Naguib Mahfouz - Midaq Alley

Abbas made no reply, but when he saw Radwan Hussainy's eyes fixed on him, he smiled and said vaguely, "Everything will pass just as though it never happened."

Radwan Hussainy turned to Hussain Kirsha, saying, "Welcome to the cleverest fellow in our alley! I will pray to God to lead you where your prayers will be answered. God willing, I hope to find you in your father's place when I get back, just as he wants."

At this, Sheikh Darwish emerged from his silence and said thoughtfully, "Oh, Radwan Hussainy, remember me when you are in the ritual dress and tell the People of the House that their lover's passion has drained and drunk him dry. Tell them he has spent all his wealth and possessions in pursuit of a futile love. Complain to them of the treatment he has suffered from the Lady of Ladies."

Radwan Hussainy left the cafe surrounded by his friends. He was now joined by two relatives who intended to travel with him as far as Suez. Hussainy turned off into the alley's business premises and found Salim Alwan poring over his ledgers. He greeted him cheerfully. "It's time for me to go; let me say farewell to you."

Alwan lifted his colorless face in surprise; he knew that Hussainy was leaving, but it did not interest him in the least. Radwan Hussainy knew, as everyone else did, of Alwan's sad condition, but he ignored his indifference and refused to leave the quarter before saying goodbye. Alwan now seemed a bit embarrassed by his indifference. Suddenly Radwan Hussainy folded Alwan in his arms, kissed him, and said a long prayer for him. Hussainy then rose, saying, "Let's pray to God that next year we can make the pilgrimage together."

"If God wills," muttered Salim Alwan mechanically.

They embraced once more, and Radwan Hussainy rejoined his friends. They all walked to the alley entrance, where a carriage loaded with baggage was waiting. The traveler shook hands heartily with his well-wishers, and he and his relatives got into the carriage. His friends watched it move slowly toward Ghouriya Street and then turn into Azhar Street.

Uncle Kamil told Abbas, "No one can give you better advice than Radwan Hussainy. Get yourself ready, put your trust in God, and go. I'll wait for you no matter how long you're gone. You will return in triumph and be the most successful barber in the whole quarter."

Abbas sat on a chair in front of the sweet shop not far from Uncle Kamil, and silently listened to what his friend said. He had told no one of his new secret. When Radwan Hussainy lectured him, he had thought of telling him of his decision, but he had hesitated and when the older man turned to Hussain Kirsha, Abbas had changed his mind. He had given the advice a good deal of thought.

However, it was the coming Sunday that now occupied his thoughts. A night and a morning had passed since the unexpected meeting in the flower shop. Meanwhile he had carefully gone over the incident time and time again in his mind. He now knew that he still loved the girl, even though she was clearly lost to him forever. Most of all he longed to have revenge on his rival.

Uncle Kamil asked him anxiously, "Tell me, what have you decided to do?"

"I'll stay here at least until next Sunday," replied Abbas, getting up. "Then everything will be in God's hands."

"It won't be too hard to forget if you really make the effort," Uncle Kamil commented sympathetically.

"You're right," said Abbas, about to leave. "Goodbye, then!"

He walked off, intending to go to Vita's bar, where he thought Hussain had gone after saying farewell to Radwan Hussainy. Abbas was still in a deeply troubled state. He looked forward to Sunday, but what would he do when it came? Would he plunge a knife in his rival's heart? Would he really be able to do it? Could his hand manage a murderous thrust? He shook his head doubtfully. All degrees of crime and violence sickened his peaceful nature.

What would he do when Sunday came? He yearned to see Hussain Kirsha to tell him Hamida's story and ask his advice. He desperately needed help. Now, convinced of his weakness, he recalled Radwan Hussainy's advice: "Go back to Tell el-Kebir today." Yes, why should he not give up the past and all its sadness and summon up his courage and stoicism and go off to work and to forget?

In a turmoil of indecision he entered Vita's bar. There was Hussain Kirsha soberly sipping red wine. Abbas greeted him and said emotionally, "You've drunk enough. I need you for something. Come on with me."

Hussain raised his eyebrows in annoyance as Abbas lifted him by the arm, saying, "Hurry, I need you badly."

Hussain groaned, paid his bill, and left the tavern with his friend. Abbas was determined to get his advice before the effect of drink overcame him.

When they were in Mousky Street, he said to Hussain as though in great relief, "I've found Hamida, Hussain…"

"Where?" asked Hussain, his small eyes glinting with curiosity.

"You remember that woman in the carriage I chased yesterday? It was Hamida!"

Hussain shouted in surprise, "Are you drunk? What did you say?"

Very serious and full of emotion, Abbas repeated, "Believe me. That was Hamida and I talked with her."

Still stunned, Hussain asked, "You expect me to refuse to believe my own eyes?"

Abbas told him of his conversation with the girl and finished by saying, "That's what I wanted to tell you. There's no hope for Hamida now, she's lost forever, but I am not going to let that filthy gangster escape without punishment."

Hussain gazed at him for a long time, trying to understand him. By nature he was foolhardy and reckless and it took him time to get over his astonishment. Then he commented scornfully, "Hamida is the real culprit. Didn't she run off with him? Didn't she yield to him? How can you criticize him? A girl attracted him and he seduced her; he found her easy and he got what he wanted. He wanted to exploit her talents, so he let her loose in the taverns. Why, he's a clever fellow. I only wish I could do the same to get out of my financial problems. Hamida's the real criminal, my friend."

Abbas understood his friend and realized without a doubt that Hussain had no scruples about what his rival had done. Therefore he refrained from criticizing the man's morals and tried to arouse Hussain's sense of injury another way. He asked, "But don't you think this fellow has insulted our honor and therefore must be punished?"

The use of the word "honor" did not escape Hussain's notice, and he realized that Abbas referred to the near-brotherly ties that bound them so closely. He suddenly recalled how his sister had been thrown into prison because of a similar scandal and the thought enraged him. He roared, "That doesn't concern me. Hamida can go to the devil!"

He was not completely truthful in what he said. If he had had the culprit before him at that moment, he would have sprung on him like a tiger and dug his claws deep. Abbas, however, believed him. In a slightly critical tone, he said to Hussain, "Doesn't it infuriate you that a man should do this to a girl from our alley? I agree with you that Hamida is to blame, so one can't really criticize the man. But still, isn't it an insult to us that we should avenge?"

"What a fool you are," shouted Hussain indignantly. "You're not mad because of your honor, as you think. It's pure jealousy. If Hamida agreed to come back to you, you'd go off with her quite happily. How did you greet her, you poor sap? You argued and pleaded with her? Bravo! Well done! What a brave fellow you are indeed… Why didn't you murder her? If I were in your position, I wouldn't have hesitated a minute. I'd have throttled her on the spot and then butchered her lover and disappeared… That's what you should have done, you fool!"

His near-black face took on a satanic look as he continued to bellow, "I'm not saying this to escape doing my duty. This fellow should pay for his aggression. And he will! We'll keep the appointment you made and we'll beat him up. Then we'll wait for him in all his haunts and beat him up again, even if he has a gang with him. And we won't stop doing this until he pays us off, at a good price. That way we'll have revenge and profit from him at the same time!"