‘I’m just feeling the heat of a pitched battle, where the odds are heavily stacked against us.’ said Phil. ‘Just expressing my frustration out loud.’
The police escort, meanwhile, was doing a good job. Sirens blaring, they weaved through the traffic with bravado. Any vehicle that was likely to halt their progress, duly rammed to one side. With one police car in front and another at the back, the pace was impressive. In the frantic dash, vehicles were being damaged, every traffic violation in the book broken.
‘We’re close to the compound now. What’s the situation?’ Harry asked.
‘Mustapha’s delaying tactics have just about been exhausted. They should enter the Sheikh’s compound in the next few minutes.’
‘How about the guards, did you manage to reduce the numbers?’
‘I took out two who had left their post to get some food on the street. They’re lying dead in an alley.’
‘That leaves us with about thirteen to deal with,’ stated Harry.
‘That sounds about correct. We’re outnumbered here. Have you prevented the plane leaving if we can’t stop them taking Kate?’
‘I left Captain Déby and a couple of the Nigerian soldiers to deal with it.’
‘Can he be trusted? Is he up to the task?’
‘We can trust him. Whether he is up to the task, I don’t know.’
‘They’re entering the compound now,’ said Phil. ‘I can’t take them on at this moment. I’ll need to wait for you.’
‘Ask Mustapha to delay their leaving.’
***
‘We have come for the woman,’ Abdullah said.
‘I need the money first,’ the Sheikh responded, obviously agitated by the situation.
‘You have no right to any money. It is obvious the Nigerian military are here because you continued to conduct an auction with her father.’
‘That is not true. I only kept her for the Prince.’
‘Lies, it’s just lies. The Prince knows of your treachery. If you survive this day, it is he who will decide as to whether you spend your money or whether you will die.’
The Sheikh’s fate had already been decided, but with the situation so precarious, now was not the time to send him to his grave. The immediate need was to grab Kate and to exit as soon as possible.
‘Here is your money,’ said Saleh. ‘Enjoy it for the little time that you have left.’
‘I cannot take it here,’ said the Sheikh. ‘It will be impossible for me to get it out of the compound, out of Chad. We are surrounded, and from what you say, we are soon to be attacked by Nigerian soldiers.’
‘That is your problem,’ replied Abdullah. ‘We have upheld our part of the deal.’
‘Take me with you. It is the only hope for me. The Chadian government will not let me be free here,’ pleaded the Sheikh.
‘Why should we?’
‘I can get you out of the country.’
‘We can deal with it ourselves.’
‘I am told they have blocked your plane’s exit.’
‘That is true, but we can bribe our way out.’
‘It will be easier with me there to assist.’
Abdullah thought for a moment. ‘Your presence may help. We will take you and your money with us. If your assistance at the airport is advantageous, then I give my word that we will transport you to a country of your choosing.’ An open door at one thousand feet would provide an adequate solution to the double-dealing Sheikh, he thought.
Abdullah had seen an advantage if they survived and the Sheikh did not. The Prince had paid five million dollars. Both he and Saleh could claim the money was lost in the exit from Chad, and then divide it between the two of them. A half share of five million was better than sharing two. He knew Saleh would not have any problem with the solution.
‘I accept your word.’ The Sheikh did not believe or trust either Abdullah or Saleh, but he had few options. If he stayed, the Chadian government would have him arrested and imprisoned, probably tortured. He was an embarrassment to the country and they would be sure to make an example of him.
The Nigerian soldiers were also on their way, and they were not likely to be partial to his holding women from their country. There was the added complication that two of the girls currently imprisoned had been drugged and raped by him; his knew his chances of survival were slim. No longer would he be seen as the natural successor to Mohammad Idriss Habre, the notable and honoured slave trader and ancestor. His legacy, he could well see, was the descendant who brought dishonour and shame. The three million dollars looked to be of small consequence now. He would gladly give it all back for his life, but his life was no longer his to control.
‘Bring the woman now,’ Saleh commanded.
‘My money, I want my money first,’ said the Sheikh.
‘Here is your money. Spend it well.’ Saleh thrust a suitcase containing three million dollars in cash into the grasping arms of the Sheikh.
‘She is in the building at the back of the compound. You are free to take her.’
‘Is she suitably prepared?’
‘Yes, she has been given a mild sedative. She will be compliant.’
Abdullah and Saleh made their way in haste for Kate. Time was of the essence. There was to be a battle to exit the country and neither was partial to violence, especially when it was directed towards them.
‘Put the Sheikh in the lead car. We may need him to get us out of the country,’ Abdullah commanded Adeel, the lead mercenary.’
‘I do not take orders,’ Adeel, a singularly unsavoury character responded. ‘I will put him in the car purely because he may be of assistance.’
‘Just ensure he is there when we leave.’
‘He will be there.’
‘Good. We will get the woman.’
Pandemonium erupted when the door to the women’s quarters was broken down. The other women, unaccustomed to the presence of a male inside their domain other than the Sheikh, cowered in fear.
‘Where is the white woman?’ Saleh asked.
‘She is not for you.’ Fatima instinctively stood before the Prince’s agents to protect Kate, concealed in a small room off to one side.
‘We have paid the Sheikh. She is now our property.’
‘Then you will have to kill me first.’
‘If we must, then that is what we will do.’
At that moment, a rustling in the room where Kate was concealed, accompanied by the noise of something falling to the ground indicated her location.
‘She’s in there,’ Abdullah said.
‘I’ll grab her,’ Saleh said.
As he attempted to open the door, Fatima attacked him with a vengeance. A small man, he was thrown off balance and flung to the ground. She was savage, gouging at his eyes, kicking him as best she could. Adeel, hearing the commotion, rushed in and quickly picked up Fatima and threw her hard against the wall; she was barely able to stand.
‘Grab the white woman. We have to leave,’ Abdullah shouted. ‘Don’t harm her. The Prince has paid a great deal of money for her in pristine condition.’
Adeel deposited Kate in the lead vehicle, and even he was enamoured by her white hair and her porcelain features. As the vehicles moved to exit the compound, Fatima, now sufficiently recovered, rushed towards them.
‘Take me. She is my friend. I will look after her for you.’
‘Put her in the car as well,’ Saleh said. He had taken a shine to the beautiful if ageing woman who had severely beaten him. He was determined to tame her. What is the use of a skinny Russian tart when I could have a buxom African woman? he thought.
***
Unable to act aggressively and frustrated by his lack of action, Phil had phoned Harry. ‘They’re exiting the compound.’
‘We’re here. What can you do? What can you see?’
‘Four vehicles. They may have left one behind. I’m not sure at the present moment.’
‘Can you see Kate?’
‘Yes, she is in the l
ead vehicle,’ said Phil. ‘She is with the woman I spoke to that night when I climbed the wall.’
‘Fatima?’
‘Yes, it’s her. The Sheikh appears to be in same vehicle as the two women.’
‘Can you take out the third and fourth vehicles?’ asked Harry. ‘It would even the numbers for us.’
‘Mustapha is here. He is listening in on our conversation.’
‘I will organise some road works, accidents on the way to the airport,’ said Mustapha. ‘It should be possible to prevent the last two vehicles reaching there in time.’
‘Let the other two through to the airport,’ Harry said.
‘We still need some of the Nigerian soldiers here. The Sheikh’s guards are here looking lost, not knowing what to do.’
‘Can you manage with three soldiers?’
‘Three will be alright. With the rent-a-guns and the soldiers we should be able to take them with not too much trouble.’
‘Consider it done. We need to get back to the airport. We’re dispatching one vehicle to you now.’
‘Thanks, we’ll take out the guards. If we liquidate a couple, the others will probably make a run for it.’
‘We need all the black girls. The other women in the compound are not our concern. We’ll grab Kate and Fatima at the airport,’ Harry said.
‘I’ll ask Mustapha to get some extra vehicles,’ said Phil. ‘A bus would be best. We’ll get out to the airport as soon as possible.’
‘We’ll wait for you.’
***
With Helen safely back in Maiduguri and a sufficient amount of time elapsed since the helicopters had left for Chad, Yanny felt the time was appropriate to phone. ‘What’s the latest?’
‘It’s not gone as well as we hoped,’ Harry said as the convoy weaved its way through the early afternoon traffic. The police escort was moving at speed in the reverse direction to which they had come just thirty minutes earlier.
‘What about Kate?’
‘She’s with the Prince’s men.’
‘How did that happen?’
‘I’ll explain later. Is there anyone listening in on our conversation?’
‘There’s only Steve and Major Osuji.’
‘That’s okay. The Prince brought in some mercenaries, seriously menacing guys, and the Sheikh had apparently heard about the attacks on the Boko Haram camps.’
‘That’s unfortunate. We asked that the attacks be kept out of the news while your operation was in progress, but the Western media are here now. They chartered a couple of private jets. The place is crawling with cameras and reporters with microphones sticking them in the face of anyone who looks as if they may not what is going on,’ said Yanny.
‘Didn’t the military stop them from landing?’ asked Harry.
‘From what I can see, they encouraged them to come.’
‘Why would they do that?’
‘After the criticism they’ve been receiving lately, they see this as a public relations triumph. They’v rescued a total of two hundred and ninety-four women in the three camps and removed the Islamist threat in the north.’
‘I suppose we can’t blame them, said Harry. ‘But it would have been better for us if they had waited a few more hours. How’s Helen?’
‘She’s okay, and Aluko will pull through.’
‘Has she spoken to the media yet?’
‘Not yet, but she is remarkably calm. She said she would make a statement once she knew Kate was safe.’
‘Do the Western media know what we’re up to?’ asked Harry.
‘Officially, no, but they have figured it out. They are aware that three helicopters left after news of Helen’s rescue was confirmed.’
‘How did they find out?’
‘It was an accident. They caught Kate’s mother off guard and she blurted it out.’
‘It doesn’t matter now,’ said Harry. ‘Phil is going after the Nigerian girls in the compound and we are heading at speed to the airport to get Kate and Fatima. Talk to you later.’
Chapter 26
The trip back to the airport for the Prince’s men was slow. They did not have the benefit of a police escort and were forced to take advice from a person they did not trust, Sheikh Idriss Deubet. Their precious cargo, oblivious to the problems slipped between a hazy daze and semi-consciousness. Fatima, her protector, made her comfortable the best she could as the convoy weaved in and out of the traffic, ran the red lights, ignored the traffic police and the other cursing motorists.
‘Why is our return to the airport taking so long?’ Abdullah asked.
‘It is normal for this time of the day.’ The Sheikh preferred it slow. He was not anxious to leave the country in the Prince’s jet. He did not trust either Abdullah or Saleh and Adeel, their henchmen, was seriously menacing.
‘There was an accident on the way to the compound,’ said Abdullah. ‘It looked too convenient to me. It is as if someone is trying to slow us down.’
‘Accidents are all too common,’ replied the Sheikh.
‘Not this one. I’m sure it was set up to delay us.’
‘Let’s just focus on getting out of this awful place,’ Saleh said.
‘What can we do about this traffic?’ said Abdullah exasperated. ‘It will take forever to get to the airport.’ This had gone all wrong. It had meant to be a simple operation. Give the devious Sheikh his money, grab the girl and exit the country.’ He was not only exasperated, he was scared.
‘Take a left down Boulevard de Sao, it may be quicker,’ the Sheikh said.
‘How can we trust you?’ asked Abdullah.
‘You must. Why would I delay my exit from here? My future lies with you and the money in the case.’
‘You may have contacts here, people who can smuggle you out of the country. You have enough money to buy your way out of trouble. You could even bribe half the politicians in the country.’
‘I don’t know anybody, and the President of my country has stated that he is against indentured labour. I have been involved in human trafficking – how do you think the politicians will react? They will happily take my money, but it would be political suicide if it were found out. Believe me; I want to exit the country as much as you do.’
The Sheikh, desperate as he was, as despondent as any man can be who had lost his country, his possessions, his respect in the community, did indeed have an alternate escape plan. The jet at the airport was not his preferred choice. He knew his fate was suspect if he went with them. He had realised that he had to exit the compound, but where to was unclear.
‘We will follow your directions,’ continued Abdullah, ‘but if there is any sign of treachery on your part, then Adeel will dispose of you without hesitation.’
‘At the bottom of Boulevard de Sao take the right exit of the roundabout and head up Avenue Mobutu,’ said the Sheikh.
Mustapha, meanwhile, had been following close behind. He had seen an opportunity. It was dangerous for him; he had to cause an accident on the roundabout.
‘Where are you taking us?’ Kate had momentarily stirred from the sedative she had been given.
‘I thought you had drugged her?’ Saleh said.
‘She is sedated, not drugged,’ replied the Sheikh. ‘You don’t want to be seen carrying a woman onto the plane. She can walk as long as someone holds her arm.’
‘You were my husband, how can you do business with these people?’ Fatima asked. ‘How can you condone your actions?’ She diverted her eyes when she spoke to Sheikh Idriss. She could not bear to look at him.
‘It is my family’s heritage and besides, you did not care where the money had come from when you were spending it on your trips to Europe.’
‘Stop this nonsense!’ Abdullah shouted. ‘I am not interested in your petty squabbles. I am only interested in getting to the plane.’
As the convoy approached the roundabout, Mustapha seized the opportunity. He realised that they would take the third exit to the right. He dropped a gear and floore
d the accelerator pedal. His small Renault reacted violently but lurched forward. He quickly overtook Abdullah’s convoy, careened dangerously around the roundabout, and rammed another car close to the exit. The damage to either vehicle was minor, but in a country where insurance was a luxury, there were bound to be the inevitable arguments, fighting possibly and a large crowd to watch the afternoon’s entertainment. A minor incident would hold up the traffic for at least thirty to forty minutes.
‘Quick! Go straight ahead before the traffic blocks the roundabout,’ said the Sheikh.
‘Follow his instructions,’ Abdullah commanded.
‘Where are you leading us to now?’ Saleh asked.
‘It is a different route. It will take us down close to the river. It is fine.’
‘We’ve lost two of our vehicles. They’re stuck in the traffic,’ Adeel shouted. ‘We have to go back for them.’
‘Do you want to stay in this country? Do you know what will happen if we are caught with a drugged American female?’ Abdullah shouted back.
‘You are right. They will have to look out for themselves,’ Adeel had no alternative but to agree. One of those left behind was a cousin.
Mustapha was pleased with his work. Now all he had to do was sort out an agreement with the highly annoyed and potentially violent driver of the Toyota Corolla he had just damaged.
Before the inevitable cursing and arguing he quickly phoned Phil. ‘Two vehicles down.’
‘Great. That evens the numbers.’
As the two remaining vehicles moved down close to the Chari River, the Sheikh considered his options. He had a friend with a hotel close by who could get him out of the country without too much difficulty. He wasn’t sure where he would head, or how he was going to blend into another society; but, he reasoned, with three million dollars in cash, there must be possibilities.
Just then, the vehicle slowed for a donkey and cart crossing the intersection. Seizing the opportunity, he opened the rear door of the Land Cruiser, grabbed his suitcase, and made a run for it. The only problem was that running can only be slow with a suitcase.
‘Grab him!’ Saleh shouted to Adeel. Quickly, he slammed on the brakes and Adeel caught the Sheikh before he had covered thirty metres.
Terrorist: Three Book Boxed Set Page 91