>\n It is a matter of economics nothing else <\/i><\/p>\n They know I hide money <\/i><\/p>\n Everybody hides money <\/i><\/p>\n It might be in the car or I might have buried it nearby when I saw them approach <\/i><\/p>\n They just steal what is easily available<\/i><\/p>\n I also have a gun and they know that<\/em><\/p>\n Everybody is armed in the desert <\/em><\/p>\n Only the stupid people do not carry guns<\/em><\/p>\n With you my friend they would just kill you and rob you afterwards <\/i><\/p>\n You are like the whores expendable <\/i><\/p>\n So you are saying that I run the risk of being killed <\/i><\/p>\n Yes and no <\/i><\/p>\n If you keep your mouth shut and act like a dumb boy then you will stand a chance if we are stopped You are just a package that I am delivering\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Just keep your mouth shut and smile<\/em><\/p>\n I am not a boy that is a white man\u2019s word <\/i><\/p>\n Even the nuns used to insult us if we upset them <\/i><\/p>\n All the whites are the same <\/i><\/p>\n There are good whites and there are bad whites as there are good blacks and bad blacks <\/i><\/p>\n But some people would shoot you without a thought no matter their colour When I am in the cities I often run into aid workers from many of the European countries they are good people who come to our troubled lands to help <\/i><\/p>\n They run an enormous risk <\/i><\/p>\n I respect these people greatly <\/i><\/p>\n They often work with black people<\/em><\/p>\n Who equally run an enormous risk <\/i><\/p>\n I also respect these people greatly <\/i><\/p>\n A small robin settled on the bonnet of the car<\/p>\n The smuggler stroked the creatures red breast<\/p>\n Do you know that these small creatures are far more territorial than you and I? <\/i><\/p>\n If another Robin landed on the car then it would be a battle to the death<\/i><\/p>\n Only one would survive<\/em><\/p>\n XYANDZED<\/b><\/p>\n By all rights I should kill you<\/i><\/p>\n The migrant gave the smuggler a startled look<\/p>\n I have your money <\/i><\/p>\n But I will not as I am an educated man <\/i><\/p>\n I am not a brute <\/i><\/p>\n Many of the smugglers bring people like you into the desert and either shoot them or just abandon them <\/i><\/p>\n I often see rotting corpses surrounded vultures and other vermin <\/i><\/p>\n I can see you are a kind man <\/i><\/p>\n I am a pragmatic man nothing else <\/i><\/p>\n If I was able to teach I would teach\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n If I was able to travel to Europe and live with Juliette Binoche then I would <\/i><\/p>\n But I only meet her in my dreams <\/i><\/p>\n The sun was getting lower and the vast sky was beginning to show its age<\/p>\n In an hour it will be dark <\/i><\/p>\n Let us look at the car together <\/i><\/p>\n Do you have a knowledge of mechanics?<\/i><\/p>\n I used to mend lawnmowers at the convent <\/i><\/p>\n That might be of use <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler lifted the bonnet of the car<\/p>\n It is still hot hand me that rag <\/i><\/p>\n The migrant handed the smuggler a rag which was in fact was the remains of a blue Nike tee shirt<\/p>\n He glanced at the logo<\/p>\n Yes that man did not make it <\/i><\/p>\n He upset someone in the port town who just shot him in the face <\/i><\/p>\n And I stole his tee shirt <\/i><\/p>\n I used to like Nike tee shirts <\/i><\/p>\n That was many years ago and I now use it as a rag <\/i><\/p>\n It never fitted me <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler fiddled with the engine frequently asking the migrant to turn the ignition key<\/p>\n After a number of abortive attempts the engine suddenly spluttered to life<\/p>\n Good as I thought the engine had just become too hot <\/i><\/p>\n The migrant climbed into the front seat<\/p>\n I am going to turn the engine over a few times and then we will go <\/i><\/p>\n We will be at our destination in about three hours and then I will leave you there <\/i><\/p>\n My trusted friend will arrange your passage <\/i><\/p>\n Is he to be trusted?<\/i><\/p>\n He is my brother and also a sailor <\/i><\/p>\n If you are lucky he might smuggle you on board his ship <\/i><\/p>\n If not you will have to take your chances on a smaller boat<\/i><\/p>\n Mark my words my friend you will long for the desert if you travel in a smaller boat<\/i><\/p>\n They are not safe <\/i><\/p>\n I will take my chances <\/i><\/p>\n To do what? <\/i><\/p>\n To arrive in Europe <\/i><\/p>\n And then? <\/i><\/p>\n I will become a rap artist <\/i><\/p>\n A rap artist <\/i><\/p>\n Have you any talent?<\/i><\/p>\n I have the anger man that is all you need<\/i><\/p>\n You are delusional <\/i><\/p>\n Not even talent gets you by <\/i><\/p>\n It is who you know <\/i><\/p>\n There are plenty of talented rappers in ports on both sides of the Mediterranean <\/i><\/p>\n They are angry like you <\/i><\/p>\n They want to fuck the white man\u2019s country <\/i><\/p>\n But they are mistaken <\/i><\/p>\n If by any remote chance they are successful then they will live the white man\u2019s life <\/i><\/p>\n The whole world wants to live like the white man and fuck his blond sisters \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Why do you think people like me exist?<\/i><\/p>\n I am a parasite living off of your dreams <\/i><\/p>\n They destroyed my country <\/i><\/p>\n They bled it dry <\/i><\/p>\n Where are you from?<\/i><\/p>\n My family originated in the Belgium Congo <\/i><\/p>\n They told me stories of the white mans greed and cruelty <\/i><\/p>\n All its resources ended up in the pockets of the white man and I just want to fuck them all in revenge\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n That\u2019s is empty my friend <\/i><\/p>\n The black man has fucked you as much as the white man <\/i><\/p>\n My father told me stories of the atrocities that Belgium committed in the time of my ancestors <\/i><\/p>\n And these stories are true <\/i><\/p>\n Then why do you support the white man?<\/i><\/p>\n I do not support the white man <\/i><\/p>\n How old are you? <\/i><\/p>\n I am twenty-seven <\/i><\/p>\n What do you remember of your home? <\/i><\/p>\n Very little as we have lived in Ghana for most of my life <\/i><\/p>\n My father worked there in the export trade <\/i><\/p>\n All you remember is post-independence in your home country<\/i><\/p>\n My country is dead the white man killed it <\/i><\/p>\n I agree with you to a point but what really killed your country was your independence<\/i><\/p>\n You gained it too soon<\/em><\/p>\n That is shit man<\/i><\/p>\n No <\/i><\/p>\n The white man came and used my country <\/i><\/p>\n In the beginning yes but do you realise that when independence was gained your country had hospitals and schools and railways<\/i><\/p>\n Good roads were normal<\/em><\/p>\n Ships sailed on your mighty river<\/em><\/p>\n It was quite European <\/i><\/p>\n It was to serve European needs <\/i><\/p>\n No it was serve everybody\u2019s needs <\/i><\/p>\n That was not what my father told me and his father too <\/i><\/p>\n Since your country gained its independence a lot of the European infrastructure has vanished\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n Enough of this discussion my car is ready <\/i><\/p>\n It is cool enough to drive <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler and migrant had been driving for about an hour<\/p>\n It was dark with only the headlights of the car breaking the darkness<\/p>\n The smuggler stopped the car<\/p>\n See in the distance there are the lights of the port town <\/i><\/p>\n Do you really want me to take you there? <\/i><\/p>\n That is what I paid you for<\/i><\/p>\n You might drown if my brother cannot smuggle you onto his ship <\/i><\/p>\n I will take that chance <\/i><\/p>\n Why do you not stay in Africa?<\/i><\/p>\n I want to make my mark <\/i><\/p>\n You have as much chance of becoming a rap artist as I have of becoming the Pope <\/i><\/p>\n It better than no chance at all <\/i><\/p>\n Your choice <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler started his car again and the men drove in silence until they were in the port town<\/p>\n I will accompany you to that ship <\/i><\/p>\n We will meet my brother and after that you are on your own my friend <\/i><\/p>\n Take care I hope that God smiles on you <\/i><\/p>\n But do not forget Africa <\/i><\/p>\n XYANDZED<\/b><\/p>\n The following day as the smuggler was driving back towards his home<\/p>\n He had rested in the port town<\/p>\n As he was driving past the shell of an abandoned car a man jumped out<\/p>\n The smuggler braked hard<\/p>\n I could have killed you <\/i><\/p>\n Who are you?<\/i><\/p>\n Are you going to rob me? <\/i><\/p>\n I am armed<\/i><\/p>\n The stranger was wearing a crumpled white suit<\/p>\n Of course I am not going to rob you <\/i><\/p>\n I just wanted to know if there is a better place to paint than this <\/i><\/p>\n The landscape is amazing <\/i><\/p>\n Are you an artist? <\/i><\/p>\n Where is your equipment?<\/i><\/p>\n In the abondoned car<\/i><\/p>\n My paints were melting <\/i><\/p>\n How did you get here? <\/i><\/p>\n I was driven here by one of your countrymen <\/i><\/p>\n Do you plan to paint out here? <\/i><\/p>\n That is the general idea <\/i><\/p>\n You will die of thirst <\/i><\/p>\n You are crazy <\/i><\/p>\n No my driver will fetch me this evening <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler looked at the artist<\/p>\n Are you an American? <\/i><\/p>\n Yes I am from America <\/i><\/p>\n Do you have a name?<\/i><\/p>\n I am called Thomas <\/i><\/p>\n A fine name <\/i><\/p>\n My name is Mark and some people think of me as an artist <\/i><\/p>\n Well Mark unless you want to cook<\/i><\/p>\n I would only paint during the early hours of the morning and during the cooler short evening period of the day Otherwise you will become crazy<\/em><\/p>\n Will you stay with me until my driver returns?<\/i><\/p>\n He will not return <\/i><\/p>\n He gave me his word <\/i><\/p>\n His words are empty <\/i><\/p>\n Oh dear then may I have to pay you to drive me back to the port town?<\/i><\/p>\n I am heading in the opposite direction <\/i><\/p>\n I am a rich man <\/i><\/p>\n Do not tell anyone that you are a rich man <\/i><\/p>\n In this part of the world that is suicide <\/i><\/p>\n I will stay with you and when the day is cooler then I will drive you back to the port town <\/i><\/p>\n How much will you need?<\/i><\/p>\n Just enough to cover the gas<\/i><\/p>\n Will a hundred dollars cover your expenses?<\/em><\/p>\n It will do<\/em><\/p>\n I think I have been too trusting<\/i><\/p>\n XYANDZED<\/b><\/p>\n The artist and the smuggler lay in the shade of the car<\/p>\n They were waiting for the day to cool<\/p>\n Do you know Juliette Binoche? <\/i><\/p>\n I have always wanted to meet her <\/i><\/p>\n As it happens I do know the actress <\/i><\/p>\n She has one of my paintings hanging on her wall <\/i><\/p>\n The smuggler closed his eyes<\/p>\n May I see his painting?<\/i><\/p>\n It is on the wall facing you <\/i><\/p>\n The colours almost float it is as if it was painted in the desert <\/i><\/p>\n It was <\/i><\/p>\n All these paintings were completed whilst Mark was in Libya a number of years ago \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Now Thomas stop wandering about <\/i><\/p>\n Come back to bed I am so exhausted \u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The migrant and the smuggler lay in the shade of the broken down car They were waiting for the day to cool How long do think our water will last? Probably about three days if we are not greedy Has this ever happened to you before? Yes it has happened many times but normally I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2524"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2524\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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