Heart of the Assassin

by Robert Ferrigno

  Crews jabbed a finger at the front row and Karla Jean grabbed Gravenholtz's arm.

  "Aztlan gods are dark gods. Gods that drown children. Gods that snare travelers, hook 'em up and hang 'em high. Gods of fire and gods of mud, lizard gods and rabbit gods and scorpion gods too...but no Jesus Christ in Aztlan. Not a word. At least Muslims revere Jesus. He may not be the son of God, to the folks in the Republic, but they sing his praises almost as loud as Muhammad himself. We got to remember who our real enemies are, brothers and sisters. We got to keep that thought in our hearts and minds. So when Aztlan says, 'Give us the Colonel,' well, I hear the crowd in Jerusalem shouting for blood. I hear the crowd screaming to Pontius Pilate, 'Give us Jesus! Crucify him!'"

  Karla Jean squeezed Gravenholtz's arm tighter.

  Crews shook his head. "Not this time. Not now. Not ever. Aztlan wants to try the Colonel for his sins. They want to drag him to their capital city in chains. They want to bend him backwards over a stone altar, tear his heart out and offer it to their gods. Their gutter gods." Crews listened to the people in the audience raging and sobbing. "That's right, we won't let that happen. Not this time. Not this time."

  "Not this time," repeated the crowd. "Not this time."

  "Not this time," said Crews, voice rising. "Not this time!"

  "Not this time!" shouted the crowd. "Not this time!"

  Karla Jean released Gravenholtz's arm. Smoothed his sleeve. "I am so sorry, Lester. I must about cut off your circulation."

  "No...I liked it. Made me feel like I was taking care of you."

  Karla Jean nodded.

  "After the sermon..." Gravenholtz cleared his throat. "Maybe you'd like to get a drink."

  "I don't drink spirits."

  "We could get something to eat then. If...if you want."

  "I like ice cream."

  Gravenholtz smiled. "So do I."

  Karla Jean clung to him. "You should know...I'm not ready for anything boy-girl right now. You know...I just would like to go have some ice cream with you."

  "Sure. Me too."

  "I don't like being rushed."

  "Me neither."

  "I knew I could count on you. I knew it the first time I laid eyes on you." Karla Jean lowered her eyes. "I got a weakness for gingers. My husband...he was a redhead too."

  Gravenholtz watched a single tear fall into her lap.

  "I don't really feel much like ice cream," said Karla Jean. "You're not mad, are you?"

  "No."

  "I'm going to go home now." Karla Jean looked up at him. "You planning to be at the service day after tomorrow?"

  "If you are," said Gravenholtz.

  "I surely am. Maybe...we could go out for ice cream then."

  "I don't want to push you."

  Karla Jean looked into his eyes. "No...I'll be ready by then."

  CHAPTER 23

  "Your boy has fast reflexes," said General Kidd as Michael and a slightly bigger boy circled each other in the courtyard, swordfighting with sticks. The sound of their battle echoed across the dirt, their bare feet kicking up dust. Mothers sat in the shade, tending to infants, laughing and gossiping--all were modestly dressed, their chadors banded with color, some with their faces veiled.

  General Kidd and Rakkim sat cross-legged in the grass at the edge of the courtyard separated from the other men, watching the children's combat. Michael the only white face, smudged with dirt, intent as any of the others. The Somali section of the capital was clannish and heavily guarded, most of the men Fedayeen, always alert for outsiders. Rakkim was welcome here--the few times he attended mosque, he accompanied Kidd to the small, plain mosque at the center of the district.

  "See?" Kidd pointed as Michael deftly parried the bigger boy's aggressive attack, always ahead of him. "See how he anticipates Shakur's movements? You've been teaching him."

  "He's quick," said Rakkim, wary. Compliments came from Kidd's mouth as rarely as profanity.

  "Very quick," affirmed Kidd. "He takes after you."

  Michael feinted, drew the bigger boy off balance, speared him lightly in the chest. The boy cried out, not from pain, for it was but the briefest of contacts, but from surprise. The boy hung his head as the mothers applauded. Except for one tall, slender woman, whose white hijab perfectly framed her beautiful black face, making her beauty even more stark. She watched the boys without betraying any emotion.

  Michael put his arm around the bigger boy, who shoved him away. Michael pretended not to notice. He suddenly broke his fighting stick over one knee, squatted down and started poking at an anthill. The bigger boy hesitated, clutching his own stick, finally bent down beside him. Michael handed the boy the other half of his broken stick, and together they amused themselves with the ants.

  "He's smart too," said Kidd as the bigger boy draped an arm over Michael. "That he gets from his mother."

  Rakkim smiled. "It's true."

  Kidd didn't smile. "Dangerous for a man to have a wife smarter than he is."

  "I'll take the risk," said Rakkim.

  "You need another wife," said Kidd. "At least one more. Three would be better."

  "I can barely keep up with one," said Rakkim.

  "I have a daughter, Irina," said Kidd. "She served us tea."

  "She's very lovely," said Rakkim.

  "She's fifteen and in good health," said Kidd. "She'd make you a good wife."

  Rakkim looked into his large, liquid eyes. "Sidi, I'm honored, but--"

  "A warrior needs more than one wife," said Kidd, "and I would be greatly pleased to make you part of my family."

  "I feel like I am part of your family."

  Kidd shook his head. "It is a matter of blood, Abu Michael." He took Rakkim's forearm, squeezed. "Your blood mixed with mine. It's important."

  Rakkim stared at him. He was missing something. "Important...how?"

  Kidd released him. Watched the two boys. They were playing tag now, dodging through the smaller children, whooping it up, but deftly avoiding contact with the toddlers.

  "Sidi, what are you trying to tell me?"

  "I have fourteen sons living," said Kidd, still watching the boys. "All warriors, but it will be Amir who will follow me in leading the Fedayeen. Amir may be challenged, but he is ferocious, widely renowned...and he has the respect of the president."

  "When that time comes--and I'm in no hurry to see that day--when the time comes, may Allah grant Amir the wisdom to do what's best for the Fedayeen and the nation," said Rakkim.

  "Amir is not suitable for the task." Kidd's eyes hadn't left the boys. "You know that as well as I do."

  "He's young."

  "His youth has nothing to do with it." Kidd half closed his eyes. "There is something wrong with him, there always has been. He is...a drum with a hairline crack, sound under most circumstances, but struck too hard..." He shook his head. Pointed at the two boys working at the anthill. "Shakur is Amir's oldest son. Amir loves him as he loves his own life. Even so, when Shakur's mother tells Amir that not only did another boy defeat him, but that it was your son who did it, Amir will beat him until he can't move."

  "They're five years old."

  "That won't matter to Amir," said Kidd. "All that matters is that Shakur and Michael fight again, and this time Shakur will have to win. If he doesn't...there is no telling what Amir will do to him."

  "And all of this is because I snatched Amir's knife from him? I didn't mean to."

  "There was no malice in your actions, I know that," said Kidd. "You did it because you wanted to stop Amir from escalating his demands to fight...and he would have done just that. He would have killed you that day if he could. You saved his life by taking away his knife, and that he will never forgive you for."

  "Why does he hate me? I've done nothing."

  "Amir is jealous of your skills...and there is another thing." Kidd touched his chest with his palm. "This other thing is my fault. Not yours." He raised his head, his profile stoic as he watched a toddler on the other side of the courtyard
trying to walk, the child falling over and over, each time rising again. "Amir knows that I favor you over him. We have never spoken of it, but he can see."

  Rakkim felt as if there were a warm egg in his throat.

  "I want you to take over the Fedayeen when my time is over," said Kidd.

  "That's impossible," said Rakkim.

  "Not if I say so."

  "A shadow warrior at the head of the Fedayeen?" Rakkim shook his head. "Most of the brothers distrust us."

  "You are not a shadow warrior, not anymore," said Kidd. "Did you really think I couldn't see the change in you?"

  "Then what am I, sidi? You tell me."

  Kidd stayed so still that he could have been carved out of ebony. "I'm not sure. By Allah's grace and wisdom, I am not sure, but one thing I do know...you are the best one to lead the Fedayeen. The nation is in peril from within and without. If I falter...if I fall, you must be ready to take up the blade and carry on."

  "You'll have a revolt within the ranks if that happens," said Rakkim.

  "Your brother Fedayeen will rally around you soon enough...and those that don't...?" Kidd shrugged.

  "How will Amir tolerate the shame of being passed over? He's your son."

  "The pain Amir will feel will also be shared by me," said Kidd. "You have only one son, Rikki. When you have more you will learn that you don't love them all equally. Mothers may love their children without limit or hesitation, but not so for men. Me...I may favor you to lead the Fedayeen, but I love Amir more than any of my sons."

  "You'll break his heart."

  "And break my own at the same time. I'd do it willingly to save the Republic."

  "You think the Republic is at risk?"

  "Ask Sarah," said Kidd.

  Rakkim watched the dust clouds roll across the playground. "Sidi?"

  "Yes."

  "When we first sat down for tea and dates, Michael played with the other children. Shakur was not here. You whispered to your daughter when she served us...and a few minutes later Shakur joined in the games."

  Kidd sipped his tea.

  "You sent for the boy, didn't you?"

  Kidd set down his teacup. "Michael needed a playmate close to his own age."

  "You knew what would happen when the two boys started playing...knew where it would lead." Rakkim fought to keep the edge from his voice. "You set your grandson up for a beating, so that Amir and I would be forever at each other's throats."

  "You were already at each other's throats, you just didn't want to admit it. Now you know." Kidd popped a papery date in his mouth, chewed lustily. "Interesting news this morning. The whole city is buzzing."

  "Yes."

  "A fortunate turn of events, wouldn't you say? Here you and I were concerned whether Senator Chambers was in thrall to the Old One, and now that problem has been resolved." Kidd smacked his lips, reached for another date. "Barely a week before his appointment as secretary of defense too."

  Rakkim slurped his tea. "Allah works in mysterious ways."

  "Allah? Perhaps." Kidd's large white teeth flashed in the sun. "I woke up for dawn prayers to find that Senator Chambers was caught staggering down the main street of the Zone, drunk and buck naked...the uncensored video is everywhere. Everywhere. You should have heard my wives giggling." He patted Rakkim on the shoulder. "Sad to say, in regard to the instrument of procreation and pleasure, Allah was not generous to that poor white man."

  "Hung like a hamster," said Rakkim.

  "Yea, verily."

  The toddler learning to walk managed a dozen steps before falling over. He scrambled up, face scratched, clapping his hands with delight. Then he started walking again.

  "Chambers has already resigned from the senate." Kidd licked his fingers clean. "Still...such humiliation seems a small price to pay for betraying his country. You should have killed him."

  "I'm tired of killing."

  Kidd toyed with another date, rolling it over his fingers.

  "It comes too easy now. I barely have time to think and it's done."

  Kidd tossed the date back into the bowl, wiped his hands. "You're tired of killing...but killing is not tired of you."

  "What is that? Some Somali nursery rhyme?"

  "Cool your anger, Abu Michael, I meant no insult," Kidd said gently. "Death walks beside you, that's all I'm saying."

  "Oh, that makes me feel a lot better."

  "Death walks beside you, but you are not his slave. Another man might have killed Chambers. I would have killed him." Kidd's eyes shone with humor. "Instead, the naked senator retires to his country estate...to spend more time with his family."

  "Sidi...isn't that punishment enough?"

  Kidd clapped him on the back, the other men craning their heads to see what was so funny. Kidd stretched out his long legs, rolled on his side facing Rakkim. "The president called me just after the news broke. Sounded like he was still half asleep. He asked me to recommend someone for secretary of defense. He seemed to be in quite a hurry."

  "He should have done that the first time."

  "You don't correct a president, Abu Michael, you merely compliment them on their wisdom in seeking your counsel." Kidd stroked his beard. "I suggested Joseph Vinh." He nodded to himself. "Vinh's merely adequate as a strategic thinker, but we served together in the Great War. I trust him. Right now, that's the most important thing."

  "Putting Vinh up for defense secretary solves our immediate problem," said Rakkim, "but the bigger problem remains--who suggested Senator Chambers for the position? Who did the president trust enough to heed his counsel? That's the Old One's mole. That's who we need to find."

  "Senator Nichols mentored the president when he first went into politics...they remain close," said Kidd, "and Jason Fletcher lavishly funded his campaigns...they still play golf at least once a month."

  Michael and Shakur wandered off together, dragging their broken fighting sticks in the dirt. Michael suddenly raced ahead, Shakur giving chase.

  "Love your children while they are young, Rakkim, hold them close," said Kidd, his eyes on the two boys, "because they grow up soon enough, and then...then they have no need of you."

  CHAPTER 24

  Mullah Jenkins saw one of ibn-Azziz's bodyguards slouched in the shadows at the south checkpoint leading out of the city, the man cleaning his fingernails with the tip of his knife while the regular patrol checked IDs. If it wasn't for Jenkins's enhanced night vision, he would have never spotted the man. The wind kicked up, a storm coming in fast. He turned into an alley and started running, his black robes flapping around him like bat wings. A member of ibn-Azziz's personal retinue at the south checkpoint, another one at the eastern checkpoint. Had to be a reason and Jenkins didn't like the answer he'd gotten.

  He raced down the alley. Should have left with Rakkim when he had the chance. Should have left on his own long before then. He would have liked to convince himself that he stayed because he thought he had more work to do for General Kidd, but that wasn't it. He hadn't left that night because he was afraid Rakkim would kill him as soon as they were off the bridge. He could see it in Rakkim's eyes, a barely restrained moral outrage, a mixture of disappointment and disgust from his former pupil. Almost as great as the disgust Jenkins felt toward himself. He should have taken the risk and left with Rakkim. Even if Rakkim had killed him, that was better than falling into the hands of ibn-Azziz.

  Something had gone wrong. Something to draw suspicion to him. Had he been too merciful? Yes...yes, the schoolgirls, the damn schoolgirls. He should have refused Rakkim's demand. Burned them all. Now, look at him, running for his life because Rakkim had a soft heart. The killer with a soft heart. Jenkins tried to laugh but couldn't summon the humor, his laughter as dried and atrophied as ibn-Azziz's mercy.

  With late-night prayers finished, the streets were nearly deserted. No place to hide. His apartment was a death trap. He had an emergency refuge, a small room in an abandoned building near the old marina, but it was better to escape the city now
, any way he could.

  He forced himself to slow, head high, robe billowing around him, as befitting a cleric of his station. Ibn-Azziz had no reason to believe that Jenkins was aware of the danger he was in. The order to pick him up had probably been sent out only to the guards at the checkpoints. If that failed to snag him, a more general order would be sent out at first light, his image shown at every mosque during dawn prayers. Then no refuge would be safe. Nor would anyone risk angering ibn-Azziz to help him. All these years in New Fallujah, and there was no one he could call his friend, no one who would shelter him. The price of being a shadow warrior was that intimacy was a threat. You built your life on a construct of deceit, a house of lies that collapsed with the slightest pressure.

  A door opened in the alley, and two men stepped out.

  Jenkins froze, heart pounding.

  The two men looked at him, fell to their knees. "Mercy...we ask mercy."

  Jenkins saw that one of them had a lit cigarette in his hand. Doubtless they had slipped out of their lodgings to smoke in secret.

  The man tossed his cigarette to the pavement, crushed it underfoot. The other stayed on his knees, head bowed.

  Jenkins let them simmer in their sin for a few moments. Mercy too quickly given would be suspicious. He watched as they trembled before him, waiting for his decision.

  "I know your names," Jenkins lied. "See that you double your donations at mosque tomorrow morning."

  The man who had tossed his cigarette attempted to kiss the hem of Jenkins's robe.

  Jenkins kicked, knocked him backward. He heard the door to the alley slam, drew the hood of his robe tight around his face. As he was about to leave the alley, he heard a car approach and Jenkins shrank back, hugged the wall. A dark green car with two Black Robe enforcers inside drove past, though whether they were looking for him or for sinners, he wasn't sure.

  He waited until the car's taillights disappeared before crossing the street. He headed toward the Bridge of Skulls. There was a small boat dock under the bridge, a dock available only to the Black Robes patrol units--the boats used to cruise the bay, looking for lights on after curfew or to intercept smugglers bringing in contraband. The storm would keep boats docked, and the guards huddled in their shacks. Taking one of the boats across the bay to safety would be dangerous in this weather, but the very risk made it less likely that ibn-Azziz would have the area under surveillance.