Deadly Cargo: A chilling naval terrorism thriller

by Rich Johnson

  “Seven hundred and fifty thousand American dollars,” Husam al Din said without blinking.

  “Whew,” Josh whistled. “That’s a pretty bright nickel. People would notice if I had that kind of money. How do I explain my sudden wealth?”

  “Do not be a fool. The money will be placed in a secret account, so it cannot be traced. After we release you, we will give you the code to gain access to the account. Let some time pass before you start using the money. Let it trickle into your life. Develop a legitimate reason for having the income and no one will notice.”

  “How can you be sure I won’t just go to the authorities and tell them everything?”

  “There are two reasons you will not do that. First, if you try to double-cross us, we will set up the cash transfer and leak information that will make it look like you sold security secrets to your nation’s enemy. You will get nothing, and you will be branded a traitor. The second reason is that it won’t matter anyway because my plan will already be carried out by then.”

  Josh inhaled deeply, sat back in the chair and interlocked his fingers behind his head. “It looks like you’ve covered all your bases.”

  “I am an expert. We run a very sophisticated operation that you Americans have badly underestimated. You think that just because we live in a more primitive condition that we are not capable of planning such things as this. Trust me when I tell you that we are very well organized. We have satellite phones and computers. We have people in every country and in almost every city. Our motives are more important than life itself. If you doubt that, ask yourself why there are martyrs that you call suicide bombers.”

  “Well what do you want from me?” Josh asked.

  Husam al Din relaxed his hand from the dagger, and sat back down. “I want some very specific information. Before you joined the army, you worked in the security division at the shipping harbor in Miami, Florida. You know the routine there for loading and unloading shipping containers, and you are familiar with all the security procedures. I brought you here to tell me everything you know about those things.”

  “Why do you want to know about that?”

  “I have my reasons,” al Din said flatly.

  “That’s it? All you want is for me to tell you about port security?”

  Husam al Din nodded.

  “If you know everything else about me, how is it you can’t find out about those things?”

  “Information comes to me one bit at a time, gathered from one person at a time. It is the same with this. I will gather this information one bit at a time from one person. Right now, you are that person.”

  Josh sat back and quietly studied the cold, emotionless eyes of Husam al Din.

  “The fact is, you already know too much to back out and avoid the consequences,” Husam al Din said. “You know about Sorgei Groschenko and you know about me. It is already too late to disappoint me and still remain alive, but I will leave the decision to you. I can always find another. The rewards for you will be great, but if you fail me … well, I have already told you what will happen. I do not have much time for you to try to negotiate. I need an answer now. What is your decision?”

  Josh was quiet. His face displayed the uncertainty of a man caught in a trap with no easy way out. He stared at Husam al Din, then lowered his eyes to the table and pondered the situation in silence.

  Husam al Din’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Sergeant Adams,” – he spoke slowly – “do not mess with me.” He pried the tip of the dagger out of the table, held the point toward Josh and spun it in his hand so the blade glinted in the light. The two men stared at each other, neither one flinching.

  After a prolonged, uncomfortable silence, Sorgei Groschenko cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, are we going to work as a team or not?”

  Without shifting his eyes, Husam al Din said, “That depends upon Sergeant Adams. Right now, I am not sure he can be trusted.”

  Josh shot back. “My question is, how do I know that you can be trusted?”

  “Because I am a true Muslim,” Husam al Din replied. “Unlike your society, where a man may give his word and then not honor it, the Holy Koran teaches that Muslims must honor our word. We must act in fairness in all our business dealings. We must speak the truth.”

  “If you are so honorable, why are you attacking America?”

  “Honor is a matter of fulfilling our duty, it has nothing to do with our choice of an enemy. We will be the most honorable enemy America has ever had, but an enemy we must be. American society was not always as it is today. Today it is an affront to Muslim values. Yours is a godless country, and your country spreads indecency across the world like a vile stench through your vulgar movies and magazines, immodest clothing, greed – these are the things that threaten and offend the Muslim world. Your government has a nasty habit of interfering in the affairs of nations that prefer to be left alone. We cannot allow your country to contaminate our people. So we will stop you.”

  “So that’s the great plan?” Josh asked. “You’re going to clean up the world by getting rid of America?”

  Husam al Din nodded his agreement. “A difficult task, but one that must be done.”

  “Well good luck, buddy.” Josh laughed. “Even if you wiped out America, have you taken a look at the stuff that’s going on in the rest of the world? What about the fashion industry in France or Italy, or the loose lifestyle of the Danish. Or the Rossebuurt district of Amsterdam, with their public solicitation of prostitutes behind picture windows on their main streets. And maybe I should clue you into what’s going on throughout Asia with children for sale. Listen, I’ll admit we have our share of problems, but if you think America has the corner on filth and corruption, you need to wake up and take a look around.”

  “Yes,” Husam al Din agreed. “The whole world is evil. Let me assure you that we will deal with that one step at a time. Right now, America is the enemy I am focusing on, for reasons other than moral decadence and failure to honor Allah. There is the Palestinian issue.”

  “Hey, that issue has nothing to do with the families in Northwoods, Iowa who go to church every Sunday and contribute to charities to help starving children they’ve never even met in some Third World country. Yeah, we’ve got our share of rascals, but American’s are, for the most part, good and charitable God-fearing people. And there’s nothing honorable about attacking innocent women and children who are non-combatants. In fact, that Holy Koran of yours even forbids it.”

  “What do you know of the Holy Koran?”

  “Enough to know that what you are doing now would be an outrage to Mohammed.”

  “The Prophet Mohammed, Salla Allahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam, would agree with what we are doing now. It is only to protect Islam from the pollutions of your world. I don’t expect you to understand, or to agree with it. You are not Muslim. You are contaminated by your society. But even as you do not want us to attack your world, we do not want the pollutions of your world to attack ours. We are courageous enough to do something about it. In your country, there is too much concern about political correctness for you to be able to solve your own problems. So we will do it for you. The world will be a better place after the jihad.”

  “If I might ask,” – Josh looked over at Sorgei then back at al Din – “why do you need him? You guys seem to be capable of building your own weapons and bombs.”

  “Sorgei has special talents. Just as you have special talents,” Husam al Din said.

  “So you have this jihad plan that involves Sorgei and me. From what Sorgei said of his background, and from what you’re asking of me, I’m guessing your jihad is an attack on the Port of Miami, using a shipping container to deliver some kind of special weapon that Sorgei developed. And you’re hoping my expertise will help get you past port security. That about right?”

  “You are quick to understand, Sergeant Adams,” Husam al Din said.

  “Why pick on Miami?” Josh asked.

  “I have done research, and Miami is a very
decadent society that represents all that is offensive to Islam.”

  “Yeah, but did you ever stop to think that there are lots of Muslims who live in Miami? It’s a big city, you know, and there are mosques there and I’m sure the population of Muslims is substantial.”

  Husam al Din smiled. “I see what you are trying to do, Sergeant Adams, but it will not work. I am not persuaded to avoid attacking America simply because there are Muslims there who will be killed along with the kafir. We will all die someday. It does not matter how we die, only how we live. And it does not matter how long we live, only what we do while we are alive. Innocent Muslims who are casualties in our jihad will be rewarded by Allah. Jihad is a purification process for the world. America is on the wrong path, and it must be cleansed.”

  “And you expect me to buy into that?”

  “You admit that your political leaders are corrupt. They interfere in parts of the world where they have no business. Your foreign policy has ruined the way of life of so many in other countries. It must be stopped.”

  Sorgei Groschenko stood up and walked around the table, stretching his back and arms. “If you guys want to argue politics and religion all night, that’s your business. Frankly I didn’t come here for this. Let’s get down to it.”

  “You are right,” Husam al Din agreed, then looked again at Josh. “Sorgei and I have worked together for a while. But you are new to this. We need to be sure about your involvement. As they say in your country, the ball is in your court.”

  Josh squirmed in his chair, then stood and walked around the inside of the large tent. Each step of the way, he was followed by the eyes of the two guards and muzzles of their AK47s. The fabric of the tent began to relax; the wind was quieting. Outside, the sandstorm was blowing itself out. After an uneasy moment, he sat back down and placed his forehead in his hands on the table.

  “You are suffering with your decision,” Husam al Din said. “Do not waste your time or mine. Consider the suffering you will bring upon yourself if you make the wrong decision. Allow me to clarify things: you can either have your life and lots of money; or you can die tonight.”

  “I have trouble with the concept of selling my loyalty at any price.”

  “I do not expect you to sell your loyalty. I need only to be able to trust the information you give me. In exchange for that, you will have your life. When this is over, you will have enough money to be wealthy. This is a simple business deal. You get what you want and I get what I want. The choice is before you. Trust me when I tell you that if you do not cooperate, we will get rid of you tonight, and then we will simply find another to replace you. My plan might be delayed a short time,” – he shrugged as if it were a small matter – “but it will still go forward. You are merely a convenient way to learn what I need, but you are not the only way. I will do this with or without you. There is no way you can stop it by refusing to save yourself.”

  Josh shifted in his chair and looked off into space. “You’re right about one thing. I have no doubt that our leaders are misguided. Some say they’re corrupt, but I think they’re just being stupid.”

  “You are correct,” Husam al Din agreed. “They are stupid, but they are also power-hungry and corrupt. They want to police the world, but they have no right.”

  “I know it isn’t right what they’re doing. They not only screwed up my personal life, they’ve done a lot worse than that. Our true system of government was bypassed to get this war started, and unless something is done things are going to get worse. I wish I knew how to stop the violation of our Constitution, but I am only one man – and the government won’t listen to only one voice.”

  “You are right in feeling that way,” al Din nodded again. “Your government is deaf to your concerns, but there is a way to open their ears.”

  “Not that I agree with your methods, but maybe a little attack on the port can shake things up enough to make people stop and think about what’s going on. Blow up a few containers, damage a ship and the terminal – maybe then they will start worrying about security at home and quit starting wars abroad. After what happened on September 11th, everybody pulled together for a while, but then the same old political wrangling started again. And now here we are. Something needs to happen.”

  “You are beginning to think clearly,” Husam al Din said. “Perhaps you are thinking clearly enough to save your own life.” He turned to look at Sorgei, who at first shrugged his shoulders but then finally nodded. He turned to face Josh Adams and raised his eyebrows in question.

  Josh stared at the table, then raised his eyes to meet those of Husam al Din, and he quietly nodded.

  Husam al Din pushed back from the table and stood up. “Come, gentlemen, the Land Cruiser is concealed in a distant canyon. We have many hours to travel before we sleep.”

  ****

  Late that night, the Land Cruiser approached the summit of a high pass. Armed men appeared from behind a cluster of boulders that narrowed the roadway from both sides, creating a natural gateway that was an ideal place for an ambush. The men stepped in front of the vehicle and trained their weapons through the windows. Husam al Din identified himself and spoke for a few moments with the men, who then moved aside and let the vehicle pass. In the early morning hours, deep in tribal territories, the three men arrived at a plain-looking, mud brick house. They were greeted by armed men, then shown inside where rooms had been prepared for them.

  As he dropped from consciousness into sleep, Husam al Din thanked Allah for hating America as much as he did. A man needs purpose in life, a vision, a goal, and his was clear – to destroy America, at least as much of it as he could. If he died in the process, which he fully intended, so much the better. Eternal life as a martyr was the highest glory. He hated all Americans, even though he never actually met one in person until Josh Adams stepped into the tent only hours earlier. He found the young sergeant strangely affable and actually enjoyed arguing with him. It was an entertaining mental exercise, and only strengthened his love of Islam and the tenets of the Holy Koran.

  Still, no matter how much he enjoyed his brief debate with the American, it was at the same time disgusting, for he was dealing with an enemy. America was an enemy to be destroyed, not converted through debate and reason. America was more than merely an infidel nation: it represented all that was evil in the world. Offensive as it was for Husam al Din to be in such close contact with an American, to achieve his goal he would, if necessary, exploit an American like Josh Adams. His final thought before sleep overtook him was that being able to use one American to kill thousands, perhaps millions, of other Americans was going to be especially sweet.

  Chapter Six

  San Blas Islands, Eastern Caribbean

  “Maria Elena, it is time to go.” The small woman’s voice carried from the edge of the palm forest, across the beach to shallow water where two girls stood knee deep looking for tiny cone shells. Her straight black hair was cut across her forehead, leaving a hard line of bangs. From her nose hung the traditional gold Cuna nose ring and the ridge of her nose wore a straight line that ran from bridge to tip. She was dressed in a bright red mola blouse and a blue skirt that hung to her sandaled feet.

  “Oh, Cadee, I will miss you,” the brown-skinned Indian girl moaned. “You are the best friend I have.”

  Cadee Plover opened her arms wide and the two girls hugged. “And I shall miss you, too,” Cadee moaned. “But who knows, maybe my dad and mom will want to come back here again. This is such a beautiful place.”

  “Maria Elena,” the woman said softly as she walked into the water to join the girls, hiking her skirt to her knees. “It’s almost time for your lessons. The school will not wait.”

  “I know, Mama,” the girl bowed her head in submission to the schedule. Then she brightened. “Cadee said maybe her family can come back again sometime. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

  “Yes, it would,” the older woman said. “Cadee, I have made a gift for your family. Will you please give this
to your mother?” She unfolded a large square of cotton cloth that was hand-decorated with intricate reverse-stitch embroidery. “This mola tells of our family history. Maybe when you look at it you will remember us.”

  “Oh, thank you. This is so beautiful. We will never forget you,” Cadee cried as she hugged the woman. “You have been so kind to us. I know my mom and dad and my brother Jacob wanted to be here to say goodbye, but they went to buy provisions for the next leg of our voyage. I’m supposed to meet them at the pier in an hour. Actually, I think Jacob wanted to say goodbye to the store owner’s daughter.” She laughed.

  “Ah, yes,” said Mrs Morales, “she is a nice girl. I have seen the interest in Jacob’s eyes when he looks at her.” This set them all to giggling. “Now, we must go. We have far to walk to get back to the village school. I know it is hard to say goodbye, but don’t be long, my daughter.” The woman turned and walked back up the beach, put on her sandals and disappeared into the cluster of palms.

  “I’ll be right there, Mama,” the girl called. Then she turned to Cadee with a look of serious concern. “I know I am only 10 and you are 11, and you may think of me as only a child, but …”

  “No I don’t,” Cadee insisted. “I know what it feels like to be treated like a child. Jacob does that to me sometimes. Being 17, he thinks he is so grown up.” She rolled her eyes.

  “I must tell you something important,” Maria Elena interrupted. “Be careful where you are going. There are islands where there is no law, no government protection. There are pirates.”

  Cadee looked surprised. “You’re kidding. Pirates of the Caribbean?” She laughed. But Maria Elena didn’t laugh, and Cadee saw that her friend hadn’t caught the humor in it. “You know, Pirates of the Caribbean – like at Disneyland. It’s a joke.”

  “I am not telling a joke,” Maria Elena said, more serious than before. “I do not know about this place you call Disneyland, but there are very bad pirates out in some of those islands where you will be sailing. You must be careful. Do not stop at those islands.”