‘‘Mud in your eye,’’ he said.
Fulmar chuckled. ‘‘I haven’t heard that in a while,’’ he said.
‘‘How long have you been over here?’’ Baker asked.
‘‘I came over for my last two years of high school,’’ Fulmar said. ‘‘And then I stayed for college. That makes it eight years.’’
‘‘You’ve never been back?’’
Fulmar shook his head no. Then he took the cognac bottle, poured the empty coffee cup half full, and added ice and a good spritz from the siphon.
‘‘You say you don’t live in France?’’ Baker asked.
‘‘Are you just making conversation, or is that an official inquiry?’’
‘‘Forget I asked,’’ Baker said quickly. ‘‘I didn’t mean to pry.">
‘‘I know curiosity is eating you up, Mr. Baker, but maybe that’s your business, so I’ll try to satisfy it. I live in Morocco. I have been given a permanent residence permit by the Moroccan government. I would suppose the consulate general in Rabat has all the details.’’
‘‘I guess my curiosity ran away with me,’’ Baker said, making it an apology. ‘‘I didn’t mean to offend.’’
‘‘None was taken,’’ Fulmar said dryly, smiling his open, engaging smile.
‘‘I was told you were German,’’ Baker said with a smile. ‘‘That made me curious, too.’’
‘‘My father is German,’’ Fulmar said, looking directly at Baker. ‘‘So far as they’re concerned, that makes me a German. If I was in Germany, they’d put me in the army, American passport or no. I don’t want to be a German soldier. ’’
‘‘Maybe you should think about going home,’’ Baker said.
‘‘And get drafted into the American army? No, thanks.’’
‘‘You may have to go home,’’ Baker said. ‘‘What if the consulate won’t renew your passport?’’
‘‘Then I’ll become a Moroccan citizen,’’ Fulmar said.
‘‘Can you? Don’t you have to be Moslem?’’
‘‘How do you know I’m not?’’ Fulmar asked. ‘‘And besides, I have friends there.’’
‘‘Friends?’’
‘‘Um.’’
‘‘That would be Sidi el Ferruch?’’ Baker asked, and Fulmar nodded.
‘‘You two are close,’’ Baker said.
‘‘My God, you are nosy!’’ Fulmar said, but he was still smiling. He liked the man, in spite of his nosiness. Baker was smoother and smarter than he looked. ‘‘We went to high school together in Switzerland. And then to the university. We’re very close. I owe him.’’
‘‘Indeed?’’
‘‘He pointed out to me that I would be a fool to go in either the German or the American army,’’ Fulmar said. ‘‘And then put his money where his mouth is by fixing it so I didn’t have to. And he is i
ndulging me tonight by taking you to dinner.’’
‘‘I’m flattered,’’ Baker said. ‘‘And surprised.’’
‘‘You should be,’’ Fulmar said, and chuckled. ‘‘It isn’t often that you’ll have a chance to break bread with a direct descendant of the True Prophet. And besides, it isn’t often lately that I’ve talked to a smart American.’’