Princess: Stepping Out of the Shadows, стр. 66
‘Once upon a time, many baby girls, baby girls just like you, my darlings, were so despised by their fathers that they took them to the desert and buried them alive.
‘Once upon a time, a great Prophet from the holy city of Mecca delivered God’s message to those living in Arabia. He guided those men to be better than they had been. This new religion spread over much of the settled world and today is one of the main religions.
‘Once upon a time, an exceptionally intelligent and cunning man who had been blessed with a powerfully strong physical figure fought to make his country whole – bringing together all the tribes in the area.’
I looked at my little granddaughters. ‘This powerful man was your great-grandfather, my darlings. Your great-grandfather adored children. In his view, he never had enough children, even when the figure rose to forty-five sons and fifty-eight daughters. This is a man who had one hundred and three children who lived, and others not counted who did not.
‘Should human beings be able to live long enough to come to know three or four generations of their descendants, he would have bestowed his love upon you during your short time on earth.
‘Once upon a time, our ancestors were very poor – so poor that many Saudi Arabians starved to death whenever a drought plagued the area.
‘Once upon a time, your great-grandfather was told that a rocky basin lurked under the thin crust of our dusty kingdom – and the greatest riches were found under that crust.
‘Once upon a time, your very cunning great-grandfather set the stage for Saudi Arabia to prosper. The great wealth that had been hidden for many centuries was used to build magnificent cities across the kingdom and enrich the people.
‘Once upon a time, one of the poorest countries in the world became one of the richest.
‘Once upon a time, two little girls who were princesses were born in this rich country, but there was a tragedy when they were lost to a terrible disorder during the time of their birth.
‘Once upon a time, their parents and grandparents were so saddened that their grandmother decided that she must join them in Paradise.
‘And, my precious darlings, here is your grandmother … I am here with you, for so long as it is allowed.’
I looked to see that both my precious granddaughters were sleeping soundly. Now I realized that I should look around and find out my place in Paradise. I hoped that I would do nothing more than care for my granddaughters.
At that moment, the brightest light I had ever seen exploded full upon my face. I blinked. I cried out, thinking that I was going to be taken away, denied the right to stay with my grandchildren.
‘No! Go away! I want to stay here with my granddaughters.’
‘Sultana! What are you doing?’ It was Kareem. My husband paused, then asked with a crazed look on his face, ‘Where is your nurse? She was supposed to stay with you every minute. I knew if you woke up unattended you might wander around the palace and you are too weak to be up and walking!’
I was confused and puzzled to see Kareem standing above me, but I could tell from his voice that he was very concerned. He turned off the bright light and clicked on a soft, well-shaded lamp. Still convinced that I was no longer alive, I asked Kareem, ‘Are you in Paradise, too?’
‘Paradise? What you are talking about? You must have been dreaming.’
‘Kareem, I believe that we are in Paradise with the babies.’
‘You are not in Paradise, Sultana. Let me assure you, you are not in Paradise!’
‘Where am I?
‘You are in a royal palace in Riyadh – a lot of people might consider this palace Paradise, sweetheart, but we both know that is not the case. In fact, you are in the nursery I had set up for the babies while Zain is recovering. Abdullah and Zain, Little Sultana, Feisal and the twins are staying with us for a few months.’
‘Are you sure I am not dead?’
‘You are not dead, darling. If you were not holding our granddaughters, I would pinch you and you would understand that you are very much alive, thanks be to God.’
‘So I am not dead.’
‘No, put that thought out of your mind. Sultana, it has been a little over a month since the babies were born. You suffered a very frightening nervous collapse when told that the babies were not going to live – but then a miracle! Both babies were saved. But by then the physician had been forced to sedate you. You had become hysterical and frightened us all.
‘Zain and the babies, and you, remained in the hospital until three days ago. You have continued with the sedatives for weeks, as each time the doctor took you off the pills, you became confused and dangerous to your own safety. But it seems you have regained your mind and your strength.’
‘Our granddaughters did not die? I did not die?’
‘No, Sultana. Everyone is alive. Zain – the babies – you – all are alive, sweetheart.’
‘Paradise and the babies seemed so real to me,’ I said in a whisper.
‘Well, the babies are real. Thank goodness you did not drop one of them. How did you get both these babies out of their bassinets and with you in this rocking chair?’
‘I felt myself a superwoman.’
‘Sultana,’ Kareem said, ‘you are physically weak from being in bed. Do not move. Wait here. Do not try to get up with the babies in your arms. I am going for help.’
‘All right. I will not move.’
I stared at the little angels in my arms and was suddenly very glad they were not real angels, and that they would have the opportunity not only