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Summary: An old friend visits Madari with information
and an old problem is resolved for Jahni. |
Rating: PG13 |
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Autumn
1993 Darkness
spread over the desert, like ink spilled over paper. The headlights of
Madari's car pierced the blackness, pointing the way north towards home.
Could he see the lights of his village ahead yet? He hoped so; he was hungry.
Lunch had been rushed and the day ended late, almost seven o'clock, so he
looked forward to his dinner. Alone
though, which he didn't look forward to so much. Sophia was busy tonight with
her fundraising work. Kahil could have come out to spend the evening with
him, but they'd had dinner together the night before. Perhaps they'd talk on
the phone. He sighed, thinking for a moment that he could have been coming home
to the welcoming smile of a child. Kibibi. Her face still came into his mind
often, and he sometimes regretted his choice to leave her behind. Her
laughter would have filled the emptiness of his home. He
reached the village and drove through it slowly towards his house. As he
passed the last of his neighbour's homes, he saw an orange glow ahead and
gasped. Fire? My
god! On
instinct, he accelerated, but as he grew closer and the scene resolved
itself, he slowed again. The fire was outside his house, outside the walls in
fact. It was a large cooking fire glowing at the centre of a small campsite.
Horses and camels were roped off in an improvised pen beside the camp. Dark
figures moved around between the tents, some carrying lanterns that made
pools of soft yellow light. Madari
braked hard beside the campsite and jumped out, staring as dark-robed men
approached him, a tall, broad man leading them. Could it be…? When the leader
stepped into the light cast by the car's headlights and smiled, Madari
gasped. "Halais!"
"Hello,
Faris." Dignity momentarily forgotten, Madari embraced Halais, who squeezed him until he barely had the breath to laugh in delight. His feet almost left the ground, but then Halais let him go, and the other men crowded around, offering their hands. "It's
so good to see you," Madari said, turning back to Halais, after greeting
the men he recognised, Halais's sons and several youngsters he barely did.
Grown so much since he last saw them. "What brings you so far
south?" "A
tribal council," Halais said. "Every few years we meet to discuss
important matters. And to drink much coffee and arrange marriages." He
winked as he said the last part, making some of the youngest men, barely more
than boys, look alarmed. Madari
shook his head at the teasing. He'd heard there was a Bedouin tribal council
to be held near the city soon. The king intended to visit apparently. But
Madari's work had kept him too busy to wonder if Halais might be attending. "You
have only your family with you?" Madari asked. "The
rest of the tribe has gone on to the campgrounds outside the city,"
Halais said. "We'll join them in a few days. But I thought I would stop
off and see our old ally first." "I'm
delighted to have you here." Madari glanced around the campsite.
"You're welcome to bring your tents and animals inside my
compound." "Inside
walls?" Halais looked at him as if he were quite mad and Madari smiled
at the expression he suspected was an act. "Of
course. I understand. But will you at least come inside now and let me make
you some coffee?" "Only
if you will then join us out here for supper." "I'd
be delighted." He wouldn't eat alone tonight after all. "A
fine house," Halais said, as he stepped over the threshold. "For
you, my friend." He handed Madari a small stone jar with a cork lid.
"A spice that the women say just a pinch of turns a simple stew into a
treasured memory." "Thank
you, most kind," Madari said, leading him into the room and turning on
lamps. "Please, take a seat while I make coffee." He hurried on
through to the kitchen, set the coffee brewing and put away the jar of
mysterious spice. He looked forward to trying that. Kahil liked his food
spicy, Madari would surprise him... Was it too late to call him now? He'd come
out at once when he heard Halais was here… No. Tomorrow. He took
the coffee cups into the living room and found Halais standing holding
Ahmed's sword, the long blade looking quite at home in his hand. In the lamplight
the image of the tall, full-bearded man holding the sword, arrested Madari in
his tracks and drew a gasp from him. Perhaps
misinterpreting his reaction as alarm, Halais lowered the sword. "I was
admiring them," he said, sheathing the sword and putting it back in its
hooks. "That one is your grandfather's?" "Yes."
Madari shook off the sense of having seen a ghost and brought over the
coffee. "They
are all fine weapons." Halais took the coffee cup Madari offered.
"And how are you, Faris? We hear of you, even out in the desert. A man
going places. I already know that you are full colonel now." "I'm
well. Busy." He sat in an armchair and Halais took the sofa. "And
I've been out of the country too. I did six months in Africa on a United
Nations mission." "That
I hadn't heard." "I'll
explain more later, but while I was there, I met up again with our old
friends - the A-Team." Halais
grinned. "Ah, then I look forward to hearing about your adventures. My
people still talk about Lieutenant Peck. Especially the women of course. They
tell their daughters all about the golden-haired warrior with words like
honey." "An
excellent description." "And
we hear much talk of the exploits of Captain Jahni. Is he still captain? Not
major yet?" "I'm
holding him back," Madari said, his tone dry. "His head had grown
too big to get into the office." Halais
snorted with laughter at that. "He has every right to be proud, from
what I hear. I look forward to seeing him again." "How
long will you stay here?" Madari asked. "We
need to move on to the campgrounds the day after tomorrow at the latest. Or
all the best sites will be taken and we'll be sleeping in the animal
pens." His dark eyes sparkled with laughter. "In
that case I'll organise a small party for tomorrow evening. A few
friends." He'd invite Sophia too. That would certainly give Halais'
people something to talk about, and she'd never forgive him if he didn't.
"Some of my neighbours." He waved a hand in the general direction
of the village. "Talking of my neighbours, please don't be offended, but
they don't know your people as I do. They may find their appearance...
startling." He
thought of the likely reaction to the dark-robed men with rifles on their
backs and grimaced. He already had a reputation for some eccentricity.
Inviting what looked like a gang of bandits to camp outside his house
wouldn't help to change that perception. "I
understand." Halais nodded. "I will tell them that only the women
should go into the village. The men should stay here where they won't
frighten the children." "And
there's no need to carry weapons here. Not in plain sight anyway," he
added quickly, at Halais's frown. "I'll
tell them. Now, where are those fine horses of yours that you used to boast
about so much?" "The
horses?" Madari laughed. "Ah, now we get to the truth of the
matter. You didn't come to see me, you old rogue. You came to steal my
horses!" They
strolled out to the stable, using an electric lantern. The horses were quiet,
settled for the night, but showed no alarm when Halais patted their noses and
spoke softly to them in a language Madari didn't understand beyond vague
threads of something familiar in it. "You
have a way with them," Madari said. "It's
in the blood," Halais said. "Fine animals. I promise not to steal
them, but if you were ever interested in selling..." "You'll
have first refusal." "Very
good. Now, I'm afraid I do have one small piece of business to raise with
you. I hate to spoil the friendly mood." "What
is it?" Madari said, surprised. "I
feel almost nostalgic," Halais said. "I bring you information, as I
used to when you were a knight, not a colonel." From a pocket in his
robes he produced a map of the north of Qumar. "I bought this on the way
here. I know soldiers like maps. And 'five miles past the olive tree grove'
isn't precise enough a direction for you." Madari
gestured him to a workbench where he could unfold the map. It had an area in
a mountainous region circled. The contour lines showing the terrain were the
only feature inside the circle. "We
were travelling in this region this summer," Halais explained.
"Passing over the mountains to some new grazing land and we saw… well,
we thought it was a village at first. But it's not." "What
is it?" Madari asked, mouth going dry with anticipation, thinking he
already knew the answer, feeling a stir of excitement at an opportunity he'd
been waiting for. "There
were no women, children or old people there," Halais said. "Only young
men. All armed." "Bandits?"
Madari speculated, hoping the answer was 'no'. "No,"
Halais said. "Not bandits. They train. Just as your men did, back at
your base. They train to be guerrillas." "Or
terrorists?" "Some
people called you a bandit and a terrorist," Halais reminded him. "I
was a partisan," Madari said, frowning. But he shook off the irritation.
Old business, no time for that. Work to do. "How
many men were there? What kinds of weapons? What about heavier weapons? RPGs?
Rocket launchers?" "Twenty-five
men." Halais took a notebook from his pocket. "I have notes. I knew
the questions you would ask." He handed the book to Madari. "You're
absolutely sure of the location?" "Quite
certain." "When
did you last see the place?" "Just
under three weeks ago. The men were still there." "Thank
you," Madari said, flicking through the notebook, actually a child's
school exercise book, traded for who knows what so Halais could bring him
this information. Good information too. About weapons, resources, men. There
were even small sketches and maps. "I know this will prove valuable.
We'll start to work on it at once. In fact, I need to make a telephone call
right away." "Ah,
it's a shame the children are asleep now. Most of them have never seen a man use
a telephone. It would be educational for them." Madari
chuckled. "I'll let them watch me use it tomorrow. Now, why don't you
rejoin your family and I'll see you for supper in a few minutes?" Halais left
and Madari went into the house to call his duty officer. "Take
down these grid co-ordinates," he ordered, reading them from the
location on the map. "Call our liaison at Military Intelligence and ask
him to call his American contacts to see if they can provide any satellite
photographs of that area." "Yes,
sir. Anything else?" "Set
up a meeting with Colonel Rahama as soon as possible in the morning. Captain
Jahni to attend too. And compile all the information we have on that region
and terrorist activity there." The
wheels set in motion, he hung up and went outside to the camp, where he
shared supper with Halais and his family. They talked late into the night,
about all they'd done since they last saw each other. Madari told them of his
adventures in Africa and they toasted the A-Team, Brigadier Drummond, the
memory of Sergeant Abasi, and – with amazement and curiosity – that
remarkable warrior woman, Karen Bennett. ~~~~ "You
have loyal friends and allies, Faris," Rahama said as he waved Madari
and Jahni to seats at the conference table in his office. The information the
duty officer had compiled was already laid out there. "I
am blessed with such," Madari said, adding the map and notebook Halais
had given him to the papers. "Not
easy to approach," Rahama said, looking at the map. "Either you
climb up to it, or you come in by air." "Or
on horseback," Madari said. "That's how Halais's people passed it
after all. We could get close and then approach on foot." "Horseback?"
Rahama sounded almost as dubious as Jahni had when Madari mentioned the idea
of horses to him earlier. "Well, that's an option. What about
helicopters?" "It
depends if we want to capture the camp or destroy it," Madari said. "And
which do you recommend?" "We want
prisoners for questioning," Madari said. "Frankly, any unit of
commandos could destroy the place. My men can do better than that." Jahni
smirked. "We can get in, tie their shoelaces together and plant mines
under their pillows without them noticing. I agree with Colonel Madari, sir.
We can get more useful intel by taking the camp intact with as many prisoners
as possible." "We
could do it with two thirds of the unit," Madari said. "Leaving a
squad here on standby. In addition, a company of infantry for backup once
we've taken the camp. And air cover and medevac on standby." "You
two have this well worked out already," Rahama said, smiling at them
both. "Strike
while the iron is hot, sir," Madari said, glancing at the clock, which
showed just after nine. He and Jahni had been working since seven to prepare
for this meeting. "We just need your approval to put this in
motion." "I
will have to speak to the Defence Minister and the Chiefs of Staff of course,
but when we have such good intelligence, it would be foolish to waste this
chance. Tell me what your plans are so far." They went
over it all with Rahama, making sure he had everything he needed to speak to
the generals with. They had to take this chance, Madari thought. Yes, it
would mean moving fast, but making quick plans to deal with new situations
was what he'd created this unit to do. Usually the new situation was a
crisis. But they should also be ready to deal with opportunities. To be
active, not only reactive. When the
meeting ended, they walked back to the office, arms full of papers, talking
of the plans and the suggestions Rahama had made to help refine them. "Are
you sure about the horses?" Jahni asked. "How many of our men can
even ride?" "Most
of the officers can," Madari said. He smiled. "We are a cavalry
regiment after all." "But
what about the men?" Jahni asked. "I doubt if many of them can
ride." Madari
smiled. "Then it's time they learned. We have a few days. Organise
it." "Organise
riding lessons for forty men and horses for them when we get to the hills?
Ah, sir, with the greatest respect, are you out of your mind?" "Oh
don't worry about the horses for the mission. That's in hand. Now, I expect
you at eight o'clock tonight for the party. Would you bring Sophia? I hate
having her drive the desert road in the dark." "Am
I her bodyguard now?" Jahni asked with an annoyed grimace. "Well,
you were always so good at being mine." "Low
blow," Jahni muttered, just audibly. He rubbed the back of his neck and winced,
making Madari glance at him. Was he stiff from exercise? Or lack of exercise,
his morning session in the gym missed because of their early meeting? "Okay,
I'll pick her up. Tell her to be ready at seven. No, tell her to be ready at
six-thirty, then maybe she'll be ready for seven. You know women." "If
I ask Sophia to be ready for seven, she will be ready for seven." "What's
the weather like on your planet, Faris?" Jahni asked, giving him a
dubious look and just barely hiding a smile. Madari
laughed at the teasing question, but stopped that and put on a serious
expression as they reached the offices, where the clerks worked away busily
on the logistics for the upcoming mission. "Captain,"
Madari said to Jahni, as he walked through into his office. "All the
officers, thirty minutes in the briefing room. Organise it, please. I have
some telephone calls to make." "Yes,
sir," Jahni replied. "Thirty minutes." ~~~~ Madari
dodged a running child as he brought another tray of food from the kitchen. Halais's
whole family were in the house, since the prospect of a party meant there was
no keeping the children out of there. The women had taken over the kitchen,
allowing Madari to do no more than carry plates out to the diwaniya. Several
of the younger men, still teenagers, admired the swords on the wall, though
didn't touch them, until Madari gave his permission. As Madari passed through
the living room he saw Rahama with the group, no doubt relating tales about
Ahmed's exploits to the impressionable boys. In the
diwaniya, he found Halais talking to Jahni and Sophia. They stood by the open
door where a cool breeze wafted in. "Ah,
my friend," Halais said, when Madari approached. "I'm delighted to
meet this charming lady." Madari offered
them food then set the plate on a table, thinking all the while what a
strange picture it formed to see the fearsome-looking desert nomad and the
sophisticated Western woman making small talk. "I'm
glad to see you both here. You bring parts of my life together that I thought
would never touch," he said, but saw those words make Jahni glance at
him, his eyes narrowing, just slightly. He winced. Of course, Jahni already
bridged those parts of his life. He was Madari's constant in every part of
his life. "Who
knew there was a lady out there who could tame the Knight of the North?"
Halais said, making Madari roll his eyes and want to tell him not to lay it
on quite so thick. Sophia just seemed amused though. "I
don't think I can say I've tamed him," she said. "Perhaps I offer
him some quiet moments away from the stress of his work." "Indeed
you do, my dear," Madari said. Jahni still wore a frown. Rahama
joined them, finished spinning yarns. Complaining of the heat, he gratefully
accepted a cool drink from Madari and sipped it, before speaking again. "Ah,
Faris," he said, "I meant to tell you how interested I was to hear
you'd become a Roman Catholic." "What?"
Madari gasped out. The group all stared at Rahama, then turned to stare at
Madari. "Yes,
apparently that's the latest on the grapevine. You're a Catholic now."
Rahama's eyes twinkled, amusement filled his face and voice. But Madari felt
no such amusement. "That's
ridiculous!" he exploded, then lowered his voice. "Why on earth
would anyone think that?" "Something
to do with some photographs that have been circulating," Rahama said.
"Also you supposedly made a large donation to the Catholic church, while
you were in Africa. And you raise funds for a Catholic charity here at home.
The evidence seems quite conclusive. Clearly you've secretly converted." "That's
ridiculous," Madari repeated, still not amused. "The photographs...
they must be copies of Karen's pictures that she took at the orphanage."
He recalled that final day there, all of them posing for the pictures,
holding Kibibi's hand, standing beside Sister Raphael. The pictures had been
included in his full official report, along with an account of the work
they'd done there. "I did not make a donation to the church! I helped to
pay for materials and labour for building work at the orphanage. This is all
distortion. And I do not raise funds for a Catholic charity!" "If
that's the charity I volunteer for," Sophia said, "Faris has made
donations, but he's never been a fundraiser. Anyway, the charity is Father
Fiera's personal project, not an official church charity." "See?"
Madari said. "Yes, I've made donations, but it's a worthy cause, helping
local children, I..." "Faris,"
Rahama said, raising a hand and looking chagrined. "Please, I didn't
mean for you to get so upset about this. It's only foolish rumour. Character
assassination. Nobody takes it seriously." Madari
took a breath, trying to bring his anger under control. He caught Jahni's eye
as he did so, saw concern there. Of course, this rumour was absurd. Nobody
would listen to it. But other rumours... On the other hand, was this latest
rumour a distraction from those other, more damaging ones? Could it be a good
thing? "In
fact," Rahama said. "If donating to Father Fiera's charity makes
one a Catholic, then I shall need to order some rosary beads, as I feel
inclined to make a donation myself." "That's
very generous, Colonel," Sophia said, bowing her head to him. "If
I ever get my family's money back, I'll make a nice big donation too,"
Jahni said. "But I don't promise to become a Catholic," he added,
glancing at Madari. "You
family's money?" Sophia asked. "The
old Soviet backed regime seized his father's business and sold it off,"
Madari explained, seeing Jahni's reluctance to talk of it himself, but the
small nod he gave allowed Madari to continue. "Seized all his assets. I
instructed my lawyer several years ago to try to recover the money. He's
still trying." "Thieves,"
Halais murmured. "That's
terrible, Kahil," Sophia said. "That's your inheritance." "It's
okay," Jahni said. "I don't expect to ever see it again now. That
regime's long gone and the money with it." "But
still..." she said. "It's so unfair. You lost so much. Your family...
I know the money can't make up for that, but it's not right." "Forget
it," Jahni said, with a shrug. "It's the past." |
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© E Charles 2009