Free Children of Gebelaawi by Naguib Mahfouz Page A

as if to crush the fear that travelled through
    his trembling li mbs to the candle in his hand. He crossed to the
    table and gazed at the leather binding of the book, which was
    embellished with gold-i nlaid lettering. He stretched out his
    h and and opened it. It was difficult for him to compose his
    though ts and overcome his confusion. He began reading in
    the Persian script: 'In the Name of God .. .'
    Suddenly he heard the door open. His head was jerked
    round violently towards the sound, without his willing it, as
    though the door had pulled him as it opened. By the candlelight he saw Gebelaawi, blocki ng the doorway with his great 38
    Adham
    bulk, looki ng at him wi th a cold, cruel stare. Adham looked
    i nto his father's eyes, si lent and motionless. All power to speak
    or thi nk or move deserted him. Gebelaawi commanded him:
    - Out!
    Bu t Adham was unable to move. Utterly hopeless, he stayed
    where he was, like a lifeless object, except that an object cannot
    feel despair. His father shouted:
    - Out!
    Terror aroused him from his paralysis and he moved. His
    father stepped aside from the doorway, and Adham left the
    private chamber, the candle sti ll flickering in his hand. He saw
    Umayma standi ng speechless in the middle of the room, tears
    streaming down her face. His father motioned to him to stand
    beside her, then addressed him coldly:
    - You wi l l answer my questions truthfully.
    Ad ham 's expression conveyed his willi ngness. Gebelaawi
    asked:
    - Who told you abou t the book?
    Adham answered wi thout hesi tation, like a broken vessel
    pouring out i ts contents:
    - ldrees.
    - When?
    - Yesterday morni ng.
    - How did you meet?
    - l-Ie slipped in wi th the new tenants and waited till we were
    alone.
    - Why didn't you throw him out?
    - I cou ld n't bring myself to throw him out, Father.
    Gebelaawi said sharply:
    - Don't call me 'Father'.
    Ad ham gathered all his strength and said:
    - You're sti ll my father in spite of your anger and my
    stupidity.
    - Is he the one who made you do this?
    39
    Children of Gebelaawi
    U mayma answered, though he had not addressed the ques-
    tion to her:
    - Yes, sir!
    Gebelaawi shouted:
    - Quiet, vermin! (Then to Adham:) Answer me!
    - He was desperately unhappy and repentant, and he
    wanted to feel secure about his children's future.
    - And you did this for him!
    - On the contrary ... I apologized and told him I couldn't.
    - What made you change your mind?
    Adham sighed i n despair, and muttered:
    - The Devil.
    Gebelaawi asked cruelly:
    - Did you tell your wife what had passed between you?
    At this point Umayma began to wail. Gebelaawi silenced
    her, then motioned Adham to answer:
    - Yes !
    - And what did she say to you?
    Adham kept quiet and swallowed hard. His father shouted:
    - Answer me, you wretch!
    - She was keen to fi nd out your will, and thought i t would
    harm nobody.
    Gebelaawi glared at him with utter contempt:
    - And that is how you consented to betray the one who
    preferred you to your betters?
    Adham said with a groan:
    - It's no use my maki ng excuses for my crime; but your
    mercy is greater than any crime or any excuses.
    - So you plot against me wi th Idrees whom I expelled for
    your sake?
    - I didn't plot with Idrees. I 've done wrong, and my only
    hope is your mercy.
    Umayma implored him:
    - Sir. ..
    - Quiet, vermi n!
    40
    Adham
    He looked from one to the other, frowning,then said i n a
    terrible voice:
    - Get out of the house!
    Adham appealed:
    - Father!
    In a brutal voice Gebelaawi said:
    - Get out of the house before you are thrown out!
    9 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    The great gate opened again, this time to see the expulsion
    of Adham and Umayma. Adham carried a bundle of clothes,
    and Umayma followed with a second bundle, some pots and
    pans and a little food. They left, crushed and hopeless. When
    they heard the gate close behind them their voices rose to a
    wai l, and Umayma said between her sobs:
    - I deserve worse than death.
    Adham 's voice