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daughter,” Omar said.
    His father faced Ahmed. “You see? It will work because my son will marry Sheik Al-Asamm’s daughter.” He grinned.
    â€œWhat daughter? And how will that help?”
    Omar picked up a fig and rubbed its skin, eyes on Ahmed. “The reason Sheik Al-Asamm has remained quiet these past twenty years is because my father bought the sheik’s allegiance,” he said. “My father convinced Salman bin Fahd to adopt Al-Asamm’s daughter in exchange for the sheik’s loyalty. Her name is Miriam. When she marries me and bears a son, we will create an inseparable bond between Sunni royalty and the Shia. The sheik insisted that she not be married until she reached twenty-one. Evidently he wasn’t in a rush to weaken the bloodline. She is now a week from that birthday.”
    Ahmed stood. “Salman’s daughter Miriam is really the daughter of the Shia sheik? Abu Ali al-Asamm? They are Shia; we are Sunni.”
    â€œThus the secrecy,” Omar said. “When she marries into the royal family and has a son, Sheik Al-Asamm will be linked to the throne by blood.”
    Ahmed looked too stunned for words.
    â€œMiriam will marry Omar in a secret ceremony,” Khalid said. “In exchange, Al-Asamm will support our coup. I will give him governor ship of the eastern province. This was planned twenty years ago, when Omar was just a boy.”
    They had no assurance Ahmed would support this plan, but they’d disclosed the same with two dozen ministers, and all but the minister of education understood the stakes. The man died within the hour—a tragic accident.
    Omar stood and picked up an apple. He bit deeply into its crisp flesh. “We need your support, Ahmed. Your position is critical to our plans. We need the airports.”
    The minister of transportation lowered his voice to a whisper. “This talk is treasonous. You’re plotting your own death.”
    â€œToday what we’ve said is treason; in one week your speaking to my father in such a way will be treason,” Omar said.
    Ahmed glanced at Khalid and then back. “You have Sheik AlAsamm’s full commitment?”
    â€œWould we be talking to you if we did not? I will take his daughter Miriam as my wife in four days.”
    â€œAnd then?”
    â€œTwo of our generals have Shia blood,” Khalid said. “If we have AlAsamm, we have them. We will unseat Abdullah the day after the wedding. I will be king in one week. We will be a fundamentalist state within the month.”
    Ahmed’s lips curved into a faint, sweating smile. “Then you have my support.” He paused, studying Khalid’s face as the prospect sank in. “You have my full support.” He dipped his head. “There is no god but God.”
    Omar took another bite. Just like that, the man had switched his loyalties from the reigning king to Khalid. Of course, if he refused, he would pay dearly.
    A bell rang near the tent door. “Come,” Khalid commanded.
    A thin man dressed in a business suit entered and dipped his head. Omar felt his pulse quicken. His servant approached the table and looked at them without speaking.
    â€œWell?”
    â€œIt is done.”
    The corner of Omar’s mouth twitched. “The girl is dead?” he asked.
    â€œShe was drowned an hour ago, as you insisted.”
    They stared at the servant in silence. Stonings were a slow, drawn-out nuisance. Better to drown and be done with it.
    â€œAnd the girl?” Omar asked.
    â€œAs you said.”
    â€œThank you. You may leave.”
    The man lowered his head and left.
    â€œWhat was that?” Ahmed asked, face white.
    â€œThat was the judgment of God,” Omar said. “And a message to my dear bride.”

chapter 5
    s eth crossed the North Field and angled for Berkeley’s Department of Philosophy. His corduroys bunched slightly over worn sandals as he stepped through the grass. To