Okay – so instead of offering constant apologies I’m going
to abandon all schedules. My aim will be to do two posts a week, but no
promises as to when they arrive. Surprises for all! I suggest taking advantage
of the rss feed for now…
Last time we saw Krista she had just been pushed down the
stairs by an unknown assailant. She wakes up surrounded by all of the tour
group, including an especially shaken Ryan (he calls her ‘darling’). Luckily
she’s unhurt, except for a twisted ankle. As is often the case with near-death
experiences and injuries in romance novels, the incident brings Krista and Ryan
closer together: he carries her all the way to the bus.
Another reference to marriage rituals and customs is made as
they all drive to Marrakesh. Halfway there Hamid points out Imichil where the “Moroccan
marriage market” is held. Eve is disdainful and wonders that “selling women
like slaves” still goes on, but Hamid is not happy at the suggestion that it’s
slavery. He argues that “slavery has nothing to do with it […] Imichil is a
tribal area where our people merely cling to their ancient customs” (83). And
then the men make a series of jokes about their own wives: basically, ‘take my
wife, please’.
When they finally reach Marrakesh, Ryan makes Krista take a
bath for her sore muscles. Sexy! The next morning they’re actually getting
along for once and banter over their croissants.
It’s funny, because usually these ‘tourist’ setting novels
are not actually about tourists. Often the hero and heroine are in the country
because one of them lives there or works there or some other reason. But in
this novel, Krista and Ryan actually are tourists (despite their ostensible ‘zoo’
job rationale). So the next place they go is the souk in Marrakesh, a hotspot
of Moroccan tourism. They see a snake charmer and make jokes about belly
dancers.
And then they actually do go to the zoo, the Toubkal Zoo and
Botanical Gardens, which sadly are not that impressive. The zoo does have some camels. And a few lions
and leopards in small, but clean cages. And some pedigree dogs, including cocker spaniels and German shepherds! Yes, dogs.
This is suspicious. Why is Hamid taking them to a
boring zoo? Is he just a terrible guide or is there something else going on? He
leaves Ryan and Krista to look around the zoo while he conducts some ‘business’.
In any case, after a quick tour, Krista wanders off by
herself (she has a habit of doing this). She doesn’t like to see Eve and Ryan
interacting, but won’t admit it. Hamid catches her alone and asks her another
favour. He wants her to look up a friend of his when she’s in Switzerland
(their next destination). Apparently this friend is studying biology in
Heidelberg, but will be on vacation in Switzerland. He will be hanging out at the zoo there and Krista could just meet him easily. Hamid suggests she show the
friend the little book in Arabic that he gave her and he could translate the
supposed proverbs that it contains.
So suspicious! And it’s not even a very good cover? That’s
not really the kind of favour you ask of someone. Please, meet my friend who hangs out in zoos. Why?
And then Hamid warns Krista that she and Ryan might want to
cut their trip in Morocco short, because she is in danger. She doesn’t think it’s
likely they’ll do that, but she does promise to talk to Ryan about it. To me,
it actually sounds like Hamid is threatening Krista but it’s going over her
head. “I sincerely hope there won’t be any trouble” he says, “but sometimes
innocent people get hurt in our political maneuverings” dot…dot…dot… (120).
Well, what is Hamid involved in, and why is he so intent on
having Krista bring his little book to Switzerland? And why doesn’t she find
this suspicious at all? Next installment!
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