The Isle of Devils HOLY WAR

by R. C. Farrington

  Savage yelled back, “Do you think we’re bloody idiots?”

  The Arab replied, “Who are you, and why have you trespassed?”

  Savage snapped back, “We’re just a couple of tourists from the cruise ship who’ve lost their way. What the hell are you shooting at us for?”

  The Arab laughed and said, “You Westerners are all alike. You will pay for your transgressions.”

  Storm elbowed Savage in his ribs and said, “We need to get our butts out of here, and then try to find Krack before they kill him.”

  Savage replied, “The only way we’re going to get out of here alive is to crawl along the base of this hillside and try to clear that chain link fence before they see us.”

  Storm asked, “Then what? It looks like a dead end to me.”

  Savage snapped back, “Just follow me, mate, and don’t ask questions.”

  The two crept along the wall and over the chain link fence and were out of sight in no time.

  Casemates or Bust

  Savage and Storm were now trying to escape the storage tank grounds with their lives. None of the terrorist shots had been heard from anyone at the Dockyard due to the loud band playing. The duo had not been detected as they made their way to the shoreline. Once there they made their way through the old dump that was on the ocean side of Casemates; then they were in the clear. Hiding behind some old rusty buoys Storm asked, “What now?”

  Savage replied, “Well, we’ve got two problems now, mate. First those bloody terrorists know we’re here. Secondly, we’ve got to get Krack out of Casemates before those Arabs kill him. Any rate, let’s sneak into the small shipyard between here and Casemates then look for a way in.”

  Storm added, “Good idea. It looks like they’re still looking for us on the other side of Casemates.”

  Savage agreed and added, “Follow me, mate. We’ll climb over this wall and drop down into the shipyard.” Both men helped each other up the wall which was an old elevated access road that connected Casemates to the Commissioner’s House. This road had not been used in years. They quickly moved across the road and jumped down into the small shipyard. With the full moon the view of the Casemates wall was very clear, but to no avail. There just didn’t appear to be any way for the duo to scale the towering forty foot wall of Casemates from this side.

  In frustration Savage and Storm sat down behind a sailboat that was up on blocks. Savage asked, “What in the hell are we going to do now? There’s no bloody way to scale the walls on this side. It’s at least forty feet high.”

  Storm looked around; then cocked his head back looking straight up into the air. He smiled and said, “I’ve got it. It’s easy.”

  Savage watching Storm knew exactly what he was thinking. He said, “You’re bloody nuts! It won’t work.”

  Storm smiled and said, “Don’t worry old man. When I get in I’ll send down one of the terrorists to open the front gate for you.”

  Savage snapped back, “This old man will take care of himself. You get going, and I’ll be right behind you.”

  Storm’s plan was risky, but simple. The sailboat they were leaning against had a tall mast that extended at least fifteen feet above the outer wall of Casemates. The sailboat was also sitting within twenty feet of the tall wall. Storm’s plan was to climb up the mast, and once high enough cut one of the halyards and swing over the wall dropping into Casemates. It was risky, but it might work. Storm scrambled up the mast. Once he was well above the wall he reached out and grabbed one of the halyards and cut it with his pocket knife. He tied a double knot at the end of the rope to help him grip it better. He took the rope into both hands and yelled out, “Geronimo!” Storm pushed off from the mast swinging wide and within seconds he had passed over the wall. Storm could see that he had cleared the wall and without hesitation let go of the rope flipping over backwards and landing flat on his back just inside of the Casemates wall. Lying on the ground with the wind knocked out of him, it seemed like an eternity before he could get up. Finally Storm got back to his feet and looked over the wall, waving his arm to Savage that everything was fine.

  Savage looked up seeing Storms signal started whispering to himself, “Oh crap! Now I’m going to probably kill myself. I’m glad I left my family a note.” Savage climbed up the mast very slowly and carefully. Once he was high enough to be able to clear the wall he took the rope and yelled out as he swung, “Look out below!” Savage did not get a good kick out with his swing and just barely cleared the Bermuda stone wall. By the time Savage let go of the rope he was already on the backswing. Savage hit the top of the wall like a ton of bricks. It took every ounce of energy Savage had to hang on to the outside of the wall. The forty foot drop would be the end of Savage.

  Storm yelled out, “Hang on!” He jumped up to the wall and grabbed both of Savage’s wrists.

  Just when he was about to help pull Savage back over the wall he heard someone walking up behind him and saying, “Infidel, get off that wall before I put a bullet through your head.”

  Storm whispered to Savage, “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

  Savage huffed back, “Not to worry, mate,” as he clung on for his life.

  Storm pushed back as hard as he could with his arms. As he flung his body backwards he kicked out his legs. While spinning he managed to deliver two kick blows to the Arab’s head in rapid succession. The Arab went down, but he was only dazed. He still managed to stand back up and release the safety on his Ak-47. Before he could pull the trigger, Storm grabbed the Arab’s head and snapped it sideways killing him instantly. Storm turned and went back to the wall. He grabbed Savage’s hands and began pulling him up and over the top.

  Savage, a little shakily said, “Mate, thanks for the hand. I thought you left without me.” He looked over to see the lifeless body on the ground and asked, “Who’s your friend, mate?”

  Storm replied, “That’s the terrorist that just about did both of us in.” He bent over and picked up the AK-47 saying, “Well, at least now we have a gun.”

  Savage spoke up, “Storm, we better get moving before one of his mates comes looking for him or us. We’ll go up those stairs over there that lead up to the next level where we can surely find a way into Casemates.”

  The two quickly ran up the old Bermuda stone stairs with rusty cast iron hand rails hoping to enter Casemates undetected.

  Who’s Watching Who

  The two reached the top of the stairs and quickly decided to move north along Casemates to look for a safe way into the fortress. The windows all still had iron bars on them left over from the prison days of Casemates. The two could not help but peek through some of the old cell windows as they crawled by. There was still old graffiti all over the cell walls from prisoners from the past, but there was also a new disturbing graffiti that the two had noticed as they moved by each cell window. Savage finally stopped and whispered to Storm, “What the hell is it with all these drawings of cobras doing vile things? Three windows back I saw a cobra wrapped around the Statue of Liberty with its fangs dug into her neck. Two windows back I saw a cobra shredding an American flag with its fangs. Now this drawing has cobras swarming all over the western countries of the world. What’s this fixation with cobras?”

  Storm whispered back, “Well, mate, I’ll bet you a million bucks that these bloody terrorist call themselves Cobra. The terrorist at the hotel also used the name Cobra.”

  Savage replied, “You think so?”

  Storm smiled and added, “Yeah, I think so. When we get inside I’ll ask the first terrorist we see if he doesn’t try to kill us.”

  Savage snapped back, “Ok, smart ass. Let’s get moving before we’re spotted.” The two continued crawling along the wall looking for a safe way in.

  As they turned the corner on the back side of Casemates Savage threw his arm back trying to stop Storm. Savage pointed up to the old prison guard tower and whispered, “Look, Storm, there’s a guard keeping an eye on the old prisoner exercise yard.”
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  Storm whispered back, “He must be looking for us. Do you thing we can still sneak by without him looking down and spotting us?”

  Savage gave a thumbs up and started to move as close to the wall as he could. Savage hadn’t moved ten yards when a voice from above yelled out, “Stop! You in the shadows! Identify yourself.”

  Savage froze not moving a muscle just in case the guard was not really sure of what he saw. The guard fired a couple of warning rounds into the dirt just in front of Savage. Savage knew he had no choice now, but to step out into the open. He turned to signal to Storm what he was about to do. Storm replied with a nod. Savage stood out into the open with his hands up in the air and yelled up to the guard, “Hey mate, is this the way back to the cruise ship?”

  The guard yelled back, “Shut up and drop to your knees with your hands behind your head.” Storm was using Savage’s stall time to get a bead on the guard. Before Savage could drop to his knees Storm fired off a single shot from his AK-47 hitting the guard in the chest. The guard fell backwards into the guard tower, and all went silent again.

  Savage turned to Storm and said, “Good shot, mate, thanks. We better keep moving before someone else spots us.”

  Storm replied, “Let’s do it then.”

  The two continued along the backside of the Casemates. As they turned the corner around the other side it was easy to see that most of the terrorists were still on the outer wall looking for them in the gas storage tank facility. Savage stopped, nudging Storm then saying, ” See down the wall where the small bridge on the second story of Casemates connects to the outer wall?”

  Storm replied, “Yeah.”

  Savage continued, “There’s a door below the bridge. That’s where we’re going to get inside. Follow me, mate.” In the shadows the two slowly made their way along the wall, finally making it to the side entrance under the bridge. To their surprise the door was unlocked.

  Storm looked at Savage as he turned the door knob, “Well, I guess they weren’t too worried about us getting this far. The terrorists didn’t even bother to lock the door. Storm and Savage entered the short hallway into Casemates. They crept to the end of the short hallway where it intersected with the main hallway that ran the length of the barrack.

  Once there Storm asked, “Now what?”

  Savage, a bit irritated replied, “You sure ask a lot of bloody questions.” Savage stopped talking. He had just heard a familiar voice down the hall. Savage added, “I can tell that accent from a mile away; it’s Krack down the hall. Follow me, but keep on the lookout.” The two moved quickly down the short end of the hall. At the end of the hall they turned in the direction that the voice was coming from. Savage looked through the barred door, and sure enough, it was Krack sitting on the bottom level of the bunk bed in the cell. Savage whispered through the bars, “Well, Krack, it looks like you got yourself into another fix.”

  Krack was very surprised to see Savage and Storm. He jumped up striking his head on the upper bunk. Standing up and scratching his head Krack said, “Mon, what in the hell do you mean I got myself into another fix? I wouldn’t be in this mess if you two hadn’t forced me to come along with you.”

  Storm interrupted the two, “Excuse me, guys, for asking this. Krack, who locked you up?”

  Krack replied, “It was Hooda and his goons.”

  Savage chimed in, “Where are they? Are they out looking for us?”

  Krack whispered back, “No, they went upstairs to talk.”

  Savage smiled and said, “Don’t go anywhere, Krack. We’re going upstairs and will come back and bust you out in a bit.”

  Krack snapped back, “Don’t forget these terrorists are only going to kill us.” Savage nodded and waved at Storm to follow him. Just about ten feet from Krack’s cell was an old spiral staircase going up to the next floor. It was apparent that this ancient staircase had been covered up for years. The doorway was very jagged where the stone and plaster wall had been removed recently. As they went up the tight Bermuda stone spiral staircase Storm was overwhelmed at the over one hundred fifty year old architecture of Casemates. This old barracks had been frozen in time. Storm had never been in a magnificent old structure like this one. Before Storm knew it, he was back to reality. They were now on the next floor.

  Savage whispered to Storm, “It sounds like they’re at the other end of the barracks in that big room at the end of the hallway.” They quietly stepped in and out of old jail cells as they made their way down the hallway. Only taking seconds to glance around each cell that they entered it was obvious that the occupants were sleeping on mat on the floor and not the old bunk beds. Most of the rooms had anti-American graffiti all over the walls. In one room they found a multitude of weapons including pistols, AK-47’s, grenades, knives and dynamite. Savage stopped for just a second and picked up a couple of grenades. He turned to Storm and said, “Just in case we have to blow our way out of here.”

  Storm replied, “Just as long as you don’t blow us out of here.” Storm now took the lead as they reached the end of the hallway. They quickly slipped into the old spiral stairwell at this end of the barrack. This way they could hear what was going on in the room next door and still escape up or down the stairwell if necessary. The two began to intently listen to the occupants in the next room.

  The room was an old officers reading room, but it was now Sheik Hooda’s office in Casemates. From here he had full view of the old exercise yard for prisoners. This is where his fellow terrorists trained daily. Hooda was sitting at his desk with the window behind him. Three of his officers were also in the room. Hooda turned to his number one officer Imad and said, “Did your men find the other infidels yet?”

  Imad replied, “No, Hooda, there is no sign of them. They must have escaped.”

  Hooda slammed his fist on the desk yelling, “What kind of an organization is Cobra if it can’t even dispose of three intruders? How in the hell can we carry out our plans of destruction against the West if we can’t even eliminate these infidels? ”

  Imad added, “One is our prisoner now, we will find the others tomorrow if they have escaped. I promise.”

  Hooda turned to one of the other officers in the room and said, “Go assist your men with the search.” The man turned, and luckily for Storm and Savage, he went straight down the hallway.

  Hooda went on to say, “By next week Cobra will be well on its way as being known as the most dreaded terrorist organization in the world.”

  Storm whispered to Savage, “Somehow we have to find out what these terrorists are up to and then alert the authorities.”

  Savage agreed and said, “You go in there and ask Mr. Hooda his plan, and I’ll watch your back.” Before Storm could reply Hooda began speaking again.

  Hooda continued, “Tonight I want to finish loading the tanker; so tomorrow if the weather is permitting we can leave this so called paradise. Get all your men busy. We have work to do.” Nothing else was said as everyone stood up and prepared to leave the room.

  Savage looked back at Storm who was standing down two steps and said, “We better get the hell out of here just in case they head this way.” Just as Storm turned to go down the narrow stairwell he was hit in the side by the butt end of an AK-47.

  A voice yelled out, “Drop your weapons, evil ones!” Instantly Storm reacted kicking the terrorist in the side of his head and knocking him back down the stairwell.

  Before Savage and Storm could move on down the stairs, one of Hooda’s officers yelled out, “The infidels are just outside the door! Grab your weapons and kill them.”

  Savage heard the Arab and yelled at Storm, “You better get your butt down those stairs quickly. I’m going to leave these terrorists a present.”

  Storm knew exactly what Savage was about to do and went scrambling down the stairs like there was no tomorrow. Once Savage saw that Storm was in the clear he reached into his pocket and pulled out one of his grenades. Savage jerked out the pin with one hand and flipped the grenade into t
he hallway before charging down the stairs. Unfortunately for Savage the Arab entered the hall so quickly he accidently kicked the grenade down the stairwell. No sooner had Savage made it down to Storm than the grenade stopped on the last step just behind him.