32
Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s
Spouse
feeling proud of their accomplishment and fully confident
of their capabilities, arrived in a small oasis near the city
of Riyadh. At this point, Abdulaziz divided his detachment
into three groups and kept ten persons to guard the caravan
and the baggage, so that in case of failure of the next day’s
assault, they were to return in haste to Kuwait, using the
same route and inform their families of the defeat. The
remaining persons would follow suit.
The night was very dark and quiet. It was as though
the moon had deliberately hidden behind the invisible
clouds. Nobody noticed those fighters who crept silently
towards the wall of the city and climbed it near one of
its gates, which was called Al-Shumaisi. Then, sticking to
the cold wall, they advanced towards the mud buildings
and after short runs they reached the cactus plants behind
Al-Masmak stronghold, wherein the governor of the
Rahidis, Ajlan, used to sleep under the protection of a
group of guards – as their under-the-cover- of-darkness
reconnaissance had reported. Here Abdulaziz kept his
brother Muhammad with another group of warriors.
He himself, together with the remaining most loyal and
most courageous aids, headed through the narrow alleys,
listening tensely in the quiet night, till they reached the
house of his old ally, who had been waiting for this for
many days. They all sneaked unseen till they reached the
governor’s palace, which was not far away, and occupied
it. According to the chambermaids, the governor used
to visit the chamber of his new young wife nearly every
morning. Hence, Abdulaziz sent for his brother and his
companions to join him and they decided to wait till
33
Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s Spouse
morning. The youthful prince was brave of heart but was
at the same time extremely cautious. He had realized that
attacking the citadel would not bring him victory in view
of the inequality of the forces.
Morning broke out and the burning sun began to rise
slowly, its rays jostling through the upper curves of the
citadel and penetrated through the teeth of the citadel
wall. The muezzin’s melodious voice was heard from
over the high minaret. Gradually, here and there, after the
slumber of night, the usual the barking of dogs, ـnoises of
the awakened city were heard the cries of water - sellers
the laughter of children, the noises of camels. Suddenly,
the narrow gates of the large citadel were opened and two
huge slaves emerged from the narrow fissure and gazed
through the near courtyard, which seemed to them quiet
and empty. They were followed by the governor, who
looked cautiously and made a few steps. At this moment
Abdulaziz and his men rushed swiftly into the courtyard
and within a few minutes Ajlan was arrested together with
some guards who came to his rescue, in response to the
cries of help which he had uttered, and all of them were
killed. The majority of the population received the young
prince with greetings and welcome. He was twenty five
years old at the time.
That was a daring operation by a small group in the
depth of enemy-rear-end that aimed at capturing a citadel
that is hardly believed to be susceptible to occupation and
seizure. But this did happen. Only a person who believes
in his just cause and who is confident of victory could have
done that. He saw what could not be seen and did what