Chapter 6 Summary

Twenty-five years have passed in Jahilia since the exile of Mahound. The satirist, Baal, is aged and decrepit, as is the city itself. Mahound, in his absence, has prospered and his power has long since become great enough to choke off all progress in Jahilia, which still refuses to convert to the Prophet's ways. The Grandee is an old man incapable of consorting with his concubines these days and the city looks more and more to his still-beautiful, still-young, still-ferocious wife Hind for leadership. Word has reached Baal that the Prophet Mahound intends to return to Jahilia after all these years. Baal is afraid of Mahound. Jahilia has become an even more dangerous place and so when a stranger approaches Baal as Baal enters his home, he fears the stranger means to kill him. His fear disappoints the stranger, who has come to...