Sugar Street tct-3

by Naguib Mahfouz

  Their lips met in a long, famished kiss. Then she asked, "Where were you?"

  With wrenching suddennesshe remembered the lesson on politics in Islam. But he answered, "With some friends at the coffeehouse."

  In a tone of protest she said, "The coffeehouse! When there's only a month before the examination?"

  "I know what I have to do to prepare for it. … But now I'll kiss you again to punish you for thinking ill of me."

  "Your voice is too loud. Have you forgotten where we are?"

  "We're in our home, in our room. The landing is our room!"

  "This afternoon, when I was going to my aunt's, I glanced up in hopes of seeing you at the window, but your mother was looking down at the alley, and our eyes met. I trembled with fear."

  "What were you afraid of?"

  "I imagined that she knew I was looking for you and that she had discovered my secret."

  "You mean 'our secret.' It's the same bond that links both of us together. Aren't we now a single entity?"

  Racked by unruly desire, he hugged her violently to his chest as if, in his desperate capitulation to lust, he was attempting to flee the faint voices of protest lodged deep inside him. Blazing fires seared him. He was seized by a force capable of dissolving the two of them into a single swirling vortex.

  The silence was broken by a sigh and then by heavy breathing. He finally became aware that he and she were separate beings and that the darkness sheltered two figures. Then he heard her ask shyly in a gentle whisper, "Shall we meet tomorrow?"

  With a resentment he did his best to conceal, he replied, "Yes… yes. You'll find out when…."

  "Tell me now."

  As his annoyance grew increasingly hard to bear, he said, "I don't know when I'll have time tomorrow."

  "Why not?"

  "Goodbye for now. I heard a sound."

  "No! There wasn't any sound."

  "Nobody should find us like this."

  He patted her shoulder as if it were a dirty rag and freed himself from her arms with affected tenderness. Then he quickly climbed the stairs. His parents were in the sitting room listening to the radio. The door of the study was closed, but the light shining through its little window indicated that Ahmad was studying. Saying, "Good evening," to his parents, he went to the bedroom to remove his clothes, bathe, and cleanse himself in the manner prescribed by Islam, before returning to his room to pray. Afterward he sat cross-legged on the prayer rug and lost himself in deep meditation. There was a sad look to his eyes, his breast was aflame with grief, and he felt like crying. He prayed that his Lord would come to his aid to help him combat temptation and to drive Satan away, that Satan he encountered in the shape of a girl who inspired a raging lust in him.

  His mind always said, "No," but his heart, "Yes". The fearful struggle he experienced invariably ended with defeat and regret. Every day was a test and every test an experience of hell. When would this torment end? His entire spiritual effort was threatened with ruin, as though he were building castles in the sky. Sinking into the mud, he could not find any secure footing. He wished his remorse could bring back the past hour.

  128

  In Ghamra, Ahmad Ibrahim Shawkat finally found his way to the building of al-Insan al-Jadid (The New Man) magazine. Situated halfway between streetcar stops, the structure had two stories and a basement. From the wash hanging on the balcony, he realized at once that the top floor was an apartment. There was a sign with the magazine's name on the door downstairs. The basement was the printshop, for he could see its machines through the bars of the windows. He climbed the four steps and asked the first person he met a worker carrying proofs for Mr. Adli Karim, the magazine's editor. The pressman pointed to the end of an unfurnished hall and a closed door with a sign reading: "Editor in Chief". Ahmad walked that way, thinking he might see a receptionist, but reached the door without finding one. After a moment's hesitation he knocked gently. Then he heard a voice inside say, "Come in". Ahmad opened the door and entered. From the far end of the room, two wide eyes stared at him questioningly from beneath bushy white eyebrows.

  Closing the door behind him, he said apologetically, "Excuse me. One minute…."

  The man replied gently, "Yes___"

  Ahmad went up to the desk, which was stacked with books and papers, and greeted the gentleman, who rose to welcome him. When the editor sat down again, he invited Ahmad to have a seat. The young man felt relief and pride at being able to view the distinguished master from whose magazine and book she had gained so much enlightenment during the past three years. Ahmad gazed at the pale face, which seemed even whiter because of the man's white hair. Age had left its mark on this visage. The only remaining traces of youth were deep eyes that sparkled with a penetrating gleam. This was his master, or his "spiritual father," as Ahmad called him. Now the young man was in the chamber of inspiration with its walls hidden behind bookshelves that stretched all the way to the ceiling.

  The editor said curiously, "You're welcome…."

  Ahmad answered suavely, "I've come to pay for my subscription". Reassured by the favorable impression his words had made, he added, "And I'd like to find out what happened to the article I sent the magazine two weeks ago."

  Mr. Adli Karim smiled as he inquired, "What is your name?"

  "Ahmad Ibrahim Shawkat."

  The editor frowned as he tried to place the name and then said, "I remember you. You were the first subscriber to my magazine. Yes. And you brought three other ones. Isn't that so? I remember the name Shawkat. I think I sent you a letter of thanks on behalf of the magazine."

  This pleasant memory made him feel even more at home, and Ahmad said, "The letter I received referred to me as 'the magazine's first friend.'"

  "That's true. The New Man is devoted to principle and needs committed friends if it is to compete with all the picture magazines and the journals controlled by special interests. You are a friend of the magazine and most welcome. But haven't you honored us with a visit before?"

  "Of course not. I only got my baccalaureate this month."

  Adli Karim laughed and said, "You assume a person must have the baccalaureate to visit the magazine?"

  Ahmad smiled uneasily and replied, "Certainly not. I mean I was young."

  The editor commented seriously, "It's not right for a reader of The New Man to judge a person by his age. In our country there are men over sixty who have youthful minds and young people in the spring of life with a mentality as antiquated as if they had lived a thousand years or more. This is the malady of the East". Then he asked in a gentler tone, "Have you sent us other articles before?"

  "Three that were ignored and then this last article, which I was hoping you would print."

  "What's it about? Forgive me, but I receive dozens of articles every day."

  "Le Bon's theories of education and my comments on them."

  "In any case, if you look for it in the adjoining room where the correspondence is handled, you'll discover its fate."

  Ahmad started to rise, but Mr. Adli gestured for him to remain seated and said, "The magazine's more or less on vacation today. I hope you'll stay and talk a little."

  Ahmad murmured with profound gratitude, "I'd be delighted, sir.

  "You said you got the baccalaureate this year. How old are you?"

  "Sixteen."

  "Precocious. Excellent. Is the magazine widely read in the secondary schools?"

  "No, unfortunately not."

  "I realize that. Most of our readers are at the University. In Egypt, reading's considered a cheap entertainment. We won't develop until we accept that reading is a vital necessity". After a pause he asked, "What's the attitude of secondary-school students?"

  Ahmad looked at him inquisitively, as if wanting clarification of the question, and the man said, "I'm asking about their political affiliation, since that's more obvious than other things."

  "The overwhelming majority are Wafdists."

  "But is there any talk of the new movements
?"

  "Young Egypt — Misr al-Fatat? It's insignificant. You could count its supporters on your fingers. The other parties have no foliowers except for relatives of the leaders. Then there is a minority that's not interested in any of the parties. Some, and I'm among them, prefer the Wafd to the others but hope for a more perfect one."

  With satisfaction the man said, "This is what I wanted to know. The Wafd is the people's party and represents an important and natural step in our development. The National Party is Turkish, religious, and reactionary. The Wafd Party has crystallized and purified Egyptian nationalism. It has also been a school for nationalism and democracy. But the point is that the nation is not and must not be content with this school. We want a further stage of development. We desire a school for socialism. Independence is not the ultimate goal. It's a way to obtain the people's constitutional, economic, and human rights."

  Ahmad cried out enthusiastically, "What a fine statement!"

  "But the Wafd must be the starting point. Young Egypt is a criminal, reactionary, Fascist movement. It's just as dangerous as the reactionary religious groups. It's nothing more than an echo of German and Italian militarism, worshipping power, demanding dictatorial control, and disparaging human values and human dignity. Like cholera and typhoid, reactionary movements are endemic to this region and need to be eradicated."

  Ahmad said zealously, "We in the New Man group believe this firmly."

  The editor nodded his large head sorrowfully and said, "That's why the magazine is a target for reactionaries of every stripe. They accuse me of corrupting the young."

  "Just as they once denounced Socrates."

  With a gratified smile, Mr. Adli Karim said, "What's your goal? I mean, which college of the University are you heading for?"

  "Arts."

  The editor sat up straight and remarked, "Literature is one of the greatest tools of liberation, but it can also be employed for reactionary ends. So watch your step. From the mosque university of al-Azhar and from the Dar al-Ulum teachers college have come a sickening type of literature that has left generations of Egyptians with rigid minds and broken spirits. But no matter what, science is the foundation of modern life. … Don't be surprised that a man who is considered a literary figure should tell you this frankly. We must study the sciences and absorb the scientific mentality. A person who doesn't know science is not a citizen of the twentieth century, even if he is a genius. Artists too must learn their share of science. It's no longer just for scientists. Yes, the responsibility for comprehensive and profound knowledge of the field as well as for research and discoveries in it belongs to the scientists, but every cultured person must illuminate himself with its light, embrace its principles and procedures, and use its style. Science must take the place that prophecy and religion had in the ancient world."

  Ahmad endorsed his master's statement: "That's why the message of The New Man is the development of a society based on science."

  Adli Karim replied with interest, "Yes. Each of us must do his part, even if he finds himself alone in the arena."

  Ahmad nodded his head, and the other man continued: "Study literature as much as you want, but pay more attention to your own intellectual development than to the selections you're asked to memorize. And don't forget modern science. In addition to Shakespeare and Schopenhauer, your library must contain Comte, Darwin, Freud, Marx, and Engels. Be as zealous about this as if you were religious, and remember that each age has its prophets. The prophets of this era are the scientists."

  The editor's smile indicated that the conversation was coming to an end. Ahmad rose and stretched out his hand. He said goodbye and left the room, feeling joyously alive. Outside, in the hall, remembering his subscription and the article, he looked for the other room, knocked on the door to announce himself, and entered. He saw that there were three desks in the room. Two were empty, and a girl was sitting at the third. He had not been expecting this and stopped in his tracks. He looked at her inquisitively and apprehensively. She was around twenty, with a dark brown complexion, black eyes, and black hair. There was a resolute look about her delicate nose, pointed chin, and thin lips, but that did not detract from her beauty.

  Scrutinizing him, she asked, "Yes?"

  To justify his presence he said, "My subscription". He paid the amount and took the receipt. Then, overcoming his nervousness, he said, "I sent an article to the magazine, and Mr. Adli Karim told me it would be here."

  She invited him to have a seat in front of her desk and asked, "The title of the article, please?"

  Still uncomfortable about dealing with this girl, he replied, "Education According to Le Bon."

  She opened a file and flipped through some papers until she pulled out the essay. When Ahmad glimpsed his handwriting, his heart pounded. From where he sat he tried to read the red notation upon it, but she saved him the trouble, remarking, "The note says, 'To be summarized and published in the section for readers' letters.'"

  Ahmad was disappointed. He looked at her for a few moments without saying anything. Then he asked, "In which issue?"

  "The next one."

  After some hesitation he asked, "Who will summarize it?"

  "I will."

  He felt annoyed but asked, "Will it bear my name?"

  She laughed and answered, "Naturally. There is usually a statement to the effect that we have received a letter from the writer…" She looked at the signature on the article and continued: "Ahmad Ibrahim Shawkat. Then we provide a full summary of your ideas."

  He hesitated a little before saying, "I would have preferred for you to publish it in its entirety."

  Smiling, she replied, "Next time, God willing."

  He looked at her silently and asked, "Are you an employee here?"

  "As you can see!"

  He was tempted to ask what her qualifications for the position were, but his courage failed him at the last moment. So he inquired, "What is your name, please, so I can ask for you by telephone, if I need to."

  "Sawsan Hammad."

  "Thank you very much."

  He stood up and bade her farewell with a wave of his hand. Before departing, he turned back to say, "Please summarize it carefully."

  Without looking up she replied, "I know my job."

  Regietting his words, he left the room.

  129

  Amal was in his study wearing a loose-fitting house shirt when Umm Hanafi came to tell him, "Mr. Fuad al-Hamzawi is with my master". He rose and hurried downstairs.

  So Fuad had returned to Cairo after a year's absence. The distinguished public prosecutor from Qena district was home again. The friendship and affection that filled Kamal's heart were marred by an uncomfortable feeling. His relationship with Fuad was still marked by a struggle between loving affection and jealous aversion. No matter how hard he tried to elevate himself intellectually, his instincts always forced him back down to the petty mundane level. As He descended the stair she sensed that this visit would awaken happy memories but also rub the scabs off wounds that had almost healed. When he passed through the sitting room, where the coffee hour consisting of his mother, Aisha, and Na'ima — was in session, he heard his mother whisper, "He'll ask for Na'ima's hand."

  Sensing his presence, she turned to tell him, "Your friend's inside. He's so charming…. He wanted to kiss my hand, but I wouldn't let him."

  Kamal found his father sitting cross-legged on the sofa and Fuad in a chair opposite. The old friends shook hands, and Kamal said, "Praise God for your safe return. Welcome, welcome! Are you on vacation?"

  Smiling, al-Sayyid Ahmad answered, "No, he's been transferred to Cairo. He's finally been moved back here after a lengthy absence in Upper Egypt."

  Sitting down on the sofa, Kamal said, "Congratulations! Now we hope to see you more often."

  Fuad answered, "Naturally. As of the first of next month we'll be living in al-Abbasiya. We've leased an apartment near the Wayliya police station."

  Fuad's appearance had not changed mu
ch, but he looked healthier. He had filled out, his complexion was rosier, and his eyes still had the familiar sparkle of intelligence.

  Al-Sayyid Ahmad asked the young man, "How is your father? I haven't seen him for a week."

  "Hishealth isn't as good as we'd wish. He's still sad about leaving the shop. But hopefully the person he found to take his place is doing a good job."

  Al-Sayyid Ahmad laughed and said, "The shop now requires my constant attention. Your father, may God grant him a complete recovery and good health, took care of everything."

  Fuacl sat up and placed one leg over the other. This gesture attracted Kamal's attention and distressed him, for he considered it disrespectful to his father, even though al-Sayyid Ahmad gave no sign of having noticed. Was this how things were developing? Yes, Fuad was a prominent member of the judicial service, but had he forgotten who it was who sat facing him? Lord, as if that was not enough, he took out a cigarette case and offered it to al-Sayyid Ahmad, who graciously declined. Fuad's judicial career had really made him forget himself, but it was sad that his forgetfulness should extend to the person who had financed his career. Fuad's grateful memories seemed to have vanished in thin air as quickly as the smoke from his fancy cigarette. His gestures appeared quite natural and unaffected, for he was an executive who had grown accustomed to taking charge.

  Al-Sayyid Ahmad told Kamal, "Congratulate him on his promotion too."

  SmiLng, Kamal said, "Congratulations! That's great. I hope I'll soon be able to offer you my best wishes for being named a judge."

  Fuad answered, "That's the next step, God willing."

  Once a judge he might allow himself to piss in front of the man who sat before him now. The grade-school teacher would remain just that. Kamal would have to content himself with his busliy mustache and the tons of culture weighing down his head.

  Looking at Fuad with great interest, al-Sayyid Ahmad inquired, "How is the political situation?"

  Fuad answered with satisfaction, "The miracle has happened! A treaty has been signed in London. I could not believe my ears when I heard the radio announce Egypt's independence and the termination of the four restrictions Britain had placed on our independence in the last treaty. Who would have anticipated this?"