The Parquet man looked up, almost, strangely, with relief.
Are you questioning my conduct of the case, Captain Owen?
I am questioning the purpose of these questions.
Mr Fairclough has been attacked. They bear on the issue of possible motive.
Surely the motive is clear? This is a terrorist attack.
So you say, Captain Owen. But how can we be so sure? It seems to me that the reasons for the attack could well lie in Mr Faircloughs private life.
So that was it! The Parquet had decided that this was potentially a political hot potato and didnt want to have anything to do with it. They couldnt refuse to handle it but by handling it in this way, treating it as a purely domestic matter and denying that there was any terrorist connection at all, they hoped to force the British into taking it out of their hands altogether.
And incurring any possible odium.
Mohammed Bishari was watching him.
Of course, if you object to my conduct of the case it is always open to the Administration to terminate my connection with it.
And that, from the point of view of the Parquet, would be even better. If the British could be persuaded, or provoked, into rejecting them publicly then they would not only escape odium, they might even gain credit in the eyes of the Nationalists.
Owen smiled sweetly.
Far from objecting to your conduct of the case, I am looking forward to an extended opportunity to study the obvious talent of the Parquet in action. Just for the moment, however, I am sure you will agree that Mr Fairclough has been under very considerable strain recently and would benefit from a recess: quite a long one, I think, will be necessary.
Paul rang.
Theres a perfectly loathsome fellow I would like you to meet.
No, thanks, said Owen. Ive got a lot on my mind.
I know you are saving Cairo. And ordinarily I would not dream of interrupting you. But this abominable creature has been left on my hands and he will insist on seeing the night life of Cairo.
Look
I am all for letting him go on his own in the hope that he wont come back. However, the Consul-General and the Khedive take a different view. Hes a member of that delegation thats visiting us and they think he ought to have an escort. Given the present situation. And the fact that they think they can get some money out of him.
Cant you escort him?
No. Im already escorting somebody else. The one Im escorting is a Temperance Performer and I dont think she and Roper would mix.
What about young Bowden?
Young Bowdens too young. I like to think he doesnt know the sort of places Roper is bent on going to. And he wouldnt be up to it anyway. Ropers a hard casehes spent some years in the diamond fields down south. Things could get out of hand. We need someone more mature and used to rough-houses.
McPhee?
McPhee was the Assistant Commandant of the Cairo Police.
Used to knocking people around, certainly. But is he mature? He always strikes me as rather prim. Puritanical, too. I dont think he and Roper would get on.
I dont think Id get on with him either from what you say.
Ah, but you have the brains to subdue personal feeling in the call of duty.
I dont think
The Old Man does. Owens just the chap he said.
Ill bet.
True. He thinks it requires a political touch, you see. And he has a high regard for your political touch.
Why the hell does it require a political touch?
Because Roper has powerful friends. Hes been sent out here by some Syndicate or other who are interested in the Streeter Concession.
Emeralds? I wouldnt have thought there was enough of them to interest anyone big.
I wouldnt have thought so either. However, the Khedive does. The prospect of money, any money, is enough to send him into a tizzy. And the Old Man is just playing along. If the Syndicate finds there are more emeralds than Streeter thinks, then thats good. Good for the Syndicate, certainly, good for Egypt, possibly. If it doesnt, then at least the subject will have occupied the Khedives mind for a time and kept him out of the Old Mans hair. So that would be good too. I dont know about the emeralds, but Ropers certainly valuable property. And has to be guarded.
Oh Christ, said Owen resignedly.
Please please please please. And if thats not enough, the Old Man says its an order.
Owen made one last attempt.
How about the Army? Surely some young officer?
Confined to barracks, said Paul. You suggested it. Remember?
So that evening Owen found himself escorting the impossible Roper round Cairos night spots. They started with the dancing-girls since that was where Roper wanted to start: The best, mind, the best. Owen took him at his word and led him to a place below the Citadel, since that was the quarter where the Ghawazi gipsies lived, who provided the best dancing-girls in the country.
Roper was not, however, interested in the finer points so they moved on to the Sharia Wagh el Birket. The Sharia was picturesque in its way. One side of it was taken up by arcades with dubious cafés beneath them. The other side was given over to the Ladies of the Night. All the upper rooms had balconies; and every balcony had a Lady.
They drooped alluringly over the woodwork and because the street was so ill-lit, indistinct suggestion prevailed over close analysis. The men sitting at the tables of the cafés opposite gathered only a heady impression of light draperies trailing exotically from lofty balconies under the deep night blue of Egypt, while from the rooms behind lamps with rose-coloured shades extended diffuse invitation.
I like a bit of class, said Roper, impressed.
They went into a club beneath the balconies and watched a plump girl doing a belly-dance.
God, man, look at that! breathed Roper.
Aware of his interest, the plump girl wobbled closer. Although inexpert, she had mastered sufficient of the traditional art to give the impression of being able to move the four quarters of her abdomen independently. Roper, considerably the worse for wear by this time, made a grab at her.
The girl, used to such advances, evaded him with ease. Her tummy settled down to a steady, rhythmic rotation.
Roper made another lunge. This time he caught her by the wrist.
Not here, sweetie! said the girl. Upstairs.
She led Roper away.
Owen beckoned the barman over.
It would be a mistake if too much happened to him. OK?
The barman nodded and disappeared into an inner room.
A moment or two later he re-emerged and took up his position impassively. However, a glass suddenly materialized beneath Owens arm.
For the Mamur Zapt, the waiter whispered confidingly.
Owen was not altogether pleased at being so famous. But Cairo, at that time a small city, was like a village.
A dancer came over and sat in the chair opposite him.
Hello, dear, she said.
No thanks.
Oh, dont be like that.
Im the one whos got to stay sober.
Yes, said the girl, youll need to. Your friend wont.
Roper had been drinking three or possibly four to Owens one. Owen was counting on him lapsing into insensibility before long. That was the only prospect he could see of the evening ending.
Roper had been drinking three or possibly four to Owens one. Owen was counting on him lapsing into insensibility before long. That was the only prospect he could see of the evening ending.
Where are you from, love? inquired the girl.
Caerphilly.
Oh. The girl was plainly disappointed. I thought for a moment you came from near me.
Tyneside?
Durham.
The accents can be a bit similar.
The plump girl brought Roper back.
That was all right, he said to Owen.
A last drink.
Hell, no, man. Havent started.
The dancing began again. This time the second girl was on stage. She was less expert than the plump girl but by this time, no doubt, distinctions were escaping Roper. The café as a whole, mostly Arab, favoured plumpness and the applause was muted. Disappointed, the girl came towards Roper. The two went off together.
Owen was fed up. He was one of those people who wake very early in the morning and had been up since five. Conversely, he always fell asleep early in the evening. Or would if he could.
He felt a light touch on his arm. It was a gipsy girl.
I saw you at the Citadel, she said.
What are you doing over here?
Business is better.
Owen felt his pockets. The girl laughed.
Youre safe, she said. However, as she kept her hand on his arm he took the precaution of transferring his wallet to the button-down pocket of his shirt.
The girl laughed again.
That wouldnt stop me, she said. Why dont you just give me some?
Would you content yourself with that?
Yes.
Owen gave her some money.
Thank you. She looked around. Theyre all busy, she said. Ill stay here and talk to you for a moment.
The gipsies worked in gangs. Unusually in this Muslim country they used both men and women. The women distracted attention while the men slipped round. Of course, the women were quite capable of picking a pocket themselves.
Whats your name?
Soraya. Would you like to come with me?
Owen shook his head regretfully.
It would be nice, he said. The Ghawazi girls were noted for their accomplishments. They were without exception strikingly pretty, with thin aquiline faces, long black hair and dark lustrous eyes. They did not wear veils. And what aroused Arab men almost beyond endurance was a general sauciness, a boldness which was almost totally at odds with the self-subjection normally required of Muslim women.
Im with someone, he explained.
Yes, said the girl. I saw him. He did not like the dancing at the Citadel.
He is a stranger here. He does not know.
You are not like him.
I hope not.
He tried out a few words of Egyptian Romany on her. She looked at him in surprise.
You speak our tongue?
A little.
The language spoken by the Egyptian gipsy was not pure Romany. Much of it consisted of Arabic so distorted as to be unintelligible to the native Egyptian. Some of the words, however, were of Persian or Hindustani origin, and this interested Owen, who had served in India before coming to Egypt.
He told her this.
I am a Halabi, she said, meaning that she was one of the gipsies who claimed Aleppo in Syria as their place of origin.
Have you been there?
No.
Roper returned, weaving his way unsteadily through the tables.
Hello! he said. Who have you got there?
Her name is Soraya.
How about coming upstairs with me? he said.
Soraya considered.
I would prefer to go with you, she said to Owen.
You can bloody come with me, said Roper.
He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a wad of banknotes.
Here! he said. Do you want some of these?
Sorayas eyes glistened.
No knives! warned Owen.
Just keep out of it, said Roper. He grabbed the girl by the arm.
She pulled a knife out of her sleeve and slashed him across the hand. Roper swore and let go of her arm. She snatched the bank-notes, ducked under his arm and was gone.
What the hell! said Roper, dazed.
He sat down heavily in his chair and looked at his hand. A film of blood spread slowly back to his wrist.
Well, damn me! he said.
Want a handkerchief? said Owen.
What do you think I am? said Roper. Some kind of pansy?
To tie it up, said Owen, so that the blood doesnt get on your suit.
Roper swore again.
She a friend of yours? he said to Owen.
Not until now.
Roper went on looking in dazed fashion at his hand. Suddenly he thumped on the table.
Drink! he said. Drink!
The waiter brought him a whisky, which he downed in one.
Thats better! he said. Bring me another!
The waiter caught Owens eye.
Bring him another, said Owen. Make it a special one.
Roper drank that too. Owen waited for him to fall. Instead, he clutched at the table and steadied himself. He seemed to be trying to think.
She bloody knifed me! he muttered. He looked at Owen. Friend of yours, wasnt she? Well, shes no friend of mine!
He lunged across the table at Owen. Owen caught his arm and held him there.
Shut up! he said. Youre going home!
Am I hell!
Roper tried to throw himself at Owen, missed, and fell on the floor. Owen put a foot on his throat.
Get an arabeah, he said to the waiter.
He held Roper there until the arabeah came. Then he stooped down, hauled Roper upright and pushed him towards the door.
A waiter plucked at his arm.
The drinks, effendi.
Owen put his hand in his pocket, thought better and put it in Ropers pocket.
Roper suddenly tore himself away. He caught hold of a table and hurled it across the room, then swung out at an Egyptian who had been sitting at it. As the man fell, the waiters closed in.
The knot of struggling men edged towards the door. Just as they got there Roper went limp. He stood motionless for a moment, then bent forward and was violently sick.
The waiters sprang back, cursing.
Roper slowly collapsed until he was kneeling on the ground in the doorway both hands pressed to his middle.
Christ, I feel awful! he said.
The second girl, the Durham one, came forward and put a hand under his elbow.
Come on, love, she said.
Roper got to his feet and looked around dazedly.
Christ, I feel awful, he said again.
With the plump girl helping on the other side, the Durham girl manœuvred him out of the door. An arabeah was drawn up, waiting. As they tried to get him inside he collapsed again and fell under the wheels, groaning.
Owen bent down, caught him by the collar and tried to lift him up. The girls, used to such scenes, pulled Ropers arms over their shoulders and took his weight. At the last moment, however, he lurched and they all fell into a heap. Owen was pulled down too and found his nose pressed deep into the plump girls warm, soft flesh.
Owen! It was McPhees surprised voice. Owen! What on earth