Silent Songs

‘Silent Songs’ is a chapter of the comic, preceded by The Perfect Gift and followed by A Summons.

Episode 1

Zach buys a copy of Meissa, the magazine in which Zhen’s design collective was selected for a feature. He then heads to AA-Xerox to read it. Sabbah picks up some zines from the print shop, to raise awareness for a uni society campaigning for secular government reform with other activists. Zach takes a zine and leaves for dinner at Habibi’s Diner with Musa and Sam, to begin a new Thursday tradition now that they don’t need to use the TV there. Musa doubts that the zine is right about needing reform, but Sam claims the government is corrupt, excepting Miriam.

Episode 2

Zach is confused about what Miriam does in government, what a prime minister is, and how that fits in with Dawlat Al-Harir being an autocratic theocracy under the Divine Oracle. Musa explains Al Harir dynasty, the sect representatives on the council, the prime minister Miriam, and the minor ministry leaders. Musa uses the map from the zine to explain regional leaders. Musa counters Sam’s complaint that each leader is nepotist and selfish with the argument that every sect is represented. They realise that Bird folk don’t have a representative, unlike the other sects.