‘Do you think I would allow a camp doctor to potentially damage her?’ exclaimed the Sheikh. ‘I must take her on the assumption she is not a virgin. Has she been abused by the degenerates that captured her?’
‘She has not been touched. My commander at her capture recognised her value; he ensured she received the most reverential treatment. He had to kill one of his best fighters to protect her. Another, he severely beat. I give you my word, she is chaste and pure.’
‘I cannot believe your statement that she has not been abused. I have seen your fighters. You know as well as I do that they are an illiterate disorganised rabble.’
‘I would not let anyone else say that to me,’ replied Murtada, ‘but you are an intelligent man, a valued colleague. They serve the purpose of the cause.’
Deubet was not taken in for one minute with vain flattery. He knew Murtada as a devious and impassioned man, who used the name of Islam to justify the violence and chaos he caused. To present himself as a colleague insulted him, but he would acquiesce and smile in appreciation.
‘Have you sent ransoms for the women?’ Sheikh Deubet asked.
‘Yes, we have emailed the various embassies and the father of the blonde woman. We have negotiated five million in American dollars for the two of them.’
‘And what was their response?’
‘We have received acceptance from the father.’
‘What is your plan now?’
‘We will sell them to you if your price is better.’
‘They will never pay that much, even if they agreed.’ The Sheikh knew that the Westerners would pay the price, but he was not going to let Murtada know. Besides, he was not going to pay anything like that for the blonde-haired woman.
‘They will, and you know that.’ Murtada knew that the Sheikh was lying in what he had said.
‘You will have their militaries down on you,’ said the Sheikh.
‘Then the women will die before they can be rescued. I have no compunction about ordering their slaughter if the military of any country is seen anywhere close to here.’
‘I will take the blonde woman today, but I will not pay five million, or even one million. Harm their females and the Western military will be here with the Nigerian army and wipe you out.’
‘Allah will protect us.’
‘You are clearly naïve,’ said the Sheikh. ‘I have spent time in Europe. I have seen the competency and might of their military, the weaponry they command. Allah may protect you, but he will need to do a lot of protecting to save all of your people.’
‘He will save me,’ replied Murtada defiantly. ‘The fighters are expendable.’
‘You may keep the dark-haired women; she is of no value to me. I will take the other one. I have a buyer, but he will consider your price unacceptable. I can give you cash now, or weapons in exchange for the blonde, but I need to take her today.’
Sheikh Deubet knew her worth if she was indeed a virgin; he would get Dupre, the French doctor, to check her out. She would be worth a fortune if he had confirmation of her virginity. His buyer may well pay more than three million American dollars, possibly five. He could see an achievement to rival that of his esteemed ancestor.
No longer would he waste his time with a black girl, although some had commanded good money in the Arabian Peninsula. No longer a little black boy to a goat herder for thirty dollars. One of the girls had been sold for two thousand dollars, but her beauty had been exceptional; the majority, a couple of hundred dollars across the border into Cameroon. Here was at least five million.
She was unique, ideal for an auction. If her family paid the ransom, she would go back to them untouched and untainted. Either way, he would win.
‘I need her now,’ the Sheikh repeated his previous demand.
‘Then you must give me three million American dollars, and in cash.’
‘Your demand is an insult. You know you will never receive that money. I will give you one hundred thousand dollars today, in cash,’
‘It is you who insult me now,’ shouted Murtada angrily. ‘I have already told you, we have a firm offer of five million for the two. What would possess me to sell her to you for a fraction of her real worth? She is yours for three million dollars.’
‘That is ludicrous, and you know it.’
‘What I know is that you wish to take her from me, and then collect the ransom for yourself.’
‘If I take her, she is no longer your problem, You can send the other one back after they pay, then make it clear that the blonde is no longer in your possession.’
‘They will not believe that I no longer possess her.’
‘It is easy to convince them. I will send a YouTube video from a location that is clearly not Nigeria.’
‘I will accept two million dollars.’ The fundamentalist leader realised that the slave trader made sense. It would be easier if he sold the blonde-haired woman to the Chadian and sent the dark-haired woman back as soon as possible.
‘Why do you maintain this pretence?’ the Sheikh asked. ‘You must admit that your success in ransoming of hostages is not an enviable record. You may be able to conduct the negotiations successfully, but those you place your trust in are incapable of carrying out your orders with the finesse required. I have not seen one here in this camp that I would trust with this matter.’
‘It is Allah who will assist me,’ Murtada’s voice rose in response.
‘Allah will not assist in an endeavour that he does not condone. Where in the Koran does it mention that what you are doing is allowed?’ The Sheikh realised that his anger had allowed him to speak in an irreverent manner. He regretted it instantly.
‘My belief in taking Islam to the heathen countries in the south will require acts of violence and suffering. Allah will support me.’
‘I was wrong to question your belief. I apologise.’ The Sheikh wanted the blonde; he had not come to discuss the semantics of religion with a deluded fundamentalist.
‘Let us not argue,’ said Murtada. ‘As a sign of our lasting friendship, I will let you have the virgin for one million American dollars.’
‘I appreciate your offer, and I equally value our friendship,’ replied the Sheikh. ‘But I cannot give you one million American, certainly not with her virginity unproved. It would be safer to let me take the fair haired woman now at a discounted price.’
‘You remember what happened the last time your people attempted a hostage exchange,’ Sheikh Deubet said. It was a sore point that hit a raw nerve with Murtada.
‘He was the son of a wealthy trader.’ Murtada attempted to defend his action in the failed hostage exchange. ‘The place, the money and the time agreed, but my people, your description in this instance is apt – an illiterate disorganised rabble. They failed to carry out the necessary security sweep in advance; too busy rejoicing in the conclusion of a successful kidnapping.’
‘And they failed to notice the Nigerian soldiers hiding under the cover of darkness.’ The Sheikh completed Murtada’s sentence.
‘Yes, they failed. The hostage was killed in the crossfire, the soldiers took the money, and I lost ten of my men.’
‘What about the fighters that survived?’
‘I had them killed as a warning to the others.’ Murtada paused for a moment. ‘It would be preferable if you took the virgin.’
It was fortuitous for the Sheikh that there had been a sighting of a military helicopter twenty kilometres to the south. The alarm went up through the camp, the foot soldiers mobilised and prepared to head south to intercept and take it out.
‘What is happening?’ the Sheikh asked.
‘A military helicopter has been sighted not far from here. They are rushing to take it down. We must vacate the camp.’
‘I will give you one hundred thousand dollars cash for the blonde. If she is proven a virgin and my buyer approves, then I will give you an additional five hundred thousand dollars.’
‘Then I must place my trust in you to honou
r our agreement,’ Murtada said, eager to be on his way. ‘What about the other woman?’
‘Give her to your soldiers after your commander has tired of her. She has no value to me. One hundred thousand dollars, cash in the next five minutes for the blonde.’
‘Take the virgin.’
Sheikh Idriss Deubet, delighted at hearing Murtada’s words, quickly handed the money over and secured his prize. He knew Kate’s worth and he certainly did not intend to come back to honour the agreement, virgin or otherwise.
Chapter 15
‘What’s the latest on the ransom demand?’ Steve asked.
‘No change,’ replied Yanny. ‘It’s still three million for Kate, two million for Helen. I cannot stall much longer. Have we managed to narrow the location?’
‘No more than what you and Gloria ascertained. We know the nearest community; it’s not sufficient for a rescue mission.’
‘Bob has the money. When will we need to pay it over?’
‘Three weeks maximum, although it would be better if you keep it to fourteen days. They are starting to get touchy, threatening again.’
‘We cannot go blundering into the region,’ replied Steve. ‘. By the time we find them, the kidnappers could have exacted their threats. We need more precise information.’
In the meanwhile, he had to break a promise. A promise he invariably broke most years. The school holidays had started back home in the USA and he had committed to taking Megan and the children on a holiday across the country to California, Disneyland, the destination. It was remarkable that, after all these years, kids still wanted to go there. He had gone at their age though Megan had never been.
‘I can’t leave,’ he said on the phone to her.
‘Every year you promise, and every year you let me and the children down,’ she said, a little angry.
‘I know, but this is too important.’
‘What’s so important that you cannot make an effort for the children?’
She never asked too many questions. After the trauma of his capture and torture in Afghanistan, she did not want to dwell on where he was or what he might be doing. To know he was potentially placing himself in danger again would have only given her sleepless nights. She was disappointed and asking too much.
‘Islamic fundamentalists have kidnapped two white women. One’s English, the other is American.’
‘Then you must stay,’ she replied. ‘But I’ve no idea how I’m going to tell the children.’
‘Thanks. I’ll make it up some other time.’
‘I haven’t seen any reports on the TV.’
‘Good, that’s the way we want it. The moment it becomes general knowledge, the American and English military will be here marching through the countryside. The women will be dead before they find them. This has to be low-key, discreet.’
‘You’re not involved in the rescue, are you?’
‘No, I have others who will do that.’
‘Who else is there with you?’
‘Phil, Harry, and Yanny are here. Phil and Harry will organise the rescue. Yanny is dealing with the negotiations and the handing over of the ransom.’
He immediately regretted mentioning Yanny’s name.
‘How is Yanny?’ Megan asked.
‘They’re all fine, but exhausted. They’ve been on rescue operations for months.’
‘Give my love to Yanny.’ Megan suspected there was something in the past between the two of them, but never asked directly. She preferred not to know.
***
Sheikh Idriss Deubet’s approaching of Kate’s compound caused some concern.
‘He takes the black girls – the attractive ones, anyway,’ one of the local girls told Kate. ‘He’s interested in you and your friend.’
‘What happens to them?’
‘We are scared. He may take us as well.’
‘What does he want them for?’ Kate looked for a consolatory answer.
‘He sells them into forced marriage.’ They were more naïve than Kate was. The thought of sexual slavery did not enter their minds.
‘Does this frighten you?’
‘Yes, of course,’ replied the girl. ‘But have you seen what has happened to some of the other girls? Given to the men in the camp, passed around as if they were cattle. You have heard the crying, the screaming at night.’
‘Yes, I’ve heard it.’
‘We cannot alter our fate. We can only believe that a just God will protect us and deliver us from this place.’
‘I hope your God will look after Helen and me as well.’
‘Your friend went willingly. Why does she need our God’s protection?’
‘She did not go willingly. She did it to protect me.’ Kate leapt to Helen’s defence.
‘How could she do that? How could she bring shame on her family?’
‘She is of a different culture. I do not expect you to understand, but what she has done is the most generous and kind act that any of us will ever see.’
‘We will accept your word that your friend Helen is an honourable person. We will show her respect.’
Two hours later the Arab entered Kate’s compound.
‘Please come with me. You will suffer no harm,’ he said in perfect English. Kate, no longer associating perfect English as a sign of honesty and decency, protested.
‘Why? What do you want? My father will be coming for me. Is Helen coming?’
‘You are going home,’ he replied. ‘But first, you must visit my house. Either you will come peacefully or I will be obliged to use force. Your reluctance will not be tolerated.’
‘I want to see my friend.’
‘That is not possible. Either you come voluntarily or I will allow my men to use force.’
‘I want to go home to my family. I don’t want to leave Helen.’ She was now crying profusely. There had been some safety, some security with Helen and the black girls in their little compound. Now there was to be none.
‘You are going home, but first you must come with me,’ he reiterated.
‘I don’t believe you. I know what you want me for.’
‘What you believe does not concern me. You are a valuable asset. I will take responsibility for your auction.’
‘Auction?’ She was horrified. ‘You are going to sell me off?’
‘Your father can bid or not bid. It is up to him.’
‘Who else would pay money for me?’
‘I have had enough of your foolish questions. You will do what I say. We leave now.’
‘No.’
‘Take her, and put her in the back of the vehicle,’ he said to two of his henchmen. ‘Be careful not to damage her or you will both suffer my wrath.’
Two of his henchmen were immediately at either side of her, pulling her towards the entrance.
‘Let me assure you,’ said the Sheikh. ‘You will be an honoured guest in my house. You will be with my wives. The finest clothes, the most delicate foods will be available. No harm will come to you as long as you follow my instructions.’
Quickly bundled into the back seat of a late model Toyota Land Cruiser, her hands and feet loosely tied; she barely had a chance to say goodbye to the girls that had become her friends.
On the way out of the camp, she saw Helen aiming to rush to her rescue. Abacha caught and restrained her.
The Sheikh sat in the front passenger seat smugly satisfied in the knowledge he had secured a bargain, triumphant in a great asset that would reap him a great financial reward.
How much can I get in an auction? Five million? I may get ten. he thought. The possibilities excited him. An auction between a rich Arab, filled with lust, and a wealthy American, filled with fatherly love, who will want her the most? Who can pay the most?
He daydreamed as the vehicle slowly bumped along the dusty road back to the civility, the serenity, the peace of his house back in Chad.
***
Helen resigned to the fact that she could have done no more for Kate, ad
justed to the drudgery of her life. Covering herself with the clothing that was required of the women, she no longer returned to the compound she had shared with Kate.
Abacha’s hut, primitive walls covered in mud and an old corrugated iron roof, was both unpleasant and uncomfortable and smelt of sweat and smoke. She now cooked for the two of them on an open fire just outside the only door into the hut. The food he received was markedly better than what he had eaten before – chicken and rice, and millet dumplings. He had shown her how to make the dumplings, the staple diet of his people in Niger.
In the hut at night, he was tender and loving; she had even managed to ensure he had washed before he took her. During the day, he was careful to conceal his newfound softness and showed her the disdain expected by his fellow fundamentalists. His appetite for food only exceeded by his appetite for her.
Each night, she ensured him all the pleasures, all the delights she could muster. It was clear he was not an evil man; poorly educated, limited literacy, a creature of his environment and upbringing. He did not see that what he did was wrong. She could not feign affection for him; he had been responsible for too much destruction in her life to afford him that emotion. However, as much as she wanted, she could not feel hate.
He was disturbed, pleasantly disturbed, that an emotion, a feeling, stirred in him that he had not experienced before. His wife back in his home village, bought by the sweat of his labours, was cold and dull, and would clam up; tighten her muscles when he tried to enter her. Here, with Helen, lovemaking was fluid, relaxed and infinitely pleasurable. She cooked his meals with care, ensured the table was set, and invariably she would find a flower to put in a vase. He enjoyed their time together in that little hut. Abacha had fallen in love.
She would admit that his behaviour had been acceptable, but a man on top of her belonged to the past. She had had more than her share of men, and all she wanted was to return to the happy days at the mission. Those days, however, were not to return. The Mission was gone, the people as well.
***
‘We may have a lead as to where the women are,’ Aluko said on the phone to Steve.
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