-- Ariel Dorfman Solus Christus, The Ilemi Republic -- Mid-January, Four Years After Declaration of the Caliphate The envelope was scuffed and stained. It bore no postmark, and it was addressed: Please HAND DELIVER to: Dr. Mark Mtume Chairman, GCC Charities P.O. Box 314 Lusaka, ZAMBIA The letter, written in small print in a delicate hand read: Dear Pastor Mtume: My name is Grace Wattanapanit. I represent a group of 27 Christians who are stranded in Kazakhstan. I teach Latin, French, and English to grade school and high school students. There are 16 adults and 11 children, all living at the French Embassy in the capital city of Astana. As you may know, the French had the last western embassy in Kazakhstan. Since the entire French contingent departed their legation last year, our situation has become increasingly difficult. In essence, we are the discarded houseboys, drivers, teachers, nannies, and cooks from three different departed embassies and consulates. Because we didn’t have French ancestry, our former employers didn’t deem it necessary to issue us sufficient travel documents to escape the country.
