Flying Around Saudi Arabia By The Seat Of My Pants

By Keith Reynolds

Flying around the lush green lands of New Zealand is one thing... the Saudi desert, now that’s something else. With my adventures down under leaving me stony broke, an offer of lucrative work in the Middle East was just too tempting.
And so I started a new escapade in a land where you can get arrested for eating a sandwich, rub shoulders with Arab princes at the Grand Prix and the only alcohol is black market home brew. Once again, I was flying by the seat of my pants.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sixth Element Publishing
• Release date: Nov 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370295395

Book preview

FLYING AROUND SAUDI ARABIA BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS

Keith Reynolds

•

Published by Sixth Element Publishing

on behalf of Keith Reynolds

Sixth Element Publishing

Arthur Robinson House

13-14 The Green

Billingham TS23 1EU

www.6epublishing.net

Tel: [phone]

© Keith Reynolds 2017

Keith Reynolds asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

•

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.

This work is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters, organisations, places, events and incidents portrayed are either products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

•

Also available in paperback.

Chapter One

SARA

In the land of sand dunes, princes driving Maseratis and Lamborghini Diablos, no expense spared, lavish cuisine, banquets at oil barons’ palaces.

Women are taboo, the unspoken world of sex; they cover up, wearing abihas and veils, no skin can be seen, absolutely not allowed. You cannot be alone with a woman other than your wife, mother, a sister or an aunty; it’s a wonder the population continues to grow.

Blood money in payment for murder. Can you imagine running someone over and you just pay the family off to stay out of jail?

Alcohol of all things is a crime, transporting it means three hundred lashes, public flogging is the norm. Adultery is dealt with by stoning. Yet despite all of these oddities, it still attracted me and I couldn’t wait to explore this wonderland.

Al lak bar. Al lak bar, came the cry of Islamic prayer from the local mosque.

My god, what’s that? I said, as I opened one eye. What bloody time is it? I rolled over on the couch where I was sleeping and looked at my alarm clock. Five am! You gotta be kiddin’ me.

Zzzzz, snore, snore, snore, came the noise of my dad, Steve, in the next room.

I pulled my weary bones up off the couch and walked over to the front door, while wiping the sleep from my eyes. Wearing nothing but my boxer shorts, I opened the door. A wall of heat hit me, causing me to retreat back inside the room.

Wow, how hot is that? I said in astonishment. It’s hotter than hell out there.

I left the living room and wandered into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. A cigarette and cup of coffee was my essential morning ritual. Well, since I’m awake now, I said to myself, I may as well go for a walk around the compound and have a look around the place.

I threw on a t-shirt, shorts and trainers, and then left the villa to explore the compound. So this is Saudi Arabia, hotter than hell, awoken by prayer at five am in compounds for westerners.

Winter is my favourite time of year, baking hot, with crazy humidity and sand storms. Coming out of the villa, I was met by a winter wonderland of sand flurries, like snow on the path in a UK winter, but not snow, sand. How bizarre.

I walked past a large building with a pool in the grounds and umbrellas, deck chairs and plastic tables outside.

Salam ali com, an Indian fellow said.

What’s that, mate? I said.

Kavel Hal, yar har be be, the Indian fellow replied.

I have no idea what you’ve just said, but hello anyways.

Oh, you’re English? I was saying hello and asking how you were.

The Indian fellow was leant against the wall, sucking the guts out of a cigarette. I thought he was going to turn inside out he was sucking so hard.

Yep, I’m English, mate. I’m here to work with an automotive company locally.

I’m Abdu and I’m a waiter here at the restaurant. My colleague is Goper. Want some breakfast? We do full English breakfasts, with black pudding, whatever you want, no problem, sir.

Nah, I don’t do breakfast, I’m just out for a walk. I was awoken by the prayers on the loud speakers at five am so I’m wide awake now.

Oh, you mean prayer time, Abdu said. Yes, if you’re Muslim, you have to pray five times a day. The mosque is just around the corner.

Really? Five times a day. Why so early, I mean come on, five am; it’s not natural, is it?

Please come, have a seat and enjoy a nice drink by the pool.

I sat down on a sun lounger and leaned back. Ah, this was the life. The sun was blinding, so I put on my trusty shades to shield the sunlight. I looked around the pool and could see I was the first in the restaurant grounds.

I’ll have a latte please, Adbu.

Adbu disappeared into the kitchen to fetch my drink while I noticed two strange characters come in through the gate at the bottom of the pool area. Hello, I thought, what are these two guys up to?

The men were clearly Saudi nationals because they were wearing traditional robes and chequered head clothes, red and white head gear with fighter pilot sun glasses. They sat on a couple of sun loungers near the pool and began laughing and joking.

Out of nowhere, a child of around eight took a running jump into the pool, with a splash! There was water everywhere.

Mummy, mummy this is great, he yelled.

Aha, here comes the yummy mummy, in her bikini. It was pretty hard not to stare. Her shape bulged out of the skimpy bikini as she bent over, bum crack showing and all, to rummage around in her bag and then sat down. She wore sunglasses, but I could tell she was looking in my direction the way her head was turned towards me.

Mmm nice, I thought.

Then it dawned on me why the two Saudis were here, to purv, the little devils. I was just annoyed that I hadn’t thought of that first and they had beaten me to it. Disgusting, shouldn’t be allowed.

A second woman opened the gate and walked into the pool area. Her breast was bursting out of her bikini top, curves showing, leaving nothing to the imagination, you could see everything. I could feel a little twinge coming on below. Down boy.

She sat in the pool and put her head back, enjoying the morning sunlight. She began flicking her feet backwards and forwards playfully, almost teasing the men by showing off her long smooth legs.

By now, the Saudis had reached utopia and were in a world all of their own. They didn’t know which woman to look at first. One was now sunbathing by the pool and the other was showing off her smooth body in the pool, probably on purpose to tease us men.

I was enjoying my late start and relaxing by the pool this morning, not to mention the view was superb, when three men dressed all in black robes appeared from nowhere and caught my attention. The older man with the long grey beard ran over to the Saudis and began yelling in Arabic. I wasn’t sure what was said but the Saudis jumped to their feet and looked anxiously at the side gate as if they were going to run away and then changed their mind.

The other two younger men had joined the older chap and had grabbed the Saudis’ arms, placing them around their back as if they were going to handcuff them. Wonder what that’s all about? I thought.

Abdu had appeared to take my empty cup and saw the commotion. Oh, Mr Kevin, the religious police are here to take the Saudi gentlemen away.

The what? I snapped.

The religious police will not be pleased that Saudi citizens are spying on western women. It’s against Islam to be with any woman except your wife. These men are in big trouble and will be taken away to jail for religious crimes.

The men were led away by the two younger men, through the gate and into an awaiting van to be sentenced by the religious police.

Glad I’m not those guys, I said. So you can’t even purv on a couple of yummy mummies by the pool, the most natural thing in the world, I think, Abdu.

This is very bad, Mr Kevin, those men are in big trouble. Don’t joke about these things.

The women barely blinked an eye and continued catching the morning rays.

Anyway, I’ll see you around, mate, I said.

I left Abdu to finish clearing the cup away. I continued walking along the road, enjoying the sunshine, thinking of those poor Saudis who get arrested just for looking at women.

Eight am and it was already 30 degrees C, or at least that’s what the temperature gauge said on the restaurant wall. Wow, what a place, I thought.

I’d been walking for ten minutes or so when something caught my eye in the BQ, or bachelors’ quarters, area.

‘It’s an outdoor movie theatre. Awesome,’ I thought. ‘Die Hard’s showing, cool. When are they playing it? Oh, seven pm tonight. Excellent, I’m there.’

As I stood reading the movie sign, I noticed someone out of my peripheral vision. Lordy me, she was hot! A beautiful young woman sat on her balcony eating her breakfast.

Morning, I said grinning.

Hello, the woman replied, smiling back at me.

Jesus, she has legs up to her neck, what a babe, I thought.

I’m Sara. Are you new to BQ?

I gulped. I was incredibly nervous, but continued the conversation. Yes, yes, I’m new here, just arrived last night.

Oh, I see, well, welcome to Salt Lake village.

By now, I was trembling with excitement, a dithering fool.

Well thank you, Sara, I said. I’ll see you around.

I left the movie area and walked back to my villa, just around the corner.

Where have you been? my dad, Steve, said.

Walking around the compound, just talking to a guy called Abdu at the restaurant. Do you know him?

Yes, Abdu and his mate Goper have kept me going, kept me sane in this place while I’ve been on my own. Decent blokes, really, Steve said.

I saw the outdoor movie theatre as well, very cool place. Have you tried it out yet?

Never mind the movies, you should get shaved and put on a clean shirt and then make yourself presentable for your meeting with Naghi this morning at Al Mohammed Motors. You’ll start work soon after, okay?

Who’s Naghi, dad?

He’s the human resource manager, nice bloke. He’ll probably tell you he has his private pilot’s license as well, so you should get on with him well.

Okay, I’ll get cleaned up, but I’ve got to tell you, the loud prayers over the tannoy at five am woke me up. I don’t look forward to that every day.

Oh that! I’m used to that racket now. You’ll get used to it too, I’m sure. I just sleep right through it all now.

I know, I heard you snoring.

What do you mean? I don’t snore. Get your arse in that bathroom and get a shave. I’ll give you snoring.

I left the living room and went into the bathroom to get washed and shaved. It didn’t take me long to get cleaned up and then throw on a shirt and tie. I stood at the villa door having a smoke while waiting for my dad’s driver, JV.

JV arrived a few minutes later.

Wow, a Daimler, I said. You get a Daimler as a company car, dad?

Only Al Mohammad Motors’ top execs get a Daimler. May as well ride in style, aye? Steve said laughing.

Salam ali com, JV said.

Morning, mate, I replied. What’s your name?

JV.

What’s JV stand for? I said inquisitively.

Jayachand Vasudevan, he said. Well, you asked.

Er, yeah, okay, I see. I guess that’s why everyone calls you JV?

All that was on my mind was Sara. I couldn’t get her great shape and intriguing manner out of my mind. I just wanted to get this meeting over with and get back to the compound to see Sara.

The drive to see Nahgi was a short one. JV took all of the short cuts around the outskirts of the city to avoid traffic. As we pulled up outside of the large building, I felt anxious and had my heart in my throat. The building was white with hundreds of windows, all glass really, very impressive.

Right, be polite and courteous to Nahgi and take it easy, son, Steve said through the open door. JV, will you drop me at work and then come back for Kevin and then take him back to the villa?

I’ll see you tonight then, dad? I said and slammed the car door shut. I walked up the path to the large glass doors of the building.

Salam ali com, kavel hal, queese? The man on reception was dressed in a white toga with a red and white chequered head cloth.

Hello, I said. I’m here to see Nahgi Al Khalifa.

Ah yes, Mr Kevin. Nahgi is expecting you.

I was led into an elevator and then told to go to the 4th floor, then room 206.

Ping. 4th floor.

Okay, 4th floor, now where was room 206?

I walked up to the door and knocked on it. The noise echoed around the corridor.

Salam, the voice said from behind the door.

I opened the large oak door and went inside which turned out to be an office.

Hi Nahgi? I’m Kevin. How do you do?

Salam ali com, hello, how are you, Kevin? Please, come in and sit down, Nahgi said from behind a large wooden desk.

I sat in a large leather swivel chair and then sat back. I peered around the room, eyes landing on a certificate on the wall.

Oh, you fly? I said.

Yes, how did you know? Oh, the pilot’s certificate on the wall. Oh right, that old thing, it’s about thirty years old, you know, Naghi said chuckling away.

Really! Thirty years? That’s a long time. I got my license just four years ago in New Zealand.

Oh yes, good times. It’s good to have self achievements on the wall like a pilot’s license. Anyway, down to business, how many years’ experience do you have in the motor business?

Well, I started at sixteen and I’m thirty one now, so fifteen years in total, I replied.

Aha, okay, yes, I see. You worked in the UK for Jaguar and Nissan and then just Nissan in New Zealand?

Yes, that’s right, I said quickly with no thought.

We have an MOD group, limousine conversion group, the motor group and a medical group here at Al Mohammad. How do you think that you’ll find things in a new country, Kevin?

Well, I’ve worked in the UK and I’ve worked in New Zealand, so one more country will be no big deal really, just a learning curve. I learn the changes and procedures and rules and adapt, I replied.

Okay, I’m happy with your work history and your attitude is good, so welcome to Al Mohammad Motors, Naghi said, grinning cheekily. You can start work next Monday. How will that be?

Absolutely fabulous, I said excitedly.

Right, enjoy your day and good luck with your new position as national warranty manager at Al Mohammed Motors.

I chuckled to myself. National warranty manager, I liked the sound of that. I made my way down to a waiting JV in the Daimler, parked to the front of the building.

Salam, JV said.

Hi mate, how’s it going? Looks like I’m a new member of Al Muhammad Motors, mate.

Oh, so you’re starting soon?

Yes, next Monday my friend, I said.

A short time later, I found myself back at the villa, JV’s driving and bat out of hell approach no doubt. Well, it’s ten am Monday morning and I’ve a week to myself, I thought. What am I going to do with myself?

The communal laundry room was just around the corner from the villa. I grabbed my dirty washing and walked around to the laundry room.

Oh! Hello again, I said slightly surprised at someone being in there.

Hello, are you off work today? the young woman said. The woman had beautiful olive skin with long legs and long black hair, just wearing a bikini.

Sara, right? I said. And yes, I start my new job next Monday.

Oh, you remembered, Sara replied. Okay, that’s me done, see you later.

Sara left the laundry room, brushing past me in a provocative manner. She got half way down the corridor between the laundry room and the villa and then she turned to me.

Would you like to join me for some lunch? she said smiling.

I said nervously, Erm, yeah, okay, why not?

Come, this way, Sara said as she held out her hand.

I took her hand and we both walked down the passage towards Sara’s villa.

I have some red wine I managed to obtain from the British Aerospace guys. Also I’ve got some Lebanese bread, Lebanese humus with Lebanese sweet chicken and rice, Sara said smiling.

Sounds really awesome. Is this your place? Oh wow, what a great place you have, even got a balcony and everything.

Come, sit while I get you some wine. Sara poured the wine and then sat next to me.

So where do the British Aero guys get the wine from?

Oh, they make it themselves, here on the compound. Apparently you just add yeast and a few other ingredients to grapefruit juice and hey presto you have wine.

I’ll have to try making some myself. Can’t be too hard by the sounds of it. Mmm, nice. I dipped the bread in the humus and took a bite. Delicious. Does Lebanese food always taste this good?

Oh you know, a little chick peas here and a little something there in the rice and humus and you have a delicious meal, basically sweet chicken and rice makes a great meal. Sara put her feet up on the sun lounger and sipped her wine. I’ll miss it here, she said with a sad expression on her face.

You’re leaving? I said anxiously.

I’m afraid so, in four days’ time I go back to Lebanon. My nursing contract is up and I have earned enough money to hit my target, so yes, I’m going home.

What a shame, I’ve only just got to know you.

We both stared at each other for a few moments, looking into one another’s eyes for what seemed like an eternity, until I made the first move and broke the silence.

Do you have to go? I held her hand gently. I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

Sara smiled and then kissed me. I wrapped my arms around her slim semi-naked body and squeezed her tightly and responded to her kiss with a long passionate kiss. We both went inside her villa and straight to the bedroom. I ripped my shirt off, while Sara dug her nails into my flesh in a passionate clench.

Oh yes, she cried, you kiss so well.

I ripped her bikini top off and began caressing her beautiful firm breasts.

Sara pushed me down on the bed and straddled her legs over my lower body. She began kissing my cheek and then my neck, while caressing my chest.

I took control and turned the tables, me on top while she laid back and enjoyed me kissing and caressing her body passionately. I frantically undid my trousers and pulled down my pants. I pulled down her bikini bottoms and began making love to her.

I wiped the sweat off my brow as we finished making love. Panting and out of breath, both of us laid back in bed.

Fuck! That was good.

Kevin, you were great.

My ego’s as big as a house right now; you make me feel that way, babe.

Sara leaned out of bed, poured two glasses of wine and handed one to me. We both sat up and sipped the wine while catching our breath.

This plonk ain’t bad you know, I’ll have to get myself some.

Plonk? What does that word mean? Sara said laughing.

It means booze or alcohol.

Oh, you English and your slang. Let’s just stay in bed all afternoon and watch my favourite movie, Sara said, as she hugged me.

Okay, sounds good. What’s the movie?

Four weddings and a funeral. Hugh Grant is just the best English actor ever!

What! I won’t hear of it. What about Patrick Stewart? The captain of the Enterprise. You know, Generations, Star Trek, he’s a legend. There’s an actor and then there’s actooors.

Sara laughed, and then she put her DVD on and sat back