“If they don’t kill me first, they’ll use me as a bargaining chip for something they want. I think I’d rather die than survive under their imprisonment. You guys…” He pointed toward the children with his weapon, holding his breath. As he released it, the corporal turned back to the window. “Use the gun if you have to. You’ve got nothing to lose. You’re a worthless female infidel who came here to corrupt the Afghan women. Keep quiet. Save your weapons until absolutely necessary. They won’t search you if you pretend to be terrified.”
“No problem there.”
“Get ready.”
Slipping over to the basket she’d seen earlier, Tessa pulled the rags out and found one the size of a small tablecloth. She tossed it to Bonnie. “Wrap this around your head and face.” She found a dirty long-sleeved shirt which looked like it had been a uniform shirt in another life. “Put this on over your blouse.” Next she dug in her backpack and found a pair of socks. “Cover your feet.”
“My feet?” Bonnie wrinkled her nose and appeared to inspect the shirt for bugs before slipping it over her head.
“No skin showing. See the girls?” Tessa pointed at the little ones so Bonnie would notice except for the upper part of their faces, they resembled cocoons. The earlier decision to wear extra layers to hide her body in order to show respect proved to be a good decision.
“You. Inside. Come out with rifle over your head.” A man’s voice spoke in broken English.
Silence hung like soaked blankets.
“No one is coming for you.”
Tessa peered past the soldier. The man talking held his rifle on his shoulder, like a squirrel hunter from the hills of Tennessee. Her uncle had carried his gun the same way. Determining the man’s age at this distance proved futile. His black turban appeared to be smashed on his head like a rotting squash. A black patch covered his left eye, reminding Tessa of a pirate.
“I am Massoud. You know me?”
The corporal glanced at Tessa. “The guy is in charge of some heavy drug trade. Didn’t know he lived in these parts.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “Compared to him, the other Taliban might be Boy Scouts.”
“Great. Now what?” Tessa breathed.
Massoud laughed loudly as he twisted his body around, motioning at his men. “You come to take our children. I think I will stop you.” He paused, and when they did not respond, continued, “The government woman.” He extended his hand outward, palm up toward the little house. “Maybe I will take her.”
A cry squeaked out of Bonnie as she cowered farther into the corner.
With a quick pull of the trigger, the corporal shot several of the Taliban. Massoud managed to jump behind a rusted-out truck maybe used for target practice by a drone. Tessa let a scream slip out then retreated to the corner where the others covered their heads. Their crying created more chaos as Tessa squatted down next to them and placed her hands over her ears.
When return fire began, the American soldier sprayed bullets as well. Shells clinked against each other as they flew up into the air, leaving the smell of gun powder. He reloaded faster than Tessa thought possible in such circumstances. She heard groans when other Taliban caught a bullet. She wondered at their training. Did they believe they were invincible?
Sudden silence unsettled her. Then the soldier slammed backward to the floor. Tessa screamed as she fell forward into the girls, their little hands pulling her closer. She struggled to roll over. Seeing the soldier lying on his back, blood pooling on his chest, Tessa pushed up with clumsy determination. She stumbled to his side and squatted next to him.
Peering at his shattered shoulder, he pointed toward the door. “They’re coming in.”
Chapter 10
T he sound of splintering wood and unfamiliar voices in a tongue she couldn’t understand had Tessa taking the soldier’s hand in hers. He shook his head then pulled free.
“No. Get over there with the others. I don’t want you hurt because of me.”
Tessa’s hands shook, silent tears creating trails down her face as she stood.
“Go. Now,” he croaked.
The door split around the hinges. Grunts and yelling continued as the furniture slid across the floor. The door fell in against the pile of worthless pieces forming a barrier. The reprieve lasted a couple of minutes before a man’s face appeared in the window.
The women and children screamed once more as he climbed in through the opening. Peering at the soldier incapacitated on the floor, their attacker shouted something to his fellow Taliban and pushed through the window. As his feet hit the dirt floor, the soldier grabbed up his gun, firing into his chest and jerking him around. Once he fell, the soldier fired toward the door.
Tessa had no way of knowing if the soldier’s action was buying them more time. She could only hope for such a miracle. Another Taliban pointed a rifle through the window and fired at the soldier on the floor.
The soldier became still. This time, the Taliban pushed through the flimsy barricade without interruption. Without acknowledging the females in the room, they slammed the broken furniture into walls and threw it across the room, clearing the space in front of the door. The bearded men propped the door, now hanging by one hinge, open and stood back.
Massoud entered and took a casual glance at the soldier on the ground then spat a stream of words at his followers. Tessa watched in horror as two of the brutes grabbed the limp soldier by his arms and dragged him outside. A hero deserved better, even in death. Paralyzed with fear, Tessa couldn’t force out a protest. Just as well. It would be a shame if the corporal died in vain because she got them all killed with her insolence.
Massoud dressed better than the others or maybe his white shirt created a sharper contrast. His brown hair poked out from under his turban in a couple of spots. Taking into consideration this land could take a twenty-year-old and make him look forty, Tessa gauged him to be in his late thirties. Afghanistan sucked youth out of people almost from the time they were born. His beard showed no signs of gray like the others, though. The black patch succeeded in creating an impression of evil. The other eye reminded Tessa of a rat’s on an unremarkable face pocked with scars. He stood an inch or so taller than Tessa, yet he cast a much larger persona.
“Hello.” Massoud’s voice carried a slight British accent. “Which of you is the government woman?”
Tessa dropped her gaze to her hands.
When his silence drew her intimidated glance, he squatted in front of her. She could smell his body odor. “Is it you?” She lowered her gaze again, but his hand snaked out to grab her chin. As he jerked her head up Tessa felt compelled to stare back into the speckled green of his eye. “So is it you?”
Shirin’s little sister, Pamir, pointed to Bonnie then cocooned herself again.
Massoud turned his head toward Bonnie but kept his hand on Tessa’s chin. “And why would you not speak up for blue eyes?” He turned his gaze back on Tessa. “Who are you? Do not try and trick me with words. You can tell I speak very good English. Now. Who are you?”
She pulled back as Massoud withdrew his hand, but remained squatted in front of her. His thin lips puckered.
“These little girls were coming back to Kabul. The orphanage here could no longer support them. The village is poor and they were a burden. There are people in Kabul who can take care of their needs.”
“Do you mean the American military?”
Tessa made sure her head scarf covered her mouth as she spoke. “They came to help us take them back. I’m here so the girls would have a chaperone. It would not be fitting for them to travel alone with the soldiers.” Massoud raised his chin to stare down his nose at her. “There are aid groups helping Afghan women and children during this war between us.”
“These girls would be educated?”
Tessa imagined the mental slippery slope looming ahead of her. “They would learn to take care of themselves for the future.”
He turned his head to the side as he reached out to jerk Tessa�
�s scarf from around her face. Startled, she flinched back, trying to readjust the scarf, but Massoud caught her hand. He turned it over in his before laying his other hand over her palm. Tessa grimaced when he moved to push the scarf to the back of her neck.
“Look at me, woman.” His voice sounded serious, controlled, and confident. His grip tightened. “Now.”
She couldn’t resist opening her eyes wider when Massoud moved his face inches from hers.
“You should not have come. Are you afraid?”
“Yes.” She hoped the simple answer would have a positive effect on this man’s macho ego. “We are all scared.”
Massoud turned to his men standing near the door then tilted his head back at Tessa. Her Pashto was poor, but when he spoke slowly she comprehended a few words that sounded like, “Safe. I take this one.” With quick, jerky movements Massoud pulled her scarf back onto her head then across her mouth. His quick inhale as he stood made Tessa dare to glance up at him.
“The soldier. What will you do with him?” Tessa knew better than to speak but couldn’t resist.
He shrugged. “He will die soon. He killed several of my men protecting you. Now I must take revenge first on him then on them.” He extended his hand toward the rest of the girls. “Education is not good for women. You are an excellent example of that. It clouded your judgment when you come here. No place for an American woman. Afghan women know their place.” He turned to go.
“Serve the men. Yes, I know,” Tessa mumbled then sucked in her breath in horror.
Massoud turned back to her. “It is good you know this. It does not give me pleasure to discipline.” His voice showed no emotion, but Tessa imagined below the calm exterior beat the heart of a monster. She remembered hearing those words before, someplace.
When he turned toward her with his good eye showing, Tessa knew he’d been in the embassy the day they arrived. There had been loud voices coming from the ambassador’s office. With the door cracked open, she’d caught a glimpse of a man with slicked-backed hair the color of mud. He wore a suit with a long robe hanging around his shoulder much like the president of Afghanistan. Compared to the ambassador, Massoud appeared short, but intimidating nonetheless.
“It does not give me pleasure to discipline,” were the same words Tessa had heard at the embassy.
Massoud shifted his attention to the other woman. “You come here.” Bonnie’s eyes were the size of saucers. “Now,” he demanded.
Tessa stood and pulled her to her feet. She helped her over the children before squeezing her hand as a warning.
He told his men to leave the building. They complied in quick order before Massoud turned back to Bonnie with a scowl. “You work for the ambassador.” She denied it with a shake of her head. “Liar.” His whisper reminded Tessa of a warning from a rattlesnake. “I saw you with him.”
Tessa sucked in her breath at the revelation.
“American women sleep their way to the top. Is that not so, Undersecretary Finley?”
Tears poured down the woman’s face as her body shook against an attempt to hold tight the sobs in her heaving chest.
“Bonnie, what is he talking about?” Tessa spoke from the corner of her mouth. “What’s going on?”
“Tell her, Bon-nie.” The name sounded slow, like pouring water into a sink. He took two steps toward the undersecretary and yanked the dirty scarf off her head. “It seems the ambassador has a small drug problem. The man does enjoy his heroin.”
“I didn’t know,” Bonnie insisted.
“Of course not,” he mocked.
Tessa noticed the children stand and stretch their frail bodies. She lifted Arzo into her arms. Several others buried themselves against her. Even Shirin stood close.
Massoud observed the teen with his one good eye then spoke to her in Pashto. The words Tessa understood when Shirin mumbled were “help, good, song.” He grunted at her words then rubbed his chin as he frowned at Tessa. “You teach these children songs?”
“Yes,” she responded a little quicker than she intended. “They were frightened. I want them to feel safe. I care for them very much.” Tessa shifted Arzo to her other hip. “They are hungry. Do you have food?”
Massoud yelled something to the men outside before turning back to Bonnie. “You want to take these children to Kabul then to America.”
Bonnie shook her head no as she backed against the wall.
“Yes.” Tessa made her voice flat. Why lie when he already knew the truth. “They were to get an education then return in a year. I think, because your country won’t allow adoptions, their host families will send thousands, maybe millions of dollars to this country in order to keep them safe, continue their schooling, and prepare them to make a difference.”
Massoud glared at her as his forehead pinched in confusion. “Then why let them go in the first place? They are Afghans. Exposure to the West will turn them into whores.”
Tessa kissed little Arzo then touched the top of Pamir’s head. “I believe the Afghan government thinks the money will roll in and they will line their pockets. They are corrupt.”
This made Massoud choke then laugh like a growling pit bull. “An honest woman. Why would you tell me this?”
Taking a deep breath, Tessa met his one eye with hers. “Because you already knew the truth.” She wanted to take the focus off Bonnie, realizing the woman pushed back into the mud bricks as if hoping to become invisible.
“Yes. The government is corrupt, as you say. Not any different than the Taliban when it comes to being ruthless. Your country pretends when they leave, all will be as it should be.”
Tessa set Arzo down. “I know. They try to change things, make life better but…”
Massoud’s expression revealed contempt. “But we are a backward people. Sheep following whoever has bigger guns.”
Tessa agreed. “Sheep living in constant fear and poverty. You want to be left alone.”
“That is not the fault of the Taliban.”
“According to the Koran, it is the place of every Muslim to protect the innocent, the weak, and those who can’t fend for themselves.”
Massoud arched an eyebrow at the remark. She wondered if he understood he’d just been chastised. She didn’t avert her eyes this time. If his plans involved torture or killing her, then these girls would know one woman had stood strong against the Taliban.
“Are you a Christian?”
“I am.” She raised her chin to show pride. “Both our religions share the same great leader Abraham and the one true God. My faith demands I help others, as does yours.”
“What do you know of Islam?”
“I know one of the Five Pillars of Islam is you give alms to the poor. Charity is good works.” Tessa bowed her head to appear humble although her hands trembled. “I don’t care what the government does with the money. I care about these children.”
Massoud turned his attention back to Bonnie. “And you? What do you care about, government woman? Are you getting”—he paused—“kickback from the ambassador?”
“No. Never.”
Massoud leaned in to Tessa and stage-whispered. “Every week after the ambassador has his meeting with the base commanders of the area, he lets me know the safest route to take my opium. In return, I pay him a fee and provide a few samples. I think he has become quite wealthy. It works for both of us. She lies when she says she is not involved.” He shrugged. “The ambassador did not want a partner, I think.” His amused expression fell on Bonnie.
“Then why have you come here? Do you plan to hurt us? These children are innocent. I beg you to take them someplace safe.”
“The government lady discovered the ambassador’s little secret. She wanted in or threatened to turn him over to the military.” He flaunted a crooked smirk toward Bonnie. “It was always about the money. The ambassador made deals with the Afghan government, too.”
“Bonnie, is this true?” Tessa grew irritated. “You made deals with the Taliban to get drug mone
y?”
“It wasn’t like that,” Bonnie insisted.
“Then tell me the truth,” Tessa snapped.
“The woman is a liar,” Massoud whispered as he pushed away Tessa’s head covering again. He touched the blonde curls falling around her shoulders. “I said I would not deal with a woman.” His voice grew serious as Tessa shied away from his touch. “You understand. She is an infidel. The ambassador got skittish. I said I would handle it. Then someone else walked in on us. He promised to handle you.” His mouth widened as he coiled a curl around his finger and inspected the lock.
Bonnie sucked in her breath. Tessa could see the gravity of knowing the ambassador set this whole thing up, sink in on her as she chewed her bottom lip. He’d also gotten a Marine killed.
“I must tell you.” He continued to smirk at Bonnie while holding Tessa’s hair in his hand. “He did not hesitate to give you up.”
Tessa cringed as Bonnie lost any remnants of common sense and unloaded a barrage of insults concerning Ambassador Jarvis. She raised her hands toward the ceiling as the curses kept coming. Her professional, lady-like demeanor vanished.
Massoud pulled Tessa’s scarf over her head as his men returned with small portions of food. He pointed toward the children. The food was dispersed, the children finding spots on the floor to nibble their meager scraps. When Arzo offered Tessa part of hers, she refused. Shirin pulled off half of hers for Bonnie who snatched it. Massoud grabbed it away from her and returned it to Shirin.
“You are a vile woman,” he snarled at Bonnie before turning back to Shirin. “How old are you?” She dropped her head, trembling. “Speak!”
“Fourteen.”
“My brother is almost thirty. You will be his wife.”
“No!” Tessa blurted before she could cover her mouth. “I mean, please, no. She is only a child.”
“Many girls this age already have children.”
“She has a gift. Please.” Tessa found the drawings on the shelf and brought them to him. “See? If she goes to Kabul, maybe even the United States, she will bring honor to the Afghan people with the beauty she creates.”
The Enigma Series Boxed Set Page 80
