Summary

In Chapter 18, “Khawla” (I), Khawla goes to her bedroom in a panic at the prospect of being forced to marry. She thinks of her cousin, Nasir, on whom she had had a crush, and for whom she still feels a sense of love. Before Naisr left al-Awafi to go to university in Canada, he told Khawla that he would return and marry her. However, he has not been in contact with Khawla since then. In Chapter 19, “Abdallah” (IX), Abdallah thinks about the tensions between himself, Mayya, and Salim. Mayya is much more permissive of Salim and his academic failings than Abdallah is. Chapter 20, “Viper,” presents a scene between Zarifa and her son, Sanjar, shortly after the Omani government abolished slavery. Zarifa tells Sanjar that he is indebted to Sulayman because he has housed them and given them some education. Sanjar refuses to accept this...