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Lizybet Corwi
Dhatt is Borlú’s partner in Ul Qoma, and the two begin working together after it becomes clear that Mahalia Geary was from Ul Qoma. A detective with the Ul Qoman militsya, Dhatt at first seems to be a pretty stark contrast to Borlú. Whereas Borlú is serious, level-headed, and committed to the job, Dhatt is jokey and erratic. He also uses violence in interrogations, which Borlú disapproves of. However, over time Dhatt overcomes both his goofiness and his competitiveness, and proves himself to be a committed detective and loyal friend. Dhatt helps Borlú track down David Bowden after the truth about Orciny comes out.
Detective Qussim Dhatt Quotes in The City & the City
The The City & the City quotes below are all either spoken by Detective Qussim Dhatt or refer to Detective Qussim Dhatt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 18 Quotes
“Of course it’s ludicrous, like you say. Secret overlords behind the scene, more powerful even than Breach, puppetmasters, hidden cities.”
“Crap.”
“Yeah, but the point is that it’s crap a bunch of people believe. And”—I opened my hands at him—“something big’s going on, and we have no idea what it is.”
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Chapter 21 Quotes
“I’m getting paranoid,” I said.
“Oh no, they’re really watching you.”
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Chapter 23 Quotes
“Yorjavic didn’t breach, Borlú. He shot over the border, in Copula Hall. He never breached. Lawyers might have an argument: was the crime committed in Besźel where he pulled the trigger, or Ul Qoma where the bullets hit? Or both? He held out his hands in an elegant who cares? “He never breached. You did. So you are here, now, in the Breach.”
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Detective Qussim Dhatt Character Timeline in The City & the City
The timeline below shows where the character Detective Qussim Dhatt appears in The City & the City. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 12
...an officer gets out, greeting Borlú in Illitan. He introduces himself as Senior Detective Qussim Dhatt, and welcomes Borlú to Ul Qoma.
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...had forgotten what it looked like. The landscape is noticeably wealthier and sleeker than Besźel. Dhatt asks if Borlú would like to settle in at his hotel before getting something to...
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Dhatt clarifies that while Borlú is there, he will be treated as a “consultant” and a...
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...a couple of days, and nobody can contact her. When Borlú asks if she’s “disappeared” Dhatt accuses him of being “melodramatic,” but Borlú says that this is simply the accurate definition...
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Chapter 13
...updates about the case. Borlú had wanted to go to Bol Ye’an that day, but Dhatt says it’s not possible. Alone in his hotel room, Borlú reads a bit of Between...
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...to confusion. Borlú explains that he is assisting the militsya and that they can contact Dhatt if they have any concerns.
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...militsya officers apologize and offer to escort Borlú back to his hotel. The next morning, Dhatt greets him in a friendly way, but as they drive off together he says, “I...
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While Borlú and Dhatt head to Professor Nancy’s office, a man greets them, introducing himself as David Bowden. Borlú...
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...talking about Orciny years ago at the conference in Besźel. She asks about Yolanda, and Dhatt encourages her not to jump to conclusions. She takes Borlú and Dhatt around the site,...
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...him a few questions. Aikam looks nervous, but agrees. As they walk away, Borlú asks Dhatt if they checked if the security guards had alibis. Dhatt says they did and that...
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Chapter 14
Borlú and Dhatt go to a teahouse, where Dhatt becomes a little less “aggressive.” Borlú looks out into...
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...about the case from a caller in Ul Qoma who saw the poster in Besźel. Dhatt is shocked, but says he doesn’t think Breach will take Borlú for this infraction, particularly...
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...eased state repression, and persecution of illegal political parties has lessened. Arriving at the building, Dhatt bangs on the door, shouting. A young woman with shaved hair and tattoos opens it;...
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...asks them a few more questions, but they don’t yield much, and he indicates to Dhatt that they should leave. In the car, Dhatt asks why Borlú shied away from their...
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Chapter 15
Borlú suggests that he and Dhatt take the recently revamped, state-of-the-art metro to Bowden’s apartment. Each stop has been designed by...
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...Orciny. However, Bowden replies that he doesn’t study Orciny and hasn’t for a long time. Dhatt points out that Bowden was recently burgled, yet Bowden remains adamant that no one is...
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Chapter 16
...Mahalia. After hanging up, Borlú sleeps for a few hours, only to be awakened by Dhatt calling and saying, “Someone sent a bomb.”
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Chapter 17
Borlú and Dhatt go to Bol Ye’an, where the bomb was discovered by Aikam. The package in which...
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Speaking to Dhatt, Borlú points out that Mahalia angered the nationalists back in Besźel, and that although the...
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...who sent it from a Besź address in an attempt to obscure its actual origin. Dhatt emphasizes that in Ul Qoma, nationalists are not allowed to congregate like they are in...
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...there avoid discussing Breach because they know “they’re all guilty as hell.” After Buidze leaves, Dhatt gets a phone call informing him that Bowden is missing from his apartment.
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Chapter 18
Borlú tells Dhatt about the call from Jaris, and Dhatt is angry that he didn’t mention anything earlier....
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Dhatt pauses the conversation and insists that the two of them put their differences aside and...
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...they get to the car, they discuss the shifting fortunes of Besźel and Ul Qoma. Dhatt comments that while Ul Qoma is more prosperous than Besźel now, this will inevitably not...
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Chapter 20
...back and get Yolanda out. Walking away, Borlú sees an abundance of angry messages from Dhatt. Calling him, Borlú says that something’s happened that he can’t explain. He asks Dhatt to...
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When Dhatt finds Borlú, Borlú explains that he’s found Yolanda. Borlú reiterates that they don’t know what’s...
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Borlú asks if Dhatt can get Yolanda an exit visa by pretending she is a police officer. Exasperated, Dhatt...
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Chapter 21
Borlú and Dhatt go back into the office and try to act normally, but they feel paranoid. Dhatt...
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Meanwhile, Borlú and Dhatt make final arrangements with those they are leaving behind in Ul Qoma, including telling the...
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...him this Aikam protests, but she promises to call him from Canada. In the car, Dhatt gives Borlú and Yolanda militsya uniforms to change into. When they arrive at Copula Hall,...
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Borlú thinks he sees Corwi, but in that moment, Dhatt alerts him to a man walking behind them. He is wrapped up in winter clothing,...
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Chapter 22
...ground, forcing him to drop his gun. Borlú tells everyone to get on the ground. Dhatt shouts that he is shot but okay, whereas Yolanda was shot in the head. Borlú...
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Chapter 23
...Gosz. The man explains that Yorjavic is a former soldier. Suddenly, Borlú frantically asks after Dhatt and Yolanda; the man replies that Dhatt has lost the functionality of his right arm...
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The footage then switches to Aikam, who sits silently crying, then to Dhatt, who angrily protests that he doesn’t know what any of this is about. He claims...
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Chapter 26
Borlú begs to be allowed to contact Corwi and Dhatt, but Ashil will not let him. Borlú then says that they need to focus on...
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Chapter 28
Running off, Borlú phones Dhatt, telling him he needs his help immediately. Dhatt is stunned to hear from Borlú, as...
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The staff told Dhatt that they saw Bowden start to walk away, but didn’t keep watching him because it...
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...although she cannot risk saying this aloud. He gets out of the car and finds Dhatt, tapping him on the shoulder. Stunned, Dhatt looks at Borlú with an unfamiliar expression. Bowden...
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...Bowden and bring him into the Breach. Borlú nods in gratitude to both Corwi and Dhatt.
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Coda: Chapter 29
...allows Borlú to write letters to his lovers. He goes to see both Corwi and Dhatt, but both can tell that he is not entirely in their city and thus greet...
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