Fresh food

The platoon ate mutton for lunch yesterday, and it had been on the hoof only about two hours before it was on our plates.

We left after breakfast to drive to the far southern edge of our area, to meet with a sheik to discuss various matters. He was supposed to be around his home for about three days, so we drove out to see him. Of course, we can’t say when we plan to get there; that would just make us a target.

We drove for about an hour on paved roads, then for another hour on dirt roads. The dirt roads followed the edge of fields, canal banks and in some places just seemed to meander across the landscape. We took the roundabout path in order to avoid driving on the main road and risking an IED attack.

Eventually we arrived at the village, and asked for the sheik. In a village of mud huts, his house was the nice one; air conditioning, electricity, modern kitchen, TV in an entertainment center in the living room, outdoor, but plumbed, bathroom.

Turns out the sheik was in town. One of the Iraqis called him, and after a short conversation told us that he sheik was on his way, and he’d be there in an hour. We stood around, like soldiers do, and pondered our next move. Wait and be out quite a bit longer than we planned, or head back. The Iraqis invited us to sit for spell, and one brought out a pitcher of cold water and one glass. We each took the glass, sipped or drank, depending on thirst, and replaced the glass. The Iraqi held the tray, refilled the glass as necessary, and handed the glass around until everyone had some water. They did this a couple more times later, but used a small stainless steel bowl instead of a glass.

The guy left, and came back with cups of strong sweet Chai. As we sat and chatted and sipped Chai, we saw two of young men walking up carrying a dead sheep. Apparently the sheik told his family to prepare lunch, so they killed the fatted calf, so to speak. They walked around the edge of the house, and pretty soon we heard a scraping sound. They were sharpening a knife on the edge of the concrete walkway.

One of the men cut off the sheep’s head, then poked a hold in its hind leg. He blew into the hole and inflated the sheep until all four legs stuck straight out. He then cut down the center, and commenced to skin the sheep. I’m not quite sure what inflating it did for him. He still had to separate the skin form the meat, using the knife to cut the fascia. As he was doing this, a few sheep walked by, just on the other side of the fence.

After he got the skin off, he hung the sheep and disemboweled it into a large pan. After the sheik’s wife took over and cooked up lunch, which took about two hours from baa to being served. The sheik arrived during this time and we talked with him a bit, drinking cold cola. They served the mutton boiled with onions, kind of a soup with meat in it, white rice, a bowl of fresh cucumbers and tomatoes chopped into jellybean sized pieces, like a salsa, and a dish of tomato slices that had been boiled and seasoned. It was delicious. None of the Iraqis ate, at least while we were there.

We finished up lunch with more sweet Chai. We departed soon after, and left some candy and school supplies, and a case of bottled water, then motored back the way we came. Mission accomplished.