There was no doubt about it. She was the girl from his past. The old man bought her from that vulgar woman and made her a lady. But he must concentrate on his search, before the money runs out. He left his room and went downstairs, and found Mr. Khalil talking to Mohamed el-Sawi, the doorman. Some of the hotel residents were in the lounge, reading newspapers or drinking coffee, and some were just chatting together. He walked up to Mr. Khalil, greeted him, and asked for the telephone directory.

Sayed…Sayed…Sayed…Sayed…Aha. Sayed Sayed el-Reheimy. There it is…His heart beat faster. A doctor and professor at the Faculty of Medicine. Now that’s something! He could not contain his joy, and cried out, “It seems that the Almighty is on my side.”

The old man looked up with his weak, distant look. “It looks as though I shall succeed in what I came for,” Saber continued.

“Success is a wonderful thing,” murmured the old man.

Just as you succeeded in possessing that beautiful girl!

The old man was still looking at him, with mounting curiosity. “I’m looking for a man. Someone who means the world to me,” Saber explained.

“No one comes to this hotel to stay. They always have some specific mission or particular purpose that takes them a day, a week, or a month to fulfill, then they leave,” said the old man.

“That’s normal,” replied Saber.

“That’s why even though they share the same roof and have their meals together, they never get to know each other.”

“I imagine that your work must be interesting,” said Saber, trying to maintain the conversation.

“Absolutely not!”

What about the vicissitudes of fate! The girl, for example! He heard footsteps behind him, and she appeared wearing a black skirt and red blouse and, around her head, a white polka-dotted scarf. His heart almost stopped beating. The look in her eyes showed the promise of virgin land! The smell of sea breeze hit his nostrils once more. The doorman stood and picked up a battered gray suitcase. The old man raised his head from the hotel register.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes, I’ll see you later. Goodbye.” She left the hotel followed by Mohamed el-Sawi. You are truly a mystery, Khalil! That face of yours, expressionless like a death mask. Saber got up with apparent calmness, excused himself, and walked out of the hotel. His eyes scanned the street. There they are! Walking toward the square. He hurried after them, quickly catching up. The doorman turned around, questioningly. With an apologetic smile Saber asked, “Excuse me, Mr. Mohamed. Can you tell me the way to Azhar Square?”