The Caliphate by André Gallo (booksvooks .txt) 📗

     Hussein leaned on the railing, one hand holding his gun slung around his neck.

     “They are firing to keep us busy, but they have not attacked. I don’t know what they are waiting for; it must be our hostages. Are you negotiating with them?”

     “I am keeping them at bay for the moment. Within hours, we will have the entire Middle East in our hands.”

     He told Hussein about the laser gun and his plan to fire it as a show of force against Algiers and Tehran. Hussein let go of the railing and looked down at al Khalil a step below.

     “This is our chance to finally get rid of the Assad family. This is what I have been waiting for all this time, to revenge my family, my father.”

     Al Khalil took a step up.

     “Don’t worry. Damascus will be in the second phase.”

     In angry outburst, Hussein said, “Damascus! Damascus! That should be our first target. Kill the Assads! Kill those who killed my family.”

     “I will—we will. Be patient. Do we want an incinerated city? Or do we want the Syrian leaders to hand over the country to our Muslim brothers? Would not that be a greater revenge?”

     Hussein felt himself stiffen.

     “The Assad family is the greatest obstacle to an Islamic Republic in Syria. The father Hafez, and the son Bashar, have killed thousands of our Muslim brothers. This is our chance. Don’t wait. How long do you think the Zionists are going to wait before they attack us?”

     “You are right about the Zionists. It’s time to remind the American Hastings that we have his daughter here.”

***

Steve picked up the AK-47 and a flashlight.

     “I’m going to try to go out the back way. We can’t just wait here for Izem. We don’t know what he’s doing.”

     Kella got up and retrieved the other weapon.

     “Don’t think you’re leaving here without me.”

     “No, you’ll be safer here. I’ll come back to get you. Have you ever fired a gun, let alone an AK-47?”

     “No, I haven’t, so you’d better show me.”

     “Please. Stay here,” Steve begged. He didn’t want to worry about her, but even in the dim light he could see the determination on her face.

     “Give up. I’m going with you.”

     He sighed, picked up the hammer that was with the other tools in the desk, and nodded.

     “All right. Ready? First, about this gun. This is not an accurate weapon. It gets less accurate if you fire long bursts. Try to squeeze the trigger gently, don’t jerk it, and then release it quickly. Also, it’s going to kick and shoot up and to the right. You have to hold it. And don’t point it at anything you don’t intend to shoot dead. Ready? Wait for me by the door. Take a flashlight.”

     When Kella reached the door, Steve smashed all the circuit breakers. He then joined her at the door and they went to the supply room.

     “I want to shut down the emergency generator in case it’s programmed to go on if the circuit breakers fail.”

     But the generator was quiet. Steve led Kella back down the corridor now behind the beam of his flashlight. They turned right and took the first few steps when a voice called out behind them, “Ahmed!”

***

Hastings’ secretary put al Khalil through right away. He was joined by Jack Horton who listened on a second phone.

     “Hastings,” al Khalil said, “your Jewish friends are on the verge of attacking us. They’ve been shooting at us and your daughter is lucky to be alive.”

     Hastings stood up and said with force, “I want to know about my daughter. I understand that you also have another American hostage. How are they both?”

     “Right now, they are fine. But if the Jews attack, either they will die from Jewish bullets or from ours. I guarantee that they will not survive a Jewish attack. Talk to your Jew friends. I want their commandos to disappear. Then we can talk about your daughter.”

     “I heard about you when I was posted to France. Your status as the only intellectual that could establish a dialogue with the West is badly eroded,” Hastings said, trying to reason with him. “I can help you regain your standing if you stop what you’re doing right now and let all your hostages go. Why are you doing this? I’m sure I could get you out of the country safely.”

     “Hastings, you are wasting my time with your demands. My next step will be to start killing the hostages. I have not decided who will go first, the Jewish scientists or my American prisoners. Get those commandos to move back!”

     Horton, the COS, wrote a quick note and handed it to him. Looking at the note, Hastings said, “I want proof that my daughter is alive.”

     “You are hardly in a position to give me orders, Hastings. But right now, I can’t bring her to the phone. She is in another part of the building. She is well.”

     Reading from another note, Hastings said, “I want you to take a photograph of her, and of Steve Church, with a cell phone, and I want you to email it to me within the next few minutes. If that happens, I’ll have the Israeli commandos back off. Keep in mind that my government is not in charge. Israel is a sovereign country.”

     He gave al Khalil an email address, which Tariq took grudgingly without agreeing to anything.

***

After al Khalil had put him off by repeating, “Be patient,” Hussein walked away frustrated and angry. Al Khalil had been putting off Hussein for years. While his only reason to join Tariq in the