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devastating.” Littoni smiled importantly, walked over to Farouk, placed one hand on Farouk’s arm to quieten him, and stabbed the air with his other.
    “Do you think our men want things done your way, Farouk? Do you think they want Issawi kidnapped and cut up into little pieces and shipped to Assiyut in a perfumed wedding consignment? It might be enough for you, but it won’t be for the rest of our men. We’re ready; our men are ready. We’ve waited a long time for this, and we’re going to strike now.” He was so close, Farouk could smell whisky on his breath.
    “The revolution will happen whether you bomb the palace or not,” Farouk sneered, peeling back Littoni’s hand in disgust. “Don’t you think I want Issawi dead as much as you do? And I am just one among thousands who want to see it happen. But you put him out with a bomb, you’ll have the government’s entire security operation on our tails. We’re so close. If we go about this properly, the revolution can start from the streets, just as it should. If we do it your way, we’ll just end up going into combat with the king’s security forces. Our men only follow you, Littoni, because you’re a bully. I knowyou threaten them, their businesses, their cover if they don’t comply with your wishes.”
    Littoni grabbed Farouk by the shirt collar again and snarled, “I won’t tell you again, Farouk. Be careful what you say.”
    Hamid, Hossein, and al-Dyn looked on wide-eyed.
    “You just can’t bring yourself to admit that my plan will work much better,” Farouk went on. “You blow up the government, and what then? Hitler will invade. You’re courting chaos and the destruction of Egypt.”
    “You’re so wrong. This is the real beginning for Egypt,” Littoni spat. “With the X in power, Egypt will become powerful. Right now, Egypt is vulnerable. The government doesn’t know what it’s doing. This war has been our blessing. The government is preoccupied with a possible German invasion. All of its resources are taken with this. We must strike now while they’ve got other things on their mind.”
    “You’re deluded, Littoni,” Farouk said. “You’re finished, but you’re trying to hold on before younger men like Hossein, al-Dyn, and Hamid take over.”
    “You can talk, Farouk. Your revolutionary days are really over. You’re losing your touch. You pass yourself off as a freedom fighter, but you have a private agenda with this Issawi. That’s why you want everything your way. Some girl, some broken heart, some revenge bound up in a woman.”
    “The palace is too public,” Farouk kept repeating, but his words fell on deaf ears. “I’ve been telling you this for weeks. Every security man in the entire force will be out checking identity papers. You won’t get through. Issawi is expected to arrive at 8:00 P.M . He’ll attend the dinner, then the dance, then be expected to join the king in his private suites. He’ll probably leave not long after midnight.His car will wait for him and then drive him back to his home. You expect to get a car close enough? You’re crazy.”
    Littoni was smiling. Farouk didn’t know that the palace security men had recently come over to his side. “He won’t get home,” he said with a laugh, “not if we have anything to do with it. This will be the last celebration at the palace for a while. They’ll be clearing the mess up for weeks. Perfect timing for our men to hit the streets and start the revolution proper. Then we can really get started. Chaos and disorder, followed by a new beginning.”
    Suddenly, there was the sound of a car starting up. Littoni jerked his head towards the door, startled.
    “Sssh,” he said.
    The five men were quiet for a moment. They had all heard it. After a minute or two, the car drove off. Littoni nodded and went on. “We have seven days, Farouk. Go to Achmed’s party. Talk to the girl. Size her up. She knows something, I’m sure of it. Hamid and Tashi will get to