Chapter Sixty-Four #2
“In recognition of services rendered to the Crown,” the prince continued, “I will commute your sentences, and you will each be paid a finder’s fee of one million U.S.
dollars. However, as soon as Mr. Price is ready to travel, you will leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia immediately and not return without an invitation from the Crown. ”
Nate was slightly taken aback. He had hoped for a commuted sentence but had not imagined a reward.
Of course, it was a minuscule figure compared to the massive amount of wealth he had seen down in the city, but he wasn’t about to haggle over the offer.
Walking away with a million dollars and their freedom was a hell of a deal considering what the alternatives could have been.
He only felt a twinge of sadness that he would not be returning to Ubar right away, if ever again.
There was so much more history down there and he had barely scratched the surface.
“Thank you, Your Royal Highness. That is most generous.”
“You are very welcome. Now, Major Malik will accompany you back to your rooms and arrange for your travel. As-salamu alaykum,” the prince said, ending the meeting.
“Wa alaykum assalam,” Nate said as they all bowed. The royal aide opened the door and they began filing out.
“Mr. Wilde,” the prince called from behind, and Nate turned to look at him. “Please stay a moment.”
Nate looked back at his friends leaving the room, and Tim turned with a questioning look on his face. Nate merely shrugged and then gave Ana a wink as he turned back around and walked toward the prince.
“Please sit,” the prince said, motioning to one of the two chairs as he sank down into the other. Nate sat and noticed that Ahmed and the aide had also left, leaving the two men alone in the room.
“I understand that you were a soldier,” the prince said. “A Green Beret?”
“That is correct, Your Royal Highness.”
“And now you are an archaeologist?”
“Nearly,” Nate responded. “I’m working on my dissertation for my doctorate.”
“Of course,” the prince said, nodding. “May I ask what your dissertation proposal is?”
Nate smiled. “The existence of a prominent trading post in the Rub’ al Khali along the ancient Incense Route.”
Now it was the prince’s turn to smile. “I’d say you now have a convincing argument.”
“Indeed.”
“Something puzzles me,” the prince said, becoming more serious.
“You are a Special Forces soldier, like your friends out there, so you are no stranger to dangerous situations. In fact, Major Malik has told me how you saved his life and the lives of many of the King’s soldiers in Yemen two years ago. ”
Nate was uncomfortable with praise for his actions in war. He wasn’t sure how to respond, so he said nothing.
“However, coming ashore in a violent place like Yemen, risking your life in a land infested with terrorists, and illegally entering a sovereign nation is something else entirely. My question to you, Mr. Wilde, is why? Why risk your life and your freedom to search for a city no one believed existed?”
It was a great question, one he wasn’t entirely sure how to answer. After taking a few seconds to formulate a response, he said, “I’ve been asking myself the same thing over the last few days. The truth is, I don’t know what drove me to do it.”
“I do,” the prince jumped in quickly, leaning forward in his chair.
“You believed. You conducted your research, you studied the evidence, and you believed that the city existed, even when all others doubted you. You are not a Muslim, yet you trusted the words of the Prophet, Salla Allahu alayhi wa-sallam, when he spoke of the lofty Pillars of Iram. You followed your path, and you exposed the history of Arabia for all the world to see.”
Nate had not considered that. While he may have absently wondered what had caused him to make the choices that had led them all down this path, he hadn’t seriously considered that it was pure belief.
But in the end, he had believed. Just as he had believed he would make it through selection and training to earn his green beret.
And he believed he would earn a PhD. These were daunting tasks, and yet there had never been a plan B.
He had faith that he would make it, just as he had faith that he would find the city. There was never any doubt in his mind.
“And the fact that your belief was strong enough to inspire your friends to risk their lives and come with you says everything,” the prince continued. “They love and respect you, because you inspire them. If I knew nothing else about you, that would be enough.”
“Thank you,” Nate said. He wasn’t sure what else to say. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia had just paid him perhaps the highest compliment he had ever received. And while he did not expect the conversation to go this way, what the prince said next caught him off guard even more.
“And that is why I believe you are the perfect person to lead the excavation of Iram.”
Nate was stunned. “Me?” he asked in confusion.
“Yes.” The prince smiled. “You still need to complete your dissertation, do you not? What better way than to begin an archaeological excavation of the lost city that you discovered?”
“I don’t know what to say,” Nate stammered. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome. You have earned it. Additionally, the Crown will credit you with the discovery of the city.”
“With assistance from the others,” Nate added. “And Major Malik.”
“Of course.” He stood and Nate did the same. “My advisor will work out the details with you. And we will speak again.”
The crown prince bowed. “As-salamu alaykum, my friend.”
Nate returned the bow. “Wa alaykum assalam.”