Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:53:05 +0100
From: A.K. <andrej@andrejkoymasky.com>
Subject: Manush 10/12 (Interracial - beginnings)

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MANUSH
by Andrej Koymasky (C) 2008
written on November 19, 1993
translated by the author
English text kindly revised by acam

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USUAL DISCLAIMER

"MANUSH" is a gay story, with some parts containing graphic scenes of
sex between males. So, if in your land, religion, family, opinion and so
on this is not good for you, it will be better not to read this story.
But if you really want, or because YOU don't care, or because you think
you really want to read it, please be my welcomed guest.

-----------------------------

CHAPTER 10 - Baro Mama and Baro Kriss Romany

They made a last stop between Hyeres and Toulon. There already were two
Romany groups camping there; they were also going to Les Saintes Maries
de la Mer. The camp was very busy. Everyone was cleaning their caravans
and cars thoroughly and decorating them for the great pilgrimage; they
were doing their laundry too. They were getting out their Romany
national and tribal clothes and mending them and polishing their gold
and silver.

The nine Rogasi were getting ready too and getting the last details
organised as they wanted them. The Romanies of the group for the last
time explained to the others the ceremonies and the rites and customs
specific to the occasion and above all what would happen at the meeting
with the Baro Mama. And finally they resumed their journey before the
other two groups so as to get there soon enough to reserve a camping
site not too far from the old village.

When they finally reached the medieval walls of Les Saintes Maries de la
Mer, they saw that many caravans were already there. There was not
enough space to put their three caravans in a position where they could
be connected easily so they just parked them side by side. Then Zanko
led the whole group to the ancient church before the beginning of the
rites to show them Sara-la-Kali's sarcophagus down in the crypt (that
is:- Saint Sara the Black) and the statue of the Lady of the Gypsies.

The village was already swarming with the Romany in traditional dress.
The Rogasi were showing off their new costumes for the first time. They
were being looked at with curiosity mainly by the old people who could
recognize most of the various tribes and groups by their traditional
dress but had never seen that of the Rogasi.

An old man asked in Romany "Do you speak Romany?"

"Yes father we do." Zanko answered.

"From what nation have you come sons?"

"Ah from the roads of the world."

"The roads of the world are endless... Which is your circuit?"

"The one that destiny shows us father." Zanko merrily answered and,
after a respectful gesture to say goodbye went away with his companions
leaving the old man with a puzzled expression.

Patrizio had never seen so many people all together so gaily-coloured
and noisy and was looking around astonished and excited. Pero, Mateo and
Tomaso had never been to a meeting of this kind before and were taking
part for the first time. The festive air was filled with different
styles, colours and dialects. Men and women were showing off plenty of
gold and jewellery and the Rogasi wore less gold than anyone else though
Dule wanted Zanko to wear a double gold chain intertwined as a necklace.

To access the crypt they had to queue for a long time. It was lit by
hundreds of small candles and the air was filled with the smell of wax
and the curling smoke of incense. The Gypsies' Lady was literally
covered with gold jewellery and shone with a thousand reflections in the
light of the candles. Prayers were being said by a hundred mouths in
several languages and accents, mixing, overlapping, rising and falling
in an odd, fascinating and endless mysterious concert. Coins and notes
of many countries and of various values jingled as they fell into the
great alms boxes with scarcely a break.

The nine companions squeezed into the stream of bodies, passed in front
of Saint Sara's sarcophagus, which was covered by embroidered drapes and
then in front of the Lady's statue. After they visited the crypt they
went up to the church and asked for the parish priest. They gave him a
gold necklace for the statue of the Gypsies' Lady and the priest gave
them a receipt in return in the name of the "Rogasi Group".

During the three days before the main ceremonies they sold many of their
products both to other Romanies and to Gadje tourists that had come to
see the rites of the gypsies' pilgrimage.

And the day of the hearing came.

The Baro Mama was a short woman rather fat and wearing very simple
clothes and with a scarf over her head but with so much gold on her that
she was second only to the statue of the Gypsies' Lady in the crypt. She
was sitting on a simple chair with straw bottom in front of her caravan.
At her right and left were the family-chief of her tribe the
spellbinders and the fortune tellers in a half circle sitting on the
ground. In front were a crowd of Romanies waiting for an audience.

When Zanko's turn came he went forward with his companions - they were
in three rows of three and Zanko was in the centre. When they were in
front of the Baro Mama Pero went aside and Zanko advanced alone and
formally greeted the old woman.

The Baro Mama looked him up and down then said with her clucking voice
"Very choreographic my son. Who are you and why did you ask to meet me?"

"Baro Mama I am Zanko and these are my group. We would like to give you
this little present..." he said and put on her lap the parcel containing
the gold brooch.

The old woman unwrapped it, looked at the brooch and said "A very
original shape..." and simply put it on her chest. "I haven't seen that
particular formal dress before Zanko. Which tribe do you come from?"

"From many peoples Baro Mama."

The old woman knit her brows and said "Please explain..."

Then Zanko using the most respectful form of words asked her to talk
with him in private.

The old woman looked at him and then at the other eight companions
behind him and then answered "Give me a good reason why I should see you
in private my son."

"Because I would like to found a new Romany tribe and I would like to
get your advice and your support."

A murmur received Zanko's words. The Baro Mama made a sign with her hand
and silence fell again.

"You have to make your application to the Council of the Chiefs of the
Tribes not to me."

"But you have wisdom. If you would listen to our reasons you could tell
us if it is worthwhile to make such an application to the Council or
not. And your advice will be like gold to us."

"You mean that if I tell you not to do it you will not present your
request to the Council?"

"Yes of course Baro Mama."

"And what would you do in that case?"

"We would come here again on the occasion of the next pilgrimage and ask
again and so on and if necessary go on further pilgrimages until the
Baro Mama answers us with yes."

The old woman laughed and all her gold jingled shaken by her laughter.
"That is a nice way to remind me of my mortality. You are right that I
am not everlasting and that after me there will be another Baro Mama. I
like you, my son. Come follow me into my caravan." The old woman said
and stood up and the two went into the caravan alone.

The old woman sat on a sofa and indicated that Zanko should sit in front
of her.

"I'm listening you son. Talk to me."

Then Zanko told her all their recent adventures.

When he had finished the old woman asked him "But do you really think
that the Council would allow a tribe living in a... forbidden way to be
part of the Romany nation?"

"If the Council is composed of wise men they will."

"Give me a good reason."

"So that such things as happened to me and Jojo and Pero will never
happen again... Because anyone like us that joins us would not be a
problem for the other groups..."

The old woman shook her head and said "You told me that in your group
there is also a Gadje. Bring him here. Let me see if he can convince me
better than your attempt my son."

Zanko understood that she didn't judge the reasons he had just offered
would be sufficient for the Council. So he stood up, went out and called
Patrizio and went back with him. The boy greeted the old woman formally
as he went in and she indicated he should have a seat.

"Can you speak Romany, Gadje?" she asked.

"A little and not so well Baro Mama. I'm learning it..."

"Good! If we don't understand each other Zanko will help us. Tell me son
why in the world a Gadje wants to become a Romany?"

"For the same reason that a groom becomes part of the tribe of his
bride, Baro Mama."

"And tell me son how can it make sense for people of different origins
to want to found a new tribe?"

"Can I ask you some questions as a way to answer you?"

"You can son."

"What does bind a tribe, Baro Mama?" Patrizio then asked.

"Common traditions blood ties common activity and a common circuit..."

"Traditions Baro Mama, have always existed yet are they immutable?"

"Of course not; they are added to with the passing of time and with the
passing of time they are lost or changed."

"Therefore we have our traditions in common and they are added to by the
admission of each of us and changed with our short history. And tell me
Baro Mama - a little Gadje kidnapped by a group and the groom if he
comes from another tribe are these not also part of the tribe?"

"Of course they are my son."

"Then it will be right to say that besides the blood ties that is those
that arise at a natural birth there are other things that tie a tribe's
members together - such as adoption or a choice?"

"Well you are right son."

"Then plainly we have such a tie because we adopted or chose each of us.
Moreover it is clear we have a common activity and a common circuit.
Therefore we have all the necessary qualifications and are just like any
other tribe."

The old woman nodded and then said "But to us Romanies the family is the
basis of the tribe. A father and a mother with children..."

"Then listen. A Romany woman kidnapped two Gadje baby girls and made
them into her daughters. Her husband died then her father died and then
her brother. She was left alone with the two little Gadje... Is that
enough to say that the woman and the two children are not a family any
more?"

"Of course not. They still are a family."

"Well if so we too are family. We have a rite for adoption. Zanko
adopted me as his son and I adopted Fadil as my son for instance and the
same is true for all of us."

"There is one more point that still doesn't convince me - Romany
tradition doesn't accept two people of the same sex making love
together."

"That is true Baro Mama. And this tradition brought us to the terrible
problems that I think Zanko already told you about. But it is not just
that. You yourself just told me that traditions can change at times.
When does a tradition change?"

"In several instances... when it stops being sensible or when external
pressures force a change - when we must change in order to survive."

"And should tradition serve the Romany people or the should the Romany
people have to serve the tradition?"

"The tradition has to serve our people, son."

"But if that tradition leads some Romanies to die or to suffer badly is
it a good tradition? Does it serve those Romanies?"

"Of course not, son."

"This tradition almost killed Pero's body almost killed Jojo's soul
caused suffering to Dule and Fadil and to Marko and to Zanko too... What
we are asking doesn't change the habits of the tribes but allows those
like us not to suffer and not to die. It solves a problem felt by other
groups and gives us a life."

"Gadje you are a wise young man and you are a credit to your age. I
understand why Zanko wanted you with him... even if I can see also other
reasons..."

"Can I add one more thing Baro Mama?"

"You can... What's your name son? I don't remember it."

"Patri, Baro Mama. Take any of us; if we had to stay in our old tribes
we would come to the same end as Pero or as Jojo or as Zanko... or if he
didn't he would have to stay hidden and marry wouldn't he? And if he
marries for the rest of his life he will bring himself and his wife
unhappiness and therefore his children too. With our proposal all this
can be avoided. And you who have mothered several children you want your
children to be happy don't you? You choose between what is bacht and
bibacht, Baro Mama, for the Romany tribes and for us. The Romany have
always felt alien amongst the Gadje aliens and persecuted and this is
bibacht. But why on earth should a Romany have to feel an alien, alien
and persecuted amongst his own people - amongst the Romany? Is not this
doubly bibacht?"

"Enough, enough Patri my son! Well Zanko. Present your request to the
Council. I don't know how I can help you and I know it will not be easy.
But whatever the decision of Council happens to be come to see me again
afterwards before you venture again onto the roads of the world. Now you
can go. The hearing is over."

Zanko and Patrizio said goodbye to her and went out. They went away with
all their companions and the Baro Mama went back to sit in the open on
her simple straw-bottom chair.

The Council was to be summoned two days later. Zanko used those two days
to look for someone who could forge documents for Patrizio. He found a
Romany who told him he could get them for him. Patrizio asked to keep
his first name and change his family name. He went to an automatic photo
booth to take identity photographs and gave them to that Romany. Zanko
told him to write on the forged documents his name and a family name
typical of an Italian Romany family and as profession to put "pedlar"
just like many of the others' identity papers. The price that the Romany
asked for the forgeries was not too much and anyway they willingly paid
it.

Meanwhile the Baro Mama had summoned one after the other all the
tribal-chiefs she knew she could trust and amongst other matters asked
them to cast their vote in favour of the new tribe at the next Council
meeting. They were not a majority but she hoped that others would lean
towards a yes.

And finally the Council day came.

It was held as usual in front of Baro Mama's caravan after everyone had
been to pay homage in the crypt. The Council was composed of the Baro
Mama and all the tribal-chiefs that had come on the pilgrimage. They
were in all twelve people, men and women in their middle age or older.
They discussed several problems. Then they passed to hear the petitions
and to give a decision about them.

They called Zanko who this time had to go alone while his group was
waiting outside the circle with all the others. Zanko greeted all the
chiefs one by one with respect then presented his request with an
eloquent speech. The chiefs listened in silence impassively. When Zanko
had finished revealing his request and explain his motivation he waited
in silence.

A woman chief stood up and said "This request deserves our attention. It
is rather unusual but deserves our consideration. We all know very well
of the existence of the problem that Zanko showed us. And he proposed a
possible solution to us. An interesting solution too, one that might
work. I say that we should agree to his request."

An old chief a man stood up "Agree to it Mama? Agree to it you say? How
can we agree to something that has always been forbidden?"

"Forbidden yes but that has not prevented it. Forbidden yes but it
happens in all our tribes." another chief objected.

"People are killed in our tribes too but we don't permit anyone to form
a tribe of murderers!" a woman said.

"They are not murderers! You cannot compare them with people at that
level of perfidy!"

"But it's a shameful practice anyway not something to be approved of!
No, no, we cannot approve it!"

"We have to defend our traditions!"

"We have to save our children!"

"Man has to be joined to a woman just as the sky is joined to the
earth!"

"And he has to straighten his children so that they grow sound and
strong and true Romanies!"

"And make them rebel, like if sun and moon and wind and fire..."

"The Romany is free and he has to live in freedom as he likes!"

"The Romany is not a Romany if he does forbidden things!"

"Moreover they are not even all Romany... what a shame!"

"They are Romany as much as you; your father was a Gadje kidnapped by
your grand-mother!"

It was a confusion of voices for or against Zanko and they were talking
over each other and raising conflicting arguments. Zanko was listening
in silence trying to discern which way the consensus was leaning and he
had the feeling that those opposing were more numerous or louder than
those in favour.

All of a sudden the Baro Mama who like Zanko was listening in silence
without interfering clapped her hands and at once got silence.

"I carefully listened to you all and from each of you I've heard words
of wisdom as I would expect from worthy chiefs as you all are. But it is
well known that the wisdom of men doesn't always have the same colour.
Anyway you all have at heart the good of the Romany nation. This is
evident and this is bacht. Woe betide woe betide the time when it might
not be so.

"But... what is the Romany nation? What is the origin of its greatness?
How could we have survived from the beginning of time without
disappearing in spite of the hostility and persecution of the other
nations around us? Survive we have done and without having an army,
without fighting wars, without having a land, or written laws, or power
or even a fixed abode? How, I ask you? What has been the secret and
formidable weapon of the Romany nation? Do you think it could be
freedom? No, that isn't a weapon but rather it is something else that
needs protection. No you all know very well yes, very well what is our
weapon.

"Our strength our secret weapon is the fact that we have been able to
adapt! To adapt, chiefs! And so according to the places our circuits
went through we became Kanjarja or Dachikhane or Korakhane... or
something else! But we always remained Romany and we remained Romany
exactly for that reason. Adaptation. We have learned to talk in Romanian
or Slavic or German, Spanish, Italian or French but we all speak Romany
and we still are Romany. We learned new trades but we are still Romany.
We have been able to sniff out the safest way and to choose our roads
and we have changed our circuits and changed them again and again but
the roads of the world belong to us and we are still Romany.

"Now to day this young man asks us to agree to a new adaptation. Would
we cease this very day to be Romany chiefs? No I say we would not! We
have to be wise enough to agree to this small adaptation and receive
amongst us the proposed new tribe - the Rogasi. This is my thought." The
old woman said in a determined tone.

A chief stood up. "You say so, Baro Mama, but isn't it just because that
Zanko gave you a gold brooch?" the man asked in a challenging tone.

"Alas chief Costache alas! You said a bibacht thing - you think I can be
bought by a small gold brooch. So then you who gave me a gold necklace
of three times the weight you too wanted to buy me did you?"

"No it's just that I'm generous!"

"Alas chief Costache alas! Who is more generous - the one who has just
two gold coins and gives you one of them or the one who has thirty gold
coins and gives you three?"

The other chiefs burst out in laughter and one said "Shut up Costache or
you risk saying something you would have done better not even to think!"

But another chief stood up. "Founding a new tribe? Good. But a tribe
composed of Romany. Now let's see. Zanko has been chased from his tribe
therefore is not a Romany any more. So that is the first of them. Then
there is a Gadje and he is the second. Then two Sinti, which makes four.
Then another one Pero if I'm correct. He too was chased out by his group
and is the fifth. And another ran away so he cut himself off from the
Romany nation that makes six. How many do we have remaining? Three. What
tribe are we talking about then?"

"That's right! That's right!"

"It is true..."

"They aren't Romany what do they want from us?"

The Baro Mama stood up for the first time and everybody became silent.

"Very well chiefs. If they were all Romany you would be happy to agree
that they could found a new tribe but as you say they aren't Romany
therefore... is that right?"

"Sure that's right!" some of the chiefs answered.

"Just three Romany is not a tribe..." other chiefs said.

"Very well chiefs. Therefore now Zanko will withdraw his request and I
ask all nine of them to be judged by the Baro Kriss Romany! If they are
recognized as Romany they will be a new tribe without problems. If they
are judged not to be Romany what they do afterwards doesn't concern us!
Thank you chiefs of the Romany. Your discussion helped me to understand
the essence of the problem correctly."

Silence fell on the Council. The Baro Mama with a shrewd and unforeseen
move had turned the tables on them and deprived them of the decision and
as she had formally convened the Kriss by so doing she had forced them
to accept its verdict.

One of the chiefs who was against the new tribe said "Very well Baro
Mama. Let's then choose now the five chiefs who will be the Baro Kriss
Romany for this occasion."

"Yes of course that's right. The choice is yours. But... as the men to
be judged come from the Grangora, Gergarija, Mrzarja, Kaloperjia and two
Lovara, the chiefs of these tribes cannot be part of the Kriss!"

Zanko once again admired the Baro Mama - excluding those five tribe
chiefs, she had excluded three of the more determined opponents to the
new tribe. They voted to choose the five judges of the Kriss and decided
that it would meet the next day. Zanko and all his men had to sit in
front of the Kriss for the judgement and each of them had to be
supported by a defending Romany.

While Zanko was going away, he was approached by a man from the Baro
Mama's convoy.

"Zanko my cousin, the Baro Mama asked me to be one of your defenders and
to assist the Gadje. And also to help you to find the other eight
defenders."

"I thank you very much cousin. But... when did she ask you that?"

"This morning early."

"Therefore... she already had decided to summon the Baro Kriss Romany
for us!"

"Of course she had allowed for the possibility that she wouldn't have
the majority of the Council on her side."

"She is really clever..."

"She is the Baro Mama." The man answered with a smile.

They agreed and found a Lovara to assist Pero then a defender for all
the others by touring all round the camps. Then all eighteen gathered in
the Rogasi's Saint George caravan and carefully discussed the line to
follow. There were practically no problems for Dule, Marko and Fadil as
their families had authorized them to leave their groups therefore they
decided to begin the trial with those three cases. Then they decided to
have Patrizio's case discussed fourth then those of Mateo and Tomaso. If
in fact a Gadje was accepted as a Romany they could not refuse two
Sinti. Then Pero's case would be discussed then Jojo's and last the case
of Zanko. In fact the case of Zanko was the most difficult of all - he
had been expelled by a decision of his group's Kriss.

They also discussed whether the next day they ought to present
themselves wearing their Rogasi attire or not. They decided not - each
of them would wear his tribe of origin's dress. Not all of them had it
so they toured the camps again asking to borrow some. Patrizio and the
two Sinti would go in plain clothes.

The Baro Kriss Romany met. The five judges sat on carpets in a row. On
one side the Baro Mama was sitting as president on her habitual chair.
She didn't have the right to vote. In front of her were the nine with
their defenders. Dule noticed that the Baro Mama had much less gold on
her than usual and as a consequence the brooch he had made looked better
on her generous breast.

"I ask the Kriss to judge the case of Dule Omerovic of the Mrzarja
Ousari. The question is - he left his camp and his group. Is he still a
Romany or not? Come forward Dule Omerovich with your defender." The Baro
mama ordered.

Dule and the man accompanying him stood in front of the five judges of
the Kriss.

The oldest judge a woman asked "Tell us Dule why did you leave your
tribe, your people your family?"

"At that time we were camping near a town called Amantea in the south of
Italy. There were already two caravans there. So I got to know Zanko and
his four companions and we soon became friends. I became friends
particularly with the one called Tomaso. I showed him how I worked the
gold and he showed me his juggling. When they decided to leave the camp
I was feeling very sad because I knew I would never meet them again. So
I asked them if they would let me go with them and asked my father and
my mother for permission to join them. As I got their permission I
joined their group."

"You therefore left your people with their approval."

"That is so mother."

"But your new companions, were they following Romany traditions?"

"They were and they still are mother. We have always celebrated all our
festivals following the traditions of our nation."

"All of you? Also the Gadje and the Sinti?"

"All of us and they even more than us."

An old chief asked leave to speak. "But you broke the blood ties that
make a Romany of you. So what ties do you still have with the Romany
nation?"

Dule's defender asked leave to speak "Father if you kidnap a little
Gadje can you make him your son?"

"Of course if I recognize him as such with the rite of affiliation."

"He then becomes a Romany even though he is not of our blood?"

"Thanks to the rite it is as if he had our blood. There is no
difference."

"Dule became part of the group as a result of being affiliated by the
rite as executed by Tomaso. Tomaso was adopted similarly by Mateo, Mateo
by Zanko and Zanko is of Romany blood..."

"Therefore " the old man said "if Zanko is a Romany Dule is a Romany
too."

"But Dule is a Romany anyway because he left his family with the full
assent of his parents therefore he didn't break his blood ties." Another
judge affirmed.

They voted on this point and the Baro Kriss verdict was - Dule is a
Romany.

Then they called Fadil and examined him. His case was just like that of
Dule and so he got the same verdict. Then they called Marko. His case
was even simpler because his father and brothers had entrusted him to
Zanko and to the group therefore they decided that Marko was a Romany
too beyond any doubt.

Then the Baro Mama called Patrizio. "Come Patri my son. I ask the Kriss
to judge about the case of Patri Faldella who used to be a Gadje. The
question is as follows - can a Gadje become a Romany? And if he can is
Patri Faldella a Romany?"

The old woman judge asked Patrizio to tell his story. Patrizio spoke in
Romany at times helped by his defender. Two of the judges said that the
boy was now a Romany. Two others said he was not. The fifth one said
that he could be a Romany if Zanko was still a Romany as he had adopted
him. But the Baro Mama asked them not to wait until they had decided
Zanko's case to decide about Patri. Patrizio then asked leave to speak
again in his defence and he was allowed.

"As the proverb says 'The words go, the words come.' My group has given
a gold necklace to the Gypsies' Lady down there in the crypt. Now that
necklace is there amongst a thousand other jewels. Who can recognize it
except the one ho made it? The one who made it knows each ring one by
one because he shaped it with his hands, with his heart, with his soul.
Baro Devel knows what I am because he shaped me. The gold of the
necklace was something different before the necklace was made of it but
now it's a necklace now it is on the Gypsies' Lady down there in the
crypt. This was the destiny of that gold.

"My destiny was to be shaped as a Romany. Only its maker will be able to
single out our necklace on the Lady there in the crypt; only our maker
can recognize who amongst us was a Gadje and who was already a Romany. I
am a Romany even if you will not recognize me. But the problem is not
whether I am a Romany or not because I know I am a Romany. The problem
is whether you will recognize me as a Romany or not. Well if you are
able to recognize our necklace you can say that I am not a Romany and I
will believe you and I will understand I was wrong and that I deceived
myself..."

The old woman judge asked him "Is this a challenge boy?"

"No Mama it's only my destiny."

One of the two chiefs who had judged that Patrizio was not a Romany
spoke. "Your nails can scratch stone walls son. You seem more of a
Romany than a real Romany I admit. You show us respect but you don't
bend. You would deserve it if we fined you for your daring for your
words..."

"I would willingly pay it."

The old man laughed. "Sure you would, I don't doubt it. I would like my
sons to be proud as you are. Yes I recognize you as a Romany a true
Romany my son!"

So the verdict was in favour of Patrizio with three yesses a no and an
abstention. This as they had foreseen smoothed the way for Mateo to get
accepted too and Tomaso as well after a short discussion. And so next it
was Pero's turn.

When the boy was asked to speak he asked: "Can I first submit another
case to your judgement?"

"Let's hear it." The Baro Mama said immediately.

"My brother had a dog. He wanted to train him. So he made him perform
some exercises and if the dog did it well he went and took from his
mother's larder in secret a piece of dry meat and gave it to his dog as
a prize. And the dog was taught well and was obedient and everybody said
he was a very good dog. And also our mother was proud and told everybody
- our dog is really skilled really a good dog. But one day the mother
saw that the dog was eating a piece of dried meat. She went to check in
her larder and saw that several pieces of meat were missing. She then
asked my brother why the dog was eating dried meat and why so many
pieces were missing. And my brother answered - because this dog, in
spite of all I did for him, is a thief. And my brother took a cudgel and
beat the dog and left it bleeding on the roadside and told the others -
good I've punished the dog as he deserved. A Gadje was passing by and
saw the dog and healed him. Now I ask you whether my brother ought to be
rewarded or punished for his behaviour? And whether the Gadje ought to
be praised or blamed?"

Only the Baro mama knew Pero's story and so she nodded approvingly and
asked "What do you say judges? What is your verdict?"

They all said "His brother has to be severely punished. The dog was
innocent. And the Gadje is for sure to be highly praised."

"Well." Pero said "My group is my family I am the dog and Zanko and his
group are that Gadje..." and he told them all he had had to undergo and
how he had been rescued and healed by Zanko's group and including his
discovery that he was not a lotcholiko.

The judges declared that Pero fully had the right to be a Romany because
he had been unfairly expelled by his group.

Then they called Jojo and he told them his story too and he in spite of
having run away from his group was recognized as a Romany because they
recognized his right to escape in order not to be treated as a slave and
an object to be used for pleasure by people in his group.

And Zanko's turn came at last.

He too told them his story.

At the end the old woman judge said "You were expelled by the Kriss of
your group which fully had the right to do that. Therefore you are not a
Romany any more. There is no doubt about your case."

Then his defender spoke "Can someone who commits a crime put things
right?"

"Of course he can. But how can Zanko put right what he did? What he did
is done and cannot be cancelled."

"But if the Sinti he raped forgave him could Zanko ask to be admitted
into the Romany again?"

"He surely could. When an offence is totally forgiven by the person
offended against there is no fault any more." The old woman judge
admitted.

"Well then. The Sinti boy who had been raped by Zanko is Mateo Alegra,
you already know him. He is here. This is he. Mateo do you forgive Zanko
for what he did to you?"

"I do completely. I forgave him two years ago and I am now living with
him and he is to me a father and a brother." Mateo said with a smile.

The old woman judge then asked him "Why did you forgive him Mateo, my
son?"

"I went to seek Zanko to take my revenge because my people told me that
what he did to me required me to take revenge. But I met Patri, and
Patri told me things that Zanko didn't tell you..." and he told them
about the two occasions when Zanko had been raped. "So I understood that
the violence he did to me was the child of the violence he suffered at
the hands of others and did not originate in any foulness in his real
character in his heart. So when I met him I asked him - if I now raped
you, what would you say Zanko? And he answered me that I would have the
right and good reason. 'My brother' he said 'I'm here ready to give you
satisfaction'. So I forgave him. Because although violence gives birth
to violence forgiveness gives birth to forgiveness."

After a short silence the old woman judge said "Well I propose this Baro
Kriss Romany admits Zanko amongst the Romany again because his fault has
been washed away by an act of forgiveness." And all the judges agreed to
her proposal.

The Baro Mama stood up "I thank this Baro Kriss Romany for having
carried out its task with real wisdom and integrity. These nine young
men are Romanies without any doubt. Therefore tomorrow we will again
summon the Council who will give them its approval so that they may
found a new tribe of the Romany nation that of the Rogasi. Come all of
you come and celebrate sons. Baro Die, Baro Die is this!"

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CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 11

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In my home page I've put some more of my stories. If someone wants to
read them, the URL is

http://andrejkoymasky.com

If you want to send me feed-back, or desire to help revising my English
translations, so that I can put on-line more of my  stories in English
please e-mail at

andrej@andrejkoymasky.com

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