The Fig Tree Murder by Michael Pearce Read Free Book Online Page A

application,’ he said.
    ‘Well, no. It has only recently come home to us how attractive an additional amenity it would be.’
    ‘It’s the government’s policy not to allow new premises to be opened,’ said McPhee.
    ‘But surely that only applies to Cairo proper, where there is already too great an abundance of such places? We are talking about the New Heliopolis, where there isn’t even one at the moment!’
    ‘It is a general restriction,’ said the man from the Ministry of Justice.
    ‘But how can it apply to a place like the New Heliopolis, which wasn’t even projected when the legislation was framed?’
    ‘The legislation covers future development.’
    ‘I put the question because of the special character of the Heliopolis development. It is to be a City of Pleasure. That was stated explicitly at the stage of the initial planning application. I would suggest that approval of the initial concept implies approach of consequent developments.’
    ‘I would challenge the view that a casino is a consequent development,’ said Owen. ‘Amenities in general, yes, a casino in particular, no.’
    ‘But I think you have to have regard to other developments: the racetrack—’
    ‘God, yes!’ said Malik.
    ‘—which is an important feature of the new sporting complex. You can hardly have a racetrack without gambling!’
    ‘God, no!’ said Malik.
    ‘Thank you, Mr Hosnani. I argue firstly, that implicit in the approval of the racetrack was approval of related gambling facilities—’
    ‘But they’re not related!’ protested Owen.
    ‘It’s all the same thing,’ said Malik. ‘What you lose on the swings, you lose on the roundabouts.’
    ‘A casino is quite different!’
    ‘Not in character, Captain Owen. And that is really my point: the character of Heliopolis as a City of Pleasure.’
    ‘I’m all for pleasure,’ said Malik.
    ‘Thank you, Mr Hosnani. We are not talking about some low, vicious den but about a tasteful, discreet, modest development in a major hotel—’
    ‘Modest?’ said the man from the Ministry of Justice, studying his papers. ‘It’s gigantic!’
    ‘There’s another point about character,’ said Owen. ‘Have you thought about the proximity to the gathering place for the Mecca caravan?’
    ‘Ah, Captain Owen!’ said the lawyer, smiling. ‘I think you’re a little out of date, you know. We all go by train now.’
    ‘Do we?’ said Malik, startled.
    ‘No,’ said Owen. ‘Not everyone. There’s still a caravan.’
    ‘For how long? No, Captain Owen—’ the lawyer smiled and shook his head—‘we must look to the future. And Heliopolis is the future.’
    ‘I think we have to have regard to local religious feeling,’ said Owen.
    The other lawyer intervened.
    ‘With the greatest respect,’ he said, ‘I’m not sure that the Mamur Zapt is the best interpreter of religious feeling.’
    ‘No?’ said the man from the Ministry of Justice.
    ‘No. There is, in fact, very considerable local support for the venture. I would go so far as to say that it has captured the imagination of the local populace. As Mr Hosnani, here, is in a position to testify.’
    ‘You’re damned right,’ said Malik. ‘We’re all in favour. Can’t wait to get started.’
    ‘With the greatest respect,’ said Owen, ‘I doubt whether Mr Hosnani
is
in a position to testify; not, at least, as far as the views of the ordinary man are concerned.’
    ‘I’m a local resident, aren’t I?’ said Malik indignantly.

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Chapter 4
    « ^ »
    A few people stood around but, compared with what it would have been in the city, it was nothing. In the city, the crowd would have filled the street. Here, an old man looked up while watering his goats, some women with jugs on their heads paused on their way to the well, men stooping in the fields looked as they straightened their backs for a moment. One or two villagers had come out to see what was going on; and beside the Tree, Daniel, the Copt, stood