Naguib Mahfouz - Palace of Desire

Clapping his hands together, Ibrahim al-Far said, "Perhaps it's a contagious disease, because within a month of our friend's attack each of us had a doctor's examination too, and the diagnosis in each case was the same: pressure."

Ali Abd al-Rahim observed, "I'll tell you the secret behind it. This is one of the side effects of the revolution. The proof is that no one ever heard of it before then."

Jalila asked al-Sayyid Ahmad, "What are the symptoms of this pressure?"

"A bitch of a headache and difficulty breathing when I walk."

Smiling somewhat anxiously, Zubayda murmured, "Who doesn't have those symptoms, if only occasionally? Do you think I've got pressure too?"

Ahmad Abd al-Jawad asked, "Above or below your waist?"

They all laughed, including Zubayda herself, and then Jalila said, "Since you're experienced with pressure, why don't you examine her. Perhaps you can discover what ailsher."

Ahmad Abd al-Jawad replied, "If she'll bring the sack, I'll supply the pump."

They laughed again. Then Muhammad Iffat protested, "Pressure, pressure, pressure … all we ever hear nowadays is the doctor giving us orders as though we were his slaves: Don't drink alcoholic beverages. Don't eat red meat. Beware of eggs."

Ahmad Abd al-Jawad asked scornfully, "What's a man like me to do? I eat only red meat and eggs and drink nothing but alcohol."

Zubayda replied immediately, "Eat and drink in good health. A man should be his own physician, letting our Lord have the last word."

During the time he had been forced to stay in bed he had followed his doctor's orders. When he had been able to get around again, he had forgotten this medical advice completely.

Jalila spoke up again: "I don't believe in doctors, but I'll admit they have an excuse for what they say and do. They make their living from illnesses just as we performers make our living from joyous occasions like weddings. They couldn't get by without their sack, pump, orders, and prohibitions any more than we could survive without the tambourine, lute, and songs."

With enthusiastic relief, al-Sayyid Ahmad said, "You're right. Illness and health, like life and death, arise solely from God's command. Anyone who trusts in God will have no cause for sorrow."

Laughing, Ibrahim al-Far said, "Feast your eyes on this man, folks. He drinks with his mouth, lusts with his eye, and preaches with his tongue."

Between guffaws, Ahmad Abd al-Jawad retorted, "There's nothing wrong with that, so long as I do my preaching in a brothel."

Examining Ahmad Abd al-Jawad and shaking his head with wonder, Muhammad Iffat commented, "I wish Kamal were here to profit from your sermon along with us."

Ali Abd al-Rahim asked, "By the way, is he still of the opinion that man's descended from an ape?"

Striking her hand against her breast, Jalila exclaimed, "How dreadful!"

"An ape?" Zubayda asked with astonishment. Then, as though reconsidering, she said, "Perhapshe was referring to his father, not a forefather."

Al-Sayyid Ahmad cautioned her, "He also showed that women are descended from a lioness."

Bursting into laughter, she replied, "I'd certainly like to see the child of a monkey and a lioness."

Ibrahim al-Far commented, "When Kamal grows up and leaves his family circle he'll observe that normal people are descended from Adam and Eve."

Ahmad Abd al-Jawad shot back, "Or I'll bring him here one day. That will convince him man's descended from dogs."

Ali A. bd al-Rahim went back to the table to fill their glasses again and asked Zubayda, "Since you know al-Sayyid Ahmad more intimately than any of us, can you say which animal family you'd place him in?"

She reflected a little as she watched Ali Abd al-Rahim's hands pour the whiskey. Then, with a smile, she replied, "The ass!"

Jalila asked, "Is this a compliment or an insult?"

Ahmad Abd al-Jawad answered, "Only her belly knows for sure."

They drank some more in the best of humors. Zubayda picked up the lute and sang, "Let down the curtain around us."

The body of Ahmad Abd al-Jawad began to sway to the music in an overwhelming intoxication. He raised his glass, which was empty except for a film of whiskey at the bottom, and looked through that at the woman, as though wishing to observe her with a golden spyglass. Whatever private resentment there might have been between them had vanished. It was clear that the bond between Ahmad and Zubayda had been reestablished. They all sang the chorus with Zubayda, Ahmad's voice growing loud with delight and ecstasy. The song concluded to their jubilant applause.

Muhammad Iffat immediately asked Jalila, "Speaking of the song 'His passion's revealed by his eyes,' what do you think of Umm Elalthoum?"

Jalila answered, "Her voice, with God as my witness, is beautiful, but all too often she's as shrill as a child."

"Some people say she'll be the next Munira al-Mahdiya. Others say her voice is even more marvelous than Munira's."

Jalila cried out, "Nonsense! How does this shrillness compare with Munira's magnificently husky voice?"

Zubayda remarked disdainfully, "There's something about her voice that reminds one of a Qur'an reciter — as though she was an entertainer in a shaykh's turban."

Ahmad Abd al-Jawad said, "I don't care for her, but a lot of people are wild about her. The truth is that the vocal era ended with the death of Abduh al-Hamuli."

Muhammad Iffat teased his friend, "You're a reactionary. You always try to cling to the past". Winking, he continued: "Don't you insist on ruling your home by fiat and force, even in the age of democracy and parliament?"

Al-Sayyid Ahmad replied scornfully, "Democracy's for the people, not the family."

Ali Abd al-Rahim said seriously, "Do you think you can rule the young people of today in the old-fashioned way? These youngsters are used to demonstrating in the streets and confronting the soldiers."

Ibrahim al-Far said, "I don't know what you're talking about, but I agree with Ahmad. We each have sons God help us."

Muhammad Iffat said playfully, "Both of you are strong advocates of democracy, but you're tyrants at home."

Ahmad Abd al-Jawad protested, "Do you really want me to assemble Kamal, his mother, and Yasin to let them vote before I deal with a problem?"

Zubayda burst into laughter. She reminded him, "Please don't forget Zanuba!"

Ibrahim al-Far said, "If the revolution's the cause for the problems our children are causing us, may God forgive Sa'd Zaghlul."

The drinking, chatting, singing, and joking continued. The din became louder, and their voices blended together. The night advanced, oblivious to the world. He would look at her and find her watching him, or she would be the one to glance at him and catch him watching her. He told himself, "In this world there's only one true pleasure". He wanted to express this thought but did not, either because his enthusiasm for sharing it weakened or because he did not feel he could say it. But why should he feel weak?

Once again he asked himself whether this was to be an hour's enjoyment or a long affair. His soul pined for entertainment and consolation, but there was a ringing in his ears, as though the waves of the Nile were whispering to him. He was almost halfway through his sixth decade. "Ask scholars how a lifetime can pass like this. We know it's happening, but at the same time we don't."

"What's silenced you? May God spare us evil."

"Me? A little rest…"

"Yes, how sweet it is to rest," he told himself. "A long sleep from which you'll rise in good health. How delightful it is to be healthy…. But they're always after you, not leaving you a single moment to enjoy peace. This look is fascinating, but the whispering of the waves is growing louder. How can you hear the singing?"

"Certainly not. We won't leave until we give him a proper wedding procession. What do you think? A procession… a procession! "