and half
n aked. But him! He hides away behind those walls, completely
heartless, enjoyi ng such luxury as you can 't i magine.
They finished their food. Humaam shook out the napkin,
folded it and put it in his pocket, then lay down on his back,
pillowi ng his head on his arms, gazi ng up at the clear skywhich
distilled the afternoon peace, while the kites wheeled in the
distance. Qadri stood up and turned away to urinate, saying:
- Our father says the old man used to go out a lot in the
past, and used to pass them as he left or came back. But now
n obody sees him; it's as if he was afraid.
Humaam sai d dreami ly:
- How I'd love to see him!
- Don't imagi ne you 'd see anything exciting. You'd find
him like our father or our uncle, or like both of them. I ' m
60
Adham
amazed at the way my father always mentions him respectfully,
in spite of what he's suffered at his hands.
- It's obvious that he was very much attached to him, or that
he believes his pu nishment was justified.
- Or that he sti ll hopes to be forgiven.
- You don ' t understand our father; he's a loving man with
a sweet nature.
Qadri sat down agai n, sayi ng:
. - Well, he doesn't impress me and nor do you. I tell you,
our grandfather is a queer old man and deserves no honor. If
he had a shred of goodness, he wouldn't have treated his own
flesh and blood in this crazy way. I look on him the way our
uncle does, as one of Fate's curses.
Humaam sai d wi th a smile:
- Perhaps his worst quali ties are the very things you pride
yourself on: strength and daring.
- He got this land as a gift without any trouble, and then he
became proud and tyran nical.
-You can ' t deny what l realized not long ago: that even the
Governor himself di dn't have it in him to live alone in such a
desert.
- Do you think the story we're told justifies his anger with
our parents?
- You find much smaller thi ngs to justifY your attacks on
people.
Qadri took the jug and drank his fill, belched and said:
- And what have his grandsons done wrong? He doesn ' t
know what it i s to be a shepherd, damn him! I wish I knew
what's in his wi ll and what he's prepared for us.
Humaam sighed and said dreamily:
- Riches to rescue us from hardship. Then we' ll be able to
have our hearts' desire - a life of ease and pleasure.
- You 're talking like our father. Here we are stuck in dirt
and mud, and you dream of playing the flute in a luxuriant
garden. Really, I admire my uncle more than my father.
61
Children of Gebelaawi
Humaam sat and yawned, then stood up and stretched,
saying:
- Anyway, we do have somewhere; we have a big enough
house, and enough food to keep us alive, and sheep and goats
to graze. We sell their milk, and fatten them up to sell them too,
and our mother makes clothes from their wool.
- And the flute and the garden?
He did not answer, but went towards the flock after picking
up his stick from the ground at his feet. Qadri stood and
shouted, addressing himself mocki ngly to the Great House:
- Do you allow us to be your heirs, or will you punish us i n
death a s you punish us duri ng your life? Answer, Gebelaawi !
The echo came back: 'Answer, Gebelaawi ! '
1 4 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Far away they saw a figure coming towards them, its features
as yet i ndisti nct. I t approached slowly till they could make it
out, and Qadri straigh tened up automatically, his handsome
eyes shining with joy. Hu maam smiled at his brother, glanced
at the sheep and warned quietly:
- Dusk is not far off.
Qadri said scornfully:
- Let dawn come for all I care!
He took a few steps forward, waving his arms to welcome the
girl. She drew near to them, tired by the walk, partly because
of the distance, and partly because the sand dragged at her
slippers. Boldness sparkled in her enticing green eyes as she
gazed at them . She wore a drape, leaving her head and neck
bare, and the wind played with her plaits. Qadri greeted
n aked. But him! He hides away behind those walls, completely
heartless, enjoyi ng such luxury as you can 't i magine.
They finished their food. Humaam shook out the napkin,
folded it and put it in his pocket, then lay down on his back,
pillowi ng his head on his arms, gazi ng up at the clear skywhich
distilled the afternoon peace, while the kites wheeled in the
distance. Qadri stood up and turned away to urinate, saying:
- Our father says the old man used to go out a lot in the
past, and used to pass them as he left or came back. But now
n obody sees him; it's as if he was afraid.
Humaam sai d dreami ly:
- How I'd love to see him!
- Don't imagi ne you 'd see anything exciting. You'd find
him like our father or our uncle, or like both of them. I ' m
60
Adham
amazed at the way my father always mentions him respectfully,
in spite of what he's suffered at his hands.
- It's obvious that he was very much attached to him, or that
he believes his pu nishment was justified.
- Or that he sti ll hopes to be forgiven.
- You don ' t understand our father; he's a loving man with
a sweet nature.
Qadri sat down agai n, sayi ng:
. - Well, he doesn't impress me and nor do you. I tell you,
our grandfather is a queer old man and deserves no honor. If
he had a shred of goodness, he wouldn't have treated his own
flesh and blood in this crazy way. I look on him the way our
uncle does, as one of Fate's curses.
Humaam sai d wi th a smile:
- Perhaps his worst quali ties are the very things you pride
yourself on: strength and daring.
- He got this land as a gift without any trouble, and then he
became proud and tyran nical.
-You can ' t deny what l realized not long ago: that even the
Governor himself di dn't have it in him to live alone in such a
desert.
- Do you think the story we're told justifies his anger with
our parents?
- You find much smaller thi ngs to justifY your attacks on
people.
Qadri took the jug and drank his fill, belched and said:
- And what have his grandsons done wrong? He doesn ' t
know what it i s to be a shepherd, damn him! I wish I knew
what's in his wi ll and what he's prepared for us.
Humaam sighed and said dreamily:
- Riches to rescue us from hardship. Then we' ll be able to
have our hearts' desire - a life of ease and pleasure.
- You 're talking like our father. Here we are stuck in dirt
and mud, and you dream of playing the flute in a luxuriant
garden. Really, I admire my uncle more than my father.
61
Children of Gebelaawi
Humaam sat and yawned, then stood up and stretched,
saying:
- Anyway, we do have somewhere; we have a big enough
house, and enough food to keep us alive, and sheep and goats
to graze. We sell their milk, and fatten them up to sell them too,
and our mother makes clothes from their wool.
- And the flute and the garden?
He did not answer, but went towards the flock after picking
up his stick from the ground at his feet. Qadri stood and
shouted, addressing himself mocki ngly to the Great House:
- Do you allow us to be your heirs, or will you punish us i n
death a s you punish us duri ng your life? Answer, Gebelaawi !
The echo came back: 'Answer, Gebelaawi ! '
1 4 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Far away they saw a figure coming towards them, its features
as yet i ndisti nct. I t approached slowly till they could make it
out, and Qadri straigh tened up automatically, his handsome
eyes shining with joy. Hu maam smiled at his brother, glanced
at the sheep and warned quietly:
- Dusk is not far off.
Qadri said scornfully:
- Let dawn come for all I care!
He took a few steps forward, waving his arms to welcome the
girl. She drew near to them, tired by the walk, partly because
of the distance, and partly because the sand dragged at her
slippers. Boldness sparkled in her enticing green eyes as she
gazed at them . She wore a drape, leaving her head and neck
bare, and the wind played with her plaits. Qadri greeted
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