There Are Rivers in the Sky

by Elif Shafak

They kill the water first. In this land where rivers are sacred and every drop of rain is a blessing, they creep in at dead of night and poison all the wells, shafts and fountains in the village. The next morning the inhabitants of Zêrav wake up to a shocking sight. Slabs of concrete, metal debris and sacks of pesticides have been dumped into every source of water. Several men volunteer to walk to the next Yazidi village to ask for help, only to find out that they, too, have suffered similar devastation and are in desperate need. The only drinkable water is kilometers away. The group, now larger, decides to go check on their Muslim neighbors. They are surprised to see that their fountains have been left untouched. It is only the water in the Yazidi settlements that has been tampered with.