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By Root 264 0

worn by these divine creatures made the men’s task as easy as it was mesmerizing. Some customers of the café—not the youngest—would sit and wait all day just to see the perfect curve of a beautiful leg or the quivering mystery of an anonymous haunch. And, in fact, the girls were as eager to display their charms as the men were to observe them; some of them were even said to go without underwear, just for the mischievous pleasure of watching the unfortunate voyeurs overheat. So at the Globe the outdoor tables were always full—except during the blistering midday hours, when it was customary for the young ladies to take their siesta. The inside of the café, however, was almost always empty—with the occasional exception of a pair of old codgers who, awaiting their departure for the sweet hereafter, played a lazy game of dominoes that would probably extend into the afterlife. Every now and then, roused despite themselves by the whoops from outside, they’d cast a dull glance through the window onto the objects of so much lust; then, faint with desire, they turned back to their senile game.

Heykal approached the café. He walked confidently, slipping between tables and carefully guarding the virgin purity of his magnificent, freshly ironed suit. He was looking straight ahead and seemed to pay no attention to the people in his path. He wondered if Khaled Omar was already there, and whether he would be recognized by him. Heykal wanted to gauge the intuition of his future friend and accomplice. It was a litmus test: surely any truly intelligent man would recognize him immediately! It seemed impossible that Khaled Omar—if he was the man Heykal imagined him to be—would fail to notice his presence.

Someone stood up in front of him, as if to block his way. It was Khaled Omar, a short man holding out a fat, ring-laden hand.

“What an honor to meet you!”

“The honor is all mine,” responded Heykal. He pressed the businessman’s hand.

“Please sit,” said Khaled Omar.

Heykal sat. Khaled Omar remained standing for a few seconds, then sat as well. He gazed ecstatically at Heykal as if at an enchanting vision.

“Forgive me for making you wait,” said Heykal. “Have you been here long?”

Khaled Omar emerged from his reverie.

“Ten minutes, if that, but it’s nothing. I’m happy to see you. I recognized you right away.”

The waiter approached. A glass of whiskey and a small plate of loukoums were already on the table.

“What can I get for you, bey?” asked the waiter, addressing Heykal.

Heykal ordered a whiskey, and the waiter left. Khaled Omar grabbed the plate of loukoums and offered it to the young man.

“Please, help yourself.”

“No thanks,” said Heykal, “not right now.”

“Then forgive me for eating in front of you,” said Khaled Omar. "I adore sweets of all kinds.”

He took a loukoum and popped it into his mouth, then licked the traces of powdered sugar from his fingertips.

Khaled Omar ate his loukoum, bobbing his head and gazing rapturously at Heykal.

“I recognized you right away.”

“I have to admit that pleases me,” responded Heykal.

“You were sure I would, weren’t you?”

“What makes you think so?”

“Well, I thought it strange that you wanted to meet this way,” said Khaled Omar. “I couldn’t see why you’d want to make things difficult—our friend Karim could easily have introduced us. But in any case, his description of you didn’t steer me wrong. I don’t mean that he described the way you look or your clothes; no, he spoke only of your ideas. And that was enough for me to recognize you.”

“So my ideas show on my face?” asked Heykal.

“It’s hard to explain. I saw you walking across the square, and I said to myself: That’s him. You had the look of someone who knows more than everyone else.”

“I know two very simple things,” Heykal said. “The rest is of no importance.”

“I wonder if they’re the same two things I know myself.”

“I’m sure they are. It’s why I’m here, and it’s why we can speak frankly.”

“So tell me what the first thing is. I’m listening.”

Khaled Omar hastily re-knotted his tie and smoothed his well-groomed mustache with