To fight off the boredom of life in the camp, Nadia and Saeed decide to explore the island. Sometimes they
see sinister groups of men, but they otherwise enjoy drifting through town and along the beach. One day, they meet an old friend of
Saeed’s who tells them he can help them get off the island because he knows all the ins and outs He even gives them a discount on his rates because Saeed is a friend. After the couple gives the man their money, though, they never hear from him again and are unable to track him down. Fora while, Saeed gives the man the benefit of the doubt, even praying for his safety. Soon enough,
though he gives up hope, reconciling himself to the fact that the man stole their money.
When Saeed’s friend offers to help Saeed and Nadia but only endsup taking their money, it becomes clear that the refugee camp inMykonos sorely lacks a meaningful sense of unity. Though fellowmigrants could
aid one another by banding together and sharingtheir resources, they are ultimately divided and self-interested.During this time, Saeed asks Nadia why she still wears her black robes even though they are no longer in a city that requires women to dress in this highly conservative religious fashion. She reminds him that she didn’t have to wear the robes before the militants came to their country but that she did anyway, since the robes send a signal This signal, she tells him,
is still something she wants to send. A signal even tome he asks, and she
smiles and replies Not to you, you have seen me with nothing.”
In this scene, Nadia confirms once again that she wears her religiousrobes fora very specific purpose to send a signal to people whosee her in public. This signal ultimately acts as a boundary of sorts,keeping people from thinking that she might be open to sexualpropositions or flirtation. In this way, readers see yet again thatreligion—in this case the mere idea of religion—can be used to aperson’s benefit, even if that person is not religious.Because money is tight, Saeed obtains a fishing rod to help them supplement their meals. One evening, he and Nadia are fishing after dark when they see a group of men moving toward them. They decide to leave, walking quickly in the other direction, but the men
follow even as they speedup, winding up the beach’s hill. Atone point, Nadia slips and cuts her arm on a rock, but the couple forges on, shedding their belongings to go faster. Tossing the fishing rod, they scurry up the hill, cresting only to find a small
house guarded by soldiers, meaning that the house contains a door to a desirable place The guards yell at them to halt, and so they stand trapped between soldiers and a group of sinister men. Fortunately, the group of men never reach the hilltop, and the couple pitches their tent where they stand.
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