The talking and painting went on and on. When the older woman finally finished her hands, Julia breathed a sigh of relief. But Rania immediately went to work on her feet. A good hour later, they finished off with a small pattern at the base of her neck.
Finally satisfied, they motioned for Julia to hold still and let the dye dry. They brought her a snack of bread and yogurt, with tea to wash it down.
Habeeba then returned to the kitchen, while Rania began organizing colorful clothing and fabrics.
Harrison? Julia finally forced herself to ask, afraid of moving for fear of ruining their designs, but growing more desperate to know what was going on outside.
Rania made a frantic negative gesture with her head and hands.
Julia sighed.
Obviously, there was no seeing the groom before the ceremony. It was amazing how many customs transcended cultures.
Finally, it was time to wash the henna paste off with water. Then Rania helped her dress in a brightly patterned tunic in burgundy, white and coral blue. They adorned her neck, ears and wrists with heavy gold, then added an intricately embroidered head scarf, woven with gold and silver threads and draped to cover the lower half of her face.
She gazed at her exotic image in the small mirror, then down at hands that seemed to belong to someone else. Despite the knowledge shed have to hide this secret forever, she began to hope somebody out there had a camera.
Rania touched her arm. With a smile, the young woman nodded toward the bedroom door. Julia understood.
It was time.
Suddenly nervous, trying to keep it all in perspective, and hoping the sweat on her palms wouldnt make the henna run, she started for the door.
Exotic, half-tone string music was playing in the main room, and they entered to see Ahmed and Habeeba, their two other daughters and a man who was obviously the marriage official standing in the middle of the room. The women were dressed in bright colors, the men in crisp whites. Then she caught sight of Harrison. He smiled reassuringly, dressed in a simple white cap, a bright white tunic and matching trousers.
Not sure what to do, Julia stood with the women on one side of the room while the preacher began speaking. She didnt understand a word of what was said. And when the man stopped talking, Harrison didnt kiss her. Instead he motioned for her to join him at the table.
She didnt feel married. Which was a relief, really. Walking down some kind of aisle in a white dress and repeating vows she wouldnt keep would have been much worse than this foreign ceremony and the Arabic certificate in front of her.
This could be anything, she said, sitting down to pick up the pen.
Its a prenup.
She shot him a look of astonishment.
Im joking. Then he paused. But youre not going after Cadair or anything, are you?
No.
Harrisons wealth was completely safe from her. Even if she was corrupt enough to try to capitalize on the marriage, she doubted any court would award her a settlement. Besides, the last thing she wanted was to come back and visit the UAE. In fact, it might be a while before she left Kentucky again.
He pointed to a line on the page. She drew a breath, told herself it was nothing but a temporary legal contract, and signed the document. Then Harrison sat down and signed his name, as well.
The small group surrounding them gave a lilting, high-pitched cheer, and Ahmed cranked up the music.
Rania and her sisters immediately began serving food.
Wheres your passport? Harrison asked Julia, drawing her aside.
Julia pointed to the pouch that hung around her neck, beneath her blouse.
Harrison held out his hand. Ive got a chopper waiting for our ID and the marriage certificate.
Youre taking them away?
Ahmeds brother Rafiq will take them to the British High Commission in Abu Dhabi and wait while they issue your diplomatic passport.
Julia drew on the string that held the passport pouch. They can do that?
Yes, they can.
Are you sure its safe? She wasnt too crazy about giving up her passport.
Nuri made the arrangements.
Julia hesitated. Where Nuri was involved, things didnt seem to go so well for her.
He has nothing against you, Harrison assured her. And hes extremely loyal to me.
Julia nodded and extracted the little black book and handed it over. Nuri aside, trusting Harrisons judgment had kept her free and safe this long.
He exited the house, while Rania handed her a cup of mint tea and offered her a stuffed date.
Julias anxiety was returning in force, and she wasnt particularly hungry, but the family had worked so hard on the impromptu wedding that she didnt want to do anything to offend them. So she accepted both with a smile and a thank-you.
Then Harrison returned to her side.
How long? she asked him.
A couple of hours.
She nodded, her stomach knotting further. A lot could happen in a few hours.
Chapter Thirteen
Two hours later, Harrison breathed a sigh of relief as the returning chopper put down on the sand outside the oasis.
The passenger door opened, and Ahmeds brother hopped out, ducking his head against the rotors and the swirling sand. He quickly crossed to Harrison, handing him a diplomatic pouch.
Harrison shouted his thanks, then signaled for Julia to come out of the small house near the landing site where she had waited with Ahmed. Shed changed into plainer clothes, but her makeup was still heavy, and her hands were patterned with henna dye.
With a quick glance around the town for any danger, he took her hand and they dashed across the sand to the chopper.
Harrison helped her into the backseat, then climbed in next to the pilot and signaled for the man to take off.
Ahmeds family had insisted that Julia keep the wedding jewelry. In return, Harrison had left the keys to the Jeep for Ahmed.
As they pulled toward the blue sky, Harrison broke the seal on the pouch. He extracted Julias new passport and handed it back to her.
The relief on her face did his heart good. Theyd succeeded. Shed be safe now.
She opened the book and looked down at her new name, and a flash of unease went through her eyes. He was reminded she was safe at a cost. He reached back to squeeze her knee.
Its going to be fine, he assured her.
As he turned to face forward, his glance caught the pilots profile beneath his helmet.
The man was missing the tip of his nose.
Fear instantly gripped Harrisons gut, even as he struggled to keep his features impassive. Could Rafiq have betrayed them?
Muwaffaq would either kill them in midair-two bodies in the midst of the desert would probably never be found. Or hed fly them somewhere to question Julia. If the people he worked for thought she had information they wanted, they might try to torture it out of her.
He glanced back at her, his conscience burning with regret. In an effort to save Julia, he might have just signed her death warrant.
She squinted a look of confusion at the change in his expression, but he didnt dare try to signal anything. His only advantage was that Muwaffaq didnt know he was onto him. Besides, there was nothing to be gained by panicking Julia.
He sifted through his options.
If he tried to overpower the man, he could easily bring down the chopper. And Muwaffaq was probably armed.
If they landed, hed have a better chance of overpowering him. But if they landed where Muwaffaq had planned, where reinforcements would certainly meet the chopper, he and Julia would have no chance at all.
He couldnt risk that.
Whatever he did had to happen in midair.
Adrenaline pumped through his system in time with the throbbing of the engine. He rested his hand in his lap, surreptitiously clicking open the metal buckle on his seat belt.
He painstakingly freed his arm, while making and discarding plans of attack.
But then Muwaffaq caught his movement, and his time was up.
Harrison gave a yell and elbowed Muwaffaq in the center of the throat.
The mans eyes bugged out, and he gasped a breath, his hands reflexively going for the injury.
Harrison! Julia cried out from the backseat as the chopper tilted and the engine whined.
Harrison flipped open the mans seat-belt buckle, then stretched to close his hands over the controls. He hadnt flown in at least a year, but all other options had meant certain death.
Drag him back, he shouted to Julia, stuffing his feet on top of Muwaffaqs, scrambling to get some semblance of control over the tail rotor.
What are you doing? she demanded, even as she wiggled out of her own seat belt to follow his instructions.
Muwaffaq was gasping for breath. If he recovered from the blow, all hell would break loose.
As Julia clambered between the seats, she got a look at the mans nose.
She hesitated for a split second, and Muwaffaq took the opportunity and grabbed her by the throat.
Harrison was barely keeping them airborne. He didnt dare let go of the controls, but Julia was struggling and coughing.
He elbowed Muwaffaq again, this time catching him in the solar plexus.
The mans grip loosened enough that Julia pulled free and rocketed into the backseat.
Shit, Harrison spat out, as Muwaffaq began to fight back.
He risked lifting a foot from the pedals and kicked at the man.
Muwaffaq grunted, and Harrison kicked again.
Then the helicopter door popped open.
Julia screamed.
Harrison gasped.
And Muwaffaq went tumbling into midair, his arms and legs flailing as he plummeted toward the dunes.
Harrison flopped into the pilots seat, stabilized the aircraft, then slammed the door shut.
His breathing was labored, and his hands were shaking.
Harrison flopped into the pilots seat, stabilized the aircraft, then slammed the door shut.
His breathing was labored, and his hands were shaking.
It took him a minute to get them flying straight.
When she finally spoke, Julias voice was shaking, barely a rasp. Is he dead?
Our altitude is five hundred feet.
Then I guess hes dead.
Harrison didnt dare turn his attention to the backseat. Im more concerned about you. Are you all right?
I think so.
Did he hurt your neck?
A little. I think its bruised.
Are there any sharp pains?
No.
Harrison breathed a sigh of relief. Ill have you home soon.
You know how to fly this thing?
He couldnt help but chuckle at that. If I didnt know how to fly this thing, wed have hit the ground a long time ago.