CHAPTER SEVEN: Of Saints and Sinners

The sun had risen on the third day and the group of oil tycoons gathered on the lobby of the airport. Alex stayed away watching reading their lips. Something about the war driving up oil prices. Alex flushed it away as Sabina walked toward him. She was smiling as she dragged her luggage behind her. It looked heavy, packed with useless stuff. Alex only had a duffel bag filled with clothes and his gadgets, and that's it. Sab stopped and smiled again at him.

"What do you have in there?" Alex asked.

"The essentials, you know brushes, gels, clothes and shoes."

"You know we're only going to be there four days."

"So it never hurts to be prepared."

Alex nodded. She was right, being prepared never killed anyone, being unprepared did. After ten minutes or so they boarded the plane, Alex took the window seat and Sabina next to him. Alex looked around he hadn't seen Sabina's father at all. He saw that he was in the back writing; he didn't look up and didn't take his eyes off the paper. A voice blared over the intercom a woman's voice, gentle and a little high pitched.

"We'll be taking off in three minutes, the seat belt sign is turned on, and please do so. Thank you."

Sab read a book as the plane took off, again she was prepared. Alex bent to see what it was. A spy novel. Alex laughed to himself. The glamour that is associated with being a spy, the women the cars and gadgets. All wasn't true, there was nothing good about killing a person, and there was nothing good about shrouding yourself and lying.

The plane trip took about twelve hours and as the miles blew by all Alex saw was desert, a vast wasteland. How did anything survive out there? The bleak orange hell that was the Iraqi desert. There was hundreds of miles of nothing all round. The plane landed, there was a sandstorm blazing outside blowing tons of sand in all directions and whirlwinds of debris.

Alex and the rest of the passengers exited the plane covering their eyes with their luggage. They were greeted by six of seven guards, they were guided to limos and there they wiped themselves off.

The limo was wide and long. The tycoons sat at one end along with Alex and the Pleasures. And at the other end was a man shrouded in shadow. He sat legs crossed and smiled as the limo took off. He sat forward revealing himself. Omar Kascef was thin and in his mid-thirties. His head was bare and glasses rested gently on his nose. He smiled revealing the whitest teeth that Alex had ever seen. He sat back again.

"Welcome to my palace. I am Omar Kascef." He spoke with a deep Middle Eastern accent. "Some tell stories of saints and sinners. They call us sinners but I say we are saints providing the world with power and light. We are like God, we let there be light. So you want to buy my oil, well I will let you get settled in my home and then we will discuss business tomorrow. Dinner is served at 5:20 sharp and after that you will be able to use the pool, or wander the palace. There are armed guards posted around the palace for our protection. Please there is our security system in the basement floor, so do not venture there."

Alex had heard this too many times, the armed guards for their protection. Alex had seen this type of character too many times. Except this was different, Alex was more afraid of him than any other terrorist. His smile, that's what scared him most. The ride continued and Kascef said nothing further, everyone was quiet watching the nothing roll on and on. Finally they arrived at the palace the large electrified fence surrounding it. The armed guards circling the perimeter.

Alex thought to himself, there was something more to this place than just oil and he was going to find it. But first he had to get to the basement.

The limo stopped and everyone piled out. Alex knew that their luggage would be delivered, but Alex had carried his bag and they couldn't search it right in front of him. He was escorted to his own room across from Sabina's. Everyone had his or her own room. His was large and decorated in and Arab style. The whole palace was huge and looked like something out of Aladdin. Alex unpacked and was sure that there were cameras hidden in the room somewhere. But he thanked Smithers that he had gotten the hologram projector. And he had taped videos of him sleeping and reading a book, to use for the hologram. He looked at the time it was 4:15, he took a shower and got dressed. He crossed the hall and knocked on Sabina's door. She opened it and Alex lost his breath. She wore a red dress, it fell down to her ankles and her hair was done with berets. Alex had been wearing a suit. His hair had been done as usual combed straight back with two long strands hanging over his eyes. She smiled.

"You look beautiful." He said.

"Thank you." She said red appearing on her cheeks.

He escorted he down to the dining room, her arm wrapped in his, they took seats next to each other. They both were happy. Suddenly a bell rang out, it echoed through the hall. And with this seven butlers entered with platters covered. They placed them down in front of them and drinks were served, anything could ask for he got. He ordered fresh squeezed orange juice on ice. Another bell rung, and with this Omar Kascef entered dressed in his best suit and tie. He didn't sit down and nobody touched there food until Mr. Kascef started. He smiled his devious smile. Dinner had begun.