Helena, goes up to a man standing under the awning of a carpet shop in an Istanbul market. As she approaches the man is laughing at something the shopkeeper next to him has said. He is thick set. He has two day stubble on his chin and when he laughs Helena can see he's missing a tooth. She thinks: "I've made a mistake." The shopkeeper glances up: "How can I help you? Would you like a carpet?" He grabs the woman's wrist and pulls her inside through the archway. "I haven't come about carpets." "100 dollars for this," he unfolds a closely woven rug, "is a very good price. The best. Where are you from? Serbia? Germany? Italy? Helena wrenches her hand away. The grip of the man leaves a hot painful, band on her wrist. "A taxi driver told me to come here." She thinks again: "I've been stupid. I've made a mistake." "He brought you to buy my carpets. Naturally. They are very good carpets. The best.&
Left wing commentary from the heart and the head