SoadSoad enjoyed leafing through books, though she did not know how to read. Sometimes, she stopped in front of the library’s travel section and picked up a book to look at the pictures. Except for two short trips to Alexandria, she had never left Cairo. Her job, which consisted of keeping the library clean and tidy, had been a godsend. It was not strenuous, and the hours were reasonable.
It was the end of the work week. She was setting down books in the tray reserved for reshelving without wiping their covers, which was unusual for her.
Her absent-mindedness did not escape the notice of Sayed, sitting at the reception desk. While he knew that Soad did not fast because of her age and poor health, he thought that she must have been woken up at the crack of dawn by the sounds of family mem
