Chapter 24 Summary

Mid-September 1997 sees trouble all over the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, as Amal knows because her visiting brother cannot last two hours without a news update. 'Omar is restless at the beach, so they return to Cairo. He buys her a computer so she can connect to the Internet. Amal tells him Tareq will help her reopen the school but withholds Tareq's plans for his own land. Isabel is in New York, clearing up her mother's estate, and guilty to be tying up space in Amal's apartment. Amal hears in 'Omar's voice a pitch of sexual tenderness towards Isabel, but no willingness to commit. Amal shows 'Omar Anna's papers, green flag, and tapestry depicting Osiris with the Arabic word "al-mayyit" ("The Dead") embroidered above.

Anna's next entry is May 10, 1905, describing how pregnancy has made her a happy invalid. Sharif needs the...