Hamida tells Abbas
true, and the reality is shattering. Life seems futile. Abbas does not intend to harm or even humiliate her. Hamida looks at Abbas in confusion, contempt, and animosity—and curses the bad luck of having their paths cross.
Abbas breaks the unnerving silence, asking how Hamida could end up this way. Embarrassed but not ashamed, she says only it is God’s unchangeable will. This arouses Abbas’s anger and hatred and he bellows at her about being seduced by a degenerate. Hamida flares back, fearlessly, and demands he leave her sight. Abbas’s anger vanishes and, trembling, he asks how his fiancée can talk this way. She shrugs off the past. He agrees, but wants to understand what has gone wrong: why has Hamida broken her promise and forsaken happiness with him? Impatiently, Hamida wishes he would drop the subject and leave, but aloud says the fates have wanted something other than she. He demands what pig has abducted her and turned her to prostitution. She declares this is her life, she cannot go back, and Abbas cannot change her. She is fleeing a horrible destiny. He should forget her, hate her if he wishes, but leave her in peace.
Abbas faces a total stranger. Gone is the Hamida he has loved, kissed, and discussed their future. Abbas tells her of returning yesterday from Tell el-Kebir, intending to marry, but puts away his necklace when he sees Hamida’s jewelry. She mocks the suggestion she has regrets, but speaks melodramatically of paying for her mistakes “with my flesh and blood”. Abbas takes this as a confession but is still bewildered. Meanwhile, Hamida contemplates how to get Abbas to kill Faraj. She tells Abbas that she is neither making excuses nor seeking forgiveness, but is controlled by a horrible man whom she loathes and despises, but cannot escape. Abbas takes the bait, and offers to smash his head in. Hamida hides her delight and is relieved when he maintains he cannot take her back.
Hamida tells Abbas he cannot find the monster today, but next Sunday afternoon she will point him out: the only Egyptian in a bar on this lane. Her tone suggests she fears the consequences for Abbas, but he is resolute. She doubts he is capable of murder, and suggests he hit Faraj, drag him to the police, and let the law handle him. Abbas, however, needs him to die—since his and Hamida’s life together has been ruined. In answer to the question she has dreaded, Hamida says she will sell her jewelry and find a respectable job, far away. She is uneasy until Abbas repeats he cannot forgive her. Hamida wants both Abbas and Faraj to perish, and will not leave until she sees herself avenged. Abbas’s heart is “geared for revenge”, but also throbs with affection for Hamida, who only wants to be free of “parasites”.
Chapters 29-32 Analysis This section examines Alwan’s failure to recover psychologically from his brush with death, allowing the author to muse about inheritance matters and eschatology. The old man is re-infatuated with Hamida, who has vanished. It focuses next on Hamida. Her life as the talented and profitable prostitute Titi is sketched. Discussion of reporting girls to the police and hauling Faraj into court are puzzling, as under the British, Egyptian brothels are both legal and regulated. Perhaps Faraj is working underground, but his
