Chapter seven seems to be a shorter chapter. It starts by following the character Admiral Luis Avila. He's arriving at the Guggenheim Museum security checkpoint right on his schedule. He presents his national identification document. The checkpoint guards finally finds his name as a last minute addition.
The Regent promised to get him on the guest list, and sure enough, he had done just that. At the metal detector, he took out his phone and a large rosary and placed them in a bin. He moved through the detector, while the guard walked his belongings around to him. He continued forward without incident, making it to a second checkpoint where he was given an audio headset.
While crossing the atrium, he dumped the headset in a trash can. He can't think about an audio tour, "he has work to do." He then moved to a more private place to contact the Regent, to relay that he made it inside.
At the same moment, we jump to the moonlit desert of Dubai. Syed al-Fadl was straining in agony as he crawled through the sand. His skin was blistered and burned, and his throat was so dry he barely could breathe. He thinks he can't go on.
The wind and sand blinded him hours ago, but he had to keep going. He thought he heard the sounds of motorcycles and dune buggies, but couldn't be sure because of the wind. His faith had slipped away long ago, and the vultures that now walked beside him, fortold his end.
Syed al-Fadl had been carjacked the night before by a tall Spaniard who barely spoke while driving deep into the vast desert. He gave no identification or indication of his intentions. The only slight clue Syed could gather was strange marking on his right palm.
-Image Taken From Book
For hours the allamah, Syed al-Fadl, had trudged through the blistering sand, shouting pointlessly for help. Now al-Fadl was severely dehydrated. It didn't take long before his body collapsed, his heart gave way.
He wonders one last time, who could ever possibly want him dead. He could only come up with one answer that made sense. The chapter ends here.
The chapter ends leaving us with unanswered questions. Who could wanted al-Fadl dead? Could it be Kirsch? Maybe Valdespino? The King or Prince? Someone else?
What does this new symbol on the Spaniard's palm mean or represent?
We see the Admiral arrive at the museum. He says he has work to do. He has shown a violent tendency. Who is he there to impede? Kirsch? Langdon? Valdespino or someone we haven't met yet? He seems to have a target.
Who is this mysterious Regent? What are his motives and goals?
Avila ditched the headset so he has no connection to the guide. Can he be tracked? Can he move freely?
At this point, the Admiral is in a position to really cause havoc. Syed al-Fadl dies at about the same time. He's taken by a Spaniard. That could involve Valdespino being from Barcelona.
As always thank you for your time,
-Bran the Builder
https://smartsteem.com?r=branthebuilder
-My referral link
