A Master of Djinn

The next morning, Fatma wakes refreshed despite only having slept a few hours. Per Siti’s invitation in the note, she heads to the small Nubian eatery run by Siti’s family to meet her. As Fatma waits, she chats with Madame Aziza, a sister of Siti’s grandmother; the old woman remarks that Siti has “[t]oo much of her father in her” (56). Fatma doesn’t reply, knowing that Siti never knew her father.

Siti and Fatma travel to Old Cairo, where Siti remarks that supposedly an angel exists—angels appeared shortly after the djinn but were more enigmatic. Fatma briefly recalls a case concerning an angel named Maker, but she doesn’t dwell on the thought. They find the priestess, Merira, along with an elemental djinn named Minya, in a fortune teller’s shop. Merira takes them through a hidden passage into the temple of Hathor, where they meet a man who introduces himself as Lord Sobek, the Egyptian crocodile-headed god; Merira introduces him instead as Ahmad, the high priest of the Cult of Sobek.

Two victims at the Worthington estate were clergy of the Egyptian gods, the priestess being Ahmad’s divine consort. Worthington’s secret society was founded in the late 1890s after Worthington brokered peace with the British; as the group consisted of mostly British members, he had trouble recruiting Muslims, Copts, and Soudanese. However, being outcasts themselves, the Egyptian cults were more willing to join. In return, however, the cults demanded that he contribute funding for a real temple; Siti’s travels were an effort to find a suitable location.

Merira wants to cooperate, hoping to mitigate damages when the public learns of the cults’ connection to Worthington; however, she doesn’t know much. When Fatma asks about the burns, Minya appears and voices her suspicion that her cousins, the Ifrit, had a hand in them. Powerful fire elementals, the Ifrit have kept to themselves for the past 40 years.

Outside, Fatma comments on Ahmad’s belief that he is Lord Sobek. Siti suggests he may be in direct communion with the entombed god. Fatma further comments that opening a public temple would be a bad idea, as Egyptians haven’t even adjusted to the djinn, let alone to the idea of entombed gods. Siti draws comparisons between hiding her religious beliefs and Fatma hiding their relationship.

The two acknowledge the fight and recover, agreeing to meet at The Spot later that night.

Fatma returns to the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, housed in a living building built by djinn. Hamed, a fellow agent, asks about the case, assuming Fatma’s involvement implies something supernatural, but she tells him not to put stock in rumors. He mentions an office pool for betting on how long before Fatma runs off her new partner.

Suddenly remembering Hadia, Fatma heads to her office only to find a second desk. Fatma immediately goes to the director, Amir, who has been expecting her. Amir refuses to budge, arguing that the pair-up, however unpleasant Fatma finds it, is for her own good. Moreover, he reveals that with recent progress in women’s rights, including suffrage, the Ministry “can’t be seen lagging” (75) on recruitment of women—yet Hadia is only the fifth recruit they have. Fatma returns to her office and, realizing the few women in the department can’t be seen fighting, agrees to work with Hadia.

Hadia produces information on the fire victims that she obtained from the police. All the names on the list are English, but two victims remain unidentified. Fatma correctly guesses that the unidentified bodies include the woman and one other man, then explains to Hadia the information she learned from the idolators, although she leaves out names. Hadia is shocked at the potential involvement of Ifrit.

Finally, Fatma formally welcomes Hadia to the ministry.