enough to take Fouad’s place. The only one able to lead us against ibn Saud and any who threaten us. The only one strong enough to hold us all together, ensure we stay united. I would believe you would agree with this and join us?” he ended, his confident manner making the question in his voice the merest formality.
Abdul, despite his miscalculation of a couple of years previously, was an astute political operator and, looking round the large, airy room, he could see that the gathering had reached a turning point. The atmosphere, though still far from unanimous, was increasingly moving toward a majority, if not a consensus, for Badr. He knew that the support of his own small group would deliver his half-brother his victory. With a smile of triumph toward the screens he adopted a serious expression and began to speak.
“The one advantage of being thrown into a cell is that one has no distractions from daily living. And one has much time to reflect on just on how much of one’s life is outside one’s own control. We all pay lip service to it being in Allah’s hands but many do see ourselves as having some role to play in its direction...”
“Well said, brother,” interrupted Faisal, approvingly, though a trifle impatiently. Like the others he could sense the prize was within Badr’s grasp, and without him having scarcely spoken; a triumph indeed. A triumph that would bring rich rewards to those who helped him attain it and, he hoped, retribution for those who didn’t. But his brief and pleasant reverie suddenly started to dissolve for reasons he was momentarily unable to understand. Then, what Abdul, who had continued speaking over his interruption, was actually saying hit him with a force that literally knocked his breath from his lungs.
“I believe we should confirm the family’s previous decision, though one taken in our absence,” he added with only the faintest trace of bitterness, “and confirm Talal as our next Emir.”
Chapter Eight
If previous surprises had stunned the room into speechlessness, Abdul’s announcement had entirely the opposite effect, and the gathering exploded into a roaring wall of sound, or rather, many opposing walls of sound, each ricocheting into each other and around the large room. Total confusion reigned and Abdullah was seemingly powerless to stop it as many voices were all raised at once and all were yelling differing messages, each grouping almost screaming at the others.
“You’ve been bribed!” Sahir shouted out, still acting his part, though echoing the thoughts of many in the room. Then, as though realising what he’d said, he hurriedly apologised. “My apologies, but if not that – what? You were never close to Fouad,” he said, belatedly seeming to choose his words with more care.
“No,” Abdul responded quietly, “you now speak only the truth. Nor were my feelings made warmer by being his guest for such a period – and so I would tell him, were he here! But, kinsmen, he isn’t, and that’s my point. I disagreed with him on many things . So many, that he believed me capable of the treachery of being party to a plot which involved the killing of my own kin.” Here his eyes rested briefly on Nasir as he continued. “Nevertheless, I believe we owe it to his memory to try and achieve what he wished – a clear and undisputed line of succession. He could have had us killed at any time these past two or more years and he didn’t. All know Fouad was not weak, so perhaps it was because he saw another way for us to rule and be ruled. That is why we,” he gestured, indicating the three other ex-prisoners seated near him, and, at his orders, totally silent, “wish also to try this new way.” He stopped suddenly and raised his hands to indicate he’d ended what he wished to say.
After he had finished, the room was momentarily silent. All sensed the decision now rested on a knife-edge. A decision that had come down to a choice between Badr the
Abdul, despite his miscalculation of a couple of years previously, was an astute political operator and, looking round the large, airy room, he could see that the gathering had reached a turning point. The atmosphere, though still far from unanimous, was increasingly moving toward a majority, if not a consensus, for Badr. He knew that the support of his own small group would deliver his half-brother his victory. With a smile of triumph toward the screens he adopted a serious expression and began to speak.
“The one advantage of being thrown into a cell is that one has no distractions from daily living. And one has much time to reflect on just on how much of one’s life is outside one’s own control. We all pay lip service to it being in Allah’s hands but many do see ourselves as having some role to play in its direction...”
“Well said, brother,” interrupted Faisal, approvingly, though a trifle impatiently. Like the others he could sense the prize was within Badr’s grasp, and without him having scarcely spoken; a triumph indeed. A triumph that would bring rich rewards to those who helped him attain it and, he hoped, retribution for those who didn’t. But his brief and pleasant reverie suddenly started to dissolve for reasons he was momentarily unable to understand. Then, what Abdul, who had continued speaking over his interruption, was actually saying hit him with a force that literally knocked his breath from his lungs.
“I believe we should confirm the family’s previous decision, though one taken in our absence,” he added with only the faintest trace of bitterness, “and confirm Talal as our next Emir.”
Chapter Eight
If previous surprises had stunned the room into speechlessness, Abdul’s announcement had entirely the opposite effect, and the gathering exploded into a roaring wall of sound, or rather, many opposing walls of sound, each ricocheting into each other and around the large room. Total confusion reigned and Abdullah was seemingly powerless to stop it as many voices were all raised at once and all were yelling differing messages, each grouping almost screaming at the others.
“You’ve been bribed!” Sahir shouted out, still acting his part, though echoing the thoughts of many in the room. Then, as though realising what he’d said, he hurriedly apologised. “My apologies, but if not that – what? You were never close to Fouad,” he said, belatedly seeming to choose his words with more care.
“No,” Abdul responded quietly, “you now speak only the truth. Nor were my feelings made warmer by being his guest for such a period – and so I would tell him, were he here! But, kinsmen, he isn’t, and that’s my point. I disagreed with him on many things . So many, that he believed me capable of the treachery of being party to a plot which involved the killing of my own kin.” Here his eyes rested briefly on Nasir as he continued. “Nevertheless, I believe we owe it to his memory to try and achieve what he wished – a clear and undisputed line of succession. He could have had us killed at any time these past two or more years and he didn’t. All know Fouad was not weak, so perhaps it was because he saw another way for us to rule and be ruled. That is why we,” he gestured, indicating the three other ex-prisoners seated near him, and, at his orders, totally silent, “wish also to try this new way.” He stopped suddenly and raised his hands to indicate he’d ended what he wished to say.
After he had finished, the room was momentarily silent. All sensed the decision now rested on a knife-edge. A decision that had come down to a choice between Badr the
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