‘‘I would rather he did not contact the American consulate, ’’ el Ferruch continued. ‘‘I want to take him to Ksar es Souk.’’
‘‘I am old and don’t think clearly. It is hard to see where you are heading.’’
‘‘In the future, as the Americans come more and more into the war, we will need someone to inform us about American attitudes and intentions—and perhaps to use as a go-between.’’
‘‘I’ve become interested, my son,’’ Thami el Glaoui said after he let that sink in a moment, ‘‘that the Filipinos have elected to fight beside the Americans against the Japanese.’’
‘‘I don’t quite follow,’’ el Ferruch said.
‘‘They do so for one of two reasons,’’ el Glaoui said. ‘‘Because they prefer the devil they know. Or because they believe the Americans’ claim that they will grant them independence. What I am saying is that the French profess to be willing to grant us independence, and I don’t believe them. Why do you suppose the Filipinos believe the Americans? ’’
‘‘Perhaps because they are telling the truth,’’ el Ferruch said.
‘‘An interesting thought,’’ el Glaoui said.
‘‘The Americans also gave back Cuba to the Cubans,’’ el Ferruch said.
‘‘If they now possessed Morocco, would they give it back to us?’’ el Glaoui asked rhetorically.
El Ferruch raised both hands, palms up, an elaborate gesture meaning, ‘‘Who could tell?’’
‘‘You have a plan to get your guest past the Germans?’’
‘‘I have, but plans go wrong sometimes,’’ El Ferruch said.
‘‘You are asking me if this is worth an armed confrontation between your men and the Germans—and possibly the Sûreté and the Deuxième Bureau?’’
‘‘And for your permission to take him to Ksar es Souk,’’ el Ferruch said.
‘‘What makes you think he will want to go to Ksar es Souk?’’
‘‘I’ll tell him that I will protect him from the Germans only if he doesn’t attempt to go to the Americans.’’
‘‘Will he believe this?’’
‘‘Yes, noble Father, I think he will. And he will give me his word of honor to accept the conditions.’’
Thami el Glaoui met his eyes, but el Ferruch could not read his expression. Then he signaled for more tea, and poured it when it came with great care and formality.
‘‘Have you considered that your heart and not your head may be speaking?’’
‘‘That is why I come to ask for your wisdom.’’
‘‘I must look carefully to see what is immediately evident to younger men.’’
The pasha sipped thoughtfully on his small cup for a long time.
‘‘The answer is always in the Koran,’’ he said finally. ‘‘At the risk of arrogance, I sense what the Lord of Lords would have me do. If taking your friend within the walls of Ksar es Souk is the way you believe you may best serve Allah and me, my son,’’ the pasha said, ‘‘then you must do that.
‘‘You are in the hands of Allah,’’ he concluded. ‘‘I will pray for you.’’
Casablanca, Morocco December 10, 1941
When the three-car caravan left Marrakech, there was no way to avoid the attention of the Sûreté, and it was not difficult for the Sûreté to guess its destination. Thus when the three cars reached the outskirts of Casablanca very early in the afternoon, a Citroën sedan was parked beside the Atlantic Ocean road.
It followed them to the Hôtel d’Anfa near Casablanca, but stopped outside the gate. One of the French Deuxième Bureau agents from the Citroën followed el Ferruch and his entourage of blue-robed Berbers up to the rooftop restaurant of the hotel. He had a glass of wine while el Ferruch ate a leisurely luncheon.
At half past three, Sidi el Ferruch nodde