Free The Prophet's Ladder by Jonathan Williams Page B

designs improving the adhesive rollers and the grasping arms specs coming from Olle and Heike are spot on. It’s really all coming together. Still…”
    “Still what?” Anne tilted her head at Todd, an inquiring countenance.
    “Still, the funding for all of this...I can’t wrap my head around it. It’s public, it’s private, it’s coming from foreign investors, but also it seems there are a few shell corporations? I know accounting isn’t my bailiwick, but I’d still like to know whose dollars we’re running on, or petrodollars for that matter. It was easier at NASA when I knew it was the U.S taxpayer footing the bill.”
    “Can you ask the sheikh?”
    Todd nodded. “I could. I’m still supposed to visit his estate to go hawking with him this weekend, but I don’t want to be rude. From what I understand it is inappropriate to talk business like that during recreation here.” Anne and Todd walked on past a few North American kids showing an Indian boy their own age how to nosegrind on a skateboard.
    “And the other thing is...some of this tech, Anne, I mean wow. Where are they getting this stuff? It’s impressive.”
    Anne was silent, choosing to let Todd vent his confusion over his new workplace.
    “Anyways, it’ll be fine. It’s just all very exciting and new. Are you all packed for your lecture tour?”
Anne smiled. “ Yep. It’s a three-hour drive to Abu Dhabi tomorrow morning. I’ll call you once I’m settled at the residency apartment.”
    “Sounds good! You excited?” Todd rubbed her shoulder, unsure if it was an unseemly thing to do in public here.
    “Yep! Lecturing about North American desert macroflora is always a thrilling adventure. Cacti here we come!” Anne laughed, her self-deprecating manner getting the better of her as it usually did.
    “Well, I’m just glad we both found something useful to do out here.”
    “Me too. Ready to head back? Samam made that stew you like.”
    “Mmmm-mmm!” Todd’s mouth watered instantly. Samam had turned out to be an excellent cook, in addition to being a universally delightful person to be around. She was quickly becoming part of the family, for which, especially due to her culinary talents and housekeeping rigor, Todd and Anne were particularly thankful. The couple steered themselves around the rest of the park circuit and walked the block to their apartment tower, passing a host of other couples and families out and about. The planned community was a bustling one, even at this hour. It seemed near utopian despite the multitude of cultures, languages, and customs present. Todd had often wondered, seeing similar sights on previous occasions, if the unifying force here was their respective employer or something else, something deeper: the high level of education amongst the families? The secrecy and the hope of the project? It was hard to say. All he knew for sure was that he was starving for that stew. Overhead, a meteor flashed brilliantly in the night sky west of the moon, seemingly unnoticed, winking out at its zenith.

 
    Chapter 5
    14th Century Tangier, Morocco
     
    “Are you ready to depart, master?” the servant inquired politely, continuing to strap sandalwood boxes of scrolls and books detailing matters of jurisprudence onto the dromedary that stood before him. The beast, a huge creature of some girth and age was unconcernedly chewing cud, indifferent to the weight of the supplies that were being attached to his bulk. A young man, twenty-two years of age, with a black, neatly combed beard, bearing the look of a man of station of the city of Tangier, nodded in reply. His eyes surveyed the small train of three camels that stretched behind him. He would be departing alone from the city, without even his family servants, intending to meet up with—and perhaps accompany— others on the long journey ahead.
    “Yes, my friend, I am ready. Bismillah ! We go on Hajj! It is a glorious day.” The young man chose to lead his camels by foot