Tariq

The younger of Hassan's two camel drivers — a lean Egyptian boy of about fourteen, all elbows and enormous patience with the animals.

Description

The younger of Hassan’s two camel drivers — a lean Egyptian boy of about fourteen, all elbows and enormous patience with the animals. He works barefoot in the cold dawns without appearing to notice, mimics his uncle’s flat unhurried way of moving, and watches the Europeans the way you watch weather you have been told is dangerous. He will not meet their eyes and will not volunteer a word to one.

Background

Hassan al Rashidi’s nephew, out on the Suez road to learn the trade the way Hassan learned it — by carrying, roping, kneeling camels, and saying nothing. The old camel driver knows every well; Tariq knows how to be useful and stay out of the way, which on this road is most of the job. He is shy of foreigners in the specific way of a boy who has been warned, more than once, to keep clear of them.

Motivations

To do the work well enough that his uncle keeps him on. Nothing larger. He is not frightened of the desert — he is frightened of the wrong Englishman noticing him.

Connections

Hassan al Rashidi — his uncle and the reason he is here.
Elizabeth Ashby — he saw her do two small things he could not read (see GM Notes).
Freddy Cavendish — the only investigator who can get a word out of him, though they have not yet met.

Appearances

Outcome (Session 6)

The case turned on him. Katherine read the shy boy correctly and sent Freddy to him rather than pressing him herself, and for Freddy, patiently, Tariq gave up what he had seen: a woman carrying tea to Hewitt’s room the night before, and something small discarded near the well before the storm sealed the gate. That testimony sent Freddy to dig the opium bottle out of the sand and broke Ashby’s story open. He asked for nothing beyond his uncle’s approval, and he travels on with the caravan toward Suez.

Relationships

Located at Suez — Current location
Witnessed Elizabeth Ashby — Saw her dispose of a small glass bottle near the well during the storm cleanup, and heard her ask after Hewitt's tea. He does not know what either meant.
Knows Freddy Cavendish — The one investigator he would speak to. Gave Freddy the testimony about the woman at the well that broke the case.