Archive of Our Own

"You certainly receive a lot of mail, my brother."

Snort. "Yeah, I do."

"A rather blasé attitude to take about it."

"Well, it might be different if I could read it. I'm still learning the arabic alphabet."

"Oh. Yes, there is that." Pause. "Pick one and I shall read it to you."

"Here."

"Hmmn ... there's a drawing. This letter is from a child."

Dear Mr. Atom Smasher

Chuckle. "Mr. Atom Smasher."

My name is Sadora Zawari and I am nine years old. I was in the factory the night you came and killed the bad men. My brother was there too but he died a week before you came.

"Shit."

"To quote your fellow American, Mark Twain, 'under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer'."

They cut off all my hair before you came, so you probably thought I was a boy. I am really a girl.

They hurt me every day in the factory. I was always hungry. Ahmed, my brother, died because he got a beating instead of me. He lied and said that he took bread when it was me.

After you helped kill the bad men, I went home. We all miss Ahmed very much, but mommy and daddy are happy that you freed me. I am happy that you freed me. I am happy to be back at home. We have a songbird and it sings to us. He eats seeds and little bits of bread. I can play dolls with my cousin Fatima again. I sometimes have nightmares about the factory and they make me scared, but I remember how you came and saved me. Mommy and daddy say I will never have to go back because you and Teth Adam will keep us safe.

Can you come to the market? We have a booth with a red cloth. I help after I'm done with school for the day. I like school exept for math. It's hard. We have the best fresh figs from my Uncle Achmed's orch trees. If you come I will make mommy give you honey dates with almonds inside. They are very delicou yummy.

Love, Sadora

PS. The picture is you saving me from the bad men at the factory

Chuckle. "She drew my lightning bolt backwards. Your atom looks like a snarl of string." Pause. "Do you remember her?"

"I-I think so." Heavy sigh.

"A pity it is we did not act sooner. We might have ...." Pause. "You should go to the market and visit her."

"I don't know, Teth Adam, it's just--"

"The people need their larger than life saviors, my brother. But sometimes their saviors need to be people."