Free The Miraculous Plot of Leiter & Lott by Jonathan Lowe Page B

developed at Dubailand . Here, the placement of Michelangelo's sculpture seemed just as incongruous, too, given that the other sculptures surrounding it were modern or even post-modern, made not of stone or bronze, but of colored sheet metal and glass. Even more curious, there were numerous black metal poles positioned throughout the array bearing light fixtures more appropriate to the computer game Myst . David was about to question Aazad about one of the sculptures he suspected was by Naum Gabo when he turned to see that the billionaire had been replaced by a Filipino butler in a white coat, and wearing white gloves. The little man had been waiting for them to complete their appraisal of the grounds, not wanting to interrupt.
    "Where's Aazad ?" David asked, prompting Etherton to turn from his admiration of the twelve foot domed observatory near a back row of cypress trees.
    "Mr. Baloum has instructed me to provide whatever you need while he's gone," Aazad's servant sedulously explained.
    "But. . . where has he gone?" Doug queried, puzzled.
    "Why, to prepare for your party on Sunday," the man replied, as though the matter had been previously understood.
    "Sunday," Doug repeated, confused. "This is Friday afternoon. What are we to do until then?"
    "Anything you wish," the Filipino suggested, opening his hands invitingly to either side. "There is a media room with television, internet conferencing, and fax machine. In the den there is a billiard table, ping pong, pinball, and bowling alley. There is also a library and study with a bar, or you may use the pool, hand ball court, or the jet skis in the boathouse. If you need a change of clothes or bathing suits, we have everything in store. If you need me for any other reason, all you need do is buzz." He handed each of them a palm sized controller. "I'm the red button on the top right. The one on the left provides access to the pool and boathouse gates. Dinner is at seven, but if you require nourishment before then, I will have the chef prepare whatever you wish. Now, may I show you to your rooms, gentlemen?"
    Doug looked at David askance, but said nothing. They followed the butler across a floor laid in Persian carpet toward a staircase within view of the front of the property. Descending, they witnessed the Big Dipper pulling away from the dock, its darkened control room window already turning, with inscrutable purpose, toward the interconnecting waterway of the World Islands.

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    "What now?" David asked.
    They sat at a black glass conference table in the media room. Both the table, which seated twelve, and the room itself were oval in shape. The chairs were high-backed, and generously cushioned in purple velvet. At the center of the table was the outline of a sunken cube, indicating video conferencing monitors. Along one wall of the room were five cubicles, each station with sleek ergonomic office chairs and Macintosh computers. Subdued illumination was supplied from overhead recessed spot lighting fixtures, which looked like laser weapons angled within clear round glass housings. The ceiling was black, as were the walls and floor, but three medieval-looking stone sconces along the wall opposite wall the cubicles hid brilliant arc bulbs that Etherton had turned way up before cutting back.
    "It is a little odd," Doug admitted. "Of course I don't know him that well. Could be the way all billionaires operate."
    " Nasheed ?"
    "No, he's younger, and not quite a billionaire, either. Way I heard it, Aazad has four homes, if you count his wife Jamila's condo in Abu Dhabi. Rumor has it his estate in Marbella houses one of his mistresses, since Jamila doesn't care for Spain, and never goes there. He has a son by Jimila , can't remember his name. Think he lives in the States, possibly California. He's dropped out of school there, much to Aazad's chagrin. Other than that, what I know is that Aazad and Nasheed are both members of the Emirates Science Club, a group which once came to