Excerpt
It is two o’clock when Hakim walks into Earl’s restaurant and doesn’t see Bevan
anywhere around; he gets a table and orders a glass of wine when the Admiral
suddenly finds him. Hakim gets up and shakes the Admiral’s hand.
“Hello there, Admiral.”
“Hello Hakim.”
“My uncle sends his regards.”
“Oh, thank you, Hakim. Give him my regards when you talk to him again
and don’t forget to let me know what happens with his visit to the hospital this
coming week. I hope everything turns out to be fine.”
The server comes and they both order lunch. When the server walks away
from them, Bevan says, “You know, I always miss seeing your uncle; he’s a man
one can trust with anything. I’m sure you know that.”
“Yes, my uncle is a man with the utmost integrity; I would walk through fire
for a man like him.”
“Well, this is why he’s so devoted to your well-being and good upbringing; you’ll
become a good leader if you follow his way of doing things when you take control of
his empire. You know, Hakim, a lot of people have money and power but they
hardly know what to do with it, and I’m sure that all Ibrahim’s empire is coming
your way sooner rather than later.”
A feeling of satisfaction and pride overtakes Hakim and he suddenly feels as if he
is on top of a high mountain looking down at the world, which is in his hands and
which is shining and glittering like a pearl, reflecting every shade or colour of the
spectrum in his palm.
“Yes, I know this, Admiral, and I foresee the weight of such a responsibility,
although I wish it would all come to me later rather than sooner. However, we
have to leave all this in the hands of the almighty. My uncle’s health also is in the
hands of the doctors and the hands of the almighty.”
Their food is served, and they start eating; they raise their glasses to the health
of Ibrahim and drink. The Admiral leans over to Hakim and asks, “I believe you
may have something I need to put my hands on?”
“Yes, Admiral, I’ll have it soon.”
“Should I expect it in the next few days?”
“Next Saturday, Admiral. When I visit my new apartment, I’m sure I’ll have
what you need. A few other people are invited to the housewarming party; you
don’t mind that, I’m sure?”
“No, not at all; I’ll see you on Saturday.”
Libros Libertad 