"Unscathed? They told me one of my lungs had to be re-
inflated, and His Highness King Idris the Second of Libya suffered flashblindness and loss of hearing that still lingers! We were lucky to escape with our lives! You actually think we would have engineered such a sloppy and dangerous assassination attempt in such close quarters?"
"I think you put yourself in just enough harm so no attention would be drawn to you directly," Salaam argued.
"You are delusional," al-Khan said, dismissing her with an angry wave of his hand. "I am glad to see you are alive, Madame, and I pray for you and your late husband. But I warn you, do not spread false rumors or try to discredit my good name. There are laws against such activities."
"There are laws against subversion, conspiracy, and treason too, Khan," Salaam said bitterly. "But since when have you ever been concerned with the law, except when it most benefits you? You hide behind your robes and the holy Quran like a desert scorpion, hopping out into the sunlight just long enough to strike, then hide in the shadows once again and wait for your victim to die before devouring him."
'Take great care, woman," al-Khan warned. "You try my patience."
But Susan hobbled over to block his path. "I will get you for what you did, Khan," she hissed. "If it takes my very last breath, I will avenge my husband's killer-you and your puppet master, Zuwayy."
"Get out of my way, woman," Khan ordered. His bodyguards were ready the instant he made eye contact. They had been staying back, visible but not intrusive, threatening but not imminently so, but when al-Khan motioned for them, they moved like coiled snakes. One of them grabbed for Salaam's cane, the other for her right arm.
But as fast as they moved, Susan was faster. She let the man grabbing her cane pull her toward him, then merely redirected her momentum slightly, driving the crook of the cane up into his throat. The hall echoed with the crack of his larynx, and he collapsed to the floor, clutching his shattered windpipe. Then she immediately swung the cane with her left hand and cracked it hard against her second attacker's right kneecap. Even though she heard more bone crack, the big, burly bodyguard did not go down, but twisted Susan's right wrist around and down, trying to force her to the floor.
Susan didn't resist, but simply twisted faster. The bodyguard lost his grip with a howl of pain when he tried to put weight on his right leg, sinking down to his left knee, and Susan was free. She watched and waited. The second bodyguard did exactly as she thought he would: He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his side arm, a fearsome-looking Spanish-made Star Z-84 mini-submachine gun. Susan simply swung the cane as if she were making a two-wood tee shot, aiming not for the gun but the bodyguard's head. The snap! they heard was the left side of his jaw, and he went down hard.
A stunned Khalid al-Khan stared in amazement at the writhing men at his feet. The entire fight had lasted only seconds, but both highly trained bodyguards looked as if they might be in critical condition. "Obviously you have done a lot more than just be the supportive wife of a president, Madame."
Susan hefted the cane. It was just an oaken cane, but now al-Khan could see that the crook was larger, its tip was menacingly pointed, and the shaft had decorative inlays in it that obviously served to help grip the cane in defensive situations. "A skill taught by some friends from Nevada. Weapons-and fighters-are all around you, Khan."
"Are you insane, woman?" he breathed. "Are you gloating? Look at what you have done! You're a madwoman! Or are you trying to live up to your ridiculous nickname, Sekhmet the Goddess of the Hunt?"
"I want you to know that you and I are enemies, Khan," Susan said, her voice low but hard as the oak in her cane. "I know you set up the assassination of my husband, and I know you are using your terror network to force any opposition into hiding or into silence. I know you are being funded by Zuwayy of Libya, and I know if you gain the presidency, that you will move to join the Muslim Brotherhood and force Egypt to join an alliance of terror that will cut off all Western aid and strangle our country. I will do everything in my power to stop you." Several security officers ran up to the growing crowd just then. Both General Baris and al-Khan barked orders at them, but the chief justice of the Supreme Judiciary's voice, authority, status, and perceived threat were far more powerful than Baris's, and Salaam and Baris were roughly led away.
They were met outside by dozens of reporters and cameras, and the security guards slinked away as Susan and Ahmad approached them. "That was not very wise, Susan," Baris said under his breath. "Khan needs only the slightest excuse to have you arrested, deported-or killed."
"I wanted to let him know that we're not done fighting," Susan said resolutely. "Beating up his bodyguards will be nothing compared to what I'm going to do to him on election day." She stepped over to the reporters and bank of microphones and started answering questions:
"Yes, I attended my husband's memorial service," Susan responded to the first question. "Upon the advice of my husband's national security adviser, General Ahmad Baris, I attended in secret. I was also present at his interment in the family cemetery at Giza. It is a credit to General Baris and his staff that you did not know I was there. After the mourners left, I was able to perform the burial ritual." She held up her left hand, showing a large man's ring on her middle finger as well as her engagement ring on her ring finger. "I have Kamal's wedding ring, and he now has mine. I also placed topazes on his eyes, so he will not be blinded by the suns of heaven when he crosses over.
"Yes, I spoke with Ulama al-Khan just now. We greeted each other with warmth and relief that neither was very seriously injured from the attack. He explained his objection in the National Assembly to me very well, which I fully accept. His concern was that new elections not be clouded with any constitutional challenges during our nation's most critical time. I assured him that I will do what's best for Egypt and myself.
"Yes, of course, my husband's murderers should be hunted down, but only to be brought to justice, not retribu-
tion. This should be a time of healing, not revenge. I'm sure that's what my husband would have wanted, and I know that's what Dr. Kalir and Ulama al-Khan want too.
"Yes, with the help and support of my friends in the National Democratic Party and the people of Egypt, I am a candidate for president of Egypt. Of course, my doctors will have to give their blessing as well-I am strong and determined, but I'm not foolish enough to think I know more than my doctors.
"I suffered some damage in my left eye and some burns, but I'm feeling all right, kwaysa ilhamdu lillah, shukran. Thank you.
"Yes, I believe I can work with Ulama al-Khan in a National Democratic Party-led government. The Ulama and I share many of the same beliefs: that Egypt can and must be the spiritual, moral, and philosophical leader of the Arab world and show by example the power and courage of the Arab people. My husband believed strongly in this, and I shall continue to work to make this idea a reality.
"No, I have absolutely no intentions of leaving Egypt except for brief visits abroad or in some capacity with the government.
"Yes, I still hold dual nationalities-I can't change my place of birth. But out of respect for my husband and to his countrymen, and reflecting the love I have for all Egyptians, I'm staying. I have no plans to reside in the United States or anywhere else but Misr, insha'allah. Sabah el kher. Shukran. Thank you all."
General Baris and Captain Shafik escorted Susan out of the National Assembly building into a waiting car. "I think it went pretty well, don't you, Ahmad?" she asked.
"The interview was fine," Baris replied. "But this is a dangerous game you're playing, Sekhmet. Men like Khan do little all day but dream up ways to defeat, humiliate, or eliminate their political opponents. Unless you want to reduce yourself to their scum-sucking level, stay away from political intrigue."