3
At last I have met him. Early this evening I went downstairs to see the manager about an item on my bill which was incorrect. I had thought that I should be safe for this was the time when most of the hotel guests are bathing and preparing for dinner. Unfortunately, I encountered Butler and his newly arrived colleague in the center of the lobby. I suddenly found myself attempting, by an effort of will, very simply to vanish into smoke like one of those magicians in a child’s book. But I remained all too visible. I stopped halfway across the lobby and waited for them.
They came toward me. Butler murmuring greetings and introductions to Communicator Jessup (soon to be Resident of Luxor “when we get underway”): “And this, Jack, is the Mr Hudson I told you about.”
The Resident-to-be shook my hand firmly. He was not more than thirty, a lean, dark-eyed mulatto whose features and coloring appealed to me, used as I now am to the Arabs; beside him, Butler looked more red and gross than ever.
“Butler has told me how useful you’ve been to us,” said Jessup. His voice was a little high but he did not have the trick of over-articulation which used to be so common among educated Negroes in earlier times, a peculiarity they shared with Baptist clergymen and professional poets.
“I’ve done what I could, little as it is,” I said ceremoniously. Then, without protest, I allowed them to lead me out onto the terrace which overlooked the setting sun and the muddy river.
“We planned to see you when Jack, here, arrived,” said Butler expansively when we were seated, a tray of gin and ice and tonic water set before us by a waiter who was used now to American ways. “But you had the sign on your door so I told Jack we’d better wait, till Mr Hudson is feeling better. You are okay now, aren’t you?”
“Somewhat better,” I said, enjoying the British gin: I’d had none since I left Cairo. “At my age one is either dead or all right. I seem not to be dead.”
“How I envy you!” said Jessup solemnly. His voice though high was strong.
“Envy me?” For a moment I did not quite understand.