Joe looked at Sergeant Tucker who acknowledged his look as he used his handheld radio to let the men in the back of the carriers know that they needed to be on full alert. He turned the track towards the black smoke. 20 minutes later he could see the black smoke was coming from a crashed plane lying burning on the ground. It looked like the pilot had managed to get the plane down in one piece but that he’d clipped the ground with one of the wings, which had then broken and thrown the plane on to one side. As they got closer he could see bodies on the ground.
The radio crackled “Dr Harper park us up for a bit. I’m going to take the guys and have a look”. He didn’t like the look of this at all and almost countermanded Lieutenant Taylor before checking himself. He wasn’t a Captain any more, this was Lieutenant Taylor’s command not his. Sergeant Tucker got out of the cab. “Back in a jiffy”. Sergeant Tucker pulled his rifle out after him, checked it had a round in the chamber and went round the back to get his men out. He watched as Jimmy and Corporal Brightwater pulled their tracks either side of him. The Marines all got out, briefly conferred with Lieutenant Taylor and then took three different approaches towards the burning plane. He watched Lieutenant Taylor take his men to the left, Sergeant Tucker straight ahead and Lance Corporal Anderson to the right. Jimmy and Corporal Brightwater had been left with the tracks. This made sense to him as if they needed to pull out quickly they’d need their drivers. He watched as the three teams converged on the plane. Lieutenant Taylor reached the first of the bodies and turned it over. Though he was 50 metres away he could see the guy was obviously dead – he’d seen that lifeless look before. He wasn’t sure but it looked like the soldier’s throat had been cut by some shrapnel or something. The other two teams joined Lieutenant Taylor and started checking the rest of the bodies. He knew that even if they’d not been dead when they’d been thrown from or exited the plane they’d have been dead from the cold within about half an hour anyway if their snow suits weren’t on properly.
As he was watching the soldiers his eye was suddenly pulled towards a glint of light on the horizon. In fact it was more like hundreds of glints of light. Almost like a mass of people holding up small mirrors. He’d seen some strange distortions of heat and air previously on Antarctica but he had a bad feeling about this. He radioed Corporal Brightwater. “Corporal are you seeing those bright lights? I suggest you get on the handheld to let Lieutenant Taylor know - they won’t be able to see them with the plane in their line of sight”. “Yes Sir right away”. He saw the Marines stop what they were doing and move to one side of the plane to get a view towards the horizon. They then formed up into three separate teams again. Lieutenant Taylor pointing one team to move to the left of the plane one to the right and one to stay where they were. Lieutenant Taylor took charge of the team to the left and he lost sight of him as the Lieutenant went round the side of the crashed plane. Sergeant Tucker remained with his men behind the plane and Lance Corporal Anderson with his mop of ginger hair showing from under his helmet moved forward to the right. The glimmers of light or whatever they were appeared to be getting closer and he spoke into the radio mic “Jimmy, Corporal Brightman it might be a good time to turn on the engines and get these tracks lined up for a quick getaway if we need to”. He then moved his track so that it was facing slightly away from the plane and Jimmy formed up behind him with Corporal Brightman in front. They still had a good view of the Marines who had now taken up precautionary defensive positions forwards and to the right of the plane. Lance Corporal Anderson’s men had set up a 50 calibre machine gun on a tripod and pointed it towards the moving light. As the lights grew closer he could see it wasn’t light as such but the reflection of light from hundreds of metallic objects that were moving rapidly towards them. His heart jumped into his mouth and then without warning the large machine gun barked into life. Despite his training he jumped out of his chair and banged his head on the ceiling of the cab. The rest of Lance Corporal’s team started firing their weapons, joined moments later by Sergeant Tucker and his team who were 20 metres or so further back.
The metallic objects didn’t seem at all phased by the gunfire and within moments they’d rushed over Lance Corporal Anderson’s team who simply disappeared under a mass of what now looked like thousands and thousands of silvery metallic crabs. His mouth felt like sawdust and he felt like he was going to be sick - he’d had this feeling before - but that time had been in a cave in the Iraqi province of Anbar. The mass of metallic creatures barely slowed their pace as they bowled over Lance Corporal Anderson and his team and then they were swarming up and around the plane to fall on Sergeant Tucker and his men like glitter falling from a homemade card. Sergeant Tucker tried to run back to the tracks but disappeared in a flash of silver. The mass of robotic like creatures swept onwards towards Joe, Jimmy and Corporal Brightman. He dimly registered Corporal Brightman starting to move his snow track forwards but he knew that however fast he drove it he wouldn’t be able to outrun the tide of metallic creatures who were now almost upon them. Hundreds of creatures hit the front windscreen of his cab and the swarm went up and over like a wave of water. Within a heartbeat the creatures had scored the glass and removed holes the size of a fist through which they started to drop. The tiny creatures rushed up his legs and he desperately tried to shake them off but their speed and sheer numbers meant he was covered almost immediately. He shut his eyes. He knew this was it and as he felt a prick on his exposed neck he felt a great sense of calmness rush through his body and he surrendered to the inevitableness of his fate.
Chapter 9 - JAVEIRA – September 2015
It had taken a bit of effort on her part to arrange but she hadn’t become a successful business woman without being able to solve a few tricky problems. For the first time in years she was actually looking forward to the family party she was going to that evening. Instead of the normal feeling of dread she found herself with butterflies in her stomach. She’d gone to great lengths to make sure her deep auburn hair was freshly cut and arranged to accentuate her slightly angular face. Considerable time had also gone into choosing her outfit. Her clothes though still loose fitting and conservative were attractive and of the latest style.
Rahmaniah knew something was up. She’d been giving her strange looks all afternoon.
“Have you been to the hairdressers this morning?”
“Err yes why?”
“Well for a start I can’t recall you ever going to the hairdressers the morning before one of your family’s parties…. and are those new clothes?”
“Err yes I just felt like I needed to refresh my wardrobe”
“You’ve got something going on haven’t you…oh I can’t believe it there’s somebody you like who’s going to be at the party isn’t there? Oh you minx you’ve got someone invited who you actually like after all this time and you haven’t mentioned a word of this to your closest female friend and cousin who also happens to be living with you – I am deeply hurt. But more importantly who is this mystery gentleman? Tell all immediately or I shall be forced to reveal to your father who’s behind Saudi Arabia’s most successful dating agency”.
“You wouldn’t do that Mani, if you did you’d be in as much trouble as me”
“I would not and you know it, anyway even if I did get into trouble I can always throw myself on my mother’s mercy. I’m not sure we could say the same for you. Anyway enough of that spill the beans now!
“Well there may be someone there that I have a passing interest in…”
“I knew it I knew it you were up to something now never in a million years did I think it had anything to do with a potential suitor. Who is it come on tell me tell me”
“Well you’ve already met him actually.”
“I’ve met him already?” She paused for a moment and then laughed softly oh Javeira Al Bajubair you are priceless – Rashid Al Shiddi from Tabuk! How on earth did he get invited to one of Jeddah’s most important family’s party?”
“Well…”
“Oh you’ve got it bad Javeira, you got him invited didn’t you. How did you do that?”
“Err well it wasn’t so difficult apparently Salem’s mother’s sister is married to an Al Shiddi from Riyadh…I just went from there…”.
“Not too difficult you little liar that sounds like you’ve been working behind the scenes for
weeks on this and not one word to me your dearest cousin I cannot believe it, well I was going to make some sort of excuse like I normally do for not going but you can guarantee I’m going now..”
Javeira hesitated slightly when she said this. But Rahmaniah spotted it immediately.
“Ahh you didn’t want me there to steal your thunder. Now I know why you haven’t told me before. Listen cousin there is no way I’m going to spoil this for you, I shall go and dowdy myself up immediately – in fact not only will I wear all my worst and oldest clothes I shall also smear make up up and down my face so I look like a clown…”
Javeira laughed
“You don’t need to do that but if you could be slightly less glamorous than normal….”
“For you Javi anything. But wait doesn’t Rashid think you work for me in some sort of administrative role? Isn’t he going to be a bit surprised when he finds out you’re a scion of the Al Bajubair clan?”
“Mmmmhhh yes this is the one issue I haven’t entirely got sorted. I guess I’m playing it by ear….”
“Oh don’t worry he’s probably going to be over joyed to see you there. I saw the way he was looking at you at the hosts and hostesses event. He couldn’t take his eyes off you. Oh this is fabulous anyway enough of this I need to go and find my blackest Abaya. Don’t leave without me Javi”.
Javeira watched Rahmaniah dash to her bedroom and turned back to looking at her own reflection in the mirror. She hoped she didn’t look too attractive which would be inappropriate at a family party where people from outside the family would be present but at the same time she wanted to be attractive enough to catch Rashid’s interest. They’d hardly spoken after they’d adjusted the chairs while at the hosts’ party and then during the presentation as was proper men and women had sat on different sides of the room while Salem gave his talk. She’d seen him across the room when the food was served but she’d also had to do her bit with regards to meeting all the other hosts and hostesses and so no further opportunities to talk had presented themselves. Despite this almost total lack of contact and for some inexplicable reason she’d spent the next few days incessantly thinking about him. Such feelings were unfamiliar to her and eventually she’d decided that she was going to have to arrange another meeting and in a context in which should they appear to be compatible could be taken forward further should she and of course he wish it. That basically meant getting him to one of her family’s ‘suitor’ parties.
Eventually Rahmaniah returned and though she wasn’t wearing her ‘blackest of black Abaya’s’ she was dressed much more demurely than normally and she’d also got her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail thereby restricting one of her best assets from being on show. Javeira gave her a smile and they made their way down to the car where Salem was waiting to take them over to her parent’s complex out in the suburbs.
Rahmaniah spoke from the back seat of the white BMW 7 series “Salem I understand one of your distant relatives will be at the party tonight?”
Salem coughed and glanced back to Javeira.
“Oh don’t worry Salem she knows Rashid is going to be there. She’s promised to be on her best behaviour”.
“Best behaviour well that should only result in four family arguments and the breaking of two priceless dinner services”
Javeira laughed. “Oh you do know her so well Salem”.
When they arrived at the large house her parents owned on the outskirts of Jeddah her mother greeted them.
“Salem good to see you. Darling Javi you look stunning tonight and Rahmaniah well this is a surprise I don’t think we’ve seen you here for over a year?”
Javeira knew her mother thought Rahmaniah was a bad influence on her but Rahmaniah greeted her mother so fulsomely complimenting her on her sari like dress and expressing delight at her mother’s earrings that her mother’s expression eased up a bit. They split at this point as Salem went to talk with the men in one room and the women in another. Her mother was quite traditional in this waiting for all the guests to arrive before opening the doors to the main living area where guests could mingle together and be served hors d’oeuvres. Given that Javeira suspected they were the last to arrive this wouldn’t take too long. She went into the ladies sitting room and began greeting her more elderly relatives and some of her other cousins. As she did this she saw Rahmaniah and her mother retreat towards the kitchen and the serving quarters. Undoubtedly her mother would need to alter the place settings given she wasn’t expecting Rahmaniah to attend but why was Rahmaniah accompanying her? Javeira frowned, it meant Rahmaniah was putting her oar in somewhere.
Five minutes later her mother informed the guests that everyone could now move to the large galleried courtyard area where hors d’oevres would be served. Javeira felt her stomach lurch a bit and kept herself towards the back of the group of ladies as they moved into the courtyard where the men were already standing chatting. Rahmaniah appeared on her arm and steered her almost immediately to where Salem, Rashid her father and two other important looking Saudis were talking. All the men were dressed in white Thawbs – God men had it so much easier than women – nevertheless Rashid’s Thawb looked absolutely immaculate and even from a distance he looked as good or even better than she remembered. She tried to pull away to go towards the other side of the courtyard but Rahmaniah pulled her round by her arm and gently pulled her towards her father.
“Baba Bajubair, gentlemen, peace be upon you. Isn’t the weather fine this evening?”
Javeira’s father looked over at Rahmaniah and Javeira. “Rahmaniah, Javeira, good to see you both.” He paused slightly “and Rahmaniah I’m so pleased you could make it”. Javeira smiled she knew her father knew she hadn’t been invited or at the very least wasn’t expected. “Can I introduce Mahmud Mahfouz and his brother in law Mohammed ul Safia Al Saud. Salem you know and this is his cousin in law Rashid Al Shiddi”
Rahmaniah answered immediately. “Gentleman a pleasure to meet you all, now did I just catch you talking about that the Bin Laden group is moving out of the construction business? Should my mother be worried? She has a substantial amount of shares invested in Bin Laden Holdings” As she said this she moved herself forward into the group and Salem and Rashid politely moved back to allow her into the group. The deliberate movement by Rahmaniah caused her father’s group to become slightly separated from Salem, Rashid and Javeira.
Javeira found herself completely tongue tied and she realised she hadn’t even greeted Salem and Rashid as she should have. She mumbled something like “So pleased to see you both” as she looked up. Salem had a big grin on his face and Rashid a somewhat surprised expression.
“Javeira wonderful to see you here. I didn’t realise you or Rahmaniah would be here…err I hadn’t realised you were both related to the Bajubair family?”
Javeira could hear Rahmaniah burbling on next to her about problems her mother had been having with her maids thereby holding the attention of the older men including her father. But her father hadn’t been fooled for long. His suspicions were already up given Rahmaniah’s presence. He excused himself from the conversation and stepped more into Javeira’s group.
“Javeira I didn’t see you at work today is everything ok?”
Javeira’s face fell a bit when she saw Rashid’s face registering surprise. But she had no choice it was time to make a clean breast of it. She was sure he wouldn’t talk about his role as a host in the Tabuk eventing franchise but she didn’t want him to give the impression he’d already met her either. The smoothness of the lie impressed even herself “Oh Baba I was just telling Salem and Rashid here that I was feeling a bit un
der the weather earlier but I feel fine now and wouldn’t have missed the party for the world I know how much they mean to you”. As she said this she found herself glancing at Rashid willing him not to say anything.
“Oh ok well yes I’m glad you’re here these parties are particularly important to your mother and I as you know”. He stressed the word mother here in order to emphasise the primary nature of the gatherings i.e. so that Javeira could be matched up with an appropriate husband.
“Ahh I see Fasil and his son Bashir over by the mint water we should go and greet them Javeira”
“Of course father it would be my duty to do so” She couldn’t help keep the edge out of her voice at her father’s blatant attempt to get her to meet yet another ‘suitable’ suitor.
“Good. Gentlemen it was good to see you both”
Salem politely returned the greeting while Rashid put out his hand and shook her father’s hand “Many thanks for inviting me to your gathering Dr Bajubair, it was a pleasure to meet you and your daughter.” As he said this he looked at Javeira and though she caught a hint of anger she also found her throat in her mouth as the same feeling of drowning in his eyes came upon her.
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