
Wyndham Bimbashi is a British officer stationed in Egypt, proud of his Arabic fluency but blind to the deeper currents of the land he governs. His outspoken nature and habit of acting on impulse have set off riots in remote villages and earned him the mistrust of both locals and his own men. As his reckless decisions culminate in a disastrous clash with an offended Arab tribe, his reputation teeters on the brink of ruin.
Cornered in a former Coptic monastery‑turned‑fortress, Wyndham watches his dwindling force shrink under relentless attacks while the Nile slips beyond his reach. The stark reality of his failures presses in, and the only thread of loyalty he can count on comes from his Sudanese servant, Hassan, who steps forward to deliver a desperate plea for help. In this tense, early crisis, the officer must confront the gap between his self‑image and the harsh truths of the world around him.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (117K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1862–1932
A Canadian-born writer who turned the history and folklore of Quebec into bestselling adventure and historical novels, he later became a public figure in Britain as well as a man of letters. His stories are remembered for their dramatic sweep, strong sense of place, and feel for imperial-era politics and romance.
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