Whoever Kills The Innocent

by Lothar Birkner

  If they were really saved now, she wouldn’t know, of course. Suleiman looked suspiciously at her, as if he wanted to say: "I feel she lies."

  All three looked with anxious eyes on Suleiman. Sandy had told really everything she knew. But Suleiman had further questions:

  “You really don't know more? And who did free the two prisoners? And what kind of contacts did Saleh have to CIA?”

  ********

  Meanwhile, Martin/Saleh sat with Andrea and Bruno in the basement hideout.

  Martin’s imprecise explanations and hints didn’t satisfy the other two in any way, but made them only more curious.

  “You have to explain this to us a little more in detail, Martin!” Bruno said. When Martin made a dismissive hand gesture, Andrea was fed up with this. She yelled at him, “Your fucking explanations are by no means enough. We three stick together here in this fucking tight hole, so we should be frank and honest with each other. This is the only way we have a chance to come out here together.”

  "But it's a long story, I need to explain much, otherwise you won't understand me," Martin interjected.

  “Okay explain everything, but finally start,” Andrea growled at him.

  “Bruno knows, I formerly belonged to the so called Red Army Fraction RAF in Germany. I was there with full enthusiasm, in the fight against exploitation, hypocrisy, U.S. imperialism and oppression. During this time, I visited several times training camps of the Palestinians in the Middle East. Their struggle and our struggle were basically directed against the same enemy.

  “As the fight in Germany was lost for a long time and the RAF gave up, I went afterwards to various Arab countries. There I wanted to continue my revolutionary work. I met also Fatima, the great love of my life and we got married.”

  The other two noticed with surprise that his voice sounded completely different, much softer when he spoke of his wife.

  "It was a much too short period of time. But one thing I know. There's no other time in my life I ever was so happy. Only much too short. Fatima was captured by Israelis and she was there in prison. My path led me to the commanding level of Al-Qaeda and there I noticed the same that I had found so often, even among the freedom fighters of the Middle East. I found people who are very stupid and narrow-minded and hypocritical. The words of Heinrich Heine are appropriate about them:

  "I know the text; I know the author. They secretly drank wine and publicly preached water."

  Martin's face showed bitterness. He sighed and continued: “At last I made a serious decision. It was a deal. You can say a pact with the devil. But today, I think when it`s possible to save the lives of people you love, even a pact with the devil is required.”

  He felt Andreas and Bruno's eyes on him. Martin obviously had problems continuing to talk. He felt like a jerk when he told everything: "I knew that the CIA is badly looking for a chance to get Suleiman, dead or alive. But probably they prefer alive, because of the chance to get more information. I have contacted them and offered a deal. They get Suleiman, if they in return make sure that the Israelis set free Fatima. The deal is accomplished, Fatima is no longer in prison, and her release was reached on a special way, despite the currently tense situation. The influence of the CIA is just very far. She is waiting now to leave for a country of her choice.

  “She will be able to do so as soon as the Americans have caught Suleiman. I offered this bargain to CIA, when he decided to go to Europe leading personally the action in Tihange. No one knew when and in which way he came here. He had very well faked documents of course. At last he came to Europe. He's a doctor, that`s the profession he primarily studied. He knows Europe very well, and was during his studies even three years in Germany. But now he's in the trap. So, now you know everything. You can judge me if you like. What I did, I did it for love.”

  There was silence for some time.

  This new information was so surprising. Bruno was astonished. He was certainly no friend of these Islamists, and what they planned to do scared him very much. But the idea that Martin worked together with the archenemy, with the Intelligence of the United States, this idea was really new and almost shocking for him. On the other hand, he recognized that this deal showed a realistic way to rescue all of them. Bruno was silent.

  After a first surprise, Andrea began spontaneously to speak, full of enthusiasm:

  “It`s really great. I am sure now these stupid, criminal mullahs get the kick in the ass they deserve. I´m so glad about this. And you, Martin, are not the bad guy, as I thought. I tell you, it`s everything alright, what you did, I mean, above all your reasons are okay. If I really love, I wouldn`t ask about anything else. I would make sure that the girl I love would be free.”

  She patted Martin on the shoulder with these words. At the same time, she now thought of Sandy, who was still in the power of the Islamists.

  Martin himself felt a little bit uncomfortable, because he was not sure if this consent came from the right side, but it felt good to get understanding comments.

  But now, Andrea had a whole series of questions:

  “Why, damn it, does it take so long, till they move their asses? How do they actually know where we are and this Suleiman?

  “If they don`t act soon, it may be not very dangerous for us. And more than for us, every minute counts for our three girls who are caught by them. Probably the mullahs will want to kill them quickly, when will they realize that they have a bad card in this game.

  “I don't know of course, why it takes so long. Through my mobile phone that is switched on, we are tracked by the US forces. They know that I am in the vicinity of Suleiman, which is at the moment rather true. But a bit further, this might be no longer true. Sure, it is a problem that the three are in Suleiman's power.

  “Your successful search for Bruno made everything a bit more complicated. But I assume that the U.S. forces are working quickly and professionally, so that everything is already done, when Suleiman and his assistants notice that something is happening. But a certain residual risk will always remain. I´m not sure if Suleiman will instantly kill them, perhaps he could also try to use them as hostages.”

  “You are talking about these things, almost like a professional government spokesman,” Bruno said. He was absolutely not reassured by Martin`s words.

  The three seemed to be safe in their basement hiding place. But waiting and the uncertainty tugged at their nerves. Everyone had as his own ideas in his head. Martin's thoughts went to the Middle East, to his wife, Fatima and he wished so badly to find a safe haven anywhere for them both.

  Bruno hoped he and Bian would be ultimately saved and come out of this unharmed. They would be able to lead a peaceful life after.

  And Andrea wondered if after this adventure was over she would come closer to Sandy, if she perhaps has the same feelings as herself? In this case a completely different adventure for both could start, she thought.

  But at the moment every one of them was still in a very dangerous situation.

  *******

  Thomas Gerster waited and waited. Even though it was only minutes, the time seemed to him agonizingly long. Even the old lady, who tried to care for him and comfort him, was annoying. She touchingly cared for him. Immediately she made him a cup of coffee, gave him a glass of water. Yes, he was really thirsty. But now she asked repeatedly if he wanted something to eat. She wanted to prepare something for him. But he totally rejected this. Even if he were hungry, in these moments, he was far too excited.

  Finally, he saw a police car arriving. Gerster jumped out of the House, ran to the car, and began immediately talking to the officers. But at first, they wanted to get details about him and the situation. He was asked for identity card or any legitimation. But he had nothing. The terrorists took it all off.

  Then the Belgian police wanted to know his name, address and date of birth. They gave this information via radio to their headquarters, so that the data could be verified by German colleagues.

  “Fucking idiot
s,” Gerster thought. “They could have done that already after my first call. So, again, precious time has been wasted.” But officers asked him to stay as calm as possible. And he tries to, because he knew he otherwise might be classified by them as a psychopath telling crazy stuff.

  Gerster tried to understand the situation of the Belgian police. A foreigner appeared in the middle of the night in lonely area without any legitimation or visible injuries and told adventurous-sounding stories about terrorists who had kidnapped him and were planning an attack on a nuclear power plant.

  Indeed, a problem, said Gerster to himself. If I crazily jump around, I could be taken to psychiatry very fast.

  Therefore, as hard as the situation was, he tried to explain everything to the police officer calmly and objectively, but with the necessary emphasis. And he felt he was successful. Looking at the faces of the police officers, he was sure they had taken him seriously. One of them went back to the car and spoke with the head office. The whole matter took about two minutes.

  Gerster, whose nerves were totally tense, felt it took an eternity. The policeman who had spoken in the car with the head office, came back, addressed Gerster and tried to calm him down.

  "We know that you have made bad experiences and are now going through terrible stress. The headquarters checked everything and we take your report very seriously. We will bring you now to the police in Liège. There a crisis center has been established. The leadership of this crisis center will be glad having your knowledge and your information available. At the same time, anti-terrorist units are kept ready. They are now close to Tihange in alarm level. Everything that is necessary has been done.”

  “But,” Gerster interjected, “the nuclear power station must be shut down immediately. If it`s hit by the rockets for the first time it will be too late, then a meltdown will be unavoidable and most likely catastrophic things will happen. Furthermore, there are three people in the power of the terrorists on this farm, I told you. You must free them at once. Do you know where the farm is located?”

  “Yes,” said the police officer, “we have located it. There is a farm here in the area that has been sold by its owner to an agricultural company. The associated buildings are empty because up to now there was no decision what to do with them. The terrorists have obviously chosen these farm buildings as hideout.

  “The problem is that currently there are two focuses for action, the nuclear power plant, and this terrorist hideout with the prisoners. We even don`t know if the Islamists are at the moment still there. And the anti-terror forces we could mobilize within this short time should not be divided. The higher priority is without a doubt on the protection of the nuclear power plant. Of course, there will be an action to free the hostages. The details will be decided by the command center. Come with us, we will take you immediately there.”

  Thomas Gerster went to the police car.

  Yes, they had to set priorities, he thought. But at the same time, he was very worried about the three prisoners.

  “What time is it?” he asked.

  “It is 4:02 in the morning.”

  *******

  Suleiman looked at his watch. It was 4:05.

  He had decided to start after ten minutes. The attack on the nuclear power plant in Tihange would begin at 5:00. He wouldn’t let himself have more time, otherwise the whole operation could be at risk because of the probable betrayal. Consequently, the interrogation of these women must be finished soon. He announced a statement that all fighters should be in ten minutes in the yard, the weapons and everything they had, must be brought by that time in the vehicles. Now he wanted the matter of the infidel women to be done.

  While the others were busy executing these instructions, Suleiman remained with two henchmen in the room together with the captured women. He looked at Sandy, looked at his watch and then reminded them of his last two questions:

  “Again, you are US agent, what information the CIA did get from Saleh and since when is he working for you? And who has freed the prisoners, was it Saleh or are there more CIA people sneaking around here in this area? You have two minutes! If you don`t give me until then credible answers, your friend will die here and now.”

  Sandy was shocked.

  Now it was a matter of life and death.

  The problem was now, she didn’t know anything at all of the answers to these questions. But he surely would not believe her. She had to come up with something in seconds that would sound believable to him, or Yvonne would die. At this moment Saleh was not there and the terrorists thought apparently, that he was working with the US. Sandy knew nothing of it. But she would say something that hopefully sounded credible to him. Perhaps she could save Yvonne`s, Bian`s and her life this way. And she began to speak.

  “Yes, Saleh is an undercover US agent. He reported to us everything, and he has also freed the prisoners.”

  Suleiman pressed his lips together. He really wanted to scream with rage, but he forced himself to speak with a quiet voice:

  "Then you will be now smart enough too, to tell us where he is with the prisoners.”

  Sandy was forced to say:

  "As far as I know, he is on the run together with them. He wants to walk on the road as far as possible from here and he will call at the same time help by mobile phone, which must arrive here soon.”

  Sandy thought while she spoke: I hope he believes all this and hopefully my story saves at least our lives. She looked unsure to Suleiman. He looked with an anger distorted face only at Sandy, then at the other two women. He wanted to act quickly now.

  But he took a minute to finally decide.

  *******

  Andrea, Bruno, and Martin looked on their watches. They were impatient. The time now was 4:08 a.m.

  “Fuck!” Andrea said to Martin.

  “If I did understand you correctly, then your Americans knows where we are and how highly dangerous the situation is. Where are these asses?”

  Martin felt uncomfortably when she spoke of his Americans. Authorities of the U.S.A had always been for him up to now the embodiment of the class enemy, the expression of evil, and now they were his Americans. And finally, was it even true? In his realistic estimation, only they could help now. Everything was at risk. He said only:

  "I would like to know, too, why it is taking so long. An intervention is now overdue for long time.”

  His thoughts wandered somewhere to an American military base, that was, of course, only imaginary for him. And he hoped a task force was starting now.

  His thoughts and feelings went to the place in Israel where he imagined his wife to be. Of course, he didn`t know exactly where Fatima was. But finally, she was outside prison, waiting to leave to a country of her choice.

  Martin closed his eyes, muttering softly:

  “Fatima, I love you. We will be together again soon. This time forever.”

  Andrea rudely brought him back to reality:

  “What if this crazy Mullah will just kill our friends before they come?”

  Martin wasn`t able to give a reasonable answer. He only muttered:

  “That won't happen.”

  "That will not happen is not enough," Andrea fretted.

  "This is too dangerous, I think. We can`t wait any longer. And what do you scribble there on this piece of paper?”

  “We have no other choice but to wait,” Martin quietly remarked.

  At the same time, he put the piece of paper, on which he had written something, in an envelope.

  "This is something very private," he answered with a sad face.

  "I hate your fucking wait out and prudence!” Andrea yelled at him.

  “You probably think it is smart to hide and later you're fine out and have happy days somewhere and go on vacation with your bitch. And you give a fuck what will happen to Sandy and the others.”

  Now, Martin was outraged:

  “First of all, keep your voice down!” he said with a sharp voice.

  "Otherwise you’ll risk,
them finding us right now. And secondly, since you obviously have no idea what`s going on, you`d better clam up. I have been in many dangerous situations, more than you are able to imagine. Courageous and totally careless reckless behavior are quite different. You must learn to distinguish between both.”

  “Shut up, smartass! Your problem is not to have decided on which side you actually are, the side of freedom and justice, or on the side of this ultra-conservative and dangerous mullahs," was Andrea`s venomous answer.

  “Holy simplicity!”

  Martin was totally annoyed.

  "The world is not so easy in our times. Even as a young lad I hadn`t such a primitive black-and-white thinking like you, girl.”

  “No black and white? But I heard you were one of these left-wing terrorists, and there was no black and white thinking?”

  Bruno's head flew back and forth during this hot debate between Andrea and Martin. Finally, he believed it necessary to intervene:

  “Guys, heated debates about fundamental issues can be very interesting, but at the moment we have no time for such stuff, don`t you think? We need to help our friends. The question is outstanding, how dangerous the situation is for the three women prisoners. For me, I can say, my fear for Bian is enormously tormenting. Well, you know the environment and conditions here best, Martin. Don`t you have an idea how to explore their situation at this very moment?”

  Martin didn’t like the development of the conversation.

  “Everything is far too dangerous!” he said. “The best in any case is to stay here in this hideout.”

  Finally, he admitted there was an unused additional room, right next to the large room in which Suleiman was with the prisoners now. From there it was possible to hear least what was happening in the main room.