The Bystander

“Is that Shisur up ahead?”

Shafi, who drove for Ace over the years in Dubai, replied. “Mining, sir, some type of mining. Not oil and not gas. Shisur is the next village.”

Ace thought for a moment. “Do they mine gold?”

“Not sure, sir, they keep it very quiet.”

“So Shafi, you have made this trip before?”

“Yes,” said the driver. “I work for a driving service in Dubai and go all over the UAE, Oman, and Saudi.”

“Ever see anything like this?” Ace was asking as they began driving through the so-called mining area. He counted at least twelve drilling rigs and though he didn’t see all of them, counted at least twenty large construction trucks.

For a moment, Shafi was silent. Then he shook his head no. “Nothing like what is here. Usually mines have an open pit, but here they are using those rigs.”