The next morning Salahadin went with Leila and Fuad to the Cairo Museum. They took the Black Cat with them. They met a friend called Faisal who worked in the museum.
Salahadin gave the Black Cat to Faisal and told him the story.
“It looks old.” said Faisal, “and perhaps it’s valuable. But I don’t know about the gold and diamonds. I’ll have to look at it carefully.”
Salahadin, Leila and Fuad, went and had Continue reading
Salahadin took the first train from Venice to Rome. The next morning he was on a plane to Cairo. The plane was late and he did not arrive until after ten o’clock in the morning.
The sun was high in the sky and it was getting hotter and hotter. Salahadin felt better. He preffered the heat of Cairo to the cold deck of “The Syria”.
He took a taxi to his flat. There was a surprise waiting for him. Leila and Fuad where there. Fuad explained.
“We arrived Continue reading
The corridor outside cabin 22 was still empty. Everything was silent. Salahadin went into the cabin and picked up the box carefully. Then he carried it across the corridor to his own cabin.
He went back across the corridor once more. In every cabin there was a notice with the words “DO NOT DISTURB” written on it in large letters. Salahadin took this notice and hung it on the door of cabin 22.
DO NOT Continue reading
“Don’t move,” said Peterson.
Peterson came into the cabin and shut the door.
Salahadin stood still in front of the bed.
“Who are you?” asked Peterson. “And what are you doing in my cabin?”
“Borkman sent me,” he said. “I have message for you.”
“You’re telling lies,” said Peterson. “There’s something on the bed. Stand back.”
Salahadin moved back and Continue reading
Ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door of Salahadin’s cabin. It was the steward.
“Do you want to eat the dining room or in your cabin sir?” asked the steward.
“Where do people usually eat?” asked Salahadin.
“In the dining room,” replied the steward. “But you can have your dinner in your cabin, if you want.”
“That’s an idea,” said Salahadin. “I’ll Continue reading
Salahadin plane flew over Athens early in the morning. From the aeroplane he looked down on the ruins of the Acropolis.
They looked wonderful in the early morning sunlight. But Salahadin was not a tourist. He was a detective and he had to
find Peterson.
Salahadin took a taxi from the airport to Piraeus, the seaport of Athens. He got out of the taxi at Piraeus and went to
an office at the dock gate.
“What time does “The Syria” arrive from Continue reading
Salahadin and Fuad got back home before ten o’clock.
Leila was pleased to see them. She started to make some food, but Salahadin was in a hurry.
“Can you phone Beirut airport?” he asked. “Find out the time of the first plane to Athens. I want to get there as soon as possible.”
Fuad phoned the airport. Leila brought in some coffee and they sat down. Salahadin told her about Borkman’s death. He spoke about the Black Cat.
“But Continue reading
Fuad and Salahadin got out of the car and walked to the edge of the road. It was getting dark and cold. The two cars lay below them. The black car had fallen about two hundred metres to the bottom. It was on fire. The taxi had not fallen so far. It was lying against a tree.
“Come on,” said Salahadin. “Let’s climb down quickly. Perhaps Borkman’s still alive.”
Fuad climbed down the steep path and Salahadin followed him. They found the taxi. The Continue reading
At six o’clock, Salahadin and Fuad arrived at the dock in Beirut. They sat in the car and waited for the arrival of “The Sudan”.
There was another car on the docks.
“Do you see that black car over there?” asked Fuad.
“The one with two men in the front?”
“Yes,” said Fuad, “and there’s a fat man sitting in the back seat. I know him. He’s interested in antiquities. He often Continue reading
At half past ten the next morning. Salahadin arrived at Beirut airport. The airport lies to the south of the city and the docks are in the north. One road from the airport to the docks goes through the centre of the city. Another road goes beside the sea.
Salahadin got into a taxi. He told the driver to take the road beside the sea. The sun was shining on the city and there was a mist on the hills behind. The air was fresh and cool. Salahadin felt very happy in Beirut. It was nice and Continue reading