The Fugitives by Jamal Mahjoub

Author:Jamal Mahjoub [Mahjoub, Jamal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canongate Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Decision Time

Half an hour later we were all crowded into Uncle Maher’s room. All, that is, except Hisham. Uncle Maher began by telling everyone what had just happened.

Wad Mazaj gave a dismissive grunt. ‘These people think that everyone in the world dreams only of becoming Americans. As if it’s so great here.’

There was agreement and general disbelief that our hosts could possibly think we were capable of such a thing.

‘It’s always the poor African who comes begging to the rich man’s table,’ said John Wau.

Uncle Maher chimed in, ‘Whatever the case may be, we are guests in this country and we must respect their way of doing things. We must make it clear to them that we didn’t come to America to beg them to take us in.’

I cleared my throat. Everyone turned towards me slowly.

‘There’s something I have to tell you.’ I looked around at them. ‘It’s about Hisham.’

Shadia’s hand flew up to her mouth. ‘Ya Allah, that’s what you were talking about in the park, isn’t it?’

‘What were you talking about?’ Uncle Maher asked. ‘Spit it out, boy!’

So, I did. When I had finished, they all looked at me blankly for a moment.

‘Are you telling me,’ Uncle Maher began, his voice rising. He was furious and for a moment couldn’t speak. He pointed blankly at the door. ‘Are you telling me, that we, that I just gave that woman my word that we had no such ideas in our heads. In other words, I lied. Is that what you are saying?’

‘I didn’t think he would go through with it,’ I said softly. There were moans and groans all round.

‘And the money, our money, did he take that as well?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘That’s the other thing.’

‘What other thing?’ Shadia asked.

Everyone stared at me. I took a deep breath and started at the beginning. When I’d finished there was a long silence. Nobody seemed to really understand what I had just said.

‘Why would he do that?’ Uncle Maher asked. ‘It makes no sense.’

‘He took the money and checked out of the hotel?’ said John Wau.

‘He stole our money,’ said Wad Mazaj.

‘We don’t know that,’ reasoned Uncle Maher. ‘There might be a perfectly good explanation.’

The rest of them were silent. ‘I’m afraid I agree with Wad Mazaj. It looks as though Gandoury has taken our money and gone.’

‘But that’s crazy!’ said Shadia. ‘He’s supposed to be our manager.’

‘They do it all the time,’ said Alkanary wearily. ‘What can you do?’

‘I can’t believe he would do something like that,’ I said, even though I had never liked Suleiman Gandoury.

‘Gandoury is not important.’ Kadugli was leaning on the windowsill with his arms folded. Now he straightened up. ‘Whatever reason Hisham has for doing this, he should have discussed it with us. This was not his decision to make. It affects everyone. And you,’ he pointed at me, ‘you should have come to us earlier.’

I knew he was right. Everyone agreed, but somehow, coming from him, made it hurt all the more.

‘He’s brought shame upon us all,’ Uncle Maher concluded.

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