Fortunes of War by Olivia Manning

Author:Olivia Manning
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-59017-736-5
Publisher: New York Review Books
Published: 2014-05-22T04:00:00+00:00

Seven

Castlebar who, once a week, went to tutor a Greek boy in Alexandria, came back with the news that there was heavy combat in the desert. It vibrated through roads and pavements and at times, when the air was very still, people could hear the boom of guns. No news had been released. No one knew what was happening but Castlebar was sure that this was a major battle.

Jackman, not too pleased that Castlebar should be the bringer of such tidings, said, ‘Of course it is. Didn’t I tell you something was on? What do you think the preparations have been for? This is it.’

Still, there was no certainty. Alex, like Cairo, was a city of rumours. The gunfire might mean a German offensive or merely a minor skirmish, or the Afrika Korps sending a parthian shot before packing and leaving their long-held position. Ten days passed, then the civilians were allowed to know that there had been a second battle of Alamein, the greatest battle of the desert war. The allied forces were pushing Rommel back to the frontier and perhaps even further than that.

Meanwhile, an extraordinary thing happened. The sun, the great god of Egypt, disappeared and the noonday sky, so constant in its brilliance, was hidden behind cloud. A biblical darkness overhung the city and people, hastening in the streets, feared a cataclysm — the day of judgement or, at the least, an earthquake — and sought what cover they could find.

Angela and Harriet were out at the time. Harriet, finding that Angela hardly knew where the Muski was, insisted they must go there. She said, ‘You should learn how the other half live,’ and she led her through the narrow, dusty lanes to her favourite shop: a twilit place, like a vast tent, where old glass and china ornaments were heaped together on shelves and floor. In the centre of this disordered treasure store, there was a glass case lit by acetylene lamps and full of gleaming jewels. Harriet called Angela to it: ‘Come and see the rose-diamonds.’

The rose-diamonds, set in pinkish gold, were formed into brooches, earrings, bracelets and necklaces, and Harriet, who could not afford to buy them, was attracted by their elaborate opulence. Angela, lifting the pieces and examining them, asked, ‘What are rose-diamonds? They look like sugar crystals.’

Harriet repeated the question to a man in a dirty galabiah who stood guard over the case. He replied in an aloof manner, having superior knowledge: ‘Rosy di’mints? — they is di’mints.’

Angela laughed, ‘So now we know. Shall I buy one for Bill?’ She picked among the designs, rejecting the flowers, and came upon a brooch in the shape of a heart: ‘What about this? I’ll give it to him for a giggle.’ She did not haggle over the price but, paying what the shop-keeper asked, she laughed excitedly at the thought of giving the large, diamond-studded heart to Castlebar.

Coming out of the shop, they found the outdoors nearly as dark as the indoors. Made

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