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“Your sons will defend it,” Sabah said

The oasis lay twenty miles to the west Khalif’s sons, two nephews and their families waited there A half dozen tents, ten men with rifles It would not be an easy place to attack And yet Khalif felt a terrible unease

“Weback onto his camel

Sabah nodded He slid the AK-47 forward to a ed his camel forward

Three hours later they approached the oasis Fro but sle, no ripped tents or stray ani in the sand

Khalif ordered the camel train to a halt and dis forward on foot

The silence around them was so complete, they could hear the crackle of wood in the fires and their own feet scuffling in the sand So way off, but the noise carried in the desert

Khalif halted, waiting for the jackal’s call to fade When it died away, aa traditional Bedouin melody It came from the main tent and flowed quietly

Khalif began to relax It was the voice of his youngest son, Jinn

“Bring the caravan,” Khalif said “All is well”

As Sabah and the others went back to the camels, Khalif walked forward He reached his tent, threw open the flap, and froze

A bandit dressed in rags stood there, holding a curved blade to his son’s throat Another bandit sat beside hi an old rifle

“One move and I slice his neck,” the bandit said

“Who are you?”

“I am Masiq,” the bandit said