‘Yeah‚ you’ve made your feelings clear about that already‚ Parvez‚’ I said‚ biting back my intended reply. ‘But what’s that got to do with tonight?’
He stopped in his tracks‚ the house was in view. We both looked at it and then at each other as the rain suddenly quickened and bounced off our heads.
‘Don’t you see?’ he said‚ raising his voice‚ willing to be heard over the heavy downpour. ‘This is what we have been waiting for‚ working towards for many months. Years.’
‘What?’ I said. I think I may have shouted. I wiped the rain off my face and it was replaced a second later. ‘What have you been waiting for?’
‘The final part of our education… For tonight we will be chosen.’
48
The electricity had gone out‚ due to the extreme weather‚ I guess. We were sat upstairs at Number 15 surrounded by candles. The rain tried and failed to smash through the window and dampen their spirits. I felt left out‚ the only one in the room unaware of what was about to take place. The Imam was nowhere to be seen‚ but that in itself was expected; we all knew he liked to make an entrance.
Irfan and Yasir were at the window counting down the seconds between the thunder and the lightning. Kevin was placing more candles around the room‚ and Parvez was just plain excited‚ rocking back and forth on the floor. Amirah was stealing glances at me and when caught‚ a smile would play on her lips.
A flash of lightning brightened up the room for a heartbeat.
‘That was four seconds this time‚’ Irfan bellowed‚ excitedly. ‘It’s getting closer.’
‘It’s a sign from Allah‚’ Kevin said‚ but didn’t go on to explain what the sign indicated.
‘Get used to electricity cuts‚ guys‚’ Yasir said.
Everyone laughed along‚ apart from me. I didn’t understand.
Another flash of lightning followed by exaggerated screams and screeches. While all attention was at the window‚ Al-Bhukara had walked into the room‚ Aunty Aaidah trailing behind holding a tray full of ladoos.
‘Brothers‚’ he announced. ‘And Sister.’ He smiled. We all took our places on the floor in front of him as he got comfortable in his chair. Aunty Aaidah stood respectfully behind him. He had with him a brown envelope which he placed on the side table.
‘Many of you already know why you have been called upon‚’ he started.
‘Ameen‚’ the room chanted back at him‚ followed by a monstrous roar of thunder.
‘The final part of your education is upon us‚’ he continued. ‘He who gives will receive.’
‘Ameen.’ Louder.
I had no idea what the hell was going on‚ Al-Bhukara was talking in riddles‚ again. I remembered what Parvez had said to me outside: I was there just to observe. So I mentally took myself out of the surroundings and watched it unfold.
‘We have been here before but never again. For today you and I will go our separate ways. But always remember your names will forever be on my lips in prayer.’
‘Inshallah.’
Al-Bhukara picked up the brown envelope and took out some documents.
‘Yasir Ahmad‚’ he called.
Yasir stood up and walked to the Imam and collected his document.
‘Mashallah‚’ boomed the room.
He looked humbled as Aunty Aaidah sweetened his mouth with a ladoo. He didn’t take his place back on the floor.
‘Irfan Ahmad.’
Irfan stood up‚ and I could see his hand visibly shaking‚ as he collected his document and collected a ladoo.
‘Mashallah.’
He stood proudly next to his brother. One by one‚ they were all called upon and handed a document and had their mouth stuffed and sweetened by Aunty Aaidah. They all looked like they had graduated and in a way I guess they had. I was the only one left‚ feeling more than awkward‚ by myself on the floor. Al-Bhukara looked at me‚ enjoying the confusion on my face.
‘You see‚ young Javid. Over the course of two years I have imparted all I can to your fellow students. I have seen them grow like flowers from concrete and it has been a privilege and an honour.’
I nodded as if I understood but I was desperate to know what the document was.
‘But you‚ Javid…’ He paused‚ toying with me. ‘Eyebrows were raised‚ questions were asked. My decision challenged. But in the last three months you have proved to be quite the student. Surpassing even my expectations‚ you have something that cannot be taught. You‚ Javid‚ have the heart of a warrior. So with that‚ I would like to call upon you… Javid Qasim.’
I looked up at Amirah and she motioned for me to get up. I approached Al-Bhukara and he handed me a document‚ I didn’t get a chance to read it as a ladoo was being forced down my throat. I walked past the line of the others‚ who patted me on the back‚ apart from Parvez‚ who just looked at me with a face I could not discern. I stood at the end of the line and looked down at the document in my hands.
It was an E-ticket. A plane ticket.
Destination: Islamabad.
49
I texted Parker requesting an emergency meeting‚ and waited patiently for a reply for all of sixty seconds before calling him. He picked up straight away.
‘I was just replying to your text‚’ he said‚ sounding alert despite it being past three in the morning.
‘I need to see you‚ man‚’ I said‚ quick and desperate. ‘I need to fucking see you‚ now.’
‘Tell me where you are.’
‘I’m… I’m at home. I just got in.’
‘What’s happened?’
‘They want me to go to Islamabad. Next week. They want me to go to a training camp. In Islamabad‚ man. In Islamabad.’
‘In Islamabad?’
No‚ in fucking Disneyland.
‘Yeah‚ Parker‚’ I said‚ wearily. ‘In Islamabad.’
‘I am going to have to inform Sinclair and work out the best move going forward.’
‘Now?’
‘Sorry?’
‘Are you going to chat to Sinclair now?’
‘First thing tomorrow‚ okay.’
‘No‚ Parker‚ not okay. Not even close to okay. I am freaking out here. I need to see you right now.’
‘Look‚ you need to stay focused‚ son. We—’
‘I’m not your fucking son‚’ I snapped.
Shit… Fuck… Why did I say that? Why did I fucking have to go and say that? I slumped down on my armchair and rubbed my temple. I could hear him breathing and I knew I had marked him. Our relationship‚ as awkward and dysfunctional as it was‚ had shifted towards slightly more awkward and dysfunctional. I felt so small for making him feel like however the hell he was feeling. I wanted to apologise‚ but I didn’t want to address it. Because addressing it would have meant addressing how he doesn’t see his son anymore‚ and addressing how no one has a fucking right to call me that.
I waited it out.
‘You said next week‚ right?’ Parker said‚ after what seemed like an eternity. His voice softer than I had ever heard it.
‘Yeah‚’ I said‚ matching his tone. ‘Next week.’
‘Okay‚ Jay‚’ he said‚ and I felt my stomach twist. ‘It’s late. We cannot achieve anything at this hour. I advise that you get some rest. I will speak with Sinclair in the morning and we will meet soon after. Same location. I’ll text you the time.’
I wanted to say something‚ anything‚ just to keep the conversation going until things were back to normal between us. But he had terminated the call.
*
After the Imam had handed us the tickets‚ Kevin had suggested that we celebrate‚ but we couldn’t exactly rock up at restaurant chanting Allah hu Akbar! So instead we’d decided to take a drive. Six of us bundled uncomfortably into one car. We could easily have taken a second‚ but everybody seemed too excited to split up‚ like they all had to be together to share and rejoice‚ like they were not willing to lose each other‚ not even for a mi
nute. I’d volunteered to drive just so that I could regain a modicum of control in a situation that was fast spiralling out of control.
Amirah was in passenger seat next to me‚ my hand on the gearstick‚ her hand placed on top of mine. I slipped my hand away and placed it on the steering wheel. I noticed her visibly bristle as she looked questioningly at me. From behind‚ unable to contain their excitement‚ voices overlapped‚ their breath hot in my ear.
I found that they had all attended training camps before. Parvez‚ you dark horse. The Parvez I once knew was lost. I wasn’t altogether shocked that he had attended. Just disappointed.
It was clear that this particular visit to the camp was going to lead to something huge. Something extraordinary. They all alluded to it without spelling it out. Kevin said shit like ‘Our time is coming’ and ‘It will be an historic event’. In fact that specific word‚ history‚ kept popping up. ‘Our names will go down in history’ or ‘We will write history’. Whatever the hell it was that they’d been talking about‚ it was going to wake up the world.
And Parvez was in the middle of it all.
50
I arrived at the garage first and let myself in. A Cisco conference phone had been placed in the middle of the table and I just knew that it was for my benefit. The garage door lifted and in walked a new face. A face that I knew could only belong to Major General Stewart Sinclair. Parker had told me little about him‚ but what little he did impart was full of praise. According to Parker‚ the Major General was a man to be respected‚ listened to and‚ most importantly in this game‚ trusted. He took two long strides forward‚ letting the garage door close behind him‚ and took in his surroundings.
‘I never did like this bloody place‚’ he announced. ‘But‚ it serves a purpose.’
‘Yeah‚’ I said‚ taking in his stripes above the breast pocket of his military uniform. ‘That’s exactly what Parker said.’
‘It’s very nice to meet you‚ Jay… Can I call you Jay?’
‘I insist on it‚ Major General.’
‘I’ve been hearing some sterling things about you.’
I nodded‚ not knowing how else to take the compliment.
‘What do you say to a cuppa?’
‘I say‚ yes please.’ I watched him line up four mugs and I wondered who else apart from Parker would arrive. Plus there was the conference phone‚ which made five. It seemed like this whole training-camp situation had made some very important people sit up and take notice.
The garage door lifted and‚ with heavy footsteps‚ in walked Parker.
‘Ah‚ Parker. Good timing‚ I just made you a cuppa.’
Parker nodded his thanks and turned around to shut the garage door when a voice said‚ ‘Hang on a tick‚ I’m coming in.’
Lawrence. Just as I had remembered him from our one and only meeting. Slicker than slick and confident with it. A ridiculously tight suit‚ which he somehow managed to pull off. He walked in‚ closed the door behind him and looked around.
‘Nice‚’ he said‚ looking at Parker. ‘Classy.’
He walked over to me and patted me heartily on the back. ‘Jay‚’ he said‚ stretching my name out as he sat opposite me. Sinclair placed a mug in front of Lawrence and offered him a canned smile. The factions clear.
‘Right‚ let’s not beat around the bush‚’ Sinclair said. ‘Lawrence‚ if you will.’
Lawrence put the phone on loud speaker and dialled a number. A quick beat later a woman answered.
‘Assistant Director Robinson‚ please.’ Lawrence said.
‘Right away‚’ she said and the next voiced we heard was Robinson’s.
Without preamble he asked‚ ‘Is Qasim there?’
‘Yes‚ Javid Qasim‚ Kingsley Parker‚ Teddy Lawrence and I are present‚’ Sinclair replied.
‘Good‚ good.’ The speaker bellowed. ‘Good to finally make your acquaintance‚ Qasim. So‚ what have you got?’
All eyes fell on me and I opened my mouth to speak but my voice deserted me for a second. I took a sip of my tea‚ just to collect my thoughts and find my voice.
‘I have been invited’ – is that the right word‚ invited? – ‘to attend a training camp with the rest of the group in Islamabad. The flight leaves next week‚ Wednesday. I have reason to believe that something… I don’t know‚ something huge is being planned.’
‘What makes you believe that this is the case?’ Sinclair asked.
Suddenly‚ feeling overwhelmed at explaining myself‚ I looked at Parker for help.
‘Jay was recently involved in a trip with Al-Bhukara‚’ Parker said‚ taking over. ‘They visited an arms dealer and successfully made an acquisition of ten sawn-off AK47s and ten Glock 19s. Coupled with the fact that the group is to fly out imminently for training…’
‘So‚’ Robinson said. ‘A gun attack.’
‘It seems so‚’ Parker said. ‘We have looked at known training camps in and around Islamabad but we have reason to believe that the camp in question is located about a five-hour drive south‚ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There is a training camp that shares grounds with Al-Qaeda‚ which we know that Ghurfat-al-Mudarris is affiliated with. That is the likely location.’
‘Are we positive‚ Parker?’ Sinclair asked.
‘It has to be‚’ Parker said.
‘Okay‚ good‚’ Robinson said. ‘Who will be in attendance? From the group?’
‘Most of them‚’ I said as all eyes fell on me.
‘And they are?’ Robinson said‚ irritation emanating through the speaker.
I looked at Parker. I still hadn’t told him about Parvez.
‘Yasir and Irfan Ahmed‚’ I said. ‘Kevin Strauss and Amirah Absar.’ Saying their names out loud in this environment made me feel sick‚ a sense of betrayal creeping in. But I just could not bring myself to mention Parvez.
‘And?’ Lawrence asked.
‘Hmm?’ I replied.
‘Parvez Ahmed?’ Lawrence smiled. ‘You forgot to mention Parvez Ahmed.’
‘Yeah‚’ I said‚ eyes briefly on Parker. ‘No‚ it’s just that he… You know‚ I’m not certain that he will be attending.’
‘Parvez has attended camp twice beforehand. Is there any reason why he would not attend a third time?’ Lawrence asked‚ with something close to a fucking twinkle in his eyes.
‘Until we can confirm‚’ Robinson crackled, ‘we will assume he is to attend.’
It was naïve of me to have been surprised that they knew about Parvez. Just because I hadn’t mentioned him before by name‚ it didn’t mean that they couldn’t find out. This was MI5‚ they probably knew everything about him‚ right down to the size of his Crocs.
It was time that I had a very difficult chat with Parvez‚ sussed him out and tried to get into his brain‚ see if I could somehow talk him out of it.
‘I will confirm with you as to whether Parvez is attending‚ as soon as I know‚’ I stated. ‘Until then we cannot assume anything.’ I looked confidently at each of them‚ daring them to challenge me. Nobody said a word. I looked down at the phone and Robinson stayed quiet too. I knew that they were not in a position to test me. I held all the cards and without me they could go fucking whistle. I looked up at Parker. ‘Tonight… I’ll confirm by tonight‚ okay?’
He nodded. Robinson mumbled something unintelligible and was roundly ignored.
‘And you‚ Jay?’ Sinclair asked‚ carefully. ‘We would like you to attend too.’
‘We’ll provide you with a secure line so that you are still able to communicate with us‚’ Lawrence chimed‚ before I had a chance to respond. ‘We are confident that your phone will not be taken away from you. Ghurfat-Al-Mudarris encourage the use of social media to raise awareness for the cause‚ it’s a known method for recruitment.’
‘It’s imperative that we are able to keep in touch‚ Jay‚’ Parker added‚ his tone the opposite of Lawrence’s. ‘Otherwise‚ we would not be asking this of you.’
/> ‘Yes‚ of course‚ Jay‚’ Lawrence agreed‚ now warming to the subject. ‘And just in case the situation allows‚ your phone will be set up with a built-in enhanced microphone‚ so that you are able to record directly onto an SD card and automatically send any conversations that may be perti—’
‘I need time to think.’ I had to cut him off‚ unable to get my head around secure lines and fucking training camps. I couldn’t give them an answer until I had spoken to that idiot. ‘I will also let you know about that tonight.’
A weird‚ heavy silence enveloped the room. Held back‚ as though they all wanted to grab me by the shoulders and shake me. Everything I had done for them to date was not enough‚ I knew that.
And then…. Lawrence pulled out a carrot.
He stood up‚ smiling‚ cocksure. ‘Jay‚ mate‚’ he said. ‘Come with me.’
Lawrence lifted the garage door and we stepped out.
Now it was my turn to smile. I hadn’t had much to smile about recently and my facial muscles strained and my jaw hurt. But nevertheless I was beaming. Because there she was‚ sat right in front of me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. That beautiful body‚ slender and sleek and oozing sex appeal. God‚ how I had missed her.
My baby.
My BMW.
51
All I had been able to muster when I clapped eyes on my Beemer was, ‘How?’
Lawrence had just replied smugly with ‘I pulled some strings!’ Yeah‚ whatever! I wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d had it all along and were waiting for the right moment to dangle it. I was starting to understand how they worked‚ and how they would manipulate any given situation to fit in with their agenda. I swiped the keys hanging from Lawrence’s hand and I was back in the hot seat. I started up the car and gunned the engine.
It. Sounded. Beautiful.
Lawrence appeared at my window and motioned for me to slide it down.
‘Well‚’ he said. ‘Happy?’
I looked around at my interior‚ my leather seats‚ my dashboard lit up with lights which I didn’t understand and nodded coolly at him. ‘Yeah‚’ I said.
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