Free Dark Oil by Nora James

creeping desert that threatened an entire nation. “I suppose that makes it even more important for them to find oil,” Lara said, realising it was probably the population’s only chance for a better life.
    They finished their lunch in relative silence, still heavily sedated by jet-lag. It wasn’t until after the coffee, a thick aromatic brew that would wake the dead, that they perked up a little.
    â€œSo what are we doing now?” asked Lara, hoping the men would surrender to their need to sleep and take her back to the house. She was toying with the idea of calling Tim, too, although it would probably be late back in Australia, with the time difference, by the time she could call him. She tried not to worry, but she hadn’t heard his voice since she’d boarded the plane.
    And she still had that niggling feeling that a piece of the puzzle didn’t fit. She remembered the panic she’d felt when Tim’s secretary had told her Tim was home, but she’d found the house empty. She’d been a fool to doubt him, even for an instant, of course she had. She kept reminding herself of that. Still, she felt uneasy. She couldn’t explain it, it wasn’t a rational angst because she trusted Tim. Yes, she trusted him, she’d been married to him for a decade, yet those two little words crept into her consciousness again—what if?
    â€œWe have to keep moving,” Jack said, “otherwise we’ll doze off and we won’t get any shut-eye tonight. No point going to the office, Dave Maine’s still away. I say the camel market, people. Maybe the blacksmiths’ after that, if there’s time.”
    Martin shrugged. “We wouldn’t be very productive if we tried to work. We’re ready for the Minister’s meeting, anyway, whenever it happens, thanks in part to your paper, Lara. And I can’t get onto email no matter how hard I try. We may as well go to the markets.”
    â€œSo you’re in?” asked Jack.
    â€œOf course,” snapped Martin. “I wouldn’t let the two of you go on your own, even though I’ve brought a report I could read if I went back to the house. Don’t you have any sense of what’s appropriate, Jack? Lara is a married woman and we’re in Negala. What would people think?”
    Things were back to normal. The calm, induced by an excellent strategy report, a little sleepiness, a few moments of humility, had passed. The two males were at it again, showing their teeth, flexing their muscles, vying for supremacy in everything.
    â€œIf we’re worried about what people might think, how about we try to appear civilised while we’re here? I know we’re Global Oil employees, but nevertheless.” Lara laughed, in an effort to appear light-hearted, hoping to diffuse the tension.
    â€œWell, he started it.” Martin’s lips formed an arrogant pout.
    â€œExcuse me?” Jack was all fired up, nostrils flaring, cheeks cherry red.
    Lara rose to her feet. “Gentlemen, the engineers over there will hear you. Don’t be surprised if you’re in the internal newsletter. He started it? Isn’t that what five year olds say? We’re all over-tired. We should get going.”
    To her surprise, like little boys told off by their teacher, the men obeyed. Martin paid and the three of them dragged themselves back to the car. Lara wondered how the driver, who’d been sitting on the footpath in the shade of a nearby bush, got through the day.
    â€œShould we ask him to come in with us next time?” Lara knew there’d be resistance from Martin, but Jack might side with her.
    Martin shook his head. “It’s what was agreed. Besides, he’s lucky to have a job. He won’t go home thinking he should have been in the restaurant with us. I’m sure it doesn’t even cross his mind.”
    She looked at Jack, tilting her head. He ignored her, until she said his