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 “Maybe he can help us get out of here,” You tell Emily.

“We don’t even know where here is. But you may be right, we need to get to a city and then maybe a proper airport or our embassy,” Emily sounds exhausted.

The man looks up as you approach him. He wipes his mouth and thick moustache with his sleeve.

“Hello,” You say, hoping that he understands you.

“Hello, sayidi. Hello, sayida. I am Hasan. What brings you to this forsaken rat hole?” He says in a perfect English, a little smile lifting the end of his lips.

His perfect English takes you by so much surprise you are lost for words, but Emily comes to the rescue. “Hello, sir. We are in need of some assistance. Ah, we need to get to the nearest city fast,”

“Outstayed you welcome, maybe, eh!” He chuckles at his own attempt at a joke.

“Something like that,” Emily says. You can see she is a little more relaxed.

“You are in luck, sayida. I am taking my camels to the nearest city. It won’t be fast, but at least you will avoid the fasid excuse for a police force we have here,”

“Can we buy some passage and go with you?”

“Buy passage! Bah! You are welcome to come with me. But you must wear this, it’s better to stay out of the sun. And stay out of sight, yes?” He digs into a saddle bag and hands you each a shemagh. He helps you wrap it around your heads, covering most of your face as well. Out of another large bag, he takes out two white robes and you quickly thrown it over you sweaty and dusty clothes.

“We will leave when the camels have finished drinking,” He says.

After half an hour, Hasan lets out a torrent of instructions in his language. Men seem to appear from all over the village, carrying bags of all kinds. They start herding the camels together and packing with heavy packs. “Men of my tribe,” Hasan says.

The caravan sets out, a few armed scouts in the lead and Hasan, you and Emily near the back.

“You speak English very well,” Emily remarks.

“Just because I am travelling the desert does not mean I am uneducated,” Hasan replies.

“I didn’t mean…”

Hasan’s laugher interrupts Emily. “No need to be embarrassed, I can be a bit direct. I studied in the West. Medicine, I am a doctor. I returned to my country to help the poor. There are no doctors in the desert helping some of the tribes,”

“What about supplies?” Asks Emily.

“That is why I am going to the city. I will buy some medicines we need, and these young men are here to protect us. Bandits and corrupt officials will steal everything if we do not protect ourselves,”

 “You called the police fasid, what does that mean,” You ask.

“It means corrupt. Good thing you did not go there for help, they are not to be trusted,”

You travel over a sea of dunes for two days, when finally a large city appears in the distance. During the journey you confided in Hasan, telling him all you have been through.

“You must let these Climate Peace activists get the data. Don’t give it to your government. But that’s just the opinion of a poor desert nomad,” he says and winks at you.

On the outskirts of the city, the caravan approaches a large market place. Unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells assault your senses. Hasan approaches you. “I will help you to get to the airport. “

The three of you set off by foot through the vast market. The market eventually gives way to stone structures and tarred roads. Half an hour later, Hasan spots a taxi. The beaten up car is barely roadworthy, but trundles along the road at a sedate pace. Hasan lets out a load whistle and waves at the driver, who steers the car in your direction, barely changing speed.

As soon as the taxi comes to a halt, Hasan waves you into the car and talks to the taxi driver. Hasan shoves a few notes into the driver’s hand.

“Good bye my friends, good luck!” He tells you and smiles broadly. Before you can thank him in return, he knocks on the roof of the taxi. The taxi trundles forward at the same sedate pace it did previously. After a very hot and uncomfortable ride, the taxi driver pulls up to a massive and modern airport. You get out and enter the massive glass and concrete structure, cool air-conditioned air a welcome relieve from the few days of baking desert heat.

You go to the ticket desk while Kate calls the professor. The ticket queues are long and Kate joins you. “Good news, my grandfather and Kate, my firmed from Climate Peace, are waiting for us. We just need to get home,”

A few hours later, you land. In the arrivals hall, smiling a concerned smile is the professor. Next to him are two men and a women. Emily runs over and hugs the professor and then the woman.

“This is Kate. She is the leader of Climate Peace,” Emily introduces you to the woman. The two men are Jack and Mike, also members of Climate Peace.

“We have no time to lose,” Kate says urgently. “I am sure that we are being watched,”

Kate leads you to a black van parked in the harbour parking garage. 

Go to chapter 52