Chicago, Alaa Aswany [first e reader .TXT] 📗

a soft voice, “The president, God willing, is coming on a visit to America in two months. It’s a very important visit and comes under extremely sensitive circumstances and requires good preparation from us. Time is short, and any mistake on our part would result in a catastrophe.”

“Did Your Excellency find out his itinerary?”

“The itinerary is never revealed until the last moment and it is usually changed suddenly for security reasons. But I have found out, in my own way, that the president will visit Washington and New York and come to Chicago. Of course he will meet with his sons and daughters, the Egyptian students here.”

“Meeting with our revered president is a national festive occasion for all Egyptian students here.”

“You’re intelligent, Danana, and you understand that any visit by the revered president could change our lives. After the visit I could leave here to become a minister or be pensioned off.”

“To the ministry, sir, God willing. But please don’t forget me.”

Safwat Shakir laughed and he seemed to be in a good mood. He got up to leave but Danana insisted that he stay for dinner. Almost begging him, he said, “Safwat Bey, please, don’t deprive me of this honor, have dinner with us.”

“I have an important appointment at the consulate.”

“Please, sir, have a quick bite then go in God’s peace, to your appointment.”

Danana rushed inside, and in about a quarter of an hour Marwa emerged carrying the plates. Safwat received her with a smile and a scrutinizing look.

“Once again, I apologize for disturbing you, madam.”

Marwa muttered a few words, as if denying that she had been disturbed, but her face did not reflect that sentiment, which made Danana stare at her more than once to warn her. When he gave up on her face turning toward him, he started on another interlude welcoming Safwat. Marwa turned around to leave and Safwat asked her boldly, “Aren’t you going to eat with us?”

“I had dinner a short while ago. Please go ahead, Your Excellency, and enjoy in good health,” Marwa answered right away, as if expecting the question. Danana sat at the table opposite Safwat, who opened his briefcase and took out a miniature bottle of scotch. “Would you get me some ice?”

In a few moments Danana brought ice cubes and a large empty glass. Safwat said apologetically as he poured the whiskey, “I acquired this habit living in the West for many years: to have a drink with my meals.”

“You, sir, exert a superhuman effort in your work and you are entitled to some recreation.”

Safwat answered him with a dignified smile as he sipped his drink. He ate heartily then got up to leave. Danana saw him off to the door, and they had a short, serious conversation about what should be done in the following days. Danana stood bidding his master good-bye with his eyes until he disappeared inside the elevator. Danana sighed and closed the door behind him. And, just as a main character’s face changes from good to evil in science fiction movies, Danana’s features changed gradually as he crossed the corridor. When he reached the bedroom, his face expressed extreme wrath. He opened the door forcefully and found his wife lying down on the bed. He shouted in a thunderous voice, “Your behavior with the man was in extreme poor taste.”

“It’s he who doesn’t know how to behave properly. How can he come into your house when you are not there?” Marwa responded calmly.

“He wanted me for an important matter.”

“He could’ve left a message.”

“It’s much more important than that.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“Do you know who Safwat Shakir is?”

“It doesn’t matter who he is.”

“Safwat Shakir is the intelligence officer in the Egyptian embassy and the most important official there, more important than the ambassador himself. One report from him can raise me sky-high or ruin my future.”

Marwa looked at him for a long time, as if seeing him for the first time. “No matter what his post is, he has no right to enter your house when you are not there. Besides, I refuse to turn my house into a tavern.”

“I won’t allow you to ruin my future. I warn you. If he comes here again and you behave improperly toward him, it will be the end between us.”

“How I wish for this end and await it impatiently!” she said, looking at his face, itching for a confrontation.

He shouted at her, “That’s my mistake, marrying into an ignorant family.”

“I won’t allow you to insult my family.”

“That’s not an insult, it’s a fact.”

“Don’t you dare—”

“Your father, Hagg Nofal: is he educated or ignorant?”

“My father’s circumstances did not enable him to get an education, but he did his best and raised us and gave us the best education.”

“But he’s still ignorant.”

“My ignorant father, whom you don’t like, is the one spending his money on your house.”

Danana raised his hand and slapped her so hard she staggered back. She pounced on him and grabbed his shirt screaming, “You hit me? I won’t live with you another single day. Divorce me now, at once.”

CHAPTER 9

Thirty years later he still remembers that night vividly.

He had to abandon his shift at Qasr al-Ayni to go to her. Security forces were cordoning off the Cairo University campus completely, preventing entry or exit. Between University Bridge and the front gate several security checkpoints stopped him. They asked him the same questions and he gave them the same answers. At the last checkpoint there was a colonel who seemed to be the commander in charge. He looked tired and nervous and was smoking voraciously. He exhaled a thick cloud of his cigarette and said after inspecting his doctor’s identity card, “What do you want, Doctor?”

“I have a relative in the sit-in. I’ve come to return her to her family.”

“Her name?”

“Zeinab Radwan, College of Economics.”

The officer fixed him with an experienced glance and, as if he’d reassured himself that he was telling the truth, said, “I advise