16
ERIN
Early the next morning, Erin left the palace and located the driver from the day before lounging in the garage with a cup of tea.
“I need you to drive me to the refugee camp.”
When the driver looked skeptical, she continued. “I wish to see for myself that the people there are being cared for.”
“Where is Talib?”
“He is occupied elsewhere. You will accompany me instead.”
The driver still looked skeptical, but when Erin approached the back door and waited for him to open it, he did so. After seating himself in the driver’s seat, he asked her one more time, “Are you sure this excursion has been approved?”
“Absolutely. Hurry up. I want to be back in the palace before the heat becomes unbearable. I find that the heat makes my morning sickness much worse.” Erin hated playing that card, but she was determined to see the refugee camp for herself and needed the driver to leave before Talib realized she was gone. He would surely come after her and tell Kamal.
The driver left the palace and headed towards the camp. Parking a discreet distance away, he opened her door and helped her from the vehicle. As Erin walked toward the camp, the first thing she noticed was the lack of sanitation. Covering her nose, she took shallow breaths. As she looked around the camp, she saw children spilling out of every tent. Instead of playing and being rambunctious, however, they were silent and watched her warily.
Erin slowly walked around the encampment, noting the lack of supplies and fresh water. All the while, the driver stayed close beside her, muttering to himself the entire time. She smiled at the few people who would meet her gaze, but it was one sided. No one returned her smile, nor did they appear to be interested in her presence.
After several minutes, she stopped and questioned the driver. “What is wrong with these people?”
“They have been displaced from their homes. The Jawharan Minister of Defense has declared that they are not welcome in the city, so they must remain in the refugee camp.”
Erin was horrified. “Why would Kamal allow this?”
The driver narrowed his gaze at her. “Kamal who?”
“His Majesty,” Erin replied, waving her hand as if his title meant nothing. “Why would he allow these people to be treated this way?”
The driver paused before answering. “I do not believe His Majesty has visited the camp.”
Erin stopped and looked at him. “What? Why would he not want to see for himself that the people were being cared for?”
The driver shrugged. “I cannot say. He would surely trust his own minister to do his job.”
Erin shook her head. “Take me back to the palace. Something must be done. This is entirely unacceptable.”
Turning on her heel, she stalked back to the car and opened the door for herself. She settled on the leather seat and put her head back. She couldn’t believe that Kamal was okay with the people being treated this way.
The driver returned her to the palace, and Erin was going back up the grand staircase when she spied Talib coming from her rooms. Adopting an air of authority, she walked past him.
“Follow me.”
Talib was taken aback at the command in her voice but did as he was told.
After entering her rooms, she paced away some of her anger before coming up with a plan. “Talib, are there water trucks in the city?”
He nodded. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
“How many?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. At least a dozen. Maybe more.”
“How about large delivery trucks? Are those also available?”
“Yes. Miss Malone, what is this all about?”