The Day the Leader Was Killed Read Online Free Page A

annoys me sometimes that she will appear the more rational of the two. I will never forget the look in her eyes when I confessed that I could not possibly opt for the “sciences” at school: a long dialogue which never actually materialized but one which has always remained there, lurking in some corner. Our families have both fallen in the abyss of the
Infitah
. What grieves me most would be to see you unable to wear the type of clothes that match your beauty. What responsibilities lie ahead!
    “Let’s amuse ourselves by counting our enemies,” I once told her at the Pyramids Resthouse.
    “The
Infitah
monster and those expert crooks,” she said, joining in the game.
    “Would killing a million people be good enough?”
    “Killing just one person would be good enough!” she said, laughing.
    “Today you’re Randa al-Mahruqi,” I said, laughing too.
    My boss, Anwar Allam, summons me to his room and asks me to visit him at home at five o’clock in the afternoon so as to undertake a comprehensive revision before drawing up the end-of-year accounts. I told Randa about it. She made no comments.
    His flat is in a fairly new building in Dokki facing one of the entrances to the October 6th Bridge. He greeted me cheerfully, clad in suit and all.
    “Don’t be taken aback by the grandeur of the flat. You see, my sister lives with me and she’s a rich widow,” he said, as though he were trying to dispel any potential suspicions.
    Everyone today is suspect. We worked assiduously until eight o’clock. Meanwhile, the widow walked in to serve tea. He introduced us, presenting her as “my sister Gulstan.” From the very first glance, I felt I was in the presence of a woman who was forty to fifty years old, not bad looking, a little on the plump side but pleasantly so, and quite attractive in spite—or rather because—of her poise and sense of decorum. She did not sit down but just said, as she was getting ready to leave:
    “Ask your guest to stay for dinner with us.”
    “That’s an order!” said Anwar Allam.
    Dinner consisted of grilled meat, diverse salads,cheese, and olives, followed by custard pudding and apples. As we were having dinner, I could hear Anwar Allam saying:
    “I handle her affairs, for she has inherited from her husband two buildings and investment certificates.”
    I was struck by the fact that he wanted to let me know what she actually owned. I imagined more than one reason for his doing so. Then—on a compassionate note—he went on to tell her all about the problems involved in my engagement.
    “This is how it is for an entire generation.”
    “What makes matters worse is that Elwan is a man of principles!” said the man.
    “It’s wonderful to hear that. To have principles is the most important thing in the world,” she said with admiration.
    Her tone is indubitably sincere. I find her most attractive. I turn into gunpowder when I’m excited. I really do have problems this way.
    “My sister is perfect from all points of view except for one thing on which we disagree, and that is, her turning down more than one good offer of marriage,” said Anwar.
    “I’m not to be bought and sold. Besides, those are not men,” she said calmly.
    “A woman’s fortune is a legitimate asset, and this shouldn’t be taken against the man as long as he gives her her due, and then there are all the other advantages,” remarked Anwar Allam.
    “No man is to be trusted nowadays,” said Madame Gulstan.
    “Excuse me, sir, but why are you still not married?” I asked my boss in an attempt to change the subject.
    “For many reasons,” he answered somewhat vaguely.
    “He’s wrong, for he could easily get married,” added Gulstan, noticing that he hadn’t mentioned a single reason.
    He then went on to ask me about my family and Randa’s. My answers were frank but curt.
    “Randa is a wonderful girl but time is getting the better of her,” he said.
    A stab, and what a stab! Was it deliberate or