didn’t reply, then said, “I just had a troubling thought.”
“Keep that thought.”
She nodded.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
We met Brenner in the lobby and went out to the Land Cruiser where Zamo was still behind the wheel. I said I wanted to ride shotgun, so Kate and Brenner got in the rear, and off we went.
Brenner said to us, “We won’t be in Sana’a long, but it’s good if you have a general sense of the city in case something comes up and we’re told to stay here awhile.”
“Also,” I reminded him, “we want to see if anyone tries to kill us.”
“Right. That too.” He reminded me, “We want to advertise your presence in Sana’a.”
“How about a billboard?”
Zamo laughed.
“Also, that’s why you mentioned in front of Mohammed about us seeing the Old City today.”
“Correct.”
So, tell me how sharp I am. But he didn’t, so I moved on and said, “We’re checked into the hotel for four days.”
Brenner informed me, “That usually means one or two days.” He explained, “We don’t give out information to Yemenis.”
“Right.” And not much to me either.
As we drove downhill toward the Old City, Brenner announced, “Sana’a was founded by Shem, the son of Noah, after the Flood subsided.”
Maybe it was waterfront property then.
Brenner continued, “Sana’a claims to be the oldest inhabited city in the world.”
Kate, sitting next to our guide, said, “That’s amazing.”
I inquired, “How about lunch?”
Brenner replied, “We’ll have lunch in the Old City.”
He pointed to another walled compound on the left and informed us, “That’s the new British Embassy.” He let us know, “If you’re in a tight situation and can’t make it to the American Embassy, or if our embassy is under attack, the Brits will let you in.”
“What if they’re also under attack?”
“Go to Plan B.”
“Right.” Plan B was bend over and kiss your ass good-bye.
Brenner continued, “Coming up on the right is the Mövenpick Hotel, where you also have a reservation.” He explained, “Confuses the enemy.”
Not as much as it confuses me.
Brenner also let us know, “The hills to the east of here, that you can see from your room, are good places to launch rocket and mortar attacks toward the U.S. and U.K. embassies, as well as Tourist City and the hotels.”
“That was mentioned in the hotel brochure.”
Zamo laughed again. I liked Zamo.
Brenner continued, “About six Al Qaeda plots have been foiled in the last year, including one plot to ambush the British ambassador when his convoy left the embassy, and another plot to drive a truck bomb through the U.S. Embassy gates.”
“I thought you said this was a safe neighborhood.”
“I think I said heavily guarded.”
“Got it.” I had a realtor like him once.
Mr. Brenner informed us, “The farther east you go, toward Marib, the more you’re in tribal territory and Al Qaeda territory.” He pointed to a road sign and informed us, “That road to Marib city has become very dangerous, and Marib province seems to be the center of Al Qaeda activity in Yemen.”
I asked Brenner, “Did you hear about the Al Qaeda attack in Marib on the Hunt Oil installation?”
“I did.”
I said to Kate, “Early this morning. Buck mentioned it.”
Brenner had nothing to say on that subject, and we continued in silence. I wondered if we’d be going to Marib. In fact, we probably were.
Brenner continued his country orientation and said, “As you travel south toward Aden, which we’ll do in a few days, you’re in the tribal lands for a while. Then as you get toward the Gulf of Aden, you’re in Al Qaeda territory again, and you’re also in the territory of the South Yemen separatist groups who are still trying to secede from North Yemen.” He completed his briefing by saying, “To the west, as you get to the Red Sea coast, there are also Al Qaeda operatives who are in cahoots with the Somali pirates.”
So, to recap, al-Houthi rebels to the north, Al Qaeda to the south and east, Al Qaeda and pirates to the west, separatist rebels to the south, and tribal warlords in between. Not much room left for camping, hiking, and boating.
Kate asked, “What does the government control?”
Brenner replied, “Mostly main roads and towns. But that changes and you have to check with the military, who lie.”
“Then why bother to check?” she asked.
“Protocol.”
Zamo pulled over at a wide bend in the road, and Brenner suggested we get out and look down into the city.
So we got out and stood on an overlook, though Zamo stayed close to the SUV.