[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

taken that well, but that was too bad. The man was jeopardizing everything.
But then Kemel's brother, Jamal, called from home, and his fury evaporated
like water spilled on summer sands of the Rub al-Khali, replaced by dread for
his eldest son.
"It's Ghali," Jamal said. "He's been arrested."
Kemel felt the heart dropping out of his body. Ghali? His eighteen-year-old
son, the pride of his life& arrested? No, this could not be.
"For what? What happened?"
"He has been accused of stealing a camera from the wife of a visiting
Page 120
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
American businessman."
"Impossible! Ridiculous!"
"That is what I said," Jamal told him. "But there are witnesses. And he had
the camera with him when they caught him."
"Oh, no." Kemel moaned. He closed his eyes to squeeze out the light. "Oh, no,
this can't be true. Why would he do something like this?"
"I don't know, brother. Perhaps if you were home& "
Yes! Home! He had to go home immediately!
But he could not. Not yet.
"I will come as soon as I can. But I cannot leave right now."
"What business could be more important than this?" Jamal said with what
sounded like scorn. Never in all his years had he spoken to Kemel like that.
He would not use that tone if he knew the nature of Kemel's business here.
Kemel ached to tell his younger brother why he was in America but did not
dare. Jamal and his whole family would be in jeopardy if it was discovered
that Kemel had breathed so much as a word of it to him.
"Where is Ghali now?"
"It took me all night, but I managed to secure his release. I am keeping him
at my house I have taken responsibility for him."
Kemel calculated that the eight-hour time difference made it six a.m. in
Riyadh. "Thank you, Jamal. I can never thank you enough."
"This is far from over, Kemel. I will do whatever I can, but Ghali may have
to stand trial."
Kemel nodded, though there was no one to see. Yes, yes, he knew. Especially
since a foreigner was involved. The Saudi authorities seldom passed up a
chance to demonstrate the superiority of Islamic Law to westerners. Even if
this American woman asked that no charges be brought, they might still proceed
with trial and punishment.
And punishment would mean the loss of Ghali's right hand.
How could this happen? Ghali had always been wild and headstrong, yes, but
never a thief. What could have possessed him? He wanted for nothing, yet he
stole a camera!A camera ! There were almost a dozen fine cameras lying about
the house!
This made no sense.
He had to turn to a higher power for help. Tomorrow was Friday, the holy day.
He was bound to say his noontime prayers in the mosque. Tomorrow Kemel would
pray all day in the mosque for his errant son.
FRIDAY
1.
Page 121
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
After a couple of rounds of answering-machine tag, Milkdud's last message had
said to meet him at Canova not Canova's, just Canova on West Fifty-first at
ten-thirty. So that was when Jack showed up. He rode the lemming crowd of
parents and kids streaming toward the red neon Radio City sign dead ahead on
the far side of Sixth Avenue. With Ruth's Chris behind him and Le Bernadin
across the street, Jack found Canova.
He leaned his forehead against the front window and peered past the faux
pilings lined up on the other side of the glass. Looked like one of those
buffet places that had been multiplying like coat hangers through most of the
nineties.
He stepped inside and looked for Milkdud.
Canova was a little more elaborate than most of its buffet kin. Usually they
were strictly takeout fill your containers at the buffet counter, weigh and
pay, then be on your way. Canova offered two buffet areas, and seating.
The crowd was thin still a while before the lunch mob hit but Jack didn't
spot Milkdud. And Milkdud was hard to miss.
He tapped the Korean guy wiping a nearby table.
"I was supposed to meet someone here " he began.
"I don't know," the Korean said quickly, vigorously shaking his head. "I
don't know."
"He's a black guy," Jack said. He pointed to his forehead. "And up here he's
got " [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]