The Thief and the Dogs

"My time in vain is gone
And I have not succeeded.
For a meeting how I long,
But hope of peace is ended
When life is two days long;
One day of vexation
And one of separation."

Said could hear the other men murmuring sighs in appreciation all around and then another voice began a melody: "Love enough to lay me down enthralled: My passion before me, my fate behind."

This song was followed by more sighs of delight and more singing, until someone clapped hands again and they all began repeating at length the name of God — Allah.

As he listened Said allowed his mind to wander and the evening wore on. Memories came drifting by like clouds. He remembered how his father, Amm Mahran, had swayed with the chanters, while he, then a young boy, had sat near the palm tree observing the scene wide-eyed. From the shadows emerged fancies about the immortal soul, living under the protection of the Most Compassionate.

Memories of hopes once bright shook off the dust of oblivion and flashed with life again: beneath that lone tree at the edge of the field tender words were whispered again in early-morning joy; little Sana sat again in his arms, speaking her first wonderful baby-words. Then hot winds blew from the depths of hell and a succession of blows were struck.

In the background the prayer-leader's chant and the congregation's sighs wailed on. When would peace come, when his time had passed in futility, when he had failed, and fate was on his trail? But that revolver of his lying ready in his pocket, that was something at least. It could still triumph over betrayal and corruption. For the first time the thief would give chase to the dogs.

Suddenly from beneath the window outside he heard an angry voice explode and a conversation: "What a mess! Why, the whole quarter is blocked off!"

"It's worse than in the war!"

"That Said Mahran…!"

Said tensed, electrified, gripping the revolver so tightly that every muscle in his body strained. He stared in every direction. The area was crowded with people and was no doubt full of eager detectives. I mustn't let things get ahead of me. They must now be examining the suit and the dogs will be there too. And meanwhile here I am, exposed. The desert road isn't safe, but the Valley of Death itself is only a few steps away. I can fight them there to the death.

He got up and moved decisively towards the door. They were still engrossed in chanted prayers, the passage to the outer door was clear, and he passed through into the street, then turned off to the left, walking with studied calm, moving into the road to the cemetery.

The night was well-advanced, but there was no moon and the darkness made a black wall across his path. He plunged off among the tombs, into the maze of ruins, with nothing to guide him, stumbling as he walked, not knowing whether he was progressing forwards or backwards. Though no spark of hope glimmered within him, he felt he was bursting with incredible energy. The loud noises which were brought to him now on the warm wind made him wish he could hide inside a grave, but he knew he could not stop. He feared the dogs, but there was nothing at all he could do. There was nothing within his power to stop.

After some minutes he found himself at the last row of graves in front of a familiar scene; the northern entrance to the cemetery, connecting with Najm al-Din Street, which he recognized, and in that, the only building on it, was Nur's flat. He located the window. It was open and light was streaming out. He focussed his gaze on it and saw a woman through the window. The features of her head were indistinct, but the shape of the head reminded him of Nur. His heart pumped hard at the thought. Had Nur returned then? Or were his eyes deceiving him now, as his emotions had done before?

The fact that he had become so completely deceived foretold the end was near. If that were Nur, he told himself, all he wanted was for her to care for Sana, if his time indeed had come. He decided to shout to her disregarding the danger, to tell her what he wanted, but before a sound could emerge from his mouth he heard dogs beginning to bark in the distance, and the barking went on breaking the silence like a series of explosive shots.

Said started back in fright, darting in again between the tombs while the barking grew louder. He pressed his back against a tomb and took out his gun, staring out into the darkness resignedly. There it was. The dogs had come at last and there was no hope left. The scoundrels were safe, if only for a while. His life had made its last utterance, saying that it had all been in vain.