Ashes of the Red Heifer

by Shannon Baker

  “No!” Annie shouted.

  It did no good. Old Guy took aim and the automatic weapon shredded the computer like a Vego-matic with spuds. He turned and went back into the bus.

  The leader raised his eyebrows in a nonchalant manner and strolled down the line, away from Annie and Hassan.

  Annie reasoned with herself. There were backups on the bus. She had one in her bag and Hassan probably had a dozen. The data wasn’t lost for good. What could rational thinking do for her in the face of guns and men in mask? How could she be calm when any minute they could be treated with the same respect as Hassan’s computer?

  The leader spoke in a conversational tone. “The murdering agents of Islam have infiltrated your ranks and caused this destruction. It is from their information that this attack was planned. This deadly attack that killed our dear friend, Avrel.”

  Several women wept. Children clung to their parents.

  Hassan pulled the sweatshirt away and daubed at his nose. He saw he was still bleeding and pressed a clean portion of sleeve to his nose, tipping his head back and allowing the shirt to cover his face.

  David reached for her hand and held it firmly. What protection holding her hand gave she couldn’t say, but it helped calm her.

  Annie didn’t know what this was about but she knew that good people or not, the passengers would willingly give Hassan up to defend their own families. She eyed the other guards. Old Guy was inside the bus. Blue Eyes and Long Hair looked in her direction. They knew who they were looking for. Why the pretense?

  Annie studied the leader sauntering down the line. She saw the person directly in front of him and her stomach lurched. Natan glared at her and Hassan. His eyes narrow, his mouth turned up in an evil smirk. He didn’t take his eyes off them as the leader approached.

  “This land is the land of our Fathers. We must cleanse it of every evil influence, much as we must cleanse ourselves for worship on the Temple Mount.” The last word drained away as he stood in front of the cook and followed the line of Natan’s vision.

  He smiled, turned to the cook and touched him on the shoulder. “May the Lord of our Fathers watch over you and your family.”

  The leader swiveled slowly on his heel and meandered down to stand in front of Hassan and Annie. Hassan lowered his head and peeked around the bulky fabric of the jacket.

  If the leader didn’t up and shoot her she was sure to die from her heart bursting in terror.

  He smiled at them and turned his attention to Annie. “I have to question the company you keep, Dr. Grant.”

  How did he know her? What was going on? “At least the company I keep doesn’t hijack buses and hold people at gun point.” The steadiness of her voice impressed her.

  He raised his eyebrows. “Are you so sure of that?”

  Blue Eyes and Long Hair left their posts and came to flank the leader. Old Guy stepped from the bus, the dark blue cooler containing the tissue and blood samples clutched in his hand.

  Using her most disgusted voice she said, “What do you want?”

  The leader smiled again. “Justice.” He nodded and the two guards grabbed Hassan by each arm. Hassan dropped the sweatshirt, revealing a blood-smeared face.

  Before she could react, the leader raised the butt of his gun and smashed it into Hassan’s gut. Annie screamed and lurched for the leader. He met her with the butt of his gun, slamming it into her hip and knocking her backward.

  Hassan’s head hung to his chest. He wasn’t even trying to defend himself. The leader bashed him in the belly again. Air left Hassan in a huff and his legs buckled. He started wheezing.

  Annie was back on her feet lunging for the leader. Before she could get to him, someone shoved her out of the way. She pulled her head up to see David attack the leader.

  The two guards dropped Hassan to the sand and turned on David. Long Hair grabbed the back of David’s shirt and swung him around into the fist of Blue Eyes. The leader stepped back as if trying to avoid soiling himself with the conflict.

  Annie barreled into Long Hair, who held David, butting the guard in the kidneys with her head. He grunted and turned toward her bringing up his knee and smashing into her chin.

  Her teeth closed on her tongue and coppery blood filled her mouth. Long Hair yanked her upright with her braid and planted his fist just below her right eye. Pain exploded with the fireworks in back of her eyes. Blinded momentarily, she still attacked, fists flailing in an effort to do some damage.

  Long Hair grabbed her shoulders and swept a foot across her calves, tripping her in a simple schoolyard move. She went down on her stomach and he dropped onto her back, knocking the air from her lungs. She kicked but was trapped.

  David wasn’t fairing much better. He’d managed to bloody Blue Eyes’ nose but he was down on his knees, his arms twisted behind his back.

  Hassan lay on the ground. Annie couldn’t tell if he was conscious or not.

  The rest of the passengers stood where they were. No one had tried to help. But then, Old Guy held them at gunpoint, the cooler of samples discarded in the sand.

  The leader gently set his gun on the ground and stepped forward. His smile, full of venom, revealed yellow teeth. “Enough of this fun. I would love to let my friends practice a few more of their moves but time grows short.”

  He turned his back on them, nodded at Old Guy and advanced on Hassan. “Leave him alone,” Annie shouted, fighting to throw Long Hair off her back.

  Boots thudded up the bus steps as Old Guy once again climbed aboard. Long Hair slapped the side of her head, making her ears ring and sending waves of fresh pain through her.

  Before she could recover she watched in horror as the leader pulled back his leg and swung it with full force into Hassan’s stomach. “No!” she screamed.

  Hassan rolled into the fetal position and wrapped his hands around his head. The leader kicked at Hassan’s head. He kept kicking, Hassan’s back, his head, his stomach, moving around the body.

  David struggled to get free but Blue Eyes shoved him face first into the sand and planted his gun on the back of David’s neck.

  As fiercely as Annie kicked, she couldn’t dislodge Long Hair. She would be forced to watch her oldest, dearest friend be beat to death.

  The leader grabbed a handful of Hassan’s curls and yanked his head back. “This is for Avrel.” He smashed a fist into Hassan’s swollen and bloodied face. He rolled a barely conscious Hassan onto his back and landed on his chest. He raised his fists and beat them into Hassan’s face and head. “We…will…not…allow… your…filth…to…pollute…our…land.”

  Hassan struggled for breath.

  Annie sobbed. “Stop it! Please. You’re killing him.”

  The leader paused and looked at Annie, the slow, malicious smile spreading across his face. “Exactly.”

  “He never hurt anyone! He’s innocent.”

  The leader’s smile vanished. He jumped off Hassan and strode toward Annie. “Innocent?” He pointed toward the bloodied heap on the desert floor. “You barely escaped his planned assassination. Avrel was not so lucky.”

  “Hassan had nothing to do with the bombing.” She didn’t know what to say but she had to keep this murderer away from Hassan. “Just because he’s Muslim doesn’t mean he’s evil.”

  “Of course it does,” the leader shouted. “Every Muslim is a sworn enemy of Israel.” He emphasized each word. “They Are All Evil.” He pointed again at Hassan.

  Hassan fought for breath.

  The leader’s face flashed with fury. “The Muslims don’t want you to find the cure for the cows. They know it will bring them closer to their destruction. They wanted you stopped. Killing Avrel was not a consideration for them.”

  Annie was stunned. What did this gun-toting Neanderthal know of their research? His words told her the bomb wasn’t a random attack on a kibbutz too far north. It hadn’t been an attack on the Jews at all. It had been an attempt to stop the BA 23 research.

  Annie’s blood ran cold
. Why would they want to stop the research?

  A car engine roared, and the terrorists jerked their heads toward the road. Evening had turned to night without Annie realizing it. She squinted down the road, looking for headlights.

  Long Hair spoke in rapid Hebrew. Old Guy jumped from the bus, fear on his face. The leader quickly retrieved his gun from the ground.

  The guards spoke to each other, tension in their voices, their words fast and nervous.

  Annie strained her head to see David. They couldn’t lie here and let the terrorists destroy everything. She heard the click of the leader’s gun and knew Hassan had only seconds to live.

  David was looking toward her and their eyes met. As if they’d planned it, she and David attacked at the same time. Distracted by the approaching vehicle, Long Hair lost his balance when she bucked. He pitched forward and she scrambled away. She hoped David was as lucky.

  She was on her feet just as the startled leader turned away from Hassan, gun drawing up from its aim. With all her strength, she kicked a pointy-toed cowboy boot into Long Hair’s gut, trying to reach the gun he’d dropped when she’d bucked him off.

  A rattled of gunfire broke open the night and the dirt exploded next to Annie. She hit the ground and rolled.

  The leader shouted angry orders at Old Guy, who had fired.

  David had Blue Eyes’ gun and was pointing it at the leader. The two men stared at each other. The world stopped moving and the only sound was the rumble of the engine approaching.

  And Hassan’s terrible wheezing.

  Finally, Long Hair, huddled on the ground, made some sort of plea. The leader turned his head toward Hassan as if considering his options.

  David spoke low in Hebrew, his voice a growl. He shifted his aim slightly.

  The vehicle sped around the last bend in the road, red lights flaring against the hills. The leader dropped his gun and spun, taking off on a dead run toward the far hills.

  “Get him!” Annie shouted, but no one moved.

  The other guards took off in different directions. Annie wanted to give chase. She wanted to tackle the leader, pummel his face as he’d done to Hassan. But she needed to help Hassan even more.

  She ran to him and knelt in the sand. “Hassan?”

  David joined her. “Is he alive?”

  She nodded, tears running down her face. She pulled the inhaler from her pocket. “Hassan? It’s okay. We’re going to take care of you. Hang on.”

  She looked up and saw the red lights flashing off the rocks in the valley diffused by light from the burning bus. The people were in clusters, most talking excitedly. When she looked down at Hassan she saw a line of blood dribble from the corner of his mouth. “Get an ambulance!”

  FIVE

  Annie perched on the hard hospital chair and leaned onto the bed, her hand clutching Hassan’s. The ambulance had brought him to this Jerusalem hospital and had him patched up and in his room before Annie and David could get there. He’d been sleeping for several hours while Annie waited for him to awaken. Her only concession to fatigue was removing her boots.

  One tear dribbled onto Hassan’s hand. Why couldn’t she ever protect those she loved?

  David leaned his head back and stretched his neck. He looked stiff sitting in the vinyl chair with the faux wood armrests. “Annie, you need to relax.”

  Wiping her face, she stood next to the bed and looked down on Hassan. “He looks so bad. How can there be such a small amount of real damage? I want to look at those x-rays again. I think there must be something besides a few broken ribs and busted nose.”

  David stood up and walked to her. She felt the heat of his body next to hers and had the strongest urge to put her head on his chest. What would it feel like to have his arms around her, holding her for just a moment or two? She pulled her shoulders back. Taking care of herself and getting things done was what she did; she didn’t need anyone else.

  “He’ll have a hell of a headache when he wakes up. But we both saw the x-rays. He’s going to be okay,” David said.

  He sounded so convincing. But Annie remembered the hard kicks to Hassan’s belly, the fists smashed into his face. She turned to David. “He took such a beating.”

  “The sun’s starting to rise. Why don’t we find a hotel and get some rest.”

  David’s whisper sent blood rushing through her ears. He was so damned good looking and his voice carried a bushel-full of caring. She seemed incapable of moving and could only stare into his blue eyes. She swallowed, blood rushing through her ears and blocking out sound. She could almost feel his lips on hers. “David, I…”

  His hand came up to her face and he gently ran his thumb down her jaw, his eyes never leaving hers. He bent closer.

  “Uh.” Hassan’s voice cracked with a quiet moan.

  Annie spun toward him. “Hassan?”

  Hassan’s eyes focused on her, deep brown amid the swollen and purpled flesh of his face. “Annie. You okay?”

  She reached for his hand. “I’m always okay. Got a shiner but I’ve had those before.” More than she’d admit to anyone.

  He nodded and closed his eyes, sending his tongue out to inspect his split lips.

  “You’ve got three broken ribs and your nose will have another hump but all your innards are intact. If I’d known you were this tough I’d have had you working on bulls, not measly old cows.”

  He opened his eyes. “Not tough. Just lucky.” His gaze shifted to David and locked on him.

  “Hey buddy,” David said. “That was one hell of beating you took.”

  Hassan nodded, wincing in pain. “Yeah.”

  There seemed to be something unsaid between the two and Annie was afraid if given enough time they’d launch into the religious folderol again. “David, will you go get coffee?”

  He hesitated, looked from Annie to Hassan and said, “Sure.”

  As he was leaving the room Annie called to him, “Black.”

  “With you it’s always black or white,” David said.

  “Very funny.” She eyed Hassan. “Jeeze, you look like shit.”

  His voice croaked. “Yes? Well, I like your black eye.”

  She grinned, “It is a nice one.”

  He swallowed painfully. “They destroyed the computer?”

  She nodded, hating to remember the attack. “And the backups are gone.” She reached to the floor and pulled up the blue case containing the blood and tissue samples. “But we have these.”

  His eyes lit up. “Thanks to Allah, all Merciful.”

  She tried not to cringe at his invocation. As always, it made her nervous he’d fall into the same brand of fanaticism that had wreaked such havoc in her life.

  Hassan gave her a thumbs-up then his eyes clouded with worry. “Annie, you have to get away from David.”

  “What?”

  Hassan closed his eyes as if waiting for a wave of pain to flow through him. “He’s dangerous.”

  Even if Hassan didn’t like David, this was over the top for him. “David didn’t cause this. If you didn’t notice, he has a few bruises, too. Bruises he got trying to save you.”

  “The Silim didn’t bomb the kibbutz.”

  “Then why would they say they did?”

  “They didn’t,” he repeated. “It’s the people with David that blamed the Silim. You have to get away.”

  Annie held up her hand. She leaned over and put her palm on Hassan’s forehead and tried to use her most tender voice, one she didn’t bring out often. “Whether things work out with David and me or not, you and I will always be friends. Don’t make it harder with this jealousy thing.”

  He let out an exhale. His voice grew deeper and more sure. “You know I’ve loved you for years. But I never expected you to love me, not that way.”

  She felt tears in the back of her throat. “Hassan…”

  He frowned. “It’s not jealousy that makes me say this. You need to get away from David.”

  She struggled to find something to say. Anger
popped up in one side of her brain. Why couldn’t he be supportive of a new relationship if it made her happy? But the anger wasn’t strong enough to overcome the sadness she felt for hurting him. Whatever he might say, she was sure Hassan resented David because Annie was falling for him.

  Hassan swallowed and his eyes held a plea. “You have to get me out of here.”

  She looked at him. “Now I know you’re out of your mind.”

  “Listen to me. They will kill me.”

  “Who will?”

  He shrugged, barely moving. “I’m not sure who. But they are after me.”

  He’d been kicked in the head. That must account for this paranoia. She tried to calm him. “I think maybe the kibbutz was bombed to stop the research and I have no idea why. But I can’t believe anyone is out to harm you or me personally.”

  “Annie, trust me.” Even with his voice as weak as it was, he sounded scared.

  His fear was so real she had to reassure him. “It doesn’t matter anyway.”

  He looked at her with a question in his eyes. She took a deep breath. She’d made this decision but it felt akin to giving up a beloved child for adoption. The key was not letting Hassan know the depth of the pain. “I thought curing BA 23 was the most important thing in my life. If you’d asked me yesterday I’d have said I’d do anything to find the vaccine. But after the bomb that nearly killed us, and seeing them come after you, I know that no vaccine is worth your life. So I’m going to give our research to another team.”

  Tears sprang to Hassan’s eyes. “I can’t believe you’d do this. You’ve wanted it since you heard about BA 23.”

  Since before that, she thought. Since she was seventeen and all her dreams were stomped under the soles of size ten cowboy boots and a Bible.

  Hassan shook his head. “That won’t be enough. You don’t understand.”

  She put her hand on his forehead. “You rest now, okay? We can talk about this after you’ve slept for a while. Not until.”

  He closed his eyes, using all his waning strength in his voice. “This is important.”