Karnak Café Read Online Free PDF Page B

up rare bits of information.
    We discussed the Palestinian raids and Israel’s promise to take reprisals.
    â€œAt this rate,” he went on, “we may well have a war this year or next.”
    All of us had complete confidence in our own armed forces.
    â€œIt’s nothing to worry about,” Taha al-Gharib commented, “unless, of course, America gets involved.”
    That was as far as that conversation went. During this particular period the only event to disturb the atmosphere was a passing storm provoked by Hilmi Hamada that almost ended his long-standing love affair. He developed the idea that Qurunfula was treating him with too much sympathy and that such behavior infringed on his sense of self-respect. He utterly rejected such coddling and made up his mind to leave the café. It was only when his friends grabbed hold of him that he was persuaded not to do so. Poor Qurunfula was totally stunned. She started apologizing to him, although she had no clear idea of what she had done wrong.
    â€œIt’s unbearable to listen to the same refrain all the time,” he said edgily and then turned angry. “I hate hearing people sobbing all the time.” And, even more angrily, “I can’t stand anything any more.”
    Everyone saw the problem as a symptom of the generalsituation, and so, until things settled down, we all made a great effort to avoid saying anything that might complicate matters. Needless to say, Zayn al-‘Abidin was delighted by the whole thing, but it did not do his cause any good. Hilmi Hamada’s anger did not last very long, and he may even have come to regret allowing his temper to boil over. Qurunfula was deeply affected by it all, but did not utter a single word.
    â€œThat’s the last thing I expected,” she whispered in my ear.
    â€œDo you think,” I asked anxiously, “that he’s become aware that you talk to me about him?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œHas he ever acted like that before?”
    â€œNo, this was the first time and, I hope and pray, the last.”
    â€œMaybe it would help if you stopped complaining and grieving so much.”
    â€œIf only you realized,” she sighed, “how utterly miserable he is.”

    And then, right in the middle of spring, they all vanished for a third time.
    On this occasion no questions were asked, and there were no violent reactions either. We just stared at each other, shook our heads, and said something or other that made no sense.
    â€œUsual story.”
    â€œSame reasons.”
    â€œSame results.”
    â€œNo point in thinking about it.”
    For a long time Qurunfula sat silently in her chair. Thenshe burst into a prolonged fit of laughter, until there were tears in her eyes. From our various seats we all stared at her in silence.
    â€œCome on!” she said. “Laugh, laugh!” She used a small handkerchief to dry her eyes. “Why don’t you all laugh?” she continued. “It’s more powerful than tears; better for the health too. Laugh from the very depths of your hearts; laugh until the owners of every bar on this cheerful street can hear us.” She was silent for a moment. “How are we supposed to go on feeling sad,” she went on, “when these things keep happening as regularly as sunrise and sunset? They’ll be back, and they’ll sit here in our midst like so many ghosts. When they do, I swear I’m going to rename this place ‘Ghosts’ Café’.”
    She looked over at ‘Arif Sulayman. “Pour all our honored customers a glass of wine, and let’s drink to our absent friends.”
    The rest of the evening went by in an atmosphere of almost total depression.
    In spite of everything, we put aside our own petty anxieties, all of which seemed purely personal when measured against the major events that were overwhelming our country as a whole. Rumors started to fly, and before we knew