Children of Gebelaawi (56 page)

- Don 't you want to have pity on me as you used to?

- Oh, that was i n the past.

She seemed to be struggling against some terrible force. She

made a sign with her hand. He leaned sti ll closer to her. She

writhed and stretched out her neck. Her chest collapsed and

her breath rasped out. Sakeena urged:

- Help her to sit up! She wants to sit up!

He put his arms rou nd her to help her up, but she let out a

moan like a wordless farewell, and her head toppled on to his

chest. Sakeena hurried out with the baby. From outside, her

wailing broke the silence.

8 2 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I n the morning Qaasim 's house and the road i n front of i t

were thronged with people offering their condolences. The

Alley had a deep respect for the ties of kinship, without

enjoying any of their advantages. Omnibus had to come, and

in no time all the Desert Rats were fol lowing him. Even Trustee

Rifaat had to come, followed by Guzzler, Bruiser, and Pilgrim

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Grim, and soon everyone trooped along. The funeral procession was joined by huge crowds such as had never been seen before except at the funerals of strongmen. Qaasim showed a

philosophical fortitude, despite his hidden sorrows. Even

during the burial he wept with all his faculties except his eyes.

The mourners wen t, leaving only Qaasim, Zakaria, Uwayss

and Hassan at the grave. Zakaria patted Qaasim on the arm,

and said:

- Courage, my boy! And may God help you !

He hunched forward a little, sighing deeply, and murmured:

- My heart has been buried, Uncle.

Hassan's face was contorted. There was deep silence in the

graveyard. Zakaria took a step away, saying:

- Time we went!

But Qaasi m stayed where he was. He said resentfully:

- What made them come?

Zakaria saw what he meant.

- Let's be thankful to them anyway.

Uwayss plucked up his courage and said:

- Make a fresh start with them. Their gesture calls for a

response from you. Luckily what they say about you outside

our sector is not to be taken seriously.

Qaasim remained sunk in silence rather than argue with

him. Then up came a party led by Saadiq. It seemed that they

had been waiting for the mourners to disappear. There were

many of them, and not one of them a stranger. They em braced

Qaasim, and his eyes filled with tears. Uwayss looked at them

angrily, bu t no one took any notice of him. Saadiq said to

Qaasim:

- There's no longer anything to keep you in the Alley.

Bu t Zakaria retorted hotly:

- His little girl and his house and his property are there.

Qaasim said meaningfully:

- My staying in the Alley was a necessity, and thanks to i t

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Qaasim

your numbers have built up as time passed.

He looked at the faces that gazed up at him as if to reassure

himself of the truth of his remark. Most of them were those he

had urged during his nocturnal prowls to leave and join his

friends. He had been creeping out each night after the Alley

had fallen asleep, to visit those in whose affection he trusted

and who seemed ready to be convinced by his words. Bullrush

asked him:

- Shall we have to wait long?

- Till there are enough of you.

Saadiq leaned over, embraced him and whispered:

- I'm heart-broken for you. I know better than anybody

how hard your misfortune has been.

His feelings welled up again and he whispered:

- You 're right; the pain is terrible.

- Hurry up and join us, now that you're alone.

- All in good time.

Uwayss said loudly:

- We must get back.

The friends embraced, and Qaasim went back with his

companions. He passed his days sad and lonely in his house,

and Sakeena began to be afraid of what his sorrow migh t lead

to. But he kept up his secret, night-time prowls with a determination that knew no weakness. The number of those who had vanished went on growing, and people wondered anxiously

about them. Still more fun was made of the Desert Rats and

their strongman in the rest of the Alley; they said it would be

Omnibus's turn to run away any day now. Zakaria said to

Qaasim one day:

- This is the most alarming business and it will lead to

someth ing dreadful.

But he had to wait. Those were days full of activity and

danger, and only Ihsaan could bri ng a smile to his troubled

face. She was learning to stand, holding on to the edge of

chairs, and she would peer up at him with her i nnocent face

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Children of Gebelaawi

and twitter like a little bird. He used to enjoy looking at her face

and would say to himself: 'She'll be beautiful, but it matters

more to me that she should be good and loving like her

mother. ' He rejoiced in the dark eyes gazing up at him out of

the round face of a little Qamar - a lasting symbol of the bond

that fate had broken. He wondered whether he would live to

see her a lovely bride, or was she fated to have o n ly painfu l

memories of the house where she was born?

One day there was a knock at the door and Sakeena went to

answer it. A young voice said:

- Open up, Sakeena!

She opened the door and fou nd a girl of twelve or so,

wrapped for some reason in a woman's chador and with a vei l

over her face. Sakeena was surprised and asked what she

wanted, but she hurried into Qaasim 's room and said breathlessly:

- Good eveni ng, sir!

She took off the veil, revealing a face round as the moon,

golden as wheat, its singular features radiating liveliness.

Qaasim was astonished.

- Hello! Sit down ! Welcome!

She sat down on the edge of the sofa.

- I'm Badria. My brother Saadiq has sent me to you.

- Saadiq? !

- Yes !

He looked at her inquisitively.

- What makes him take such a risk?

She rep lied with an anxiety that added to her charm:

- Nobody could know me in this chador.

He realized that she looked older than she was. He nodded

and she went on, still more anxiously:

- He says you must leave at once, and that Guzzler and

Bruiser and Pilgrim Grim and Omnibus have plotted together

to kill you tonight.

He frowned uneasily. Sakeena moaned. He asked:

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Qaasim

- How does he know this?

- Mr Yahiaa told him.

- But how did Yah iaa find out?

- A drunken man gave the secret away i n a bar where there

was a friend of Mr Yahiaa's; that's what my brother said.

He gazed at her silently till she stood up and began wrapping the chador round her delicious body. He stood up too, saying:

- Thank you, Badria! Keep well covered up, and my

greetings to your brother. Take care !

She drew the veil over her face and asked:

- What shall I say to him?

- Tell him we' ll meet before the morning.

They shook hands, and she left.

8 3 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sakeena was pale and her eyes spoke of terror. She burst out:

- Let's leave the house without delay.

She jumped up to get busy. He said:

- Wrap up Ihsaan and hide her under your chador and go

out as if you were on some errand. Go to Qamar's grave and

wai t there.

- And you, sir?

- I shall join you when the time comes.

Her eyes wandered between confusion and terror. He said

calmly:

- Hassan wi ll take you to the p lace where we're going to

stay.

In a few moments she was ready to go. He kissed I hsaan

several times. Sakeena said as she went towards the door:

- May the livi ng God protect you !

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Children of Gebelaawi

He stood by the window overlooking the road, and watched

the maid wal ki ng towards Gemalia, til l she was hidden by the

bend. His heart pounded at the sight ofher arms folded roun d

her precious burden. He looked around the sector a n d saw

fol lowers of the strongmen, some sitting at Freewheeler's cafe

and others hanging about here and there. Their features were

indistinct i n the gathering darkness. They showed every sign of

getting ready, but would they lie in wait for him to set out on

h is night-ti me wanderings - ifthey had found out about them

- or would they besiege his house later in the night? Now they

were beginning to split up to prevent their secret being

discovered. There they were, creeping about in the darkness

like vermin, their breath reeking of crime. Would he meet the

fate of Rifaa or that of Gebel? Rifaa had found himself in this

position one dark night. He had hidden in his house, his heart

full of good intentions, while downstairs trod the heavy feet of

blood-thirsty enemies. When will you have had your fill of

blood, unhappy Alley?

Qaasim paced up and down i n his room till there was a

knock at the door and he heard the voice of Hassan calling.

Hassan came in with his massive body. His eyes were anxious

as he spoke:

- Something strange is going on in our sector, something

suspicious ...

Qaasim showed no outward concern at this remark.

- Is my u ncle home from his evening out?

- No! But I tel l you, something suspicious is going on. Take

a look through the shutters.

- I 've seen what's worrying you, and I know what's behind

it. Saadiq warned me i n good time by sending me his little

sister. If his message is correct, the strongmen are going to try

and kill me tonight; so Sakeena has fled with Ihsaan, and they

are waiting for you at Qamar's grave. Go to them and take them

to our friends' hideout.

- And you?

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Qaasim

- I'll escape in my turn and meet you.

H assan said with determination:

- I'm not leaving you alone.

Qaasi m urged him, with a touch of displeasure:

- Do as I say and don't hesitate. I'll use cunning, not

strength, to escape, and your strength would be no use to me

if I was forced to fight. But by going you will protect my

daughter and you may be able to post some of our men on the

roads from Gemalia to the Jebel, where they can help me if I

need them during my flight.

Hassan gave way and shook his hand vigorously:

- There's nothi ng like your intelligence, so perhaps what

you've prepared is best.

Qaasim answered with a calm smile and Hassan set off

frowning. Not long after, Zakaria came in panting, and Qaasim

was sure he had come from Yahiaa wi th the news, so he got i n

first:

- Saadiq sen t me the news.

- I heard ita short time ago when I passed by Yahiaa's place

and I was afraid it wouldn't have reached you.

Qaasi m sat him down and said apologetically:

- Forgive me the trouble I'm causing you!

- I 've been expecting this for a long time. I found Omnibus

was behavi ng differently towards me, and I began asking

myself questions. Today I see the devils swarming like locusts,

and here you are alone, and its almost impossible for you to

flee.

Qaasi m looked sti ll more determined.

- I shall try, and ifl fail there are men in theJebel who won't

be defeated.

Zakaria said angrily:

- What's the use of that compared with your life and your

child?

Qaasi m said reproachfully:

- I'm surprised you 're not at the head of my men.

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Children of Gebelaawi

Zakaria spoke as if he hadn't heard him:

- Come with me to Omnibus! We'll strike a bargai n with

him and agree to what he wants.

Qaasi m mocked his uncle's proposal with a short laugh.

Zakaria went over to the shutters and peered into the Alley,

where all was dark and sinister. He was roused by Qaasim's

voice asking:

- Why did they choose this particular night?

- The day before yesterday one ofGebel's men proclaimed

that your cause is for everybody's good, and the same is said of