Louis by Derek Haines (reading comprehension books TXT) ๐
Excerpt from the book:
No one wants to be a spy. Circumstances create spies. For a young innocent boy, there was no choice. He was born to be a spy. This is the story of Teremum who begins life in Cairo and becomes my friend Louis in a small country town in Australia sixty years later. It is a story I have been wanting to tell for more than forty years. A story of a man who lived, and then disappeared from all memory. I felt this was unworthy of a man who had sacrificed his life for what he believed to be right. Not that he always was, but in his heart he lived a life true to his morals and an understanding of a side of life we will never know. Two world wars shaped his life as they did for many others. However Louis moved through them, between them and after them as a chameleon. Ever changing and ever re-inventing himself. He was a man of secrets. Both in his work and in his life. He was a man who had few friends, but a plethora of faceless enemies. Above all he was a human who lived an extraordinary life. A life that should not be forgotten.
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- Author: Derek Haines
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will understand, everyone must move on now.โ
โYes Sir, I understand,โ Hidayah obediently replied.
โYou understand well the Sultanโs commitment to helping orphans within the Sultanate. The tradition of giving opportunity to these children. As was given to you Madam Al-Fayyoumi by the Khedive. Do you wish to continue in this service Madam?
โYes I do Sir,โ was Hidayahโs only possible response.
โVery well. You will remain here with your maids and we will arrange for one or possible two orphans to be placed in your care. Probably within the next four weeks.โ
โThank you Sir. We will all look forward to this very much. Thank you.โ
Hana and Ni'mah were supposed to be otherwise occupied, but were extremely pleased with the news they heard with their ears to the door of the salon. Their English was not good, but good enough to understand they would keep their jobs. They scurried away so as not to be caught in the act if their guest left abruptly.
โMr Ali, may I ask you a question?
โCertainly Madam.โ
โMay I maintain contact with Teremun? To write him letters from time to time.โ
โI do not see any reason why not Madam.โ
โThank you Sir. That will bring me great happiness.โ
With a short discussion about the difficulties the war was bringing to supplies in stores in Cairo and the weather yet again, the meeting was concluded. Both happy with the outcome.
The kindness of Abdul-Majid Ali to allow Hidayah to keep in contact with Teremun would not be of any consequence. Before Hidayah could write her first letter to Teremun, she would be dead.
ใใใใใใ
Even though the house was not grand, it felt empty to Hidayah, Hana and Ni'mah. They all tried to go about their daily routines as usual, but without Teremun, there was a void. A week after Teremunโs departure, Hidayah decided that a complete spring clean of the house was called for, even if it wasnโt spring. Thinking it would help them keep occupied, and at the same time prepare the house for its new guest or guests. She decided to allocate the tasks each had to do, and although the lists for Hana and Ni'mah were long, she ensured she had a list of tasks for herself. Hana was responsible for the bedrooms and halls, Niโmah for the kitchen and laundry and Hidayah selected the salon and dining room.
They started with gusto, cleaning, rearranging furniture, scrubbing floors and walls, disposing of rubbish, sweeping, polishing and tidying. Helping each other with some of the heavier tasks such as moving furniture or changing curtains. Hana was particularly meticulous about using a spider brush to clean the upper walls and ceilings. Niโmah looked the other way and put all her energy into sweeping, scrubbing and polishing floors. From time to time, they all came across small items that reminded them of Teremun, but with the thought in mind that he was very lucky to have to opportunity of an English education, they tried not to be unhappy. In the salon Hidayah came across some books she used to read aloud to Teremun when he was younger. She found a special place in the bookcase, and hoped she could use them again soon.
In the top drawer of the side board in the dining room, she found a small folder jammed and hidden at the back of the drawer. Inside were a handful of drawings Teremun had done when he was four or five. These were very special for Hidayah, so she re-tied the orange ribbon to close the folder and decided she would keep them in her bedroom. She placed it at the end of the dining table to take when she had finished.
It was nearly four-thirty when Hana found Hidayah in the dining room and said that she and Niโmah were going to the market to get some lime so they could white wash the laundry and also some polish for the furniture. Hidayah knew it was a little excuse for a break, a walk and a giggle for Hana and Niโmah, but she also knew that they had been working very hard the last few days. She didnโt mind at all.
Hearing them giggling before they had even closed the front door.
Hidayah continued her work. Polishing all the cutlery and the small number of crystal glasses they had. Then looking around to see what else needed her attention. Everything seemed to have been done. The room sparkled. Glancing up as she was about to pick up the folder of drawings, she noticed that the small chandelier was covered in dust. It really spoilt the rest of the work she had done. Then hurrying off to find Niโmahโs spider brush. When she returned, she found it was inadequate as the dust was not loose, so it would need to be wiped with a cloth. It was greasy from the candle residue and smoke. She went away again to fetch some liquid and a cleaning cloth. Standing on the dining table, she was able to reach most of the glass crystals of the chandelier and was very pleased with her efforts, even if her arms were aching from such exertion above her head. Her ankles were sore from standing on tip toes trying to reach the upper parts.
At the very top of the chandelier was a brass housing that held the cable from the ceiling. It was just out of her reach, so she placed a chair on the table to give herself a little more height.
Hana and Ni'mah returned from the market just after five-thirty. They were still giggling when they opened the front door. Carrying the lime and polish plus some bread they had bought for the next day, they went straight into the kitchen to store their purchases. Niโmah put the kettle on the stove in readiness for making tea after their walk. Hana started making her normal preparations for dinner. In a way she was enjoying cooking for Hidayah and Niโmah. Without Teremun to think of, she could cook more flavoursome meals. She planned to cook Moussaqa'a tonight. Sliced eggplants, lightly grilled with sliced onions, green peppers and jalapenos. Covered with a red sauce made of tomato paste and spices. She knew it was one of Hidayahโs favourites.
After having their tea, both started their preparations in earnest for the Moussaqa'a. The eggplant had to be sliced and salted and left to drain for at least forty-five minutes before they could start preparing the rest of the recipe. It was just after six-thirty that Niโmah went looking for Hidayah to tell her what was planned for dinner. She started with the salon and then headed towards the dining room. A small rivulet of blood near the door stunned her mid-step. She moved ahead slowly, before screaming as she had never screamed in her life.
It would be some time before Teremun understood why his mother did not write in reply to his letters. Imprint
โYes Sir, I understand,โ Hidayah obediently replied.
โYou understand well the Sultanโs commitment to helping orphans within the Sultanate. The tradition of giving opportunity to these children. As was given to you Madam Al-Fayyoumi by the Khedive. Do you wish to continue in this service Madam?
โYes I do Sir,โ was Hidayahโs only possible response.
โVery well. You will remain here with your maids and we will arrange for one or possible two orphans to be placed in your care. Probably within the next four weeks.โ
โThank you Sir. We will all look forward to this very much. Thank you.โ
Hana and Ni'mah were supposed to be otherwise occupied, but were extremely pleased with the news they heard with their ears to the door of the salon. Their English was not good, but good enough to understand they would keep their jobs. They scurried away so as not to be caught in the act if their guest left abruptly.
โMr Ali, may I ask you a question?
โCertainly Madam.โ
โMay I maintain contact with Teremun? To write him letters from time to time.โ
โI do not see any reason why not Madam.โ
โThank you Sir. That will bring me great happiness.โ
With a short discussion about the difficulties the war was bringing to supplies in stores in Cairo and the weather yet again, the meeting was concluded. Both happy with the outcome.
The kindness of Abdul-Majid Ali to allow Hidayah to keep in contact with Teremun would not be of any consequence. Before Hidayah could write her first letter to Teremun, she would be dead.
ใใใใใใ
Even though the house was not grand, it felt empty to Hidayah, Hana and Ni'mah. They all tried to go about their daily routines as usual, but without Teremun, there was a void. A week after Teremunโs departure, Hidayah decided that a complete spring clean of the house was called for, even if it wasnโt spring. Thinking it would help them keep occupied, and at the same time prepare the house for its new guest or guests. She decided to allocate the tasks each had to do, and although the lists for Hana and Ni'mah were long, she ensured she had a list of tasks for herself. Hana was responsible for the bedrooms and halls, Niโmah for the kitchen and laundry and Hidayah selected the salon and dining room.
They started with gusto, cleaning, rearranging furniture, scrubbing floors and walls, disposing of rubbish, sweeping, polishing and tidying. Helping each other with some of the heavier tasks such as moving furniture or changing curtains. Hana was particularly meticulous about using a spider brush to clean the upper walls and ceilings. Niโmah looked the other way and put all her energy into sweeping, scrubbing and polishing floors. From time to time, they all came across small items that reminded them of Teremun, but with the thought in mind that he was very lucky to have to opportunity of an English education, they tried not to be unhappy. In the salon Hidayah came across some books she used to read aloud to Teremun when he was younger. She found a special place in the bookcase, and hoped she could use them again soon.
In the top drawer of the side board in the dining room, she found a small folder jammed and hidden at the back of the drawer. Inside were a handful of drawings Teremun had done when he was four or five. These were very special for Hidayah, so she re-tied the orange ribbon to close the folder and decided she would keep them in her bedroom. She placed it at the end of the dining table to take when she had finished.
It was nearly four-thirty when Hana found Hidayah in the dining room and said that she and Niโmah were going to the market to get some lime so they could white wash the laundry and also some polish for the furniture. Hidayah knew it was a little excuse for a break, a walk and a giggle for Hana and Niโmah, but she also knew that they had been working very hard the last few days. She didnโt mind at all.
Hearing them giggling before they had even closed the front door.
Hidayah continued her work. Polishing all the cutlery and the small number of crystal glasses they had. Then looking around to see what else needed her attention. Everything seemed to have been done. The room sparkled. Glancing up as she was about to pick up the folder of drawings, she noticed that the small chandelier was covered in dust. It really spoilt the rest of the work she had done. Then hurrying off to find Niโmahโs spider brush. When she returned, she found it was inadequate as the dust was not loose, so it would need to be wiped with a cloth. It was greasy from the candle residue and smoke. She went away again to fetch some liquid and a cleaning cloth. Standing on the dining table, she was able to reach most of the glass crystals of the chandelier and was very pleased with her efforts, even if her arms were aching from such exertion above her head. Her ankles were sore from standing on tip toes trying to reach the upper parts.
At the very top of the chandelier was a brass housing that held the cable from the ceiling. It was just out of her reach, so she placed a chair on the table to give herself a little more height.
Hana and Ni'mah returned from the market just after five-thirty. They were still giggling when they opened the front door. Carrying the lime and polish plus some bread they had bought for the next day, they went straight into the kitchen to store their purchases. Niโmah put the kettle on the stove in readiness for making tea after their walk. Hana started making her normal preparations for dinner. In a way she was enjoying cooking for Hidayah and Niโmah. Without Teremun to think of, she could cook more flavoursome meals. She planned to cook Moussaqa'a tonight. Sliced eggplants, lightly grilled with sliced onions, green peppers and jalapenos. Covered with a red sauce made of tomato paste and spices. She knew it was one of Hidayahโs favourites.
After having their tea, both started their preparations in earnest for the Moussaqa'a. The eggplant had to be sliced and salted and left to drain for at least forty-five minutes before they could start preparing the rest of the recipe. It was just after six-thirty that Niโmah went looking for Hidayah to tell her what was planned for dinner. She started with the salon and then headed towards the dining room. A small rivulet of blood near the door stunned her mid-step. She moved ahead slowly, before screaming as she had never screamed in her life.
It would be some time before Teremun understood why his mother did not write in reply to his letters. Imprint
Publication Date: 11-09-2010
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