Da (Mother) 116

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“That’s no excuse. Isn’t the Imam the leader of the country and all the Muslims of the world? Where do these gentlemen get off insulting him and disparaging our sacred beliefs? Why can’t they accept a reality as plain as day to everybody else!?” The officer said, “This is dangerous talk, especially in a place as isolated as this.” “We heard them defy the Imam and insult him,” the girls said.

Da (Mother) 115

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

They ordered everyone off the jetty and told us to return before daybreak when the craft was rescheduled to leave for Abadan. Soldiers got into their vehicles and left the jetty. We were at a loss as what to do. When we saw the commandos and Yaddi, we asked them, “What should we do? They won’t let us stay here. We have no way to getting back, and even if we did, we couldn’t get back here soon enough.”

Da (Mother) 114

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

There was a lot of arguing back and forth, but we finally returned to the camp. After a meal and a nap, we went back to the jetty in the late afternoon with the sun’s fury gone. Five of the commandos in Yaddi’s group had already flown off on the noon helicopter. Two of the commandos told me Yaddi and another man stayed behind trying to get passes for the rest.

Da (Mother) 113

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

After Yaddi finished what he had to do at the jetty, he drove us back to the camp. That night, after a dinner of potato omelet mother cooked and greens she had bought at Sar Bandar, our small room became wall-to-wall sleeping cushions. As there was no room for Mohsen, we sent him to Uncle Nad Ali’s. My back was killing me and I paced most of the night, trying to deal with the pain.

Da (Mother) 112

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

I didn’t know what to say. I thought: If that’s what the commandos are like, God save us from the commander! What was I thinking bringing the girls here? I wish I hadn’t. Then I had my answer: How long were they going to cover up Banisadr’s treachery. Sooner or later the people will have to find out why Khorramshahr fell.

Da (Mother) 111

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

One day around noon I emerged from the aid tent to see several women in chadors coming toward me and waving. They seemed familiar. As they got closer, I saw they were the girls from the Sheybani clinic. I was so happy to see them I nearly jumped for joy. I shuffled rapidly toward them, as Zohreh, Saffah, and Ashraf ran toward me. I hugged and kissed the three of them.

Da (Mother) 110

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

Soon after lunch the boys went to their bunks, while the others stretched out on the carpeting so I could rest. The boys liked their bunks. They seemed to settle down for a time but, secretly, the little monsters remained what they had always been. Nevertheless, they were curious about was going to happen to them and paid careful attention to what the adults said.

Da (Mother) 109

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

We reached Shahcheragh, and for the first time I set eyes on the dome and forecourt of Imam Reza’s brother. It gave me a strange feeling, and my body was tingling all over. I became choked up, sensing here was the one place where I could speak freely and unburden my soul. The shrine was devoted to the person who could well understand what I was going through.

Da (Mother) 108

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

That was my cue to tell them what had happened to the city. They became very upset. Some of the women broke down. Others, out of sympathy, asked if they could bring us anything. They even invited us to their homes. The crowd remained around the ambulance until it went away. People looked in through the door with the broken window, offering words of sympathy.

Da (Mother) 107

The Memoirs of Seyyedeh Zahra Hoseyni

At times I would hear the sounds of the “guests”; the number would vary as they found houses to rent in Mahshahr or left the city altogether. Everybody was talking about Khorramshahr. Although I kept my ears peeled, I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I pestered visitors for news, but in my heart I knew it wasn’t good.