Terrorist: Three Book Boxed Set

by Phillip Strang

‘It’s to be the old team yet again,’ Yanny said.

  ‘Who else would you trust, Yanny?’

  ‘There’s nobody else.’

  ‘What have they been doing?’ Bob asked.

  ‘Harry’s in England,’ replied Steve, ‘but unless there are any more releases of the virus where he is, he’s probably not occupied, and Phil’s sitting it out in Tel Aviv.’

  ‘What are our chances of recognising Samir Habash?’ Bob asked. ‘He’s likely to have changed his appearance.’

  ‘I’ll recognise him,’ Yanny said.

  ‘But don’t we know where all the supplies of the virus are now?’ queried Bob. ‘They’ve accounted for all of them in America and the UK seems clear of any additional supplies.’

  It was for Steve to answer the question. ‘How do we know we have all the supplies of the virus? We may have accounted for all that we are aware of, but Habash and those behind him are devious. There may be more. He would be the only person that has all the answers. We’ve got to find him, no matter how long it takes.’

  Steve could see the rationale although Bob was showing some reluctance to head back up into the mountains. It was understandable. He had never been trained for such an escapade. He was dedicated to the saving of lives and the last trip into the Hindu Kush had nearly been his last. He still regretted having taken the route to the left when they were at the village. Had he turned right, he would have seen the pus-ridden sores and Jill Hampshire would still be alive.

  ‘I’m just a humble doctor with a tendency to see the best in people,’ Bob said.

  ‘Then you are lucky,’ Yanny said remorsefully. ‘We are conditioned to see the worst. I saw a brilliant, witty, and charming man in Amman, a man that I became fond of, a man that is not far from here, possibly plotting the deaths of millions more.’ She had dropped her guard for a moment. There were tears in her eyes.

  ‘Sorry about that, Yanny,’ Steve said. ‘We shouldn’t have exposed you the way we did in Jordan.’

  ‘You didn’t expose me. It was my decision,’ she said before changing the subject. ‘Where do we get the helicopters from?’

  ‘Last time we brought one over from Pakistan,’ said Bob. ‘How many do we need?’

  ‘I’d say two,’ replied Steve. ‘Yanny could go with me, Harry and Phil could go with Bob.’

  ‘Fine, but without a woman,’ Bob said. ‘I’ll not be able to treat the women. It will look a little suspicious.’

  ‘Do we have any option? We’re only pretending to be a mercy mission dispensing medical aid. That will have to be later. We just want to find Habash.’

  ‘You’re right,’ replied Bob. ‘Let’s go with what we’ve got. I’ll take Harry and Phil.’

  ‘They’ll give you sufficient protection. They’re the best in the business.’

  ‘I wasn’t too worried about my personal safety. I’ve seen the weapons that Yanny keeps hidden in her bag. If she is an indication of the rest of the team, then I know I’m in safe hands.’

  ‘Two helicopters then,’ said Steve. ‘Might be best if we bring them in from Pakistan or do we source a couple out of Kabul?’

  ‘I’d go with Pakistan,’ replied Bob. ‘We can try and bring in the pilots we had before. They know the area and the flying conditions. I’d trust them, ex-military. Who knows what we’ll get up from Kabul?’

  ‘Agreed,’ said Steve. ‘We’ll get Harry and Phil here within the next five days. Bob, you get the pilots and the helicopters up from Pakistan.’

  ***

  Steve phoned Harry to sound him out. He was ready and willing, in fact, anxious to be on the move again. He had been up to the stately home, ensured that all was in order and that his investments in the city were still in good shape ‒ they had taken a battering during the current crisis. The money was not important, but the ability to continue his work in Africa was.

  With the massive decimation of the population on the continent, the cost to secure the land he wanted for the wildlife reserves was not going to be as severe. The animals he wished to protect were benefiting from the reduced human population.

  ‘Only two questions – where and when?’ Harry said.

  ‘When is now, and where is Northern Afghanistan. We’re going after Habash.’

  ‘Any luck so far?’

  ‘No, he’s elusive, but we’re certain he’s here. Yanny says she senses him.’

  ‘You know she fell in love with him?’

  ‘Yes, I know. It’s unfortunate that happened,’ Steve replied.

  ‘It makes a change from being in love with you, doesn’t it?’ Harry, as with everyone in the team, knew of the unspoken fondness that Yanny felt for Steve and Steve felt for her, but could not reciprocate.

  ‘It may have been best if she’d stuck with me.’ Steve dropped his guard for an instant - regretted his openness.

  ‘Unfortunately, doomed love and Yanny seem to go together,’ replied Harry.

  ‘You may be right, but getting back to the subject. Habash is nowhere to be seen.’

  ‘Surely he’s done the worst he can. Is he that important anymore?’

  ‘According to Paul Montgomery, he could have produced more material. How would we know? Where has he stashed it? What are his plans?’

  ‘Montgomery may be right,’ said Harry. ‘There are still some hidden faces that we don’t know of. What about those missing years in the Middle East after his parents died? Who was looking after him, mentoring him? And if he’s hiding out in Afghanistan, who’s protecting him?’

  ‘We would assume it’s either the Taliban or Al Qaeda or both. Regardless, get yourself on the next flight to Kabul and then connect up to Fayzabad.’

  ‘What’s my cover?’

  ‘You are part of a Red Cross team heading up into the Hindu Kush dispensing medical aid.’

  It took a little longer to contact Phil. Not being an Earl and not being overly wealthy, he had directed his attentions to more base actions. He was getting laid.

  ‘Sorry, I didn’t take your call.’ Phil phoned back after thirty minutes. ‘I was kind of busy.’

  ‘Was she worth it?’ Steve knew Phil’s kind of busy.

  ‘Israeli and very obliging; you bet she was. What can I do for you? It’s getting boring here. I’ve just been trying to keep myself occupied.’

  ‘What’s the situation in the country like?’ asked Steve.

  ‘The government has adopted some extremely strict measures, blockading certain areas, shooting anyone trying to cross demarcation lines, but it appears to be working. The casualties have been high, but they won’t need to worry too much about the Gaza anymore. Egypt is taking the full brunt of it now. I’ve been there in the past. There’s no way the authorities can hope to control the situation. The surrounding countries are all affected to some degree. How some of them are controlling the spread is not very pleasant?’

  ‘I need you here.’

  ‘Anytime,’ replied Phil. ‘Is it the team again?’

  ‘Yes, it’s the team. We’re going after Habash.’

  ‘Hasn’t he done his worst?’

  ‘Harry asked the same question. According to Montgomery, he may not be finished. We need to know what he’s produced and where it is. We’ve got to account for it all, and he’s the only person with the answers.’

  ‘Yanny’s boyfriend is in for some unpleasant times if we manage to bring him back,’ Phil said.

  ‘She knows that. It’s unfortunate she became emotionally involved.’

  ‘She should have stuck with you,’ Phil said.

  ‘Harry said something similar. Now we have to deal with the reality. Hypothesising serves no purpose.’

  ‘So, when do you want me there?’

  ‘Take the first flight to Kabul and then connect in to here. We’ll pick you up at the airport.’

  ‘What’s my cover?’

  ‘You’re coming in as a medical orderly assigned to the Red Cross. There’s been an outbreak of chickenpox in the Hindu Kush. Harry wil
l have similar accreditation.’

  ‘I’m handy with a knife, but that’s to make someone’s health worse, not better.’

  ‘We’re not out to make anyone better or worse. Our only function is to get Habash and to get him to some people who can get him to talk.’

  ‘What was Yanny’s response when you told her? You know she was sleeping with him.’

  ‘She’ll do her duty, and yes, to your second question,’ Steve replied.

  ‘He’s not going to be waiting for us to find him. He’s bound to be surrounded by some dangerous individuals.’

  ‘We need to be prepared. There are plenty of weapons here on the black market.’

  ‘Good. It’s best if we go after him.’

  ‘It’s not over yet,’ Steve said. ‘The governments of the world may think it’s under control, but they’re wrong. They’re just trying to protect their economies, their political power, their military supremacy. But there is one guy who may still be able to bring them all down.

  Right now, he’s probably sitting in an unpleasant little house, in an unpleasant and cold village stuck halfway up a mountainside, and they don’t know it. It’s up to us to save the world.’

  ‘They know it. It’s just that they don’t want to hear it,’ Phil said.

  ‘You’re right. Of course, they don’t and why should they? There’s only so much bad news that any one person can take, that any one country can endure.’

  Chapter 22

  Events moved quickly in Afghanistan once the decision had been made to mount a concerted attempt to find Samir Habash. Within three days, both Phil and Harry were in the country. Two days later, the helicopters arrived. This time, they were Pakistan military, suitably camouflaged as humanitarian by a quick spray job back in Islamabad and a few decals. It had not been difficult to arrange the loan of the machines. Ed comfortably seated at the White House and in no hurry to move out had spoken to the President, who had spoken to his counterpart in Pakistan.

  A quick call from the President of Pakistan to the head of the Army there and Fahim Shahid and his second in command were brought back from reserve status to full status as military helicopter pilots. They were both pleased, although, for the work in Afghanistan, they wore no military uniforms. The decals on the side of the two helicopters - both stripped of armaments and now fitted with stretchers - showed ICRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross. Bob said that they would not be pleased with their name being used in vain for a military operation, but Ed said that they would not be told, and anyhow it was tough if they did not like it.

  It was the first time that Steve had met Fahim Shahid. Bob had met him some months previous on the fateful trip up into the Hindu Kush. ‘I’m told you are a pilot in the Pakistan army.’

  ‘Squadron Leader Fahim Shahid, at your service. I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Case.’ A distinguished-looking man, with an elegant and waxed moustache and the early signs of greying hair, stood to attention and saluted.

  ‘Please call me Steve, everyone else does.’

  ‘Then Steve it is, and you will address me as Fahim.’

  ‘Fahim, you have been briefed as to what our mission is?’

  ‘Chickenpox, officially,’ he replied. ‘Unofficially, we are looking for the person responsible for the illness in the village we discovered up in the Hindu Kush. Unfortunately, a colleague of Bob’s was infected and died. If I had only landed somewhere else, she would still be alive.’

  ‘It was not your fault,’ Bob interjected. ‘I was pushing you to go further up the mountain. You had no option but to land.’

  ‘Yes, you are right, but it is always unfortunate that someone good must die when they are in pursuit of a noble cause.’

  ‘I believe,’ Steve said, focussing on the current situation, ‘that you have been informed of the possible danger?’

  ‘Steve, I was in the front line when we had border disputes with the Indians over Kashmir. I am used to military action. I have volunteered, as has my colleague, Flight Lieutenant Zouhair Zamindar.’

  ‘At your service, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.’ An equally distinguished, slightly younger man stood to attention and gave a crisp salute.

  ‘Zamindar was my second in command,’ said Fahim. ‘I trust him completely.’

  ‘The plan is simple,’ said Steve. ‘We head up into the mountains, in the general direction of the village you discovered last time.’

  ‘We’re not going to that village again?’ Bob asked.

  ‘No, it’s not necessary.’

  ‘It’s not contagious,’ added Bob. ‘I just don’t think any of us want a repeat visit.’

  ‘Why are we heading in that direction?’ asked Zouhair. ‘This Habash could be anywhere.’

  ‘It’s just a deduction,’ replied Steve, ‘plus it’s the best hunch we’ve got. Someone gave permission for the village to be the trial subject, someone who knew the area. It seems a strong possibility that this person is still here. Habash could be anywhere, but we’re experienced in tracking people down. Rule number one – look for the most logical, the most obvious, and often they are proven to be right.’

  ‘We’ll take your word on this,’ Bob said.

  ‘We’ve been working on hunches, deductions, and logic all through the world in the last few months, and most have been proven to be correct,’ Steve replied. ‘Even if Habash is not here, we should find someone who knows something.’

  ‘Are we bringing them out?’ Fahim asked.

  ‘It seems likely.’

  ‘And there could be some violence, shooting?’ Zouhair, Fahim’s second in command asked.

  ‘That’s always possible. Does this cause you undue concern?’

  ‘No, it’s just best to mention this before we go in,’ Fahim said before Zouhair had a chance to reply. ‘We have seen the events around the world. It is remarkable that Pakistan has not been affected. Zouhair and I will, possibly a little reluctantly, give our lives to ensure this remains the situation.’

  ‘Hopefully, no one will lose their lives,’ replied Steve on behalf of the team. ‘But we are all prepared for that eventuality.’ He paused to look at his watch. ‘Let’s plan to leave, at the latest, forty-eight hours from now. Phil, Harry, is that long enough for you to get the weapons together? Bob, are you able to give us all a brief course in first aid? Fahim, Zouhair, are the helicopters ready?’

  ‘We’ll be ready,’ Harry answered.

  ‘You’ll all merit a badge in first aid by then,’ Bob replied.

  ‘The helicopters are excellent,’ Fahim said. ‘We just need to be ripped off at the airport for some low-grade aviation fuel. We’ll argue and haggle for a while and then just give in.’

  ‘Money’s not the issue,’ Steve said.

  ‘We’re aware of that, but if we don’t haggle it will be immediately suspect, and besides they don’t like anyone from Pakistan up here,’ Zouhair said.

  ‘What’s the flight plan?’ asked Fahim. ‘We’ve got two helicopters. Are we heading in different directions?’

  ‘It seems logical,’ replied Steve. ‘Fahim, you know the way up to the village. Maybe best if you focus in that general direction. Yanny, you should go with Harry.’

  ‘They know me up there. I should go in that direction,’ Bob said. ‘It would be best if Yanny goes with me.’

  ‘I can’t agree, Bob,’ said Steve. ‘The villages up there are our best hope. If you want to go, take Harry and Phil.’

  ‘If that’s the only way then okay. You’re the experts.’

  ‘Yanny will go with me then,’ said Steve. ‘Zouhair will be our pilot. We’ll choose another route.’

  ***

  Forty-eight hours later, out on the airfield, there was an air of trepidation. All those dispensing medical care were appropriately dressed in surgical gowns while carrying weapons, except for Bob, who was unarmed. Yanny favoured a Glock 26, which fitted nicely into the pouch on her waist. Harry and Phil each had a couple of Kahr PM9s – one c
oncealed in a pouch, the other in the medical backpacks carefully hidden by the bandages. Steve, ex-Special Forces, chose a Beretta M9. It was not the smallest of weapons, but it was what he had trained with. He felt comfortable having it strapped to a shoulder holster. As long as he wore a heavy jacket over his gown, the bulge that it created was not too noticeable.

  Both Fahim and Zouhair carried Glock 17s but, as they were staying in the helicopters, there was no need to conceal. The black market in Fayzabad, where no questions were asked as long as enough money was shown had supplied six AK-47 assault rifles, the weapon of choice for honest, law-abiding citizens and Taliban alike. Harry had even sourced a couple of pairs of ex-US Army night vision goggles for a thousand American dollars each.

  They had paid twice what any of it was worth, but what option did they have? Better to have an unscrupulous businessman laughing at the stupid prices they had paid than questioning as to why they wanted so many guns and ammunitions.

  Pre-takeoff checks completed, both helicopters lifted off and commenced their flights in unison to Baharak to the south-east. They had considered enquiring there, but the city was too large, communications too good, and any suspicious questions would have been quickly relayed to persons contrary to their good health. Steve and Yanny were heading further west, Bob was heading back to Larki, and then up to Dasht. The village where Jill Hampshire had been infected was another fifteen kilometres further up the valley.

  Larki, still not isolated from the late arriving snows, did not produce any significant results and, as long as the roads were negotiable, it was best not to be too inquisitive. Harry and Phil managed a reasonably competent masquerade as male nurses. Some of the faces seemed too familiar a few too many times. They were sure some were coming round for a second helping of the obligatory bag of rice.

  ‘Did you find out anything?’ they asked Bob as the helicopter lifted off for the short flight to Dasht.

  ‘They spoke of some faces, but they had seen them last year, about the time we found the village.’

  ‘It may be Habash,’ said Harry. ‘He was up here to check on his handiwork. We’re reasonably sure of that.’