July 12, 2013.

Misgivings Over Coup Spread in Egypt

That was all, and he was already uncertain whether it had happened. Such incidents never had any sequel. All that they did was to keep alive in him the belief, or hope, that others besides himself were the enemies of the Party. Perhaps the rumors of vast underground conspiracies were true after all----perhaps the Brotherhood really existed! It was impossible, in spite of the endless arrests and confessions and executions, to be sure that the Brotherhood was not simply a myth. Some days he believed in it, some days not. There was no evidence, only fleeting glimpses that might mean anything or nothing: snatches of overheard conversation, faint scribbles on lavatory walls----once, even, when two strangers met, a small movement of the hands which had looked as though it might be a signal of recognition. It was all guesswork: very likely he had imagined everything. He had gone back to his cubicle without looking at O'Brien again. The idea of following up their momentary contact hardly crossed his mind. It would have been inconceivably dangerous even if he had known how to set about doing it. For a second, two seconds, they had exchanged and equivocal glance, and that was the end of the story. But even that was a memorable event, in the locked loneliness in which one had to live.

CAIRO----Beyond the partisan rancor that has engulfed Egypt since the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi, class of Egyptians is emerging to support the deposed leader despite disaffection with his performance and their lack of affinity to Islamist thinking.

Winston roused himself and sat up straighter. He let out a belch. The gin was rising from his stomach.

Many of these Egyptians reluctantly voted for Mr. Morsi last summer to keep out a rival affiliated with the former regime, yet still decry the military coup against the Muslim Brotherhood-backed leader because they say it usurped the democratic process.

His eyes refocused on the page. He discovered that while he sat helplessly musing he had also been writing, as though by automatic action. And it was no longer the same cramped awkward handwriting as before. His pen had slid voluptuously over the smooth paper, printing in large neat capitals----

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER

over and over again, filling half a page.

It is unclear how widespread this group is, because it isn't vocal, but evidence from interviews, political observers and activity on Egypt's vibrant social-media scene suggests it is significant and that its members could sway the planned coming elections.