“What?”
“Yes. You even use his very words.”
My voice sounded strange to me and it occurred to me that I was drunk. I knew that alcohol had a greater influence on me when I was tense. I responded to a fateful, persistent, mysterious feeling and asked her, “Isn’t it strange that Safwat Shakir knew about our relationship? Even more strange, where did he get a copy of the apartment key? Wendy, who fed him all this information?”
She stared at me, her eyes growing wider in disbelief. She said in a voice shaking with uncontrollable agitation, “What do you mean?”
“I don’t mean anything specific. I am just wondering: How did he know the details of our relationship? And if he had videotapes of us, there must be a camera in the bedroom. Who put it here?”
She looked at me for a moment then turned and rushed to the bathroom. I stayed put. I had no ability or desire to do anything. I was hurtling down the abyss at breakneck speed and I couldn’t stop. I poured another drink and took a big gulp. After a short while Wendy appeared. She’d put on her clothes and put the dance outfit back in the bag she had brought. Her face was different. She avoided looking at me and hurried toward the door. I hurried after her.
“Wendy.”
She didn’t turn around. I held on to her, but she struggled loose and pushed me with her hand. I saw her face at that moment, wet with tears. I said in a pleading voice, “Please, listen to me.”
But she left and slammed the door.
Chapter 30
“Dr. Baker is known for his fanaticism against Muslims, and I, thank God, am a Muslim proud of my religion. He tried more than once to make fun of Islam in front of me but I dumbfounded and scolded him, so he decided to take his revenge on me and fabricated this issue,” Danana said to Marwa, who was sitting in front of him on the sofa. Then he bowed his head, his face looking like that of someone stoically and patiently withstanding excruciating pain. Marwa, of course, had noticed several gaping holes in his account, so she said, trying to maintain a neutral smile, “This is a strange story.”
“Strange? Why? Your enemy is the enemy of your religion and God Almighty has said in the Noble Book: ‘Never will the Jews be satisfied with thee, neither the Christians, not till thou followest their religion.’”
“But you told me before that Dr. Baker likes Egyptians.”
“That’s what I thought until the dirty reality revealed itself. You know that I am kindhearted and am easily deceived by people.”
“Couldn’t it just be a misunderstanding?”
“I tell you he is going to expel me from the department, you tell me it’s a misunderstanding?” Danana shouted angrily.
Marwa kept silent for a moment then asked him, “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you go to the investigation hearing and tell them the truth?”
“You think Baker’s American colleagues will disbelieve him and believe me?”
He bowed his head then said in a subdued voice, “An injustice has been done to me. But God is great. He sent me Safwat Bey Shakir to help me.”
Marwa felt that the conversation was drifting into unknown territory filled with hidden possibilities, so she maintained her silence. Danana went on, as if talking to himself. “Safwat Bey promised me that he would settle the matter with the educational bureau, and after that, he’ll enroll me in another university.”
“Thank God.”
“Have you seen in your life a kinder and more generous man?”
“Of course not!”
“So, I ask you, for God’s sake, can I turn down any request by this man?” Marwa looked at him in silence, but he persisted sharply, “Answer me.”
“What exactly do you want?”
“I want nothing but what’s good. We, Marwa, are a couple. We are partners, in good times and bad. Right now I am going through an ordeal. Safwat Bey has done me a big favor.”
“What’s that got to do with me?”
“Safwat Bey wants you to work with him.”
“Me?”
“Yes. He’ll appoint you as a secretary in his office.”
“But I’ve never worked as a secretary before.”
“It’s not that difficult. You’re intelligent and you’ll catch on quickly. If Safwat Bey wanted he could appoint ten American secretaries. But work in his office is subject to special considerations.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Whoever works with him will get to see highly classified documents. He wants you because he trusts you. American and Israeli intelligence will seek to recruit any secretary working with him to have access to our country’s secrets. Your work with Safwat Bey is a small return of his great favor, but it is also a patriotic act.”
Marwa fell silent again, as if the rush of events had discombobulated her and made her unable to think.
“What do you think?” Danana asked quickly and looked at her like someone who had thrown the dice in a backgammon game and was waiting for the result. He had prepared himself to convince her by any means. She must work with Safwat Shakir. He would urge her, beg her, quarrel with her, use her father to convince her if need be. He sat before her, ready for any reaction. Several moments passed, and then she raised her head toward him and said calmly with a mysterious smile on her face, “I accept.”
Chapter 31
How does winter turn into spring?
First the ice melts, and then life comes back to the dry branches and the flowers begin to come alive. That was how Carol’s life changed after she started working in commercials. She stopped her miserable search for a job and repaid, in installments, the money she had borrowed from her friend Emily. She bought new clothes for little Mark and got him a pass for the nearby bowling club. She gave Graham three elegant summer outfits and persisted until he started to buy his favorite Dutch pipe tobacco (about which he couldn’t hide his happiness). Then she bought a used Buick and painted the whole house, and she planted beautiful trees in the garden. One morning, she was having breakfast with Graham on the porch and wearing an elegant white cotton kimono (that she had bought from the popular Tigoro store). While he was smoking his pipe, drinking coffee, and reading the
Graham looked stunned. He kept playing with his beard for a few moments then said slowly, “That’s a good idea, but I’m attached to this house, Carol. I’ve lived here for twenty years. Everything in it reminds me of parts of my life.”
“We’ll move to a bigger and more beautiful house.”
“My feelings might be foolishly romantic, but I actually can’t imagine myself in another house.” She looked disappointed. He held her hand and whispered, “In any case, I promise you I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t do anything against your will.”
“I’ll do whatever makes you happy.”
She looked at him, overflowing with feeling toward him. She rushed to him, put her arms around him, and showered him with kisses. She loved him more than she ever had.
