“Oh, I’m sorry Petty Officer Peacenik,” Dan said with a smile. “Do you want to get out of this sand-trap, or not? There are hundreds of bodies, and a pile of rubble to deal with here.”
“And the rules of engagement are?”
“Same as always,” Dan replied. “Kick the crap out of them, your discretion; then build them back up, and help out with the gold.”
“Command wouldn’t be doing this if this town wasn’t some kind of trouble spot,” Peace countered.
“I’m not holding anything back, Peace. You’re probably right, but I’ve told you everything they told me. Command picked you to head this up, so some contacts you trust are probably in on this decision.”
Peace nodded in agreement. “This much gold can get Tony and I killed.”
“So don’t wear it around your neck,” Dan retorted. “You can call if you need help, but they’d like you to figure out some way to get this done with a minimum of boots on the ground.”
“Is the gold Iranian?”
“You think we’d have you throwing around American Gold Eagles?” Dan laughed. “If you don’t want to do this, Peace, just leave after we’re gone. I’ll understand. This situation sucks. We’ll come up with a story to cover our butts later.”
“I’ll do it, but maybe Tony should go back with you.”
“Ask him.”
“I’ll just say goodbye to Bull and Ibrim, and then see how Tony feels about it,” Peace agreed.
Tony had just jumped down from where he had said his farewells. “Sammy and I will gather up the horses, and come back here. I unloaded a bunch more ammo and grenades in case we decide to take on any more armies.”
“Good thinking,” Peace smiled. “They want us to stick around here and play Santa Claus for the locals, Tony. It could get dangerous.”
“You mean more dangerous than ambushing three hundred men with a boy, two cripples, and a scarred up whacko?”
“Well,” Peace laughed, “When you put it that way…”
“I’m in. What do we play Santa with?”
“Iranian gold.”
“Do we get to keep whatever we don’t use?” Tony asked with a grin, as the pilot of the helicopter warned them he needed to lift off some time in the next decade.
“Oh, you bet, Tone,” Peace answered, pushing Tony affectionately. “I’ll be right with you.”
Peace climbed up, and gripped Bull’s proffered hand, as Doc gave the big Seal a shot of morphine. “You’ll look in on Jill and little Cole, right?”
“Of course,” Bull said disgustedly. “I’ll have to keep the runt away from my sweet little girl.”
Peace, Doc, and Ibrim laughed in appreciation as Peace shook hands with both men before jumping down.
“Hey, Wolvy,” Bull called out.
Peace turned back questioningly.
“Thanks. For a moment back at the tank column, I never thought I’d get to see Holly again.”
Peace snapped to, saluting stiffly. “My pleasure, Cap. We’re even.”
“Not hardly,” Bull called out at the retreating Peace.
Dan clapped Peace on the shoulder. “Nice work by the way, partner. Tehran fell to the resistance a few hours ago. By the time you guys put smiles on these townsfolk’s faces, they’ll have the provisional government in place.”
“Maybe we’ll get out of here soon after all, big guy,” Peace replied.
“You take care on this cluster fuck, brother,” Dan cautioned. “Keep the Chinese infidel under wraps until we meet up again too.”
“Will do,” Peace laughed, saluting his longtime friend.
Lieutenant Commander Righter returned it crisply, and seconds later, the helicopter lifted off. Dan threw a bundle out onto the ground, and waved once more. Peace saw the bundle was a body bag, and waved his thanks as the helicopter pulled away.
Peace waited for Tony and Samud to return with the horses, standing guard over the provisions Tony had unloaded, and the Iranian gold. He used the time to take DNA samples from Khatami’s body, sealing them in the kits Dan had left with the gold. Peace sealed Khatami’s body into the bag Dan had left him, and then stripped out of the dead militia-man’s robes, the cooling air a welcome relief on his skin. He stuffed the militiaman’s clothing into the body bag with Khatami. His MAC 10, and night vision goggles in place, Peace settled down near the supplies in his tee shirt and pants. Tony and Samud rode back to the square at a gallop.
Tony gestured at the body bag as he handed over the clothes Peace had on before disguising himself to get Khatami. “What do we do with Smelly Cat?”
“I already took samples. We’ll just drag him out somewhere away from the town, and bury him. You and I can take care of that. We’ll drop Sammy off at his friend’s house. Have you seen anyone duck their heads out to take a look, Tone?”
“Nope, and if I had heard what we laid on Smelly Cat and his Militia, I wouldn’t be in any hurry to look around either.”
“Is it too dangerous for us to remain here, Peace?” Samud asked in Pashto.
“Our Command wants us to stay here, and help the people out, make new friends, and get the bodies buried,” Peace explained. “It will be dangerous work, and I have a plan in mind where you could play a big part in it. Tehran fell hours ago, Sammy. You could take the beautiful Zehra, and head back to your hometown. We’ll work something out with your friend. If you want to stay, it will mean putting yourself and your friends in danger.”
“By the grace of Allah, I have been guided to your side, and to my beloved. My country will soon be free again. No matter what happens now, I have lived a lifetime in your service, my friend,” Samud said with passion. “I will do all you will allow me to do.”
“I hoped you would feel that way,” Peace said, squeezing Samud’s shoulder. “Let’s get packed up. We will talk on the way to your friend’s house.”
The three men loaded the extra ammo, grenades, supplies, and gold onto the two horses, tying the bundles on securely, including the body bag. Then with weapons ready, and their night vision gear in place, they trekked towards Samud’s friend’s home, staying as near to the buildings as they dared. Although they detected some stirring within the dwellings they passed, no one ventured out of the houses for curiosity’s sake. Keeping his voice low, Peace explained his plan to Tony first in English, telling Samud he would go over it again with him in Pashto.
“We’ll make Samud here into a Warlord,” Peace said. “He represents a coalition of the victorious resistance. With Sammy as the leader, and us as his bodyguards, he’ll direct the rebuilding process, and the installation of his friend, Mohammed, as the town leader. With the gold as the carrot, and us as the stick, we’ll get the bodies buried, get the rubble of the Mosque cleared, and lay the foundation of a new one on the grounds of the old. The townspeople will have one of their own in a position of power, and a fellow countryman in an authoritarian role.”
Tony was silent, as Peace repeated his plan to Samud in Pashto.
“What do you think, Tone?” Peace asked after he finished retelling his idea to a disbelieving Samud.
“It’s damn good, Peace,” Tony said with emphasis. “If we don’t get picked off, or car bombed, we may get out of the Santa outfits in short order. It will be a tough roll for Sammy here to pull off, and he’s the key to success.”
“I agree,” Peace replied. “Well, what do you think, Sammy? Can you be convincing in the role of a Warlord?”
“I can do it,” Samud said, nodding confidently.
“You will not be able to lose concentration, even for a moment, as you did with Khatami. One meek little look like that, and we’ll be blasting our way out of here.”
“I am very ashamed,” Samud said, looking down at his feet as he walked. “The Cleric caught me by surprise. I will not allow such a thing to happen again. For me to do this, you and Tony will have to kill on my command. You are right, my friend. If we hesitate, all will be lost.”
Tony understood enough to
reach over and pat Samud on the back. “Don’t you worry about me and Peace, Sammy. You play the part. Peace and I will supply the fear of Allah.”
“Yes,” Samud agreed. “You and Peace will… ah… have my back.”
“You got it, buddy.”
“If Tony or I detect something not right, we will act immediately,” Peace instructed in Pashto. “Just play out the part just as if you had ordered us to do it. Meaning if I hear someone disrespect you, I will kill them on the spot. We cannot allow anyone to question your authority, so be convincing when you speak; because no matter what you say, Tony and me better see respect, or some of these folks will be leaving us.”
“I understand,” Samud nodded. “It must be so if we are to do this. These townspeople will not respect anything else. My friend’s dwelling is just around this corner. Will you and Tony be able to find it again in the dark? I could meet you on the outskirts of the town as before.”
“We’ll find it,” Peace assured him, as he and Tony looked around to get the coordinates. “What about our horses?”
“When you get back from ridding yourselves of… ah… Smelley Cat, I will take the horses someplace safe until morning. There is an abandoned site near here I can feed and water them. We will collect them early, before anyone decides to confiscate them.”
“Want us to come in for a moment, or just drop you here at the door?” Peace asked as Samud stopped in front of a stone two-story house, three houses down from the corner.
“Ah… I would prefer to… ah… how do you say… set the table for your appearance,” Samud explained, much to Peace and Tony’s amusement.
“In that case,” Peace agreed, “we will return in about an hour.”
As the two men mounted and rode towards the outskirts of town, Peace looked back to see a veiled figure open the door for Samud.
“Maybe we should walk these nags,” Tony suggested. “They’ve had a rough day, and we’re treating them like a combination pack mule and camel.”
“They’ll have all night to rest. Besides we fed and watered them twice since the tank battle,” Peace replied, slowing to a trot, “but I guess it won’t hurt to slow the pace. I just want to get Smelley in the ground as quick as we can.”
Tony nodded. “Hey, you want me to backtrack, and see if we drew any unwanted attention?”
“Nope,” Peace answered firmly. “We know where Samud is, and we’re not packing wounded. Anybody looking to follow us is going to get an M60 serenade. Once we locate the happy hunting ground for Smelly, we’ll set up a perimeter, and check our trail.”
“That’s a hell of a plan you came up with on the fly,” Tony said admiringly.
“I didn’t want to hurt Sammy’s feelings, but I’m getting awful tired of Iran. The sooner we wrap this up the better. I don’t think we need to stick around with hammers and nails like we’re Jimmy Carter and the Habitat For Humanity; but we can see to some supply deliveries.”
Tony laughed at Peace’s reference to ex-President Carter’s pet project. “Yea, that would be a little too touchy-feely for me. Not to mention it would be hard to watch our backs, and pound nails at the same time. Besides, how much do you know about construction anyway?”
“Good point. That’s what we have gold for. I do know something about a lot of things. I live by Robert Heinlein’s quote: A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
“Not bad,” Tony replied. “Good thing you have something about changing a diaper in there.”
“Yea, but if we don’t get moving the heck out of here, Cole will be entering college before I see him.”
“We’ll do our best to get you home in time to change a few diapers,” Tony promised.
Peace and Tony rode on for nearly five miles before Tony pulled up, pointing.
“Hey, how’s that look over there?”
Peace adjusted his night vision goggles, and saw the outline of a small rough outcropping. He nodded at Tony. “That’ll do.”
After securing the area, and their back trail, the Seals began working at their task. With both men digging into the rough ground, they were able to get a hole dug in short order. After throwing Khatami’s body into the makeshift grave, the Seals filled the hole, and covered the ground with large rocks until the spot looked just like any other. Giving the horses a break, Peace and Tony walked them for a time, towards the town. When an hour had nearly passed, the Seals mounted, and rode the rest of the way to Samud’s friend’s house. As they approached on horseback, Samud walked out of the shadows with a white robed woman, her face veiled.
Chapter Fifty-One
Power Vacuum
Peace and Tony dismounted, unloading their gear with Samud’s help.
“I became worried,” Samud confessed.
“It looks like you had other concerns,” Tony joked, as they walked over to where Zehra waited quietly.
The young woman bowed slightly in the darkness. “Samud told us much about the great warriors he traveled with. I am honored to meet you.”
“Actually,” Peace replied in Pashto, “Samud here is one of the bravest men I have ever met. May I have your permission to speak with your brother? Although Samud may have told you both of our plan to help rebuild your town’s Mosque, my friend Tony and I must speak of the details with all of you.”
“Of course,” Zehra answered. “My brother has been awaiting your return. Please, come in.
“I will tend to the horses and be back in no more than a half hour,” Samud said, taking the reins of the two horses, and shouldering his AK47. “Mohammed is fearful of retribution from the town’s general council, especially the leader, who he told me was a follower of Khatami.”
“No one may follow Khatami again, unless the destination is hell,” Peace commented, patting Samud’s shoulder. “I will talk with Zehra’s brother while you care for the horses, and see if I can ease his fears.”
Samud nodded with a smile, and turned away with the horses in tow. Zehra led the two men inside the small dwelling. The lights were low and the windows heavily curtained, so as to not show much if any of the light in the darkness of night. Rough stone walls, brightly colored throw rugs, and sparse utilitarian furniture, blended into a simple rustic picture of warmth, if not comfort. Zehra’s brother met them just inside the door. He wore casual pants and shirt. His dark beard was trimmed close to his face.
Mohammad looked down slightly at Peace from his trim height of what Peace thought to be about five feet ten inches tall. He shook hands with Peace and Tony with a strong clasping handshake.
Mohammad motioned the two men to put down their gear and join him in the living room. When they were seated, Zehra went to make tea. The two Seals had left most of their equipment by the wall near the entrance; but continued to carry their MAC10’s. They waited in silence while Zehra made the tea. Once she had served them, and stepped back, Peace sipped his tea.
“Samud has told me you fear the town’s council leader will oppose us,” Peace spoke finally. “Perhaps we may bargain with him now that Khatami is dead.”
Mohammad shook his head slowly in the negative. “I do not think so, Sir. Ahmed Rashad is not a pliable man. He has survived the war in Afghanistan, and came back unharmed from fighting the Americans later in Iraq.”
“Gold is a great persuader,” Peace said. “Where may I find this Ahmed Rashad?”
“He was with the Cleric, Khatami, at the Mosque,” Mohammad answered.
“What did he look like?” Peace asked. “Perhaps I saw him in the Mosque tonight. In which case, he will not hamper our rebuilding efforts at all, other than the time needed to remove the pieces of him which are left on the site.”
�
�His death has been rumored falsely so many times, I do not dare hope he was trapped with the others. Ahmed Rashad is a formidable looking man with a scarred forehead. His…”
“I believe I know where that man is,” Peace smiled, and looked over at Tony. “You following this, Tone?”
“Most of it. You saw this Rashad in the Mosque?”
“I put a bullet right between his horns when he jumped between me and Khatami.”
“Well,” Tony nodded agreeably, “it seems we have a power vacuum.”
“Yep, and I think we’ll have the suction pull our friend Mohammad right in,” Peace confirmed, as Samud called out from the street, and Tony went to let him in, weapon at the ready.
When Peace saw Tony give him an all clear, he returned his attention to Mohammad. “Would you be willing to become the leader of the council, backed by Samud?”
“My very good friend, Samud, is a wonderful friend. We are like brothers,” Mohammad replied, after his initial surprise at Peace’s offer, “but the council will not be impressed with his backing.”
“You let my friend and I worry about that part,” Peace smiled, indicating Tony. “We have gold to back you, and we will supply the intimidation factor I have noticed must be present at all times in the Middle East.”
“No longer in Afghanistan or Iraq,” Mohammad broke in. “We hope to achieve what they have, and now that the regime is gone, perhaps we will one day have free elections here also.”
“Tehran has fallen,” Peace told him. “There will be no repercussions here if we dislodge this old thinking council.”
“That is truly blessed news,” Mohammad said happily, looking at an equally jovial Samud. “I would not be afraid to submit to an election, if my people here knew they could vote without retribution.”
“Let us put it to the test, after we shake up the council tomorrow,” Peace suggested. “If we can stabilize the situation in the town, perhaps we can even try to have a free election. Are you aware of the drawbacks of democratic elections? You do not always get what you want.”
“I have followed the fledgling processes in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Mohammad nodded knowingly. “The task is not to be taken lightly; but the alternative, of falling under the power of the Mullahs again, cannot be allowed to happen.”
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