In light of current events I’ve been reading, particularly, Egyptian authors in The Anchor Book of Modern Arabic Fiction. I thought you might like this short, Tolstoy-like tale, from Yusuf al-Qa’id (b. 1944)  His novel War In the Land of Egypt [and here for a sample] was made into a film starring Omar Sharif [not yet at Netflix.]  This is called ” A Futile Crossing,” translated by William Hutchins.

The rich man reached the broad river and its raging waters.  He heard a voice call out to him, “What is it you’re looking for now, sir?”

He replied, “A man who will carry me across the river on his back.”

A kindly giant appeared before him at once.  The rich man lept on the strong man’s back and shouted to him, “Swim me across!”

The strong man swam out into the river.  As he neared the far bank he became exhausted and almost perished.

“Don’t die before you get me safely to shore,” the rich man yelled at him.

The strong man replied, “Your wish is my command.”

He did get him to dry land, but then he immediately died.  After dying he held out his hand to the rich man.  ”Give me my wages so I can pay to get buried,” he entreated him.

The rich man kicked him so hard that the dead man’s hand flew off into the sky, leaving him with only one hand.  The rich man screamed at him:  ”What wages!  If I had not been on your back you wouldn’t have been able to make the crossing.  Times are hard.  Your making it all the way was a miracle.  You could not have done it without me!  Then you talk about getting paid!”

The rich man proceeded angrily upon his way.  ”What’s come over the world?” he asked himself.  ”Why do poor people think about getting rich?  Isn’t there a law against that?”

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