Chapter Sixty-Four
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Al Yamamah Palace
Sixteen Hours Later
Nate sat nervously in an ornate chair in the royal palace.
Ana, Tim, and Wally were all present, though Shane was still recovering at the local hospital.
Nate absently tapped his foot on the ground and Ana gently placed a hand on his leg to steady him.
He stopped his incessant tapping and looked up at Ana, who smiled.
She was wearing an abaya, a long black cloak that women wore in Saudi Arabia that covered everything but their hands and faces.
He still thought she looked beautiful and smiled back, resisting the urge to kiss her.
They were in enough trouble without flouting cultural norms. He and the rest of the men wore long, ankle-length garments called thobes that had been provided by the palace staff.
“You know, this is actually kind of freeing,” Tim had said when they put them on, shaking his hips around.
After Nate retrieved the satellite phone, he’d gone back out into the city under the gaping hole in the top of the cavern that had grown to massive proportions.
The sandstorm had largely subsided, and after a bit of trying, he was able to establish a satellite connection and dial the one number he knew could be helpful—Major Ahmed Malik’s.
It had been an awkward call to make, but Shane’s life was at stake.
He kept the conversation short, telling him they had illegally entered the country through Yemen and that they had found the lost city of Ubar.
If Ahmed would agree to send a helicopter that would life flight Shane to a hospital in Riyadh, he would give him the coordinates of the lost city.
Ahmed agreed immediately, eager to both discover the lost city and to save Shane’s life.
Within two hours a pair of Bell UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters arrived, courtesy of the Saudi Royal Air Force.
The first hoisted Shane out of the cavern with a rescue line and flight medics on board continued treatment en route to the hospital.
Wally went with him, advising the medics on his condition and care rendered.
The second helicopter had brought Ahmed, who rappelled into the cavern with a team of soldiers.
Nate met him at the entrance to the city and the two men shook hands.
While Nate was worried what Ahmed’s reaction would be to the group violating his country’s borders, the Saudi officer was too enthralled with the majesty of the lost city to be concerned with anything else.
“It truly exists” was all he said, over and over again.
Tim and Ahmed reunited, and Nate introduced him to Ana.
Then they recounted the events that had led up to that point in time, detailing the murder of Richter and Ana’s father, their trip through Yemen, and the men who had followed them here.
They told him about the oil field and the underground water system that appeared to be separated by the city, one body of liquid on either side.
Nate gave him the name Aleksandr Novikov, relaying what the man had said about working for an oil company that was dealing with the Saudi government.
Lastly, Nate told him of the treasure rooms they had found, and how more wealth was probably within that palace than the entire oil portfolio of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed took detailed notes, and then they all loaded up for the flight to Riyadh. A contingent of Saudi soldiers remained behind to secure the site. The helicopter was loud, and there was very little talking on the way to the capital.
When they landed, they were brought to a military hospital where they were all given fluids and food and their wounds were addressed.
Nate received several stitches in his abdomen and was given a course of antibiotics.
When they were finished, Ahmed returned to retrieve them and they were escorted to the royal palace.
For the past ten hours they had been guests of the palace.
Guests that were placed under guard at all times.
They were given rooms to clean up in, and fresh clothing had been provided.
They were served meals and offered beds to rest. Nate had accepted the food but had been unable to sleep.
He had not received any updates on Shane’s condition, and he had no idea if they were going to be released or sent to a Saudi prison.
In the morning, after fajr, the dawn call to prayer, they had been escorted from their rooms to the antechamber in which they now sat. Like every room in the palace, it was decorated with classical Saudi art and furniture. They had been sitting nearly an hour in silence, awaiting their fate.
Finally, a pair of doors opened and Ahmed walked in wearing his formal military uniform alongside another man who was elegantly dressed. Nate, Tim, Wally, and Ana all rose to meet them.
“My friends,” Ahmed said, greeting them warmly. “This is a royal advisor for the crown prince.” He introduced the man, who bowed.
“You are about to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,” the man stated.
“You should bow when you meet him and when you leave, and address him as ‘Your Royal Highness.’ If His Royal Highness stands, you will stand. If he sits, you will sit. You will otherwise take all instructions from His Royal Highness and follow all his directions. Is that clear?” The advisor spoke English with a slight British accent.
They all relayed their understanding.
“Good,” the man said. “Then please come with me.”
They followed him through the door, with Ahmed taking up the rear.
Inside was a room more opulent than the previous one.
Strong walls interspersed with columns and high windows supported a vaulted ceiling from which hung multiple crystal chandeliers.
It appeared to Nate to be some type of state room, and there were sofas, tables, and chairs lining the perimeter of the room.
In the center were two high-backed chairs with a small table between them.
One of the chairs was occupied by a man who looked to be just a few years older than Nate and who sported a dark, close-cropped beard.
He wore a gold-trimmed black bisht over his thobe, and a red-and-white-checkered ghutra adorned his head, held snugly in place by a thick black iqal.
Nate immediately recognized their host as he rose from his chair.
“Your Royal Highness,” the royal advisor said, “may I introduce Mr. Nathan Wilde, Mr. Timothy McBride, Mr. Benjamin Walton, and Miss Anastasia Metry.” He turned to face the group and simply stated, “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.”
Nate stepped forward and bowed. The others did the same. “As-salamu alaykum.”
“Wa alaykum assalam,” the prince responded.
“Pleased to meet you, Your Royal Highness,” Nate said.
“The pleasure is mine,” the prince replied in perfect English. “Major Malik has relayed the story of your adventures to me.”
Nate didn’t know what to say, so he settled on silence. The prince continued.
“First, let me assure you that your friend, Mr. Price, is being well cared for. I have dispatched my physicians to ensure his good health, and they have assured me that he will make a full recovery.”
“Thank you, Your Royal Highness,” Nate said, relieved. “We are grateful.”
“Of course. Now, Major Malik tells me that you have discovered the lost city of Iram within our kingdom, and that he has verified this with his own eyes.” The prince referred to the city by the Muslim name.
“It’s true,” Nate said.
“I would be very interested in hearing the story of that find, but perhaps another time. First, we must address your illegal incursion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Nate said nothing but swallowed hard.
“Illegal entry into the country carries with it a mandatory prison sentence. However, I also cannot overlook your contribution to our country. You have not only returned a national treasure to our people that we had thought lost to the sands of time forever, but you have helped establish a proud and prosperous history for us to share with the world.”
“The discovery will rewrite ancient history,” Nate added. “The lands of Arabia played a more prominent role in the advancement of civilization than anyone has previously realized. The more Ubar is excavated, the more apparent I believe that will become.”
“It is as you say,” the prince agreed. “You all have also done our people another great service. There was a foreign energy company we were in talks with for drilling rights in the Rub’ al Khali.
The area was of little value to us and so it was a fair deal.
However, it appears they were attempting to hide the discovery of a large source of fresh water in the region, which is far more valuable to us than oil. ”
“Aye, we can verify that, Your Royal Highness,” Wally said from over Nate’s shoulder. “Nate here dispatched their agent after he confessed the plot to us.”
The crown prince raised his eyebrow at the mention of Nate killing the oil company’s mercenary, but did not address it, for which Nate was grateful.
“Ms. Metry.” The prince turned his attention to Ana. “I have been told of your father’s death, and it grieves me. On behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, please accept my most sincere condolences.”
“Thank you,” Ana said softly.
“I’m told he had the purest of intentions to help our country avoid an imminent water shortage.
I can assure you that his sacrifice will not be in vain.
The water flowing beneath our sands will rejuvenate the desert and bring new life to the region.
It is going to help our people for years to come. And for that, I thank you all.”
“It was our pleasure,” Nate said.