Free Arabian Nights and Days by Naguib Mahfouz Page A

differing between the declared thoughts of the elite and the whispered exchanges of the common folk. Abdullah spotted Sahloul the bric-a-brac merchant engaged in a long conversation with Karam al-Aseel the millionaire and his heart tightened. He did not forget the penetrating look Sahloul had given him under his suspended head and he remembered seeing him circling around the retinue of the private secretary when he, Abdullah, had been about to shoot the arrow. So how was it that he had not been arrested? How had he vanished from the sight of the guards? Abdullah’s heart contracted with fear. He was surprised that, during the whole of his time as chief of police, the only man in the quarter about whom he had not come to know some secret was Sahloul. He was conversant with the circumstances of all the persons of position, with what was known and what was hidden, except for this man, who was a closed riddle.
X
    The fever heat of those in positions of responsibility did not abate, nor the harsh measures taken by them. As for the rest of the people, they became used to the incident, grew bored with talking about it, then forgot about it. Soon the demands of life took over from the events of history, and Umm Saad, the widow of Sanaan, said to the lady Rasmiya, the widow of Gamasa al-Bulti, “With the blessing of God and His wisdom, my son Fadil would like to marry Akraman.”
    Amid general rejoicing agreement was reached. They were all living in the real world and did not let a bygone dream spoil it. Then Umm Saad said, “You too, Lady Rasmiya!” And she made known the wish of Abdullah the porter to marry her. Rasmiya gave a slight laugh of surprise; she was neither pleased with the news, nor did she welcome it.
    “Marriage is for Akraman and Husniya, not for us,” she said shyly. Then, after a silence, she continued, “Gamasa has not died, his memory is still alive in me.”
    Fadil and Abdullah were both happy, each with the news he had received. Yes, Abdullah was upset at having to bury his emotions, but the Gamasa who was hidden inside him was overjoyed.
XI
    The wedding was celebrated in Umm Saad’s room. The two families were in attendance. Abdullah the porter was invited, and he brought as a present for the couple some amber and incense with the money he had earned during the day sweeping the courtyard, which he did with the same ardor he had employed when he embarked upon killing Buteisha Murgan, being intoxicated with the burning fragrance of the family, which had transfused into his limbs a lasting state of drunkenness. His heart boiled with the emotions of being a father and a husband, while at the same time love was humbled under the control of piety and love of God the Merciful. He regained the riches of an old emotion and took delight in being so close, burying his secret in a well that overflowed with sadness.
    Husniya volunteered to enliven her brother’s wedding, relying on her mastery of poetry and singing and her fine voice. To handclapping she sang melodiously:
    “My eye translates from my tongue for you to know
,
    disclosing to you what my heart conceals.
    When we met and tears were shed
    I became dumb and my eye spoke of the worries of my secret love.”
    They were all moved. So moved was Abdullah that his heart filled with tears. Rising to put wood on the fire, he heard a knocking at the door. As he opened it there loomed up in the cold darkness three spectral figures.
    “We’re foreign merchants,” said one of them. “We heard some beautiful singing and told ourselves that noble people don’t turn away strangers.”
    Fadil motioned to the women, who hid themselves behind a screen that bisected the room.
    “Enter in peace,” he told the strangers. “It is just a wedding that is restricted to the simple people involved.”
    “We want only to enjoy a friendly atmosphere with good people,” said one of the strangers.
    “It’s beautifully warm here,” said another.
    Fadil brought them a dish