Chapter 4, Sarhan al-Beheiry Summary

Sarhan admires the peasant girl whom he sees shopping in the High-Life Grocery and follows her as far as the Miramar Building. He recalls cotton-picking season in the village. He next sees her buying papers at Mahmoud's kiosk and learns where she works. Sarhan's friend, Ali Bakir, and his lover, Safeya Barakat go to a movie and then eat together in Sarhan's flat. While shopping, Sarhan sees Zohra again and imagines living in her building and making her his own. When Sarhan complains to Ali about his life, Safeya calls him hard-hearted. Sarhan later confides to Ali that she is crazy and wants to get married, while he is sick of her.

Ali turns to the business at hand: their plans to hijack a truckload of yarn per week to sell on the black market. They will team with...