Joseph wondered what the women outside the circle were about to do. There had been a pause in the meeting. The old man stood just as silent as the women along the sash. So, too, did these other women stand motionless.
Joseph made a quick glance at Tamara. It was only for a second, but he saw she was staring right at him. Her expression was blank. He would have shared her gaze
longer, but then there was sudden movement outside the circle.
In unison, these women swept both arms upward. Once they reached their highest points, the bundles of cloth in their hands flapped loose. Before the ends fell upon their heads, the women leapt between the villagers in front of them to
land inside the circle. With their hands still raised, they dashed forward, letting the length of the cloth sail out behind them. When the end of these banners dropped upon those in the circle, a villager reached up and snatched the fabric. This was done just as the women who ran with the banners had
reached Tamara.
Still moving in unison, they all dropped to kneeling positions, bringing their hands down, pulling their ends of the banners down before them. The rest of the banners settled along the space inside the circle and rested on each of their heads.
Their faces were also hidden.
Tamara remained motionless there in the center of them all. Because of the positions of those women between her and Joseph, he could only see her right eye. She was still staring at him.
He had understood the message well, but he didn't like it.