When they had just been led into the hall, one Arab excitedly entered the meeting room. He immediately rushed to Suleiman and whispered something to him. Suleiman was now very angry and gave instructions in a language the women didn`t understand. He yelled with a loud and angry voice. The Arab quickly left to execute the instructions. Everyone appeared at once in great turmoil. Now Suleiman turned to the three terrified women. Anger sparkled from his eyes and he spoke with a thundering voice:
“You`re lying, you´re sneaky women! You shouldn`t think you can deceive us. You're playing the innocent. But the latest information we have received proves there`s a far-reaching conspiracy against us. We know that at least one of you is an agent of the Americans. I give you the opportunity for the last time to stop with the lies!”
The three looked at him. Taking a look around, on a table nearby, they saw a short, very sharp knife and it looked very scary. They felt a shiver running down their spine. There was no doubt Suleiman and his assistants would have no scruples. Suleiman pointed now at Sandy and said:
“You're a U.S. agent, and we know! We also know that you tried to spy on us. We also know that you have smuggled a traitor in our ranks and you want thwart our action. But you have no chance. The traitor will pay a high price and a cruel punishment is waiting for him. You can save your life and the life of your companions by telling all you know. Talk now!”
Sandy was pale with fright. She would not betray her country. No, definitely not! She would sacrifice her life if necessary. But the life of her friends? Then she spoke in a firm voice:
“I'm Sandy, citizen of the United States, I live in New York. I came to Germany as a tourist. I met my two girlfriends here. One of them has a companion named Bruno. He suddenly disappeared. We want to find him. That's all I know.”
*******
Bruno and Andrea discussed back and forth what to think about Saleh/Martin. There were so many contradictory facts. He was obviously an important person to the terrorists and it was he who brought Bruno into this awkward situation. But he also helped them to hide here and he didn’t inform the other terrorists. Maybe his urgent advice was very useful to stay calm at the moment, to do nothing and take no risk, because soon something would happen that would change everything.
Perhaps he gave all these comments because he had secret background knowledge nobody else had. Maybe there was a specific reason he couldn’t talk about this?
But just waiting and doing nothing that was absolutely not Andrea`s thing. She wanted to do something to save her friend and the others.
“This could be far too dangerous!” Bruno interjected.
"They are much better armed than we are. I´m sure they are trained to use their weapons. And meanwhile they are warned and will be on guard. Of course I want to do something to liberate Bian and the others. But the more we discuss everything, the more I´m convinced our attempt would be something like suicide.”
Andrea didn`t like this view of the situation. But she admitted their starting position was very unfavorable.
While both passionately discussed what to do, the hatch above was suddenly opened and someone came down.
Bruno paled with fright.
Andrea had the gun in her hand.
But it was Martin. He came quickly down and closed the hatch over himself in a flash. He spoke now with a low voice but very nervously:
"Something has changed, they're chasing me too now. But I think we have a realistic chance to survive everything down here. This is a kind of secret door and a basement room they do not know. I've found it myself shortly before by chance. And since this empty farmhouse has been taken over by them only two days before, they probably haven`t found it and will never search for us here. Hopefully, the incident that will save us is coming very soon. Then we will survive in this shelter.”
Andrea and Bruno looked questioningly at him. They understood now even less than before. Bruno now turned to his friend:
"It's really time that you explain all details to us now, Martin. Who will come to save us or what kind of incident, do you mean? On which side are you really? On the side of the Islamists? On the side of the United States? Or what role do you play? What kind of game is this? Yes, we hope that Gerster, who is walking away from here, comes through and alerts the Belgian police, and he can explain them our situation and they will come as soon as possible to rescue us. But you're obviously thinking of something else? Then tell me!”
Andrea and Bruno clearly saw how uncomfortable Martin felt answering those questions. He still tried to avoid giving precise information and talked more generally at first.
"So basically, I'm always on the side of the revolution, and I want actually nothing to have in common with US imperialism. They will lose their war against the people of the Middle East in any case. They have not yet understood the real situation of the world nowadays. It is vice versa - as it was in the American Revolutionary War.
“At that time, pretty poorly organized people fought against the best army in the world, the British. They were by far militarily superior. The American army was beaten often. But they had one advantage, they were fighting on their own ground and never surrendered, so they did triumph in the long run over the strongest military power in the world. And now the roles are reversed.
“But if you ask me about my role, and what kind of game I play, so I can tell you that I have lost many illusions and after many frustrating and painful experiences. I am no longer a man dedicated to ideologies, I´ve been for so many years before. Today I know individual happiness and love are the only aims that are worth living for. They can give personal satisfaction. You may hope Gerster can call help from the Belgian police in time. But I have my doubts, this might be far too late. But you never know, perhaps they will come in time.
“I cannot explain what I in detail, what I´m hoping for myself. But I think my ideas are more realistic and could bring help faster.”
*******
Meanwhile, Gerster ran along the road. Only very seldom he met a car in his way. It was night and a lonesome area. That seemed to be the reason why people in their cars didn`t want to stop. He was desperate and in a hurry.
Something must be done very soon. Because even if his own life was saved, several people were still in the hands of terrorists. But above all he was driven by the knowledge that probably in a few hours the attack at the Tihange nuclear power station would begin.
He proceeded with fast steps. He did so in spite of the fact he was not sure in which direction he could more easily reach a village or at least an inhabited house. He could not phone because the terrorists had taken his cell, same as they did with Bruno.
But the young woman who had liberated him surely had a mobile phone and she could have called the police with it?
He was angry with himself now that he didn`t ask her. But he had been too nervous to think of this. He only was in a panic and wanted to run as quickly as possible far away from the Arabs. Sure, understandable, but now he was very upset about himself having been not more careful and thoughtful.
He wondered whether anyone at home or in the company had already given alarm, because he disappeared. But probably not, some would be slightly wondering why he didn't show up. His wife, who was on vacation with the kids, would surely start to worry because he hadn`t phoned and was also temporarily unavailable. But would she immediately call the police?
Police searching after him?
Immediately alarm?
This would take even one day more. No chance that an attack could be prevented this way. The terrorists would not wait long. Gerster was well aware of the danger. He knew exactly the effects of a nuclear meltdown in a densely populated region in Europe. Thousands would die in the short time. Millions would have a long-term health risk. It would be nearly impossible to supply the population with safe food.
He saw a car.
He jumped onto the street and waved his arms. The car was dodging; the driver seemed to be angry and continued to
ride.
Shit!
He must go on fast. He wanted to, he must prevent the disaster!
He regretted that this young woman called Andrea was not with him. First, she surely had a cell phone, second a car was more likely to hold if the driver saw a woman. Why didn`t he think earlier about these problems? The situation seemed to be hopeless and crazy. But now he got back to the track. He was free and up to now nothing was lost. So he tried to keep a cool head, walked on and hoped for a happy coincidence. It was still night! He was alone on this deserted country road.
Thomas Gerster would do everything to thwart the plan of the terrorists.
He felt weak and tired, hungry and thirsty. He thought a moment if it was better to sit simply on the side of the road and wait, hoping a motorist on his way reacted and stopped. But then an inner power drove him on, although every step was hard for him.
“I must do it. I have to make it!” He spoke to himself and again and again while he walked on.
After a painfully long time, he finally saw the outlines of a lonely house in the darkness. He sped up. But he felt painful side strokes now.
Finally, after a few minutes, he reached the house. At first, he was frightened. It almost looked like as if it could be abandoned. No light, the shutters closed. He searched frantically for a ring; he found it at last.
He rang again and again, knocked on the window shutters and called loudly:
“Help! To help!”
Finally, after almost a minute, a window opened in the upper floor, a head looked out and a woman's voice, which apparently belonged to an older person, asked him what was going on.
He told her, as far as it is possible in a few words fast, his situation: kidnapped by terrorists, they were planning an attack on the nuclear power plant in Tihange. He managed to escape by a lucky chance, now he needed help, police and more.
The old woman told him that she will immediately come down and let him into the house.
It felt like ages for Gerster until he heard her shuffling steps inside behind the front door and the door opened at last. The old lady was very kind and compassionate, tried to comfort him and asked if he would like to have something eat or drink. He might be but half-starved and totally dried out, she said. Gerster thanked her politely, of course, that would be very nice, but a phone would be much more urgent now.
“A phone? I don`t have something like this!”
She told him she lived here for more than fifty years, and she had not been in need of a phone for all that time. The postman came every day, some of the neighbors came occasionally with a bike and she herself sometimes walked to visit neighbors. Yes, her children believed that after her husband’s death three years ago, she should better live in a nursing home.
"But they will never get me there. Here is my home and if I will leave it one day finally it will be with the feet forward!”
Thomas Gerster was actually a polite person. But in this extreme situation, he nearly yelled at the old lady. She should finally stop with her talk and told how far the next house was where he could find a phone. But at this moment the old woman told him that she has something that might help him.
Her children had given her some time ago a mobile phone so that she could quickly call a doctor or else someone in case of an emergency. But she had never used it; she did not like such new-fashioned stuff.
Gerster looked at the phone and was sure that it was unused for years in the drawer. He tried to switch it on. Of course, the battery was dead!
"Do you have a charging cable for this?” he asked the old lady.
She looked at him questioningly, because she wasn’t sure what he meant. But she opened some drawers and searched slowly but carefully. At last she had something in her hand.
“So, do you mean this?”
Gerster sighed with relief.
“But I hope you have electricity here?” he asked now, a little bit uncertain even about this.
“Of course! We have it for more than 70 years. Here is the socket.”
Indeed, the cell could be recharged, and after a few minutes it worked and had network even here in this secluded area. Gerster dialed the emergency number of the police. Immediately he had an officer in the line. He excitedly wanted to tell his story. But the officer asked for his name, where he was and whether he was injured. Gerster asked the old woman for the address, gave his name, said he wasn’t injured, and explained the situation.
Kidnapped by terrorists, luckily escaped and now an attack on the nuclear power plant in Tihange was imminent and had to be thwarted.
Gerster felt the skepticism on the other side through the line. Probably, the officer wondered if he was a madman. Gerster was very well aware that people might possibly have this impression. At last he got the promise, that a police car would immediately come to the specified address.
Gerster protested, but his claim that the chief of police and the Ministry of Interior in Brussels should be informed immediately was useless, of course. But he was assured that the police patrol would be there in a few minutes.
Actually, it was clear to him they would not mobilize the whole police and every authority of Belgium on the telephone information provided by an unknown person.
But the bad thing was now they were losing precious time.
What were the terrorists doing in the meantime?
How much time was left?
*******
Sandy was prepared for Suleiman’s angry outburst after her assertion she was nothing more than a harmless US tourist. Or Suleiman would perhaps begin some kind of cross-examination? None of this. Instead Suleiman turned to Yvonne and Bian with the question: “Do any of you want to correct this liar and tell the truth now?”
He looked sternly in the face of both. But he got no response. Bian was silent, then Yvonne said with a trembling voice: “I don't know anything, really.”
Suleiman addressing now Yvonne directly: “So, you know nothing. But she there,” he pointed at Sandy," knows a lot certainly. You think she's your friend, this American bitch. We want to see how much your life is worth to her.”
When he pronounced these words in a frightening tone, Yvonne got soft knees, and Sandy was pale.
At this moment one of the Arabs came in and immediately went to on Suleiman. He reported in Arabic that they searched everywhere, but no trace of Saleh has been found. Suleiman’s face showed anger, but also concern.
"He is a traitor. That`s a matter of a fact. He should pay for it. But we`re in a hurry in every aspect. Maybe everything is at risk, perhaps even our attack on the power plant in Tihange. And this issue is of most importance. We are leaving in a quarter of an hour. So we can hit before the enemy thinks we will. And they will have no chance to stop us. But there are still ten minutes till then. And these ten minutes will be painful and unpleasant in every respect for these women.”
He said this to Anwar and then he turned with a dangerous smile to the three women. He gave a sign his two assistants. They quickly pressed the three in heavy old wood chairs and tied their arms and legs. He issued a short command in a foreign language that the women didn’t understand. Now one of the accomplices began his bloody job. He held Yvonne`s wrist with a hard grip. He took in a flash his sharp knife that looked like a small axe. Now a terrible scream of pain went through the room.
Blood flowed.
He chopped off one of Yvonne`s fingers!
Suleiman turned again to Sandy.
"That was only a first warning, so you finally realize, we mean business. You will not have to wait long for the next step. You will be beheaded one after the other. We will start with the woman who got already a finger chopped off. Or did you decide otherwise? Perhaps now you want to tell the whole truth American, bitch?” he said to Sandy.
Sandy was even more frightened and felt shaken.
She looked at the terrorist holding the sharp sword in his hand. Her rational mind and what she learned about such situations, told he4r just don`t lose s
elf-control and never panic. But easier said than done. She was not able to control her panic. It was not only fear of death, but also the feeling of being responsible for the others. As a result, she was mentally vulnerable now. Her mind told her even if she said everything, what she did know, their chance to survive would not become bigger.
But just watching how Yvonne and Bian were brutally slaughtered? She could not stand this. But she had to decide within seconds. She looked at the blood, then closed her eyes. But still she heard everything. Yvonne`s cries of pain were filling the room.
Sandy immediately opened her eyes and exclaims;
“Stop! I tell everything!”
Suleiman gave a sign to his assistant and a gag was put in Yvonne`s mouth so that her cries were not to be heard, and a gauge bandage was put on the wound.
“Speak and tell us everything you know!” Suleiman said to Sandy now. “But no lies or tricks!”
Okay, my name is Sandy Alderman. I work for the CIA. We have a group working in Neuss, a total of six people. It was one of my tasks to observe Saleh. Then I realized that the taxi driver Bruno had intense contact with Saleh and Anwar.
“We knew that someone of the Al-Qaeda leadership should come here. All three persons observed by us suddenly disappeared from the scene. I searched for them. Without any connection to me the two others here did the same, and so found each other. More or less by chance we discovered the place in Immerath where Bruno was captured. When the two prisoners were brought here, we followed with two cars. I haven`t had any contact with my supervisor for almost twenty-four hours. I think he doesn`t know where I am and what's happening here.”
After she made this statement, Sandy felt terribly bad and somehow better too at the same time. She felt bad because she had given all the information to the enemy. But she felt better because she no longer feared Yvonne or Bian would have to die, and she might have been able to prevent it.
Whoever Kills The Innocent Page 12
