Suleiman continued talking and pointed now at the two young men, still not known in the room.
"As you may have heard, another group of fighters from Syria has sworn loyalty to our leader Al Zawahiri. We support their struggle in Syria against Assad and they help us in our projects. These two orthodox young men and Abdul Karim, have brought us weapons we can use against the nuclear power plant for a decisive blow. Surface to surface missiles.”
He smiled triumphantly.
“By the way, they`re of American production. This US devils have provided them as their henchmen. But Allah’s ways are unfathomable and he has wanted them to come into our hands to teach a lesson to their vassals in Europe. And I can tell you that our brothers in Syria are furiously fighting back and Allah sends them more and more loyal fighters to join them. You see, we shall overcome on all fronts.
“If these dogs were smart, they would withdraw as soon as possible to their own countries. But what are they doing? They force us to begin a fight, they will lose.
“We fight to defend our countries. This is a worldwide battle until finally the victory will be ours. The attack we will launch soon will be a very important step forward to this victory.”
“Allahu Akbar!” all the people present shouted.
Then Suleiman continued, “The wind comes from West Southwest. Many people in Germany will be affected. The Germans want to be always loyal allies of the American Devils and they have become servile servants of the Jews. They will pay the price now. Many infidels will die tonight!
“We are surrounded by unbelievers who want to destroy Islam. Already a surah in the Koran says:
‘Neither the Jews nor the Christians be satisfied my friends, before you belong to their religion.’
“But we will not betray our religion, we will fight victoriously against our enemies! Against Americans and Europeans and against all their accomplices from Gulf countries and Arabia. These despicable creatures who should be custodians of the Holy places and betrayed them.
“Perhaps it is also Allah's will that some of us will die. But we will enter paradise and our enemies go to hell. 70 x 70 virgins await each martyr. The Jihad means for all the world blessings and peace at the end! Before dawn, we will pray together and then leave for battle!
“We have two prisoners, I've heard. Saleh and Anwar will remain here for a few hours. Maybe there will be a situation where we can use them for a prisoner exchange or otherwise as a hostage. You never know. Later during the day, I will give a final order what to do with them.
“Let us praise Allah!
“Spend the next few hours cleaning your souls. Wash your body and anoint it. At four o'clock, we meet for the Morning Prayer. If anyone has questions or would like to tell me something, he may now meet me personally.
“Allah we be with you!”
This short speech, held in Arabic, had deeply impressed everyone in the room. Now they stood up. Some breathed deeply. Saleh was the only one in this group who learned the Arabic language very late. But he mastered this language now. His face looked tense. Is it because he needed to focus strongly on his flow of words, or were there other ideas in his mind?
The other participants seemed excited, but full of anticipation. They were looking forward to the decisive battle. Anwar was already excited before the speech, but now he was rather disappointed, because the plan said his task was only guard the prisoners. He planned to speak personally to the great Suleiman.
The others shared their thoughts, what deep impression Suleiman's charismatic personality had left on them. They felt as heroes, fighters in the holy war. The brave and faithful Muslims would talk about their deeds forever. They all hated the infidels and cowards. They were not afraid of possible death and they needed not worry about it. If they sacrificed their lives in the holy war, the paradise with all its joys waited for them.
Nervously, but full of confidence, they looked forward to the day which would follow this night. It would be a great day in the history of Islam. An important step forward to the liberation of their people from the yoke of the oppressors and to provide the basis for a new caliphate.
********
Saleh looked thoughtfully out of the window into the night.
His thoughts and feelings flew to his wife, Fatima, who was now in an Israeli prison. This woman had taught him for the first time in his life what love and passion truly were. He met the young Hamas fighter in Gaza at the time, when he fled from Germany. It was different from all his erotic relations previously.
There were partners with whom he shared the ideology and the fight, and they had satisfied of course their sexual needs. That was all.
But with Fatima, it was different. She had completely taken possession of him from the first moment on. All thoughts, all feelings, all desires seemed to swing at the same level and this happened although they had grown up in very different conditions.
He was the spoiled upper-class boy from Germany, she the poor girl who was raised in the rubble in Gaza.
Of course, the fight against US imperialism connected them as well and the rejection of Israeli arrogance and exploitation. But--he smiles to himself--this woman would have just taken possession of him, even if she would represent totally different ideologies. Fatima made him almost a romantic person. He would have laughed only about a term as magic of love before he met her, but now this expressed exactly what does move him.
But their happiness lasted only two years. Then she was captured by the Israeli army and since that time she was in prison. He would do everything to ensure that she was free again and they both could live together. But even if they could not be together, he would sacrifice himself and die to get her free. The thought of her captivity was both a physical and a mental agony for him.
His whole life passed before his inner eye, while he looked into the darkness of the night. When he was younger, only rational thoughts and decisions counted for him. The human ratio played the biggest role. Feelings had to be subordinated. The rational reflection told him what was good, right and just, and that was all. His own feelings and moral scruples were secondary. They had to stand back. But now everything had changed. He made decisions from the gut, and he was willing to trust these feelings more than his earlier so highly valued ratio.
“Fatima, you made me totally confused. I am no longer who I have been,” he spoke quietly to himself.
He had observed Anwar during Suleiman`s speech. This young man was full of enthusiasm. Surely strong emotion was inside him, but only within the given lines of his faith and his ideology. Less favorably, you could say he was a narrow-minded fanatic.
Unconsciously, Martin/Saleh shook his head...Anwar was a person with whom he couldn’t do really well. For this man from Yemen, faith meant obedience. The emotionality that enforced the independent decisions of conscience, was not his thing.
Saleh left the House, looked up at the stars and thought about Fatima. He reached into his jacket pocket and assured himself that his cell phone was in operation.
He pondered so many things. Yes, they were in war. For him, there was surely no doubt who started this war, US imperialism. Under the pretext of bringing democracy and human rights, they expanded their economic and political power worldwide more and more. And their main goal was profit, nothing else. Financial capital and the oil industry dangerous enemies. And of course, there was a right of resistance, no doubt for him. But how far should that go?
Bruno`s remarks a short time before left impression on him, though he would not admit it. If the other side kills the innocent, is this justification to proceed in the same way or even more recklessly? He had no answer, but his concern about Fatima was still bothering him more than all other questions.
And he could not deny that the thought of their own prisoners was uncomfortable to him. He doesn`t care much about this Mr. Gerster. He didn’t know him and besides, he was probably a career-addicted manager, a guy he doesn’t like at all. But his old friend Bruno, he really l
iked him, and he had helped him in earlier days too, even from the direct arrest by the cops he had rescued him rather often.
Saleh was sure if things went well, and the prisoners had not even potential importance as hostages or anything else for them, Suleiman would decide to get rid of them. If they could be only a risk or burden, he would give order to kill them as soon as possible.
But how could he help Bruno? He had no idea! So many questions, so few answers. The others in the house were in a positive mood, looking forward to the day of the fight, as Suleiman has told them Martin stood completely alone in the night, looked at the sky, and waited for what was going to happen.
*******
Sandy couldn't deny that Andrea had a special effect on her. The tall, athletic woman impressed the young American in many ways. A strong, rather bitter beauty did not leave her untouched. She was impressed by the uncompromising way Andrea stood for her opinion and she was a daredevil full of courage. Andrea tried to convince her companions to wait no longer and not to request any help, but try a coup. She seemed not to be afraid of an unfavorable starting position and of the numerical inferiority.
“This evening we have been waiting for too long. Something like this should never happen again. We definitely have the surprise effect on our side. God is with the brave. Don`t you think so?”
She looked around and waited for approval.
But Sandy was still skeptical. “We have to be cautious and should not risk too much. The situation is doubtful and everything may overwhelm us. I think it`s a better idea that I tell my boss we need reinforcement. Three to four hours later we would have a totally different situation, much better for us and we could get everything under control.”
While Sandy spoke this way, she tried to imagine what Mike would say and how she could explain the whole situation to him. She surely had made a big mistake having not informing him hours earlier. But that seemed the smaller problem to her compared with the risk of an unauthorized action now. The trouble with Mike seemed to be the lesser evil.
But Andrea made fun of it and said, “Listen my darling. I think you are joking, your suggestions are fun. Waiting, waiting. We are in such crap because of waiting. Or maybe you think we need reinforcement because we are women? As women, we can act boldly too.”
During this she patted Sandy with her hand on the upper arm.
Sandy didn't understand herself. A part of her rebelled and thought that this all was totally unreasonable, what Andrea said. But on the other hand, Andrea had a charismatic influence about her. Sandy was well educated, in a better position and she was intellectually superior. But anything coming from her heart or below, that influenced her to trust Andrea nearly unconditionally.
Bian and Yvonne looked at Andrea. They were impressed with how Sandy seemed to accept her leadership. Yvonne, who was always the shy one, knew Andrea was the dominant type, but she felt that between Andrea and Sandy something else was vibrating. Bian feared for Bruno and fluttered from nervousness. She thought it great that someone took the lead and now they should act finally.
Andrea now put her arm around Sandy's shoulder and said, "We make it!” and looks deeply into her eyes.”
Sandy looked back into Andrea`s eyes. She couldn’t help it, the dominant attitude and the rough beauty of the young German woman touched her deeply.
Both seemed to feel the same positive vibes between them. Andrea said, “We will show these narrow-minded mullahs and carpet-slippers what we are able to do. Yes, we will. They think women are only there for domestic work and the satisfaction of men. Their countries are in bad conditions and why? Because the men are incapable of solving the problems, and they also refuse to take advantage of the creative potential of women. They have a sexual morality, which dates back to the middle ages. We are quite superior in Germany and even more I think in the United States. Very brave country and free, or what is it called again?”
“Land of the free and home of the brave.” These words were music to Sandy`s ears.
Yes, this simple, unadulterated attitude was just the right way to begin the fight against this primitive fanaticism of the Islamists. And a confidence grew in Sandy that they had a good chance to succeed without support from Mike.
Even Bian and Yvonne, who remained cautious, could not escape the momentum and the confidence that came from the other two. They also joined in the optimism. Yes, they would make it. There was no more time to waste. Who knew what else might happen in the next few hours. Therefore, especially Bian now required speed.
Andrea told the group about her plans. She wanted to now go alone and by foot to the farm and sneak secretly in, if possible, in the inner courtyard. There she would explore the situation, especially where and in what situation Bruno was imprisoned. Then she would come back to the others, report about the details and they would hit together, free Bruno and skip off as quickly as possible.
Sandy was not sure about the idea that her new friend would be alone on this exploration trip. She would like to join her. She knew Andrea was indeed bold and brave, but she also might be a bit too daring. But Andrea insisted on making this trip without company.
“It is better if you overview everything at the same time from here and look for the others,” was her proposal and then she added, “No, I go alone.” This sounded ultimately very determined.
Nobody spoke against it now. Howsoever, Andrea took sole command of the small group.
Finally, Sandy Andrea asked. “You can handle a gun?” As she confirmed, she gave her own gun in the hand of her friend without saying a word. She added only after an intensive exchange of views between them:
“Please take care.”
Then, Andrea went with a confident smile on her journey of discovery.
*******
In the midst of all the excitement, as the importance of the battle was clear to all, everyone became suddenly very quiet. Anwar thought of his father, who was dead for more than ten years. His father was a very simple man without the knowledge that is nowadays taught in schools and universities, but he rested in himself and in his belief in Allah and Muhammad his Prophet. Despite all his concerns, his father approved his son`s way to get a higher education and that he should go to the universities of the West to study there. He had summoned him but at the same time not to forget his roots and never to betray his faith. He heard in his mind even today his father speaking:
"My son, your father is old and sick. In a few years, you will have to be the protector for your mother and your brothers and sisters, and you're going to be the head of the family. Times may have changed, but Allah and its laws are eternal. Stand true to our faith and I can be forever proud of you. Whatever you do, act in a way following Allah and his Prophet and your family will be proud of you forever.”
Anwar felt even now a shiver of awe through his body when he thought of his father's words. He could no longer guide and care for his family, because they all came to death innocently through the ruthless attack of the American devils. But he could avenge them and fight in a way that would be an honor for his family and his father. Therefore, he joined the fighters for the cause of Islam. He didn’t know what his fate would be when the attack began in the next few hours. But he wanted to be in the very front line, even if it could cost his life. It would be an honorable death and he would go to paradise.
His thoughts went not only with to father but to his mother and siblings too, who were killed five years ago in an air attack. This attack should have targeted an Al-Qaeda camp, so the US propaganda said. And this was at least officially the version of Yemen government too. Yes, the attack probably had been carried out by Yemeni Government forces. But the information must have been collected by American drones, and there was obviously some miscalculation. Because an Al-Qaeda camp did not exist in this area, maybe that a single fighter had hidden there and the attackers consciously accepted that many innocent women and children were killed. And as he knew not only his whole family had been killed, brutally mur
dered, though completely innocent, others shared the same fate. And it was his task to take revenge.
It was basically not important, whether Yemeni soldiers did it on behalf of the United States, or the attack came directly from an US aircraft carrier. The enemy was obvious, it was in the United States, whether their servants in the Arab world were acting or they did it themselves. Anwar was proud to be a fighter of Al Qaeda and they will lead now a decisive blow against the Americans and their Europeans allies.
He knew his personal risk. He wanted to never be imprisoned. In this case he preferred to sacrifice his life for the cause of Islam. The Americans said they made war on terrorism, but if It was a war, we would be Prisoners of War, but they didn’t treat us like them.
Being treated honorably, would mean not to be forced to give evidence and certainly not be tortured. But if we were criminal for them, then they should let us have at least the rights that every criminal in the United States or in Europe has, the right to have a lawyer, the right to have a fair trial and following the principle “in doubt for the accused” they would have to be released if there was not enough evidence. But all this was denied. They weren’t treat us as criminals, nor as a soldier in a war. They treated us as dirt. Therefore, he would fight with pride and zeal and, if it was Allah`s will he would die as a martyr.
Anwar finished his thoughts and went to Suleiman to talk to him.
“Great Suleiman, it's a great honor for us, you're here. My whole family was killed by this infidel dogs. Please grant me the opportunity to take very special revenge. May I fight in today's attack in the front line. I will not spare my life in this battle for Allah and our faith. I feel it`s my duty to warn you and tell you this: suspicious people were following us very close. They must have been earlier near our hideout at this deserted place in Germany too, because we heard even a shot there. When we went here, we were pursued by two cars. They stopped at least a few hundred meters from here and I think they are still there. We must do something, otherwise our whole operation may be at risk!”
Whoever Kills The Innocent Page 7
