The Lioness

by Mary Moriarty

  Omar looked over at his sister. “Don’t question me, Fatima.”

  Fatima had never been afraid of her brother. He had always lorded over her but in a nice way. Lately though he was different. Hamid was another story. He seemed to be involved with something other than what she already knew about. Maybe both of them will go, strap themselves with bombs… No, that was a bad thought, as much as she wanted Omar away, a suicide bomb would only kill others, innocent people.

  She came over to Omar, hands messy, and looked him square in the eye. “You don’t scare me. This is my house, and Abdul’s. If you and Hamid have a problem with our guest, get out. They stay.”

  Abdul came back into the cooking area. He could tell as soon as he stepped in there was a problem. Hamid pushed past him and Omar glared.

  “Abdul, I will be here tomorrow sometime midafternoon to get a big box out of the storage area that I need, make sure it’s all wrapped up and ready for shipping.” He gave his younger brother a look. Abdul started to protest, but he cut it off. “Don’t talk to me. Any man who lets his sister run the house doesn’t need to talk to me. Hamid is more of a man….” He pushed past his brother.

  Abdul looked at Fatima. “We have to move quickly.” he said after Omar and Hamid left.

  Chapter 24

  Rose and Samid were deep in a conversation when Omar came out. Samid looked at him and saw that he was leaving. “You won’t be staying? I was hoping we could talk, Rose told me.”

  “I haven’t time.” He opened the door and never glanced back as Abdul came quickly on his heels.

  “Omar.” Abdul followed his older brother out the door.

  Samid looked over at Rose and then they both looked at Noori, who jumped up and followed after Abdul.

  “I wonder what’s wrong with those two.”

  Rose could only guess. “From what I gather, the son gives his father a hard time and his uncle an even harder time. If you will excuse me I will go see if I can help Fatima. I think everything is about finished.”

  “Well if smell is an indication, we will be feasting tonight.”

  Rose smiled down at her loyal friend. “I will be back in a few minutes.”

  **********

  Noori found his cousin Abdul staring down the street. “What’s the matter?”

  Abdul jumped at his cousin’s voice. “Nothing, he is just bent out of shape. He isn’t happy about company.”

  “I am sure Fatima told him to leave if he wasn’t.” Noori studied his cousin. “Well, remember what I said, you have till tomorrow and nothing better happen to Ty.”

  Ty had listened to the conversation. He could hear Rose talking but he could tell her voice was sad. He could hardly believe his ears when Samid’s voice boomed over everyone’s. Their old friend had come to help.

  He could just hear the voices in the cooking area, which was across the courtyard. The air vents facing that way carried the voices just a bit, but not enough for him to hear clearly. Whatever was said there wasn’t pleasant. Something was going on and he knew it wasn’t good.

  His suspicions were confirmed when Abdul came in later, Fatima close behind. Fatima had a dish heaped with food. “Sit Ty, eat.”

  Ty didn’t have an appetite. He wanted to know what was going on.

  Abdul sat next to Ty. Talking more to himself than to anyone in particular he said, “I have to think, things are moving too fast with Omar.” Looking at Ty. “I told Rose that the captors said she could see you for a few minutes tomorrow in the morning. I will bring her at eight o’clock. You two can talk for five minutes but I must get her out quickly and back to the hotel. Then I have to move you.”

  “Why Abdul? Why can’t we just release him tomorrow, then we can go to Jordan…”

  “No, there must be a way, I just haven’t thought of it. Give me time.”

  Fatima stood up, exasperated. “You know and I know we don’t have time. If we wait much longer, Omar will get Ty, then he will be in real trouble. You know his chances are slim with those two and their new friends.” When Fatima saw her brother’s questioning look, she continued. “I overheard Hamid and someone on the phone. He said he had a big package and that’s just what they needed to.”

  Abdul jumped up. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Would it have made a difference?

  “Maybe, maybe not.” As he walked out his phone buzzed. Looking at the number he saw it as his brother.

  “Listen Abdul. I have decided to give you till day after tomorrow but it will be first thing in the morning. If no concrete decisions have been made by the third parties, if I don’t see anything more than talk, talk is for women, then I come get him and we handle it my way. I have to go down south for the day tomorrow.”

  “What about Hamid?”

  “Oh, he will be around. He has some things he said he wanted to take care of in anticipation that things don’t go your way.”

  “That’s comforting, Omar, but I will make calls.”

  Abdul heard the line go dead. He stood there for what seemed a very long time. He had to get things done and the more he thought of it the more he leaned one way.

  Chapter 25

  The next morning Ty woke early. He had a feeling one way or another, today was the day that would determine his fate. Would he see Rose or would he get taken by surprise and be brought somewhere else?

  He had to admit on a whole his experience wasn’t bad like some of the others who had been taken. The only uncertainty was Omar and his son who was a powder keg about to go off.

  Fatima had brought him breakfast but she had only stayed a few minutes. She said that Abdul had to go out and would be back later. The hardest part of all this was the sitting and waiting.

  He was about to get up when the door opened and the most beautiful site was before him. He ran to catch her as she still had her blindfold on. A man with a mask was behind her saying he would give them no more than 10 minutes. Then he left after closing the door.

  **********

  Rose could feel the hand of the nicer of the three captors guide her. She knew they were in another neighborhood. This was more residential from the sounds. Poor Noori had a fit when the captor came and said only Rose would be going today. Noori demanded to go and the captor said he still held all the cards and he would be calling the shots.

  She felt herself guided into the house or building. They stopped at a door. She heard the click of the lock and then she stood in front of a door. She knew Ty must be there. She heard a rustle, then felt arms engulfing her and felt herself being pulled into an embrace. Then the captor said they had ten minutes, no more, then he was gone.

  Rose felt Ty’s arms around her before her blindfold was taken off. She felt his fingers pull it off gently and then she was free.

  “Oh, Rose.” Ty was crying, unashamed tears falling, looking at the most precious person in the whole world. “Oh baby, it’s so good to see you, touch you.”

  Rose looked up into his face and touched it. “Are you okay? I mean as well as is to be expected?” God she wanted to talk and talk but she didn’t want to waste time.

  “What can we say in ten minutes? It can be a lot depending on how you look at it or a little,” Ty said as he dipped his face in towards Rose.

  Ty couldn’t talk. He was speechless. Here was his warrior. She was here because of him. “Honey you need to get out. They let me watch TV and I saw Samid here on behalf of the Afghan government. He will make sure I am released.”

  Rose looked into the eyes of the man she loved more than life itself. She would do anything. “No, don’t even say it honey, I am here till I have you free. So let’s not waste our time like that.” She stood on tiptoe and let her lips be captured by Ty’s. Grabbing hold of the front of his shirt, she figured she wouldn’t let go till the ten minutes were up.

  Chapter 26

  Samid sat at a large round table. The Ambassador, his assistant, and numerous other people who didn’t matter were here.

  “I a
m here as a representative for my country and acting as a third party to help negotiate the release of a Ty Madison, who is also a friend. Rose O’Malley is also a friend but in reality she and her father are part of my family. Both Rose and Ty are part of our extended family in our village. Do you know what Rose has done for our valley?”

  The Ambassador was a bit uncomfortable in the presence of this former warrior of the Northern Alliance. He had spent enough time in Afghanistan but never like Rose or her father. They had embedded with them. With that came certain privileges. “I have heard bits and pieces of her work in Afghanistan.”

  Samid stood up straight, proud. Bracing both hands on the table, remembering who he was. He was an Afghan and he was here for his country, but also for his family. Looking the Ambassador straight in the eye, “Do you know there is a saying from our part of the world that really sums it up? In Afghanistan we drink tea to do business, this is part of our culture.”

  The Ambassador nodded, “I know I—”

  Samid didn’t want to be interrupted. “Please, let me finish so you know the feelings of the President and the people of our region and how they feel for Rose, her father and Ty, who is the one who needs our help. As I was saying, The first cup of tea, you are a stranger, the second you become our friend, and the third you join our family and for our family we are prepared to do anything, even go so far as to die.”

  Samid leaned in so he was only inches from the Ambassador’s face. “You don’t seem to understand, Mr. Ambassador, what kind of problem you have on your hands here. Someone has Ty Madison. Our Little Sister, Rose, is here. Every minute she is in this city, she is at risk. She refuses to let me finish the deal. She is an Afghan at heart, fearless. It is probably because all the time our men spent with her family when she was a little girl, recovering from injuries. I never met her until she arrived to talk with our slain leader. She got there too late. She may have gotten killed had she been there. I have at my fingertips a whole valley of men who are willing to come to Baghdad and look for Ty. You say the US government will not negotiate but what have you done? I have checked, we have our sources. Are you afraid? We are not afraid and neither is Rose. She is just like our slain leader. He was called the Lion of Panjshir, she is the Lioness. She has an Afghan heart and for that and what she has done for our people we are prepared to go to war if you do not get Ty released right away. She has met with the captors, she has put herself in their hands. I personally,” he got even closer so he was almost nose to nose. “I will personally kill anyone who is involved directly or indirectly with the death of Ty or Rose. My wife said don’t come home till they are safe. You have as you would say, the bargaining chips that we have brought for you from our country. You can count on our country to continue to support the US government and the war on terror. Now let’s finish this and get those two out of here.”

  Chapter 27

  “Sir, I want to issue a formal complaint, the Palestine Hotel is the safe house for hundreds of foreign journalists. You can’t….”

  “Sergeant I have reports right here that the last couple days there has been activity on the rooftop of that hotel, signals being flashed. Also US intelligence has been intercepting satellite telephone conversations. Something is going on in that hotel and we have to stop it. Who the hell do these clowns think they are dealing with?”

  “But to attack? Do you know the firestorm that will bring from the press, the governments of the countries involved if any of the journalists get killed?”

  “Sergeant, I am well aware of that, and we will be taking all the precautions to avoid an accident like that. Now Sergeant Mitchell, go back to your post and let me handle this.”

  Sergeant Mitchell saluted his superior and turned and left. He needed to get Rose out of the hotel and have her go to a safe place, or even out of the country. He had been watching the news reports. The Afghan government had sent a delegation of men to help speed up the process for the release of Ty Madison. He didn’t really know Rose, but from the time he had seen the news reports and had then been the one chosen to meet her at the airport, he had felt very protective of her. She had only called once, but that was enough.

  He knew he had one hour of free time before returning to his post. He would make the most of that time. Coming out of the hut he ran into O’Dell. He and O’Dell had been together since the day they were deployed. Lance O’Dell was a tall Texan. Stood six foot six to his five foot eleven. He was serious and O’Dell was full of it. He always said Lance was full of shit. Lance always answered all the cow shit his father’s ranch had, but they were friends and covered each other’s backs. “Lance we are going to the Palestine Hotel?”

  “Lance looked at his friend. “ You want to go find a girlfriend, Mike?”

  Mike knew Lance was trying to lighten his mood. “No, Lance, we are going to rescue a lady from danger.”

  Lance narrowed his eyes, “Oh the O’Malley woman, Rose, is it? Well she’s taken.”

  Mike grabbed Lance’s arm. “Come on, we haven’t got any time to spare if what I think is going to happen does. We need to move quickly. Also make sure we have our kits with us. We may need them and people may get hurt in the crossfire.”

  Lance looked at his friend. “Don’t they always…” Sometimes he wondered how his friend had made Sergeant. He was always stating the obvious. Then he got a look at Mike’s face. “You know something, don’t you?”

  “Come on, we haven’t any time to talk now. I’ll explain while we are headed over there.”

  Getting into the Humvee they headed for The Palestine Hotel. “Lance, what I am about to tell you is between friends, you didn’t hear it if anyone asks.”

  Lance took the corner sharp, trying to avoid a dog in the road. “Sure Mike, anything you say. I didn’t hear a thing. Now what is it I didn’t hear?”

  “We’re attacking the Palestine Hotel, maybe within the hour, that’s why we need to get there and get Rose and as many of the journalists out of there as we can.”

  “Lance had heard of some stretchers, but this one took the cake. “Come on Mike, you know and I know that place is loaded with reporters. Hell, there must be hundreds of them in there. What in the world would we want to be attacking that hotel for?”

  “Because Intelligence says they are intercepting communications that someone is using it as a shield.”

  Lance came to a stop as old women scurried across the street. The Palestine Hotel loomed down the road. It was close but so far with a few check points to still get through. As they drove by the women, Mike noticed that the women gave them a hard glare. “Can you feel their hate?”

  “Yeah, all the time.”

  “So some cowards are using the hotel?”

  “That’s what they say. I don’t care, what I do care is that we get Rose and any others out before it’s too late. I don’t care if they court martial me after. I have to get her out of there.”

  As the Humvee pulled up along the barrier at the check point, Lance looked over at a cement truck that was parking up ahead. A man got out and went up to a white car. The driver of the truck talked then waved his arms. Lance, looking at Mike, saw him studying the situation. “Must be nice for that man to have a job like that.” seeing Mike’s look. “You know driving a truck. A bit more protection and he must be getting paid well. Good for his family.”

  Mike didn’t like it. Where was the construction in this area? The man walked back to his truck and as he watched it just sat there. The car didn’t move either.

  Shaking his head, Mike didn’t have time to worry about that. He had to get Rose out of here.

  As they passed through the checkpoint and barrier he thought about that driver. What was bugging him? He wasn’t a freaking detective, but something was wrong, he just couldn’t figure out what.

  “Now listen, Lance, I don’t know why but I don’t want you to sit here. You can park this thing and come in with me or go over there where there is more protection.”

  Lance look
ed around. He wasn’t the kind of guy who spooked easy, but the way Mike was acting he had been right more than once and it had saved them, so he didn’t ask questions. “I’ll go park this and be right in.”

  Opening the door, Mike looked over at his buddy. “Okay, we haven’t much time and I don’t want to start a stampede. We may be in luck and maybe there aren’t a lot of reporters here right now.” He knew that was wishful thinking. If the journalists weren’t embedded with troops then they were here, virtual prisoners. “Don’t take long.” He got out and watched as Lance drove to the designated spot.

  Chapter 28

  Rose, Noori and Daoud all sat in the back seat of the old Russian built car that belonged to someone connected with the captors. They were just pulling up to the barricade and the checkpoint. After being flagged in, they pulled up to the front.

  “Noori, I need to talk with you in private so if you can come up with me. Daoud, why don’t you go save us some seats in the restaurant and we will be right down.”

  Noori looked at his friend. She seemed like she was ill since leaving Ty. “Are you okay?”

  Rose nodded and as she grabbed her knapsack she felt dizzy. “Yeah, a bit dizzy but I will be fine after we get a bite to eat and some tea. What I wouldn’t do for your sister’s teapot soup. I miss her.”

  Noori knew what Rose wanted was everything to be like before. She didn’t care where she was, as long as it was with Ty and out of here. “I know. She would love to be clucking over you right now. I know she would have you eating and having tea. You haven’t been eating enough. If it weren’t for the few meals we have had at Abdul’s and Fatima’s house you wouldn’t have anything in your stomach.”

  Rose and Noori got out. The driver and Daoud got out at the same time. “Fatima reminds me of your sister.” She stood but felt like she was going to fall over. God, she felt dizzy. She slipped and would have hit the ground had it not been for the driver. He yelled to Daoud, who ran over and got Rose on her feet. Noori was at her side in an instant and then she heard a voice. Looking up, she saw Sergeant Mitchell come running to her, concern written on his face.