The Jews attacked Sinai. The papers slapped that in his face one morning, and the news staggered him. He sat down by the radio and followed the news with dwindling attention; it had such an effect on him that he was almost babbling. Thoughts spun around inside his head till he felt dizzy. Yes indeed, he thought, the fate of the revolution is swaying in the balance. However, his own nationalist feelings burst out and overwhelmed everything else; he showed a rage worthy of an old nationalist almost overtaken by death, an old nationalist who was suffering even though he had been tarnished because of Egypt. His feet clung to the edge of the abyss which threatened to annihilate his own country. He pushed the revolution and its fate out of his mind so that he could keep his feelings completely responsive. Through the sheer force of his will, he eliminated those contradictory emotions which were spreading beneath the stream of his turbulent consciousness. Turning toward his wife, he was astonished to see how unconcerned she seemed and how completely she was bound up in the routine of her daily life. She only came out of it when she asked scornfully, “War and raids again?”

He treated the whole thing as a joke and teased her to calm his nerves. “You’re very concerned about getting food ready,” he said. “Tell me, how would the world be if everyone behaved like you?”

“Wars would stop!” she replied simply.

In spite of his anxiety, he managed to laugh. “Qadriyya, you’re not worried about public affairs,” he said, feeling the urge to make a joke. “I mean things involving the people and our country.”

“It’s enough for me to look after you and your home.”

“Don’t you love Egypt?”

“Of course!”

“Don’t you want our Army to win?”

“Of course. Then we’ll have some peace again.”

“But don’t you even want to think about it?”

“I’ve got quite enough to worry about.”

“Tell me how you would feel if the Jews were trying to take over your mother’s property!”

“What a terrible thought,” she replied with a laugh. “Have we killed any of them?”

He found it all very amusing, and it helped to relieve his tense feelings. Even though the sky was very overcast, they went to visit Inayat Hanem in Sakakini and had lunch with her. They left before it got dark. They were standing in the square looking for a taxi when the siren went off. She gripped his arm. “Let’s go back,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

They returned to her mother’s building. As they were climbing the stairs, an antiaircraft gun began firing. She shuddered and his heart jumped violently. They all gathered in a room with the blinds closed.