Complete Independence Day Omnibus, The
Page 85
A few moments later, the three men stepped out of the helicopter and moved to join the others. Reg trailed along behind the two older men, who chatted amiably with each other as they doddered slowly across the landing pad, ignoring the last hour of the day’s punishing heat. They smiled broadly, as if they were both pleased with the arrangement that had been hammered out. Reg’s expression, on the other hand, gave no indication of how the negotiations had gone. When at last they reached the place where Fadeela and the others were waiting, the king’s mood suddenly changed.
“I do not understand these Englishmen,” he began loudly. “For his role in protecting our nation, I promised to give Major Cummins anything it was within my power to grant him. I offered him millions of dollars, my properties in Hawaii, one of my personal jets. But he insisted on asking for something else,” he said, glancing toward Fadeela, “something that is not mine to give. The most I was able to do was to speak on his behalf to my old friend Karmal Yamani. Perhaps to save me from appearing ungenerous, Mr. Yamani has consented to the major’s request.” Then he turned to face the shrouded figure of Fadeela. “You must be quite an extraordinary young woman. The only thing he asks for is for you.”
Fadeela’s anger boiled over. “And you, the ruler of Saudi Arabia, custodian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, appear quite willing to oblige him. You give a Saudi woman to a Western man like you were handing over a cow.” The king took a step backward, startled by the woman’s outburst. He was trying to deliver the good news that she was going to get what she wanted, and was unprepared to face her wrath.
“I think you don’t understand,” King Ibrahim said.
“I understand that you men believe you can control me like a piece of property, trade me to one another like an old car. And in this case, you can’t claim it is the will of Allah because he’s not even a Muslim.” Although her face was covered, Reg could feel Fadeela’s green eyes staring at him like a pair of burning X-ray beams.
“She thinks I’ve asked to marry her,” Reg said, explaining Fadeela’s reaction.
“Haven’t you?” she asked in a smaller voice.
Reg shook his head no.
“The very opposite,” the king told her. “He has asked that you be given the power to choose your own husband. Accordingly, your engagement to Ghalil Faisal is officially canceled. Of course, if you still wish to marry Faisal, you may. Or anyone else for that matter.”
“Is it true?” Fadeela asked her father.
He nodded that it was. “And if you wish to continue your education, either here or abroad, you are free to do so. I am not sure how many universities are left standing, but this time I will not interfere with your studies. It is up to you to decide.”
“So, if I want to marry this man,” Fadeela said, taking Remi by the arm, “I may do so without asking anyone’s permission?” The king and her father nodded, but Remi warned her that his wife probably wouldn’t like the idea. Fadeela, enjoying the idea of her new freedom, moved to Ali and took him by the arm. “Or this man?” Again, the answer was yes. Nodding, she turned, and as she began moving toward Reg, Tye couldn’t resist clearing his throat ostentatiously.
“Aren’t you forgetting someone?” he asked, pretending to be hurt.
“Forgive me.” Fadeela laughed. She took hold of Tye’s aim as she had with the other men, and asked, “Or this one?”
King Ibrahim and Mr. Yamani both made the same joke. “No, not that one!”
When Tye had recovered from his momentary heartbreak, Fadeela walked over and stood in front of Reg. “Thank you. This is a wonderful gift.”
“It’s the least I could do. After all, you gave me what I needed most: something worth fighting for.”
“I’m smiling.”
“I’m glad.”
“But I hope you don’t expect me to act like a foolish girl and ask you to marry me.”
“That thought never crossed my mind, princess.”
“Liar. But tell me, is it true you turned down all the riches King Ibrahim offered you?” When Reg said it was, Fadeela shook her head in disappointment. “You could have made the rest of your life relatively comfortable. Isn’t that the goal of all Westerners? But now, I’m afraid you’ve made things difficult for yourself.” Again, she shook her head sadly.
“I’d appreciate any advice you could give me on the subject,” Reg said.
“Actually, I’ve already come up with a few ideas. Shall we walk?”
The two of them strolled away from the others, past the helicopter, and out into the late-afternoon sun. They walked up and down the apron of the nearest runway for a long while, making decisions about the future.
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