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“How about I let you live.”
Salim recalled how easily this man had broken Yusef’s arm. The easy way of violence was in him.
“What do you want?”
“Get me to the camp. I need to go there. If you don’t I’ll kill you here. Now.”
“If I do this, you will set me free?”
“As I said, you walk away. No strings.”
Salim sighed. He had little choice. If he gave this American what he wanted, at least he would have his life. He would need to have his injuries attended to, collect his money from his apartment and take the first coach heading up country. He could always find work. His expertise was always in demand. After that…
“Do I need to explain what will happen if you betray me?” Bolan asked. “Just remember one thing. I’m very good at finding people.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Bolan hired a high-end Range Rover from a Jordanian rental company. The vehicle was fitted with satellite navigation, had climate control and a digital communications setup. Bolan, carrying a couple of cameras he had picked up from a local store, said he was scouting locations for a movie.
“Do you think they believed you?” Salim asked as he accompanied Bolan from the rental office.
“They believed the money I handed over.”
“Only an American would say such a thing,” Salim said.
“You didn’t take on your contract for money?”
Salim shrugged. “Perhaps it came into the picture a little.”
The rental assistant showed them around the gleaming vehicle. “It is very new, Mr. Cooper.” He was fussing over the Range Rover, rubbing a smudge with his sleeve. “Only a few hundred miles on the clock.”
“We’ll take good care of it,” Bolan said. “We are just going for a short trip.”
“The tank is full. You have spare cans of petrol and water in the rear. You understand how to operate the satellite navigation?”
“America is a big country, too,” Bolan said. “We use them all the time.”
“Then have a good trip and be safe.”
They climbed in and Bolan fired up the powerful engine. He eased away from the rental lot onto the smooth tarmac of the highway.
“Head north for now,” Salim said. He was hunched in his seat, keeping his head low, cradling his broken finger. Bolan had allowed him to go to a local drugstore to purchase a bandage to bind it. Coming out, Bolan had spotted rack of long-billed baseball caps and bought one.
“Are you expecting to be recognized?”
“If you expect the worst, it isn’t so much of a surprise when it comes.”
Salim was left to figure that one out.
THEY STAYED WITH THE HIGHWAY for an hour before Salim directed Bolan off-road. The flat Jordanian desert stretched out on all sides, wide and dusty, with little vegetation. The afternoon was hot. What wind there was blew gritty dust across the parched land. It hissed along the Range Rover’s sides and peppered the windows. According to Salim they were moving in a northeasterly direction. Bolan activated the sat-nav and the screen flickered into life. The readout pinpointed their position and when Bolan ran a check he found they were on a northeasterly setting.
“You did not believe me,” Salim said. “I do not need machines to tell me where I am.”
“I guess not,” Bolan said.
Salim fell silent. He kept looking in Bolan’s direction, but said nothing. The only time he spoke was to direct Bolan’s line of travel.
When it became dark Bolan slowed. The sat-nav would keep him on course but he didn’t want to risk hitting some unseen pothole or deep depression. After a couple of hours, the moon rose and bathed the landscape in a cold light. Bolan finally stopped. He was ready for a break after almost five hours driving. Beside him Salim sat up, staring around.
“Why have we stopped? Is someone out there?”
“I need a break, is all,” Bolan said, taking the key from the ignition.
He opened his door and climbed out, working the stiffness from his body. The desert spoke in its eternal whisper. The movement of the wind stirred the sand, rattling the sparse and dry grass. In truth the desert was never silent. It had a voice all its own and it was the same voice that had spoken for a thousand years. Bolan moved away from the Range Rover, feeling the still warm wind tug at his clothing. He felt Salim at his side, the man gazing out across the empty place.
“What do you hear?” Bolan asked.
“It is the song of the desert,” Salim said. “The sound that draws men to this place. They say it can bewitch a man. Make him follow the sound until he is lost. Did you know, American, that the desert is a woman? She has the power to lure men into her heart and turn them mad with her song. Do you believe that?”
“I believe a man could get himself lost out here. And be lonely. Put those together and a man could start to hear things. Maybe see what wasn’t there.”
“You see. I was right. The desert is a cruel mistress.”
Bolan understood the man’s feel for the desolate space. At the same time beautiful and indifferent, it had the timeless appeal of all great empty places. With no distractions, barely any sound, the desert could cast its hypnotic spell and isolate a man. Cut off from the reality of normal existence it would be easy to start imagining things. Bolan pushed the thoughts from his mind and focused on the present, where he needed to stay alert. He smiled to himself. Maybe he had been letting Salim’s desert get to him. An all too easy condition to submit to. But not one he could afford to give in to.
His mission in Jordan wasn’t to admire his surroundings, but to locate the isolated camp being used by Razihra’s group. He had a job to do. It was his priority. His focus had to be on that and nothing else.
Bolan turned to see that Salim was inside the vehicle, leaning back in the seat, his head resting against the window. The man was a strange one. Hard to figure, except in the respect that Bolan didn’t trust him fully. Salim had already changed sides once. Why wouldn’t he do it again if the opportunity presented itself? Bolan considered that and figured he had it just right. The man had no loyalty, except to himself. He was of that breed who worked one against the other. Salim would never tread the middle ground. Both sides of the street were fair game. He could only be bought for what was the current rate. If the pay went up in the opposite camp, Salim would choose to step over the line. Bolan had no doubts on that.
He climbed back inside the Range Rover, taking the rear seat so he could watch Salim. The man made no signs he had heard Bolan return to the vehicle. He was either a heavy sleeper, or a good actor. Bolan went with the second option and played along. He settled in the corner of the seat, making a play of taking out the Browning and cocking it. Now he sat with the pistol resting in his lap, the muzzle pointing at the back of Salim’s seat.
THEY MOVED OUT AS SOON as it was light. Bolan had dozed lightly, always conscious of Salim’s presence. The man had stirred a number of times during the night, perhaps in sleep, or to test Bolan’s response. Each time the man moved the soldier had responded by making sure the Browning could be seen. Eventually, Salim had slept soundly.
Bolan splashed water from a canteen on his face and drank a little. He allowed Salim the same privilege, but the man only swallowed a little of the water before resuming his seat. He seemed to have lapsed into a sullen mood, speaking only when he needed to offer directions, and Bolan had little he wanted to say to the man.
Midmorning Salim indicated they should stop. Bolan guided the Rover into a low, dry wadi and switched off the engine.
“Are we near?”
“Close enough that we should leave the vehicle here and walk.”
“How long?”
“Maybe two hours.”
“We’d better fill those canteens in back,” Bolan said.
He climbed out of the vehicle and followed Salim to the rear, then stood back, the Browning in his hand. Salim stared at the weapon.
“What is this? Suddenly you need to keep a gun on me?”
“You never know who might be waiting over the next rise. I’m just being cautious.”
“Then you should watch me in case I poison your water.”
“I will.”
They moved out, Salim in the lead, stopped to fill the canteens hanging from his shoulders. Bolan, his baseball cap pulled low to cover his face, walked a few paces behind. The Browning was tucked into his belt.
The first hour went by quickly. After that their pace slowed and even Salim seemed affected by the heat. He trudged to a near stop until Bolan caught up and prodded him.
“Yes, yes. You do not have to push me. Am I a camel?”
“A camel would be better company.”
“Ha, ha.” The exclamation was harsh, the derogatory meaning clear.
“Just keep moving, Salim.”
“And what if I refuse to go farther? What then? Could you find this place without me?”
Bolan’s silence made Salim turn. He saw the big man looking at the sky, his right hand resting on the pistol in his belt. Despite his curiosity Salim still managed to persist in his question.
“What now? Have you not heard my words? That you will never find the camp without me?”
“I have a feeling your time as a guide could be over. My guess is I don’t need to be shown where the camp is. I think they just sent us an invitation. And a ride.”
Salim followed Bolan’s gaze and saw the dark shape coming at them from the empty sky. A shape that rapidly formed into the outline of a helicopter.
Salim picked up the distinctive beat of the rotors. The sound grew in volume as the aircraft swept toward them, the rotors stirring up great clouds of dusty sand that peppered them with its gritty hardness. The helicopter made a firm landing. Bolan recognized it as a Westland Lynx. By its faded, dun color it was an ex-military aircraft, much used but still serviceable. The side hatch slid open and armed figures jumped out, covering Bolan and Salim. A lean figure dressed in khaki shirt and pants, and wearing a checkered kaffiyeh, came forward, raising a hand in Salim’s direction.
“Salaam aleikum, my brother. I see you have brought our guest safely this far.” The man turned to Bolan. “Novak? You have changed greatly since the last time we met. I am Yamir Kerim. Do you not recognize me?” Kerim was smiling as he spoke, amusing himself at revealing Bolan’s ploy. He looked at the pistol in Bolan’s belt and reached out and took it. “You will not be needing this. I would not want you to come into our camp armed. It would be looked on as an insult. You understand that some of the men are not as worldly wise as we. They live by the old rules of hospitality, you understand.”
“We wouldn’t want to upset them then. Would we, Mr. Kerim.”
Kerim’s face hardened. He heard the coldness in Bolan’s words. Saw the contempt in the blue eyes. “Your arrogance defines you as an American. Only one of your kind would dare to try and walk into my camp and then insult me as if I was nothing but an ignorant Arab. Isn’t that how you see us? All of us from this region? Dirty, ignorant Arabs? You class us all as one type. Perhaps, American, you need a lesson in the geography of where you are.”
“And you’re the man to teach me?”
“Perhaps I am.” Kerim nodded in agreement. “Yes, perhaps I am.”
CHAPTER SIX
The flight was short and, as far as Bolan was concerned, one of the roughest he had ever experienced. Kerim’s men had manhandled him to the helicopter. He had been thrown inside, the men using their boots to force him to the deck. Bolan hadn’t fought back. That would have resulted in far worse injuries than those he did receive. During the flight, he was dragged upright and subjected to a beating that left him bruised and bloody. The assault only stopped when the helicopter made its landing and Bolan was hauled outside. He was dragged by a couple of the men as they followed Kerim to the largest of the tents that formed the camp. He was pulled inside and thrown to the sand floor.
Kerim stood in front of a wooden desk, arms folded, waiting for Bolan to climb to his feet. Salim stood to one side, trying to appear relaxed. His eyes told a different story. Even in his dazed condition Bolan realized things had moved a little faster than even Salim had expected.
“So,” Kerim began. “We know at least that you are not Novak. So who are you? Or should I be asking, what are you? Obviously some kind of undercover operative working for…?”
“This could be a long day,” Bolan said.
“He would not tell me his real name,” Salim said eagerly.
Kerim shook his head. “His name doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we have him. Oh, I forgot, American, an old friend is here to see you, too.”
Someone moved out of the shadows at the far end of the tent and into the light. Bolan saw Yusef, Salim’s driver. His broken arm was encased in a plaster cast. His face was badly swollen and bruised where Bolan had hit him. It explained how they had known he was coming.
“Forgive Yusef if he does not express much pleasure at seeing you,” Kerim said. “He is still in great pain. Though he says little, he does hold a grudge.”
Bolan remained silent. He realized he wasn’t going to gain very much by getting into a vocal trade-off with Kerim. His prime concern now was to get himself out of their hands and make his attempt to destroy their nuclear cache before it could be moved on. To antagonize his captors was to invite the threat of an early death. Bolan had no plans for that to happen, so it was time to tread lightly until he could make his break.
“Contrary to what you might believe, we are not stupid. Since your involvement with our affairs suggests you work for one of the American agencies, it is important to us that we learn about you. Agreed?”
Bolan remained silent.
Yusef leaned forward and spoke softly into Kerim’s ear. Kerim raised a hand and nodded. “Yusef asks if he may be included in your interrogation. I understand his motive. He wants to hurt you. Tell me, should I accede to his wishes?”
“His risk.”
Kerim smiled. He turned and spoke to Yusef. The big man lunged at Bolan, his good arm flailing as he lashed out. Bolan attempted to step back but the armed men behind blocked his movement and the heavy blow rocked his head, knocking him to the ground. Yusef went after him, slamming his powerful fist into Bolan’s side. The blows came hard and on a regular basis, sending shock waves of pain through Bolan. He could hear Yusef’s ragged breathing as the man expressed his rage through the assault.
Kerim finally put a stop to it, the guards intervening to push Yusef back. Bolan stayed on his knees, sucking in breath through clenched teeth. He could taste the blood in his mouth from where Yusef’s first blow had cut his lip. A command from Kerim and the guards hauled Bolan upright and back to where he had been standing before Yusef’s attack.
“So, Yusef is at risk? Yes?”
“He won’t do that again.”
Kerim seemed to find this amusing. “You are extremely confident, American. Or very naive. You are aware of your position here? I am in control. You are the captive. Yet you prefer to see it differently by giving me ultimatums.”
“It kind of makes you wonder.”
The man’s face lost all of its humor. “Enough of this. Time to give me the answers I require. As in, who do you work for? How much information have you gained concerning our operation? Believe me, you should be advised to tell me what you have sooner rather than later. Holding out will only prolong your suffering. I am indifferent to that. In the end we will only kill you, so believe me when I say this place is where you end your days. There is no going back from here.”
Just behind Kerim, the impatient Yusef was making an effort to hold himself back. From the expression on his bruised face he wasn’t doing a very good job. His free hand was clenching and unclenching. Bolan knew he couldn’t take the kind of punishment the man handed out indefinitely. Yusef’s interrogation technique was crude, but effective. If he was allowed free rein he would eventually beat Bolan to death. A simple fact. Inescapable but true. Kerim wanted answers. If he kept Yusef on the interrogation, he might lose Bolan altogether. The soldier had nothing to tell the man, but Kerim had no way of knowing that. He would keep Bolan alive for as long as he thought necessary.
Kerim noticed Bolan’s glance in Yusef’s direction. He made up his mind and flicked a hand to motion Yusef forward, speaking to him quietly. Yusef nodded and moved in Bolan’s direction.
“Keep him away from me,” Bolan said.
“Or?”
“Or you’re going to need a new dog to bark for you.”
Kerim translated Bolan’s words for Yusef, which galvanized the big man into action. He came at Bolan in a rush, his uncoordinated lunge avoidable. The Executioner didn’t step away this time. He waited, tensed, and as Yusef loomed large, he struck.
His first blow was a savage strike at Yusef’s throat, the crushing jab collapsing the man’s cartilage and windpipe. Yusef came to a sudden halt, gasping as he vainly attempted to inhale through his ruined airway. He was still trying when Bolan’s second blow landed, coming up from his waist, the upturned heel of his right hand impacting with Yusef’s nose, driving bone shards into his brain. A gush of blood from the shattered nose spread out across Yusef’s face as he toppled back, dying even as he fell. His body curved in a single spasm before he lay spread-eagled at Kerim’s feet.
Bolan stepped back, his gaze fixed on Kerim’s face. For an instant there was a gleam of respect in the man’s eyes. He recovered quickly, snapping his fingers at the two guards.
