"Ndeysaan." "Oh, life!" "The world moves on, time goes by, and human beings change." "Yesterday is not today." "Once there was a village here called Timbering," "where I was born and where I grew up." "That year was a terrible year." "A thick fog covered all the villages on the coast." "You couldn't tell the difference between the sky and the sea." "It lasted for many long days." "All the villagers were anxious, and talked about the end of the world." "The fishermen didn't got out to sea anymore, and there were no fish left." "The old people were worried, they called a witch doctor." "At that time" "I was a kid and didn't understand." "THE PRICE OF FORGIVENESS" "Rama, what is that noise?" "The villagers are making an offering to clear away the fog in Timbering." "Is Mbanick with them?" "No." "All the villagers were there except you." "Why entrust Timbering's destiny to that charlatan?" "Mbanick, my friend, don't ignore the wisdom of Baye Sogi." "If you want ancestors to help you, help yourself first." "Do you think this fog is natural?" "You should have headed the procession." "Do your duty, or you risk offending Baye Sogi." "Your concern for my father really touches me." "Hey!" "In the village people treat you like an unworthy son." "Don't forget the tea tonight." "Don't ignore your father's wisdom." "Hey, Yatma, son of Peer Njaay, wait for me!" "Mother." " Mbanick." " Here I am, father." "You didn't go to the ceremony this morning." "No, father." "The man who came from Dugaar is an impostor." "You're still wet behind the ears, you don't know about the world and yet you dare to say where true wisdom lies?" "Baye Sogi, it's true, this man doesn't possess the true wisdom." "If things had gone normally, your son would have lead the procession." "Mbanick, you were right not to go to the ceremony." "Peer Njaay, you're not able to tell the difference" "between a one-eyed horse and a lame ass, and you're even dumber than those two animals." "Stop your scheming." "And I'll say this:" "Don't ever threaten my son under my own roof!" "Never again!" "Never again, Peer Njaay!" "Leave us alone." "Oh, if Peer Njaay knew Baye Sogi." "Remember the year of the locusts." "Baye Sogi." "And the year when the rain only fell in Timbering," "Baye Sogi." "And the year of the great drought." "Each drought was harder than the last." "Baye Sogi." "Peoples' hearts are being eaten away by fear." "They think the spirits are tormenting us." "A frightened man is docile and Peer needs someone like that." "You always told me that, but people are right." "Father." "I don't want to inherit your wisdom." "My knowledge is already in you." "Is already in you, in your blood." "In your blood." "Now, go in peace." "Baye Sogi, our village elder, may God continue to enlighten the path of wisdom." "Ndeysaan, the night is sad and the fog veils our eyes." "I promise, the one who gives us back happiness will get the prettiest girl in the village." "So, I'll let the King of the Savannah and the Lord of the Seas fight it out." "My ancestor, Bamar Ndoye, was the best fisherman on all the coast." "He was famous all over the country." "One day, he dived into the sea to follow a turtle." "While he was following it, he saw a sea monster" "coming towards him." "A long battle ensued." "At a given moment, the shark acknowledged its adversary's courage and decided to sign" "a pact." "The animal gaved Ndoye's lineage the power to transform." "I, Mbanick Ndoye, belong to" "the Lord of the Seas' lineage." "Yatma, now it's your turn." "A long, long time ago my ancestor, Gol Njaay, was in the forest." "Behind the bushes a lion was sleeping." "The lion was disturbed by the man's presence." "It gave a frightening roar." "My ancestor was petrified, but stared back at the beast." "The beast considered this attitude as a challenge." "It pounced on him." "He moved aside and the animal fell, it picked itself up and then pounced again." "He moved aside, but this time the beast left four blood-red scratch marks on my ancestor's shoulder." "This mark makes me, Yatma Njaay, son of Peer Njaay, the lion's descendant." "Abou, let me make the tea and announce the winner's name." "Hey, wait." "Thank you, Maxoye." "Amul, Adu Seck will worry, I'll take you home." "Mbanick, where are you going?" "Amul, hurry up." "Adu Seck," " Here's your son." " Mbanick!" "The fog has even changed peoples' voices." "It's true." "See you." "Go in, you little urchin." "Why did you leave like that?" "Are you asking me?" " We were having fun." " Go on without me." "Wait!" "What do you want?" "I just wanted to make you a bit jealous." "Please forgive me." "Last night." "Give me the paint." "Maxoye?" "You're in love with her!" "Be quiet and watch your work!" "Paint here and then here." " Are you spying on me?" " Think I'm here for you?" "You're very sure of yourself." "Who are you here for, then?" "Do you know what Amul says?" "That I'm crazy about you." "And it's true, I'm crazy about you." "Don't be angry if I say no." "I don't want to hear that boy's name in my house." "One who rejects his own father's wisdom!" "This is true, but you have to try to understand young people." "Just let him dare to ask for my daughter's hand!" "Where were you?" "Where did you get to then?" "Your mother had to prepare the meal instead of you." "Think it's right, Maxoye?" "No, father." " And about Baye Sogi's son..." " We'll see about it later." " Who is it?" " Father, it's me." "Come here." "Take this." "I would ask you, after I die," "to bury me under the sacred tree." "This is what I ask." "I understand, father." "Give me the water." "God only does what's best." "We know that." "You know that, people of Timbering." "There's no weeping in Baye Sogi's home." "We know this too." "Strange things happened in Timbering." "The leaves on the tree under which the holy man rested suddenly turned yellow and fell off, one by one." "Maxoye, how is he?" " He refuses to eat." " It's Baye Sogi." "Baye Sogi is inside him." "He's returned to initiate him." "It's not easy to come back from the old man's resting place." "I'm afraid for Mbanick." "It's Baye Sogi, it's Baye Sogi." "He'll get better... he'll get better." "Yatma," "I'm ashamed to have doubted your feelings for Mbanick." "If you knew what I feel inside, I can't stand it anymore." "You're confusing me, do you understand?" "Leave it." "I can't sleep anymore." "I love you, say something." "Stop it!" "You know he's here!" "You're right, go, I'll keep vigil over him." "Mbanick sank into a strange madness, he went into a trance and started to chop down the tree where his father was buried." "The villagers wondered what would happen to them." "Maxoye!" "What do you want, Amul?" "Mbanick, he is in the forest." "Don't go, what will the villagers think?" "Maxoye!" "Look how still is the sea." "The Lord of the Seas knows you." "Look at how bright the sun shines." "Mbanick started to hollow out the tree trunk." "He carved and carved and carved," "and so a canoe took shape." "Here he comes!" "Here he comes!" "The time has come!" "Baye Sogi has been reborn!" "The pure light of truth!" "May he who doubted it, even for just one instant, bow his head." "Glory be to you!" "Why aren't you helping the worthy son of Baye Sogi?" "What were you thinking during those last days?" "She who takes my brother from me must watch her step." "Ndikku, Maxoye is beautiful." "Yes, she is." "Ndeysaan, life returned, fish were abundant, and people were happy, thanks to Mbanick." "Here is the good Yaay Rama." "Yaay Rama is here." "I'm not surprised." "You are Mbanick's mother, and Baye Sogi is his father." "Baye Sogi always looked after us, he couldn't go without leaving a worthy heir." "Hello, here's your share of the fish." " I want to go fishing with you." " Isn't it too early?" "I'll speak to your father about it." "Since Mbanick's recovery we've caught the most beautiful fish." "We really misjudged him." "Baye Sogi's son is a good boy." "You never wanted to listen to me." " Daba!" " Yes, dearest?" "Should a woman make her husband lie?" "Such a thing would mean the end of the world." "I wish Mbanick would make up his mind soon!" "I'll share my secrets with you." "I don't care about your secrets!" "Yat, we must talk." "About what?" "You're so proud!" "Don't forget I'm Peer Njaay's son." "What's up with you?" "This is where lightning struck, it still smells." "Somebody is out to get you." "It's only a wooden canoe." "You say that to make me feel good." "No." "There's been too much stress in too short time." "Now you're talking like a wise man." "Tell me, do we take Amul with us?" "He's already our child, he's with us night and day." "Yat, is that you?" "I was waiting for you." " Why did you do that?" " Don't come any closer!" "I don't understand." "A long time ago we vowed to join our families together." "I didn't forget." "Under the big tree our blood intermingled." "But it was only a ruse, I don't believe your lies anymore." "If we have to fight, I want to know the reason." "You want to be admired, Baye Sogi's worthy successor, the one who clears the fog away." "Look at my hands!" "They've just strangled Maxoye!" "She won't love anybody anymore!" "Tell me you didn't do it!" "Tell me you didn't kill her!" "No, I love her too much." "I love her." "Come on, let's go." "Go, go to see her." "What are you doing, brother?" "What are you doing?" "I will have my revenge." "As long as the waves crash upon the shore, as long as the sun rises, people of Timbering will never forget Mbanick," "Baye Sogi's brave son who dared to defy the spirits." "Now we only have God to think about." "We don't know, but He knows." "We don't have strength, but He is the strength." "Our ancestors said it, and we repeat it today." "The sea takes the best of our people." "You only lost half a son because Yatma, my son, is here, his best friend." "May he take the place of Mbanick in everything!" "40 days and 40 nights went by." "According to tradition, Mbanick was declared dead." "Maxoye, I have to talk to you." "The mourning has to stop, you must take a husband." "A new sun has to rise." "I saw the signs announcing it." "Mbanick was my son's brother." "He shared Yatma's blood." "Though the ocean divided them this great sadness is painful for him too." "Take it easy, old man." "I'll marry your son." "It's what I want most of all." "I'm glad you think like that, but..." "Who?" "Who other than Yatma could aspire to be my husband?" "Who else?" "Who?" "Yatma!" "I have to speak to you." "I know." "What about, father?" "Don't act the fool!" "I'm not the only one who knows." "People fear me and they don't dare come out with it and attack you, but nobody swallows that." "You killed your best friend." "Now, you're to marry his girl." "Why?" "You must see your actions through to the end!" "She'll never marry me." "She'll say no and then she'll say yes." "I can't do that." "Your eyes tell a different story." "This is the way it has to be." "Why Maxoye?" "It must be her!" "You have to look after the wife of the man you killed." "That's all." "Now go." "May God protect you, my son." "Maxoye will be your wife." "Maxoye Diene, daughter of Mboor!" "You are of noble lineage!" "Yatma Njaay!" "Son of Peer Njaay!" "You are of noble lineage!" "Today is an important day for both of you!" "Maxoye." "May God grant your wishes on this day!" "May God bless you with the happiness your mother has with your father!" "Yatma Njaay, son of Peer Njaay the Lion." "And I declare:" "When the doe jumps over a hedge, her baby doesn't have to crawl through." "Listen carefully." "I'm expecting a child, Mbanick's child." "I'm dying a thousand deaths." "Your father came to ask for my hand." "Do you know why I accepted?" "I accepted to make you suffer, to wreak my revenge." "This is the price of your forgiveness." "Each day of your life you will raise the child of the man you killed, and that child will remind you of your crime." "Kill me." "You wouldn't dare kill your friend again." "Coward!" "You only attack in the dark." "Six months later, with peace of mind, Maxoye gave birth." "My husband called him Mbanick in memory of his best friend." "Bamar was a great fisherman." "Until the day he met a dogfish." "The tadpole can't die by drowning." "Unless the water is boiling." "Your son-in-law will never be your son." "Unless you raise him as your own child." "Today, you've lost." "Tomorrow will be another day." "Get your hand off." "You're very kind, but never darken my doorstep again." "Don't you want to be friends?" "I only had one, he hasn't come back." "That was a long time ago." "Every day, I tell myself he'll come back, in the morning, in the evening." "I'll wait for him forever." "Want to be a griot like your father?" "Don't you want to be a fisherman now?" "I don't have a teacher." " We'll go out to sea together." " Really?" "Yes, we will." "Why are you so happy, Amul?" "You're hiding something." "Tomorrow we'll go to sea." "No way, Yatma prefers to go alone." "Don't you, Yatma?" "What are you going to do at sea?" "You're a griot's son." "The best chilli pepper is Pout's." "Especially in okra sauce." "After eating, my husband says:" ""Give me some ginger juice."" ""Or I'll send you back to your parents."" "Oh, men, they're like children, and once he's had his ginger!" "Here's Maxoye." "How does Maxoye like chilli pepper?" "Maxoye isn't like you, she doesn't do those things." "Right, she was sleeping and the wind lifted up her wrapover!" "Slowly, pull slowly." "Give it to me, give it to me." "Look how I do it." "See?" "Amul!" "Come here!" "You're a liar!" "Aren't you ashamed?" "Maybe you're afraid to be alone!" "If you're alone, it's your fault!" "Are you looking after my son properly?" "Yes, very well." "Like a good wife." "You're lying!" "Yes, I am." "Is the jewellery ready?" "Where's the little one?" "At Yaay Rama's." "You should look after him by yourself." "I let him go there every afternoon." "Her life is so sad since the death of your friend." "It's for you." "You're wearing this bubu again." " I never wore it before." " Yes you did." "That day you smiled at me in the market." "The village lived peacefully." "Two rainy seasons went by." "Mbanick's child got older." "He grew and grew." "Here's little Mbanick." "You sing really badly." "Come, wild beast!" "Don't touch!" "Don't touch anybody!" "Go back!" "Lie down!" "Come on, wild beast!" "Drink!" "Get up and go hunting!" "Don't touch him!" "You mustn't touch him!" " Griot!" " What is it?" "Don't add anymore, it's tasty enough!" "We like it that way!" "It's him again, he's furious." " The shark that follows us." " You never told me!" "Mbanick!" "I know why you're angry!" "Free me!" "My blood runs through Maxoye the same as yours did!" "Mbanick, free me!" "You've come a long way, son of Peer Njaay." "I heard your coming from Timbering a long time ago." "You're here now, but the dust on your way got here first." "Your footsteps are those of a man seized by fear." "I'm right, aren't I?" "Your enemies are powerful and they are waiting for you because you offended their prince." "This crime won't be forgiven." "What do I have to do?" "I'm not afraid to die, but I must think about my family." "I'd like to find peace of mind again, and for the sea to be a calm place once more." "Your remorse will not be accepted." "Twelve moons will have to pass before you go out to sea." "Heed my advice." "When the lion roars, the doe trembles." "When the shark's dorsal fin slices through the waves the cowardly fisherman hides behind his wife." "That's certainly true." "What do you think?" "Nowadays, the doe is braver than the lion." "Play this rhythm for me!" "Play it!" "Play it!" "Amul Yakar, you are son of a griot, and since you don't go to sea, prepare yourself for the life that awaits you." "You are the one who will soon hold on to this memory, spreading it among the people as they wish." "This will bring you greater joy than the thankless job you wanted." "You're not made for the sea." "Father." "I've made my choice already." "I want to be a fisherman." "Are you relying on Yatma?" "That scaredy-cat won't go to sea now!" "It's not like that." "We're having a rest." " How are you?" " Fine, thanks." "Where is my grandson?" "I miss him." "He's hanging out in the village." "Let him have fun." "My daughter." "Yes, the good Yaay Rama." "I know what you have to tell me." "I can see it in your mother's heart." "I would like there to be harmony again so our children can live in peace." "But that son of yours didn't forgive." "I know." "He's there, on the seabed." "I hear his cries." "Oh, Mbanick." "The children are growing up." "Thank God." "Tomorrow, they will be able to live in peace." "I'm not afraid of the people I see around me, but I can't fight the shadows." "I am with you." "What do you want to do?" "I will go out to sea." "If I stop going to sea, they will say I'm a coward." "I know that you will leave." "You can't hold a man back when he has that look." "At least, wait for your son's baptism." "If something happens to me, name him after me." "Peer!" "You and the Imam!" "Let me tell you something." "Why are you running away?" "Answer me!" "I'm an old woman, but I'll reveal your cowardice to everyone in Timbering." "You say that my son, Mbanick, was drowned, but you know it's not true!" "Yatma killed him and took his wife." "You know little Mbanick shares my blood, he's my grandson." "I have learnt to forgive, but the shark lying on the seabed has not." "He looks at you from the seabed." "He didn't forgive." "I'm his mother, I forgave." "You bunch of cowards." "Yatma!" "Yatma!" "The children have gone!" "Take me with you, Yatma!" "Leave me alone!" "Mbanick!" "It's me, Amul Yakar." "Your friend." "I've brought you your son." "His name is Mbanick... just like you!" " If you hear me, answer me!" " Amul!" "Amul Yakar, my son!" "He looks like you!" "Look at him!" "Mbanick, I beg you!" "Come back!" "You are all my children!" "Leave us alone!" "You lied!" "Mbanick is not your son!" "You're a murderer!" "Please don't go!" "Your are all my children!" "I'm ready, I'm here!" "Mbanick, leave Yatma alone!" "Mbanick, no!" "Timbering was a small village." "Mbanick, Maxoye, and Yatma lived out their passion until the end." "Ndeysaan." "Love..." "Since then, the waves have swept away their stories to far-off oceans." "And the sea itself learnt to forgive."