The Sands of the Two Queens: A Novel of Yemen

The Sands of the Two Queens is a novel set in Yemen in 1993. It is the story of a group of expatriates - Americans, British and Irish - who work at an oil and gas production facility in the desert near the ancient city of Marib. The facility and producing fields are located in the midst of bedouin territory. The bedouins are loyal only to their tribes and recognize no government from any country. They are constantly at odds with the central government in Sana'a who try to control their activities. The bedouins have been smugglers since time began and when the government tries to interfere with their smuggling operations the bedouin tribes fight back. The expatriate oil and gas workers are caught in the middle and are used by the bedouins as bargaining chips to obtain concessions from the government.. Bedouins hijack the oil company vehicles, disrupt the operations and even kidnap the expats to hold for ransom. The irony is the bedouins do not hate the expats. In fact many bedouins are actually are employed by the company. They treat the expats as guests while they are in custody. They look upon the expats and the production facility as a gift from Allah. The expats are their friends and were sent here by Allah, the merciful, the benevolent, to be used by the bedouin tribes as is their wish.