Chapter 22Saudi ArabiaThe next morning, everyone was more relaxed. Gone were
the tensions of the past few days. Even the camels seemed in a better mood.
After breakfast, we set out early on the next leg towards the Iraqi border.
The sky was bright blue, cloudless, and the day comfortably warm, before the
soaring heat we’d grown accustomed to. I took up station behind Hamad and,
after a while, caught him up as he guided us through the dunes.
“We’re starting out earlier than normal, Hamad. Any
reason?”
“We still have a long way to go, and believe me, we
are by no means free of problems.” He sounded strained.
“Tell me, Hamad, where did you learn your
English?”
We trudged on for ten or more paces before he answered.
“I am a Jordanian by birth. I studied engineering at the universi
