56
THE BRIGHTNESS OF OMAN
Sohar Airport, Al Batinah North Governorate. Along the northernmost coast of the Sultanate of Oman.
An hour and twelve minutes later, the plane’s tires barked on the runway at Sohar Airport. The landing startled Khalid out of unconsciousness. He was disoriented, and his head throbbed.
“Where are we?” he demanded.
“Oh, awake, I see,” Rafael said, as he squinted into the brilliant sunlight. “How is your head? I hated to do it, you know.”
“Bullshit,” Khalid said. “You didn’t hate it one bit.”
Rafael let out a long exhale. “So young. So much—what is the word?—ambition. You are exactly where you are supposed to be, in Oman. You and your cargo, just as promised.” He glanced back at Khalid. “You are angry with me, yes? But you are alive. And more importantly, so a
