For several days Selim had observed this outlying settlement, watching the movement of the natives. The women kept beehives just inside the cave mouths, where the buzzing insects could seek out small desert flowers that struggled in sheltered crannies. Selim's mouth watered. He had tasted honey only once in his life, after Naib Dhartha had traded for a large pot of the sticky sweetener and had given each tribal member a small dab. The taste had been delicious, but taunting, reminding the poor Zensunnis of their dearth of luxuries? He's got Grieb's money in the business and is now going to throw the whole thing into a receivership so he can take advantage of a joker in the lease.
Matilda Benson relaxed comfortably in the big overstuffed leather chair and said, I thought Duncan was just a yes-man.
Well, you're going to have one more think coming.