Indira Jackson - Rayan - Son of the Desert

A little softer he went on: "Now we can still turn around. Are you really sure you would like to continue?”

Carina gave herself a start and adjusted herself correctly on her camel. She held her head high and looked firmly at Hatem. "I am even more convinced!“

Thus they continued onwards further into the desert, following the path that the camels had left in the sand. 1990 - Rabea Akbar - The General

It was the beginning of November when Rayan rang the bell of General Jack Tanner’s house. He was quite nervous, standing in front of a door made from expensive dark wood with a golden door knob and a golden door bell.

The walls had been whitewashed recently, which emphasised the elegant impression of the whole property.

To his right he guessed that there was a garden rather than actually being able to see it, due to the high fence and a hedge as well. Additionally, he could hear the dribbling sound of a fountain.

Through a gap in the fence he got a glimpse of a terrace that went all along the length of the house. It had seemingly comfortable-looking and inviting wooden furniture with colourful cushions to recline on.

He had been invited to lunch. Within the camp he was treated like all natives: mostly with arrogance; so he did not appreciate the whole idea about this special status and an invitation from the “big boss”. It was unclear how the soldiers would react if they found out about it. He just hoped that they never would. Furthermore, it had been quite some time since he had last sat at a Western table. Here mostly the flat ones were used, which you ate at while sitting on the floor, on a carpet or some pillows. He silently thanked his grandmother, who had insisted on teaching him table manners from Germany whenever he visited her. Clara had assured him that the American habits were very similar. Of course, she could not suppress an amused grin along with it. “Just great”, he thought, “this is going to be one big disgrace.”

A servant of the General opened the door for him, he was let in and led to the living room.

"Here he is our ‘son of the desert’“. With a big smile on his face the General came to greet him. Rayan liked him from the very first minute. He had broad shoulders, a slightly greyish moustache and Clara had secretly told him that he was 52. Due to his height of 1.94 m he was taller than most other people. Against his will, Rayan had to admit that the General reminded him a little of his own father. He had the natural gift to impress people without doing a lot as well. Even when Clara’s dad entered a room without his insignias he immediately drew everyone’s attention. He was known to his men as being level-headed and fair and they looked up to him.

Even Rayan, who measured an impressive 1.89 m, felt small beside him. Jack Tanner had dark grey eyes, which never seemed to rest and when he looked Rayan straight in the eye it felt like he was seeing directly into his soul. Behind his back it was said that he could read minds and now Rayan understood why that was.

Julie, Clara’s mother, was a wonderful person. She smiled a lot and the way she looked at her husband gave the impression that she was very much in love with him. Her hair had the same reddish-brown colour as Clara’s, but in hers some grey was already visible. The grey had a positive effect and made her even more attractive.

She was some years younger than her husband and Rayan estimated her to be in her mid-40s.

Besides her hair, she had also passed on her pale blue eye colour to Clara, but it was without Clara’s constantly mocking sparkle. She did not say much and when she did, it was with a quiet, soft voice. Rayan found himself thinking that Clara was going to grow into a fairly beautiful woman if she continued to resemble her mother.

In comparison to his wife the general talked a lot and mostly with a strong, melodic voice, and he loved to laugh.

The lunch went without the feared embarrassment, which Rayan had painted in all colours in his thoughts. The main reason for the success was the relaxed atmosphere that both Tanners radiated.

Only once did Rayan blush, when Clara’s mother asked him if he had a girlfriend. To be the centre of attention like that was unusual for him and he did not like it at all. Especially as the General focused his intense gaze in his direction as well. He had no idea what to reply.

Clara came to his help: "Mum. Don’t be so curious. Yasin has one girlfriend or the other all the time. I just can’t tell them apart anymore.“ Along with that explanation she rolled her eyes in fake desperation, which made everyone at the table laugh out loud.

When evening came Rayan went home. The hours had just flown by. During the farewell the General took him aside and said with a concerned look in his eyes: “Please keep your eyes open, we have received a threat. So far we do not know how serious we should take the message. It could just be some crazy guys that think it is a good joke. But you are surely aware that the presence of the American army around here is a thorn in some people’s side. There might indeed be incidents. Take care of Clara, okay?“

Rayan nodded quickly but did not say anything. He went home lost in thought and noted to himself to keep his eyes and ears wide open.

After four days the caravan finally reached the oasis called Wahi, south of Dubai.

The nearer they got the quieter Carina and Hatem became. The troop of riders had a one day head-start and the critical question was: how much faster were the horses in comparison to the camels. What if they had already left the oasis? Then they would have to sit out there for some weeks. This was because the caravan would head onwards and to get back all alone was much too dangerous.

Therefore it was a relief when they saw beside the Wahi inhabitants’ small huts and houses the tents of the Tarmans on the other side of the oasis. As was the custom, the banner of Zarifa was flying visibly above them, so misidentification was not possible.

Hatem was growing more and more nervous because he had no real idea how to explain this whole story. He had personally never met His Excellency before but had heard rumours of men the Sheikh had killed for less.

Also, the leader of the Tarmans was known for his severe punishments: more than one man had had to suffer the whip on his orders. So it was not only because of the barely tolerable heat that there was sweat on Hatem’s brows.

They said farewell to the leader of the caravan, thanked him and, as promised, sold him their camels. Then they went on foot to the camp on the other side of a small waterhole, beside some palm trees. As they came nearer they observed that the tents were different in their shapes and sizes.

In the middle were a few bigger ones, in which a man could easily stand up and walk around. Further to the edges were really small ones, for one or two persons only.

As they approached, a man with a rifle over his shoulder stood into their way.

Carina could not follow the exchange in Arabic, but the guard did not seem to be very friendly and for sure was not happy at all to see them. She was glad that she was still dressed like a man, as Hatem had advised her, because she felt that a reaction like his would have been even less favourable as a woman.

What would they do if the men refused to take them along? And left them here in the oasis? She had been bluffing when she assured Hatem that she was absolutely sure that the Sheikh kept strictly to the rules of the desert, which demand that you have to show hospitality to strangers in need of help. And even more important: who said they really needed help? At least they were here in an oasis where they could get food and water and a place to stay.