Amira wanted to comfort her brother, but how could she when she was without comfort herself ? At least Malik had been able to say good-bye to their mother, for it was he who had led the procession of men who buried her. It was he who uncovered Jihan’s face before her body was laid to rest; it was he who would cherish that last precious glimpse of the woman who had given them life. Jihan Badir had loved both her children, Amira knew that, but to the world, she was first and foremost Um Malik.

Amira sighed heavily.

As if he heard what was in her heart, Malik squeezed her hand. “I marked the place,” he said softly. “I marked Mother’s grave with a stone … so you would know it.”

Amira was touched, yet also faintly shocked by her brother’s gesture. The grave of a good Muslim was always unmarked. “What a strange thing to do. What kind of stone?”

“Just a rock I picked up on the beach at Saint-Tropez.” He shrugged. “I’m an idiot, you know. When I saw it in the water, I thought for just a heartbeat that it was a ruby. It was that red. I picked it up and saw that it was just a stone, but still, it was pretty. When it dried, of course, it was nothing, but, by then, I had decided it was lucky. So I kept it.”

“You left it there for luck … for Mama?” Amira found this paganistic idea disconcerting.

“I don’t know. Maybe. Mama didn’t have the luck she deserved. Who knows? Anyway, as long as it’s there, you’ll know where she is. Maybe then, you’ll forgive me for being a man,” he said with a gentle smile.

Startled by his half-serious observation, Amira protested, “But there’s nothing to forgive, not with you.” She flushed with guilt, remembering just how recently she’d resented Malik for having privileges denied to her. “Any- way, it isn’t you I get angry with. It’s just the way things are.”

Malik nodded gravely, as if her thoughts and feelings were as important as his.

“So now you’re without your lucky piece.”

He smiled again. “I’ve decided that I’ve got more luck than anyone needs. Either that or I don’t need luck. Things are going well for me, Little Sister. I wrote you that I’d moved up in the organization. I’ve moved up again since then. But I’ve made some deals on my own, too. Complicated stuff, no need to go into the details. I try not to conflict with my duty to dear old Onassis—not too flagrantly, at least. But I don’t think I’ll need to be with him much longer.” He paused. “Remember what I told you, Amira? If you ever need my help, I’ll be there.”

Amira nodded. She knew Malik meant what he said, but what kind of help would she need, living as she did, having so little to do with the outside world? “And you, Brother, will you be choosing a wife soon, someone to help you with Laila?”