Shoot him dead, Miller said. That s why Dillon and Holley came along, to back me up.
Dillon said, His importance stretches way beyond Europe. He s been responsible for more deaths than you could ever imagine, from Yemen to New York. If I could get close enough, I d shoot him dead without a thought.
Are you saying you d still like to go through with it? Hamza said. Even though you know Ali Selim has got his own troops ready for whoever comes along?
Slay said, On the other hand, what if we changed that some?
How could we do that? Ferguson asked.
Let s be a little inventive, Slay told him. Say, Wali Hussein phones Ali Selim up to tell him that the whole mission s been aborted. That he s been told that the Prime Minister s got cold feet, decided he can t risk losing Miller, and has called them all home. You could order the Gulfstream to take off as if returning to London, put down at Islamabad perhaps.
What would be the point?
A considerable one, if Hussein could be persuaded to tell Ali Selim he d be dropping by in the Raptor to report in person, especially if he had us on board.
Good God, what a wonderful idea! Ferguson exclaimed.
It does have merit, though there would be no guarantee you could get close enough to guarantee killing Ali Selim. That was Hamza, who was frowning but suddenly smiled. Of course, and so obvious. A mullah s blessing, the most precious gift a young woman contemplating marriage can have. If Wali Hussein begs for such a blessing, as if for a relative and his intended bride, such people would be privileged to meet Ali Selim face-to-face.
It was Holley who said, Before we go any further, we d need a woman
We ve got one, Daniel, don t be silly, Sara told him. I could pass without comment in my black burka. One of you would have to go native and dress up. You could get away with a cotton headcloth across the face, only the eyes showing.
Two would be better, Dillon said. Men, I mean. I m small enough to pass as Wali Hussein wrapped up. You could play the lover boy, Daniel.
There was silence for a while, everyone considering it. Sara took Holley s hand under the table and squeezed it hard, and he knew that what she said was as much for him as anyone else.
I m a soldier and I take a soldier s risks. Ali Selim is as bad as it gets, so I say let s take him out.
Greg Slay said, Well, you get full marks from me, Sara.
Ferguson turned to Hamza. How do you feel about this, Colonel?
I m in complete agreement with Captain Gideon. We re doing the world a favor by disposing of this wretched man. Let s have Wali Hussein in, and I ll make him an offer he can t refuse. You speak to your pilots, and I ll apply the right pressure to make sure the Gulfstream flies out within the next hour. I would also suggest trying to arrange the flight to Amira for as soon as possible. I see no reason why it should not be this afternoon.
Then by all means get Wali Hussein back, and let us do what has to be done.
Hamid produced Hussein, still in his handcuffs. He looked a sorry sight and was obviously terrified. Hamza said, Do you remember what I said before? I could send you to the military prison, not even book you in, just allow it to swallow you up until you die from abuse.
Hussein moaned, shaking his head. In the name of Allah, don t do this.
On the other hand, we could put you on a flight to Florida with your American passport in your hand, and a thousand dollars to tide you over, as long as you never come back.
Which stopped Wali Hussein dead in his tracks. He stared at Hamza.
What would you expect of me in return? Just tell me. I don t care what it is I ll do it.
I thought you might say that, so now we will have the truth. When you were on the phone talking in Pashtu, was this to Ali Selim?
No, to Ibrahim, his bodyguard. Ali Selim prefers to speak to me in English. I was to call back. He was at his prayers.
Then you must try again, but first we must get your story straight.
To Wali Hussein, deceit and low cunning were second nature, and he was actually smiling when Hamza finished planning what he had to do.
That s really very clever, he said. You ve got it right about the value of a mullah s blessing. There are parents who d pay through the nose for one of those, but from Ali Selim he shook his head you couldn t put a price on it. Mind you, the things I ve done for him, I could ask him this favor, but it would have to be for relatives. My mother s Italian American, so it d have to be one of my father s cousins. Selim is an amazing guy, he knows everything about everybody who works for him. I d have to use real names.
But that wouldn t matter, Hamza said.
If everything goes according to plan, Ali Selim would be dead.
You ve got a point. Wali Hussein smiled strangely. Or maybe we could be the ones to end up dead. But okay. I ll say my cousin Malik is marrying Zara Khan. The families have been arguing about it for years.
Excellent. What happens now? Ferguson demanded.
Hamza said to Hamid, We ll need suitable clothing for Mr. Holley, Sergeant. You go and see to that. He turned to Ferguson. Come into the office with me, and we ll arrange for the Gulfstream to take off for a simulated trip to Islamabad.
Hamza said to Hamid, We ll need suitable clothing for Mr. Holley, Sergeant. You go and see to that. He turned to Ferguson. Come into the office with me, and we ll arrange for the Gulfstream to take off for a simulated trip to Islamabad.
Of course, Ferguson said, and followed him to the office, leaving a disconsolate Wali Hussein sitting with his wrists still handcuffed.
Sara and the three men sat talking about the situation at one of the tables, and Dillon glanced across.
Are you all right there, Wali, me ould son?
What do you bloody think? Wali Hussein replied.
Dillon peered out to the rain falling outside and wet snowflakes drifting in it. Just look at that weather and think how lucky you are to be returning to the place where you were born. Good ould Florida oranges, blondes on the beach, and tourists to fleece. You ve got it made. Remember that, so be a good boy and don t cock it up.
The clothing Hamid returned with was what you d expect in winter: boots, long shirts, baggy trousers, a three-quarter-length sheepskin coat, and a choice of headcloths in various colors and with loose ends to wrap around the neck and face against the bitter mountain cold. Every so often there was the sound of a plane landing or taking off, and suddenly, Ferguson s Codex sounded.
He answered, listened for a moment, then said, Excellent, Squadron Leader, let s hope everything goes to plan.
Was that Lacey? Greg Slay leaned out of the Raptor.
Yes, on their way, but with any luck, they might be able to turn back without landing at Islamabad, so let s get this show on the road.
Hamid unlocked Wali Hussein s handcuffs, and Ferguson said, Everybody stay well back, please, and keep absolutely quiet. He s going to make this call using my Codex on speaker. Sara, you stand close. He handed the Codex to Wali Hussein.
Get on with it.
I ve been expecting to hear from you. Tell me what Ferguson and company are up to.
The voice was dry and precise, the English perfect. Wali Hussein said, Good news, master, they ve gone.
There was a pause, and then Ali Selim said, Gone where?
Back to London. The Gulfstream has just left.
You re absolutely sure about this?
Of course. You may confirm it at the airport. There were many phone calls, which led to a great deal of talk amongst Ferguson s people. It seems the British Prime Minister has changed his mind about the whole thing and ordered they return.
How amazing, Ali Selim said. What else do you recall?
Many things, master, but I m not sure what is important and what is not. Perhaps I could come and see you. I d like to try the Raptor out. The pilot they brought with them has given the engine an overhaul. I was going to give it a test flight anyway.
An excellent idea. Come, by all means.
I would beg a favor, Wali Hussein said. My cousin Malik and Zara Khan are to be finally wed. A mullah s blessing is the most precious gift, but one from you would give them a lifetime s happiness. Forgive my impertinence.
No need to beg, Ali Selim said. You have served me well. Bring them with you, by all means. Come as soon as you like.
Amira was a typical frontier village on the edge of a plain at the foot of soaring mountains that were invisible behind a curtain of gray mist. It was raining here, too, the same mixture of large wet snowflakes. There was an air of poverty and decay to everything the crumbling flat-roofed houses, the water streaming down the center of the streets. No sign of people, no sign of life, not even a dog, but there was smoke drifting out of the stovepipe poking up from the largest house.
Ali Selim sat at a table by the window to catch the light, and the wood-burning stove produced a certain amount of heat. In spite of that, he wore a large sheepskin against the cold as he sat there, still holding his mobile phone in his right hand.
His bodyguard, Ibrahim, a fearsome creature in black robes and over six feet tall, stood impressively at the door, an AK-47 automatic rifle slung across his chest.
Ali Selim said, That was Wali Hussein to tell me the English are returning to London. He comes to see me bringing his cousin Malik and his intended bride, Zara Khan. What would you say to that, old friend?
That Allah is merciful if he allows the dead to walk, master, for Malik Hussein and Zara Khan were killed in the Raga bombing six months ago. Ibrahim spoke excellent English. Ali Selim nodded. Wali is a clever young fox to fool them like that. He is obviously under duress. We must be prepared.
I ll go and see to it, master. Ibrahim went out.
Ali Selim sat there, thinking about it, then tapped a long number into his phone. In bed at his Park Lane apartment, Owen Rashid groped for his mobile in the dark.
Ali Selim said, Ah, there you are, Owen. This is Abu.
I was asleep. It s the middle of the night.
Ah, pardon me, I m in a different time zone. I just wondered how the reception went at Parliament.
Rather crowded, and it rained. They had to put the canopies out.
Did Jean Talbot enjoy herself?
She certainly did. The President had a word with her.