A Hologram for the King
“IN THE MORNING, feeling spry, Alan took the shuttle with the young people. The sun, hotter than any other day so far, screamed obscenities from above but Alan did not listen. He talked loudly to the young people and made plans. Today, he told them, he would get at least some semblance of a timeline. Some assurances, some respect. He would check about not just the wi-fi but the air-conditioning in the tent. He felt capable this day, and because he hadn’t bothered anyone in the Black Box for a while, he could stride right in, make demands and ask questions, as many as he wished.
—Whoa Alan, where’s all this bluster coming from? Rachel asked.
Alan did not know.
He left the young people in the tent and strode to the Black Box.
—Hello, Maha said.
—Hello Maha. How are you? Is Karim al-Ahmad in today?
Alan heard himself speaking like a salesman from another era. His voice was loud, confident, almost overbearing.
Money! Romance! Self-Preservation! Recognition!
—No, I’m afraid not.
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