Chapter 11

Waiting on the monsoon, Amina steers the Marawati to al-Mukalla to provision and recruit for the run to Mogadishu. She grants paid leave with Salima’s money, outfits the crew, adds pearl divers, and orders generous stores, aiming to present a legitimate merchant image rather than pirates.

At sea, Amina vents about not killing Salima, while Tinbu and Dalila debate poisons and possible islands tied to Dunya’s clues. Tinbu offers prayers at his shrine; Amina reflects on her inclusive command and quietly acknowledges the crew’s renewed loyalty and spirits.

Amina praises Tinbu’s stewardship of the Marawati; he admits he hates command and prefers following charts rather than making them. Light banter about husbands underscores Amina’s resolve to avoid romantic entanglements after past trauma.

Dalila then tests “Chinese salt,” igniting a clamshell that explodes across the deck, alarming the crew. Amina forbids further experiments aboard. Talk of the Moon of Saba and past supernatural horrors surfaces; Amina rejects courting magic after her abusive last husband and Layth’s death.

Facing Falco’s possible sorcery, Dalila argues for trickery and unconventional weapons. Amina concedes to using Dalila’s inventions as a way to outwit Falco but sets strict boundaries: no trials on the wooden ship and no mentioning fire explosions to Majed, whose reunion already promises difficulty.