by Terry Morgan
CHAPTER 53
Arriving for Doctor Ramses El Khoury's evening family planning clinic at the Shah Medical Centre on the first floor of an old block in crowded, central Cairo she found she was already late. One look showed that all nine seats of the waiting room were occupied by mothers, some with young children crawling or playing on the floor. But Mr McCann's instructions had been quite clear. She was to be his last patient of the evening. Marie went back down the stone steps and out into the street to wait.
It was nine thirty before she tried again and found only one young woman still waiting. At nine forty five a buzzer sounded and a red light came on over Doctor Ramses door. It was her turn.
But it was not a middle aged man who sat there. Perhaps it was her pharmacy background but Maria had imagined a middle aged man wearing a tie that had seen better days hanging greasily from an open necked shirt. She had not prepared herself to meet a middle aged woman.
The room, office, clinic or whatever it chose to be was big, much larger than the waiting room. Maria quickly took in a cubicle surrounded by a green, plastic curtain in one corner, a wash basin, dispensers for antiseptic soap, a box of latex gloves, a glass cabinet of bottles, an open box containing stainless steel instruments and a grey metal filing cabinet. But the room had clearly seen a man's presence. There were dusty files, back copies of the Lancet and a strange stuffed bird in a glass box high up on a top shelf. Maria's sensitive nose also smelled man as well as woman.
But it was a woman who beckoned her to sit - a big woman with a long black skirt, a cotton blouse and her hair held back by several gold clips. Wide, gold rings some inlaid with blue stones sat on several of her fingers as she swung around in the man's swivel chair to face Maria.
"Sorry, but I was expecting to see Doctor Ramses El Khoury," said Maria.
He is away. I am his deputy. I am Doctor Fatima El Badry. How can I help?"
"Are you often here?"
"Yes, I am always here whenever Doctor Ramses is abroad. How can I help?"
"I need advice on contraception," Maria said.
"Your name?"
"Aqeelah,"
"Are you married?"
"Well, nearly."
"Then why don't you abstain until you are married?"
"My husband-to-be insists."
"Ignore him."
"But..........."
"Do you want children?"
"No, at least, not yet."
"Then abstention is the best policy. Delay until you are entirely sure. Then restrict yourself to a maximum of one child. The world is far too crowded."
"I totally agree," said Maria as she had been told by Mr McCann. "Just look at the street outside and its quite late. It's so crowded and all you can hear is traffic. But what can I do?"
"Lead by example." the woman said. "We need to reduce the population not increase it."
"Yes," agreed Maria, "We discussed the subject at University just last week."
"You are a student?"
"Yes, of history and economics. Over half of the students agreed we needed to reduce the population."
"They are right. And simple contraception is not enough. That will take many generations. There is no time left. Governments should act before it is too late."
"Yes, that is what we agreed at the University. but what can we do? No-one had any ideas."
"There are solutions. We will see. Someone will do something."
"I so hope so," said Maria. " But what shall I say to my husband-to-be?
"Tell him to wait. Aqeelah. Live up to the name your father gave you, which means wise and sensible."
"But it is very difficult, Doctor. Are you married?"
"Yes."
"And do you have children?"
Maria recognised the hesitation. Perhaps it was impertinent to ask a doctor such a question. Nevertheless, she got an answer. "Ah, yes."
"Can I ask how many you have?"
To Maria's ear, it sounded even more impertinent but Mr McCann had said that whatever happened she should: "Push, push, push - you will not get much time with this Doctor Ramses El Khoury. Try to engage him in general conversation for as long as you can."
"Two. But we are a family who work very hard, we are educated, we are ambitious, we have money to invest, to provide education for our children at private school. There are many thousands who cannot afford children. We must deal with them."
"I so agree," gushed Maria, "And does your husband share your opinions?"
"Of course. They are his opinions."
Maria got up. "Thank you, You have been a big help to me in making my decision. I will tell my husband-to-be about your good advice."
As she shut the door, Maria looked back and noticed a faint smile on the face of Doctor Fatima El Badry.
For Maria, the name El Badry had meant nothing. For Daniel, it was perhaps the biggest piece of the jigsaw yet. He praised Maria for her night's work and asked her to meet him the following morning.
