We do some research and this place seems pretty sketch. We are questioning our sanity. Why are we doing this? It seems like death is just awaiting us. We sail for seven days on a weird little ship. It goes okay. I try to blend in and cover myself. We meet up with Nigel Stedford who takes us to a hotel or resting place. We have to travel the south of the country/ arabian peninsula along the end of the Rhub'al'khali to San'a. This is a three day journey. Nigel is back before nightfall and has found transportation - 3 days - luxury accommodations - back of an old truck hauling salted fish. It's part of a 4 truck caravan - so cheap. Low chance of getting attacked. From San'a we travel to Al-Afan. We reach San'a after three days - yay! Nigel sets us up with lodging. He makes transportation arrangements. We get food and things.
I blank out for a few days but looks like we travel a bit. It's been two weeks on those damn camels. We roll into a tiny settlement. We meet with some guy - Mikhay’el. Professor Ahmed ibn Mikhay’el. He's skeletal and kind of a hot mess. He looks not completely sane but mostly harmless. He does know the meaning of life and everything. This is the craziest thing we have done. We are traveling at night for six days.
On the 5th night - we hit the point of no return. Half the camels are dying. Ahmed convinces us to keep going. We're pretty much dying and we finally see the ancient city. There are some lights in the distance. Oh, there are binoculars. There are large tents - digging equipment - other supplies. Canvas and people and -- whatever. Lots of people. So like, we are trying to sneak up on the water source. I guess. I think.
We have to get an stone hand. It's a reference point to find the well. They find the hand and then look for the well.
Malcolm is not a guy we want to deal with.
There are 5 creatures coming. They tie my hands and lead me to camp with Nigel.