Summary

Pages 19 through 24 - “A month later”, a rowdy group of drunken soldiers fills Mama Nadi’s bar with shouts and catcalls as Sophie sings, Josephine and Salima dance, Mama Nadi serves drinks, and a Lebanese businessman named Mr. Harari watches. One of the soldiers pursues Sophie with increasing aggression, but Mama Nadi heads him off by first saying his money (gold ore called coltan) is no good because there’s too much around, and then by offering him Salima who, she says, is the better dancer. The soldier is at first reluctant, but then takes what he is given and goes off with Salima. Sophie continues to sing. Mr. Harari tips her in spite of Josephine telling him that Sophie is damaged and that all the other girls think she is bad luck. Mama, after putting the soldier’s coltan into her lockbox...