In the doorway was a silhouette and he nearly squeezed the trigger but checked his fire, target discrimination instilled into him through years of training. And he was thankful that he did, because standing in the doorway, covered in dirt and gunpowder, was Tim. He had the AK-47 slung on his back and was holding the Mosin-Nagant in his hand. He looked up at Nate and smiled, his white teeth flashing brightly under his dirty red beard.
“So, this is archaeology, then?” Tim asked.
Nate laughed and the two men hugged.
“I thought you were dead,” Nate said.
Tim waved the thought away. “Nah, they should have sent twice the men if they wanted to kill Tim McBride. As it stands, none of them will be making it home for borscht.” He paused and looked Nate over, examining his battered face and his blood-soaked shirt. “What the hell happened to you?”
“It’s a long story,” he said. “Shane is the one we need to worry about right now. Come on.”
Nate led him down the hallway to the rest of the group. It appeared Ana had come around and she was assisting Wally, her hands covered in blood. The former medic said something to her, and Ana remained by Shane’s side as Wally walked over to them.
“It’s not good,” he said softly, ensuring he was out of earshot from Shane. “I’ve stabilized him, but he needs blood. We’ve got a few hours at best. If he doesn’t get to a hospital by then…” Wally left the sentiment hanging in the air.
“Shit,” Tim said. “We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere, and we’ve got no transport. We can’t even get out of this stupid fucking cave! We’re low on options here.”
“Not entirely,” Nate said. He walked over to Wally’s medic bag and unzipped the bottom where they had stored one of the satellite phones in a waterproof container. He pressed the power button and thankfully the Thuraya powered on. He walked back over to Tim and Wally, phone in hand.
“We’ve got one more card to play.”
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 calledthobesthat 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 abit 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 morewealth 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, afterfajr, 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.
