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"
When a country is in the hands of its army, anything can happen" King
Faruwq.
"The only thing you can
do now," I said, "is to make it clear that I expect the State to provide
for my son, who is now technically King of Egypt." He promised to do what
he could, but I knew that the poor man was not in any position to promise
me anything definitely. When a country is in the hands of its army, anything
can happen.
I put on my admiral's
uniform for my departure, as a last gesture of respect to my loyal navy.
Just half an hour before I was due to leave, I called my loyal Palace officers,
and said, "I have one final task for you. The Queen's ladies-in-waiting
must be escorted by armed officers, who will shoot if there is any attempt
to molest or insult these ladies!"
Strangely, as soldiers
will, they considered it an honor to jeopardize the last shreds of their
military careers by performing this task for me. They knew, as I did, that
it was not a gesture that would endear them to the new army chiefs. But
I considered it very necessary, and so did they.
I sent my wife and
children on board the Mahruwsah at about 5.45 p.m.,
and a few minutes afterwards I went to the quayside, where the launch was
waiting for me, while the Palace Guard and the Sudanese Guard all stood
in ranks at attention, and all the officers who had defended us during
the morning. My wife had already received her appropriate salute by flag
and national anthem, and was waiting for me in the launch.
I inspected this, my
last Guard of Honor, and saluted the flag and stood to attention for the
national anthem of Egypt, and then, in Nagiyb's
own words, "The faithful servants of the palace set up a wail of lament
that must have been deafening to hear. Over it all, 21 guns fired the royal
salute."
It may have been deafening
to the revolutionaries, but it was deeply moving to me. I stayed about
10 minutes, trying to comfort them, and told them that I hoped to
see them all again some day. I still have that hope.
I called out the
officer in charge of the Palace Regimental Flag and had him give me the
Colors, as I did not choose to leave them behind.
As I stepped on board,
the royal standard went up at the masthead, and from the tall towers of
the Ra’s al-Tiyn Palace, the great green-and-gold flag came
slowly down.
By now it was six
o'clock and General Nagiyb had not
arrived. I saluted `Aliy Mahir
and
Mr. Caffery with the farewell kiss
upon the cheek that is our custom, and asked `Aliy
Mahir to wait for Nagiyb another
five minutes, and tell him that I had left for the ship, acting upon his
instructions that I should leave not later than 6 o'clock.
While we were putting
up anchor to leave, a launch came screaming through the water at full speed.
On it was Nagiyb with six other army
officers. I stood near the top of the gangway to receive them.
As
Nagiyb came up and saluted, I said, "I am sorry that I was
unable to wait for you any longer on the quay, General, But acting on your
orders I was leaving promptly at six."
He flushed. "Sir,
I am not responsible for this," he said very quickly.
"We had hoped to
achieve only good by this coup, but it got out of hand - the effects have
been too far-reaching - I hope you will understand . . ."
At this point, the
other officers began to mount the gangplank behind him. He stepped fully
on board and blurted, "There are others - fanatical ones - I was not
called upon - I implore that you do not hold me personally responsible
. . . "
And that was exactly
what Nagiyb said to me in the few seconds
of privacy that we had together. He offered me his hand, and I took it.
I think it is only fair that I should explain that in my belief Nagiyb
was undergoing great emotion. From obscurity, he had suddenly become the
main figure in Egypt. From being a comparatively simple soldier,
he had entered the pages of history. He was awed by the far-reaching effect
of what had obviously started as little more than an attempt by a few military
officers to put right certain personal grievances. How much importance
can be given to his few, hasty and apparently fearful words to me, I cannot
tell. I report them for what they are worth. At best, they seemed to be
the words of a man who was overwhelmed; at worst, of a man who was being
pushed too hard from behind. I can only say that I fear for his life, now.
(Story continues
next month) |
