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2/14/1952 - Roadside Incident by Richard H. Nolte

INSTITUTE OF URRENT ORLD AFFAIRS B9 Sharia Camboni Apt G Roadside Incident Zamalek Cairo Egypt February Mr Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Rogers The other I drove friend Muhammad visit Egypt sugar refinery which about twenty minutes drive outside Cairo Returning early afternoon village Which refinery situated Without warning blowing across narrow blacktop young elected across without looking right Or There avoid There brief crump flung crumpled still middle behind The impact presumably shattered windshield front wheel I should traveling between thirty thlrty miles Now Egypt advised procedure under circumstances first report accident police under conditions greater security Even Egyptian drivers stopped occasion murdered crowd which quickly inevitably gathers volatile temper people world But instinctive reaction brake I quite child still alive albeit conscious In dozen people gathered around fortunately enough accident fault And besides Muhammad Muslim native Egyptian A doctor first necessity Fortunately there orein village Just A number onlookers opinion however police Ought informed first The consensus arrived village police doctor still unconscious bundled stooped father whiskered rheumy still dazed unexpected calamity getting beside One onlookers climbed proceeded police There sergeant private Joined drove doctor house I opinion under circumstances ought lying until doctor examined I myself position force matters their natural course The ivate picked trooped doctor house He enjoy afternoon siesta would dressed Meanwhile wooden bench After minutes doctor He dressed western clothes cornered handkerchief breast pocket usual mustache Which members effendiat those western clothes affect equally usual scented He brisElyto business After vigorously squeezing signi there fracture He possible broken thigh RHN lower limbs appearing sound bruise first pulled cotton print dress below knees protecting youthful modesty Though twelve thirteen years female modesty already deeply ingrained habit Aside chesp dress heavy silver around ankles ornamentdthe black strip cloth shawl covering nothing shoes under clothes other ornament After prodding chest doctor straightened announce suffering broken punctured lunge She would hospital period exceed twenty doctor oceeded write effect delivery Kasr Eini Hospibal Cairo Meanwhile father heartily reassured there danger would assuredly recover After writing shorter police about findings doctor throughe We shook hands cordially round because doctor magnanimously clined hesitant inquiry there something prompt efficient service We parted briskly happy private ungently picking again carry loaded private father following Muhammad sergeant front The thing hospital Already minutes elapsed sooner proPer hsnds better Besides I about diagnosis quick casual How instance could doctor decided there puncture There blood trouble breathing Best quickly hospital punctu Oh first police report We stopped again police posts It appeared statements warrant officer charge ofthe posts Naturally there In village Someone would Tosavetime wedecidedtodriveovertogethim adistanceofaboutamileo Sowe piled again minutes bottleneck where trucks unloading stone finally cross railroad tracks warrant officer village The sergeantgout waited while crowd curious young children gatherede A train puffing South reight stopped Just erossing The warrant officer short grizzled ccmpact black visored silently The private thanking handshake The began after locomoive passed freeing crossing againe We eaerto thecrowdofyoungsterswerenowpressingrounddbeginningtoake liberties One little Irl reached touch shoulders The sergeant behind equivalent Scram little whelped which enary effects But mcmentaryo Still gates blasted puffing again The warrant officer folded motionless Snehow reminded might tugboat skipper never rural policeaan Egyp The locomotive rossed front again stopped Thetenslon Everyone would akevery Ii Ie those erring giggling children throwing stones And there enough olderOys araenaroundnow alsowaitigfr gatestol tofollowuphe closed windows The train began opportunity righteous sport again evidence continuing distance But still gates remained Another locomotive chuffed And general relief gates lifted traffic began stream across tracks As drove little hurled parting I think A moments earlier remark might spilled beans Back police office We again followed warrant officer across courtyard earth police office The father helped progress under power Sitting behind table corner small warrant officer began depositions though could zainab For forty minutes spent Sit chair corner unnoticed uncomplaining while really important business carried Vnere Policemen their fitting khaki uniforms coming office howthings coming along One intense little discovering I American flared The ostensible occasion anger I sitting tables while warrant officer interrogating father Not I But foreignerA In Office PoliceA While Officer presentA A vigorous throat cutting gesture would happen And present recollection mutilated decapitated bodies around Turf Club Cairo after events January certain force threat I properly contrite cowed because Mnifeless smaller I attitude everyone embarrassment rather sympathy Muhanmd quarrel slick butter three minutes When calmer I didybit moments cordial fellow You swell twice I pleased He later opinion secure Cairo Appropri ately enough turned translation Sord Faith Quite blade One fifty minutes after accident ready Cairo hospital Unacquainted mysteries involved passport which fortunately hadwithmeandalsounacquaintedwithEnglishthewarrantOfficer decided ergeant accompany Cairo Y checked police residential district Could found When Wanted boarded sergea father Muhammad Also Self Din And warrant officer scene accidents The uneventful The R revived would This occasioned considerable amusement Self Din father animated conversation The scrap Z caught approving exclamation Your family antecedents excellent Or literally Your spirit adventure overcome misfortune moment cigarettes smoked Two youthful doctor charge arrived hospital In outside receiving woman usual black miserable resignation floor against Somewhere screaming lungs presumably woman The clock Roman numerals clock hours minutes after accident occurred The hospital every other public building publicly public Cairo atmosph decay disrepair expected built It quiteo In respect diagnosis young doctor confirm village Aesculapuis No broken punctured concussiono They would hospital As Muhammad slipped little something carfare village pound enough about twenty round trips Lest gesture construed mission fsnlt agreed Muhmmad should donor concerned He seemed expect something seemed satisfied More probability result three weeks normal effort The sergeant Muhammad I Zamalek Half dozen officers shoulder stars gleam gathered around table enjoying afternoon buffet garlic beans bread fruit Muhammad I received friends invited Join which Our sergeaut Upper Egypt sticks Cairo concerned ankle length khaki greatcoat stood attention uneasily shifting The officer charge sergeant warrant officer understand Muhammad explained village warrant officer understood about passports detailed sergeant conduct Zamalek There burst laugh tailored officers ignorance The sergeant faced embarrassment obeyed alacrity order Beat minutes Jibes general hilarity filled MuhammaddI invited again paring Zamal police officers amicable terms We sorry sergeant really pleasant person All lacked privileges education influence which officers enjoyed enjoying We trolley Ahammad pressed carfare which accepted reluctance gratitude He really decent person And ended roadside incident moment least My insurance agent assures there court action result police report month years The observations drawn Official wheels grind exceeding grind The accident important excuse machinery motion attention Jured She peasant after female What could important BUt there hospitalization In Egypt apparently medicine concerned least Government endeavored practice principle government means service Yours sincerely Received New York