Water in the desert

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Katherine Burlake

a book bubble about

The Bystander

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

synopsis

Synopsis

The Bystander is a mystery thriller set in Saudi Arabia where rivalries in the Saudi royal family, religion, and oil money intersect. In a kingdom built on sand, an ambitious and devious prince uses terrorism to disrupt the succession and become the next king.

bio

Author Biography

At the Department of State spent twenty-one years inspecting embassy operations around the world. Traveled to over 130 countries including Iraq and Afghanistan with over 200 total trips. Overseas living included Peru, Thailand, England, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the Cote d’Ivoire. Served four years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the U.S. Embassy. Worked as a management analyst at the VA for nine years. One of first 20 women accepted in Air Force Intelligence School, and the first female Air Force Intelligence Officer to serve in the Vietnam War. Born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lives in Colorado, BS University of Oregon, MHA Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas.
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Author Insight

Water in the desert

The Arabian Peninsula was formed with a network of rivers that ran through it. Today only the wadis, now dry river beds, remain. One exception is Riyadh, the capital, where water supplied by the Wadi Hanifah has been cleaned up and local residents enjoy picnics and bird watching. More often the water is underground under limestone cliffs. To me, so much water in the world's largest sand desert was a surprise. Today what you see, even surrounding an oasis, is a sea of sand.

Book Excerpt

The Bystander

Slowly, as if out of a mirage, the high desert ridge emerged. Hassa pointed out that the ridges in this area were made of limestone.

“Limestone sunk the city. The water table runs underneath the lime-stone, eating away at it. Unknowingly, making matters worse, the rulers of Ubar over the centuries built more fortifications on the ends of the city with a limestone wall around it. The city was ready to sink.”

“I am confused,” said Audrey. “I thought the city was blown away in the wind. Not that I’m an expert on the Qur’an, but it says, the ‘people of Ad who lived at Ubar, were destroyed by a furious wind.’ So what’s the sunken part?”

Hassa looked at their faces. “Actually, it’s basic geology. An earthquake hit the center of the city and with the water table and heavy fortifications, sunk the city.”
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