In the Lap of the Gods

by Tony Criddle

  “Look where the nose is on the horizon Lil. If I yaw or I’m heavy on the cyclic it changes, and if I do we need a bit of power.”

  He demonstrated as he talked. “Okay, you have the cyclic.”

  She held it gingerly, with his hands were fairly close. The helicopter wandered over the length of a football pitch. He’d expected that.

  “Okay, I have it.” She’d been trimming madly and there was a heavy force on the stick. He neutralised it. “Okay, try again, but keep your thumb away from the trim this time.”

  And it wasn’t long before she could hold it within a small back yard. “Right Lily, have a rest.”

  Nick split the controls again and this time gave her the collective and rudders. That was easier for her. He kept the machine steady, anticipating occasionally on heading with minute touches on the pedals.

  “Right woman, have another break, then you do it all.” Laleh looked at him doubtfully, but he grinned at her. She wriggled her body more firmly into the seat and Nick reminded her about tiny movements. Initially his own hands and feet were close to all the levers.

  Laleh wandered a bit, climbed and descended a bit, and yawed a bit too, but not by much. Within five minutes she hardly deviated at all, and a quick glance told her that his hands were now completely clear. He deliberately scratched a shoulder and was casual about taking control back. Nick explained what and why he was doing what he did as he air taxied to the hangar and shut down.

  This time, she didn’t jump out while he knocked off the switches but Nick didn’t really notice that she was still in her seat with her eyes closed until after the shutdown. He hopped out and went around to un-buckle her. She hugged him tightly and started to cry when he helped her disembark.

  “Easy Lil, you did better than most of my students did after a half a dozen flights.”

  A belligerent, protective Sinclair was there at about the same time. “What the hell have you said Nick, she’s crying?”

  Laleh turned to Jock, the mascara running. “I’m fine Jock. I’m just so happy that’s all.”

  “Aye, well that’s all right then.” He still sounded suspicious.

  Nick dragged a handkerchief from a pocket and carefully dabbed the tears away.

  “It didn’t hit me until we were coming in. No woman in this country will ever get a chance to do what I’ve just done. There won’t be any women scientists or engineers, and no lady pilots, police or doctors either. Nursing other women is about all they’ll be able to do. I suddenly realised how lucky I am, that’s all.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  They took some more leisurely flights into the rolling hills the following week. Nick Evans had Laleh fumble through the start sequence and air taxiing on those, then some landings and take-offs, and she proved to be pretty competent at that too. Farhad got a ride up to see the higher pastures on the second one, but Sinclair pleaded work and declined. The Pakistani team shook their heads in unison. Nick had expected that too, he’d never been able to get them airborne.

  The Tehran trip was on them before they realised it. Imran would be going so he ate with them, and although Laleh wouldn’t be going this time she still sat close enough to Nick to be joined at the hip. Inevitably they all looked to him now to pull it together.

  “Right. The Canadian Embassy is on Shahid Sarafraz, between the Brits and Abdul’s place, so we’ll do the British Embassy before we hit the Canadians. We’ll need some official company documents for that bit as well Jock. There shouldn’t be any trouble if we have them with us.”

  “Aye, well Abdul wouldn’t want us to turn up with two vehicles either, so me and Imran will take off back here with it after he visits the main railway station.”

  “I was going to suggest that. Just you and me to Abdul’s Fred, and we’ll see if we can park away from his house. We won’t stay long, but with several different religious groups in Tehran he may have something new. Have you got everything you need?”

  Laleh answered first.

  “I typed a letter to Minu at the airfield but I’m still sorting a few photos out. I’ll give them to Farhad after we’ve finished here.”

  Farhad nodded. “I’ve jotted down some questions for Abdul as well Nick. I don’t want to forget anything either. There’s a small park less than a half kilometre from his house, so we can park there.”

  Nick looked up. “Can you occupy yourself Lily?” “Mohammed and Sarah are going up to help Baraz drench some sheep for worms and I’m going with them. I’ll have plenty to do.”

  “Okay guys.” He raised his glass. “Let’s hope the trip’s worth it.”

  They got going early the next morning, with Amini in his turban and carrying a passport belonging to one of Imran’s men. Nick drove sedately but they were still at a sun-washed British Embassy by 9.30.

  Imran stayed in the vehicle when the others piled through plush glass doors emblazoned with a rampant lion and unicorn. It took Gerry Hawkins only a minute to get to the lobby desk, and he was just as quick ushering them into an empty conference room. A pristine, highly polished table and chairs took up most of the space, with an overhead projector pushed into a corner, and thick, heavy drapes cutting out any daylight. It was a place to work, not relax in.

  Nick introduced the Iranian to the diplomat. “This is Commander Farhad Amini formerly of the Imperial Iranian Navy, Gerry.” The full title was deliberate, it always impresses the Brits. Gerry Hawkins thrust out a hand,

  “Farhad or Fred will do Gerry.”

  Nick elaborated. “We were friends at Dartmouth some years ago, but if I say his middle name is Reza you’ll understand the problem.”

  Hawkins nodded towards the Persian.

  “I’m sorry Farhad, but you do realise there’s nothing the embassy can do in an official capacity.”

  “I realise that Gerry. What about unofficially?”

  Gerry Hawkins demurred, his level gaze raking each of them quickly. “We’re still hoping the bans will be lifted soon and we get a few flights going, but we’re not getting many of our own nationals out yet, so let’s say it’s forced us to look at a few alternatives.”

  “Is it likely they’ll lift the bans soon?”

  “The Americans have kept up the financial squeeze so the hostages are still in the Embassy Nick. It’s anybody’s guess. You’ve got some Pakistani lads on your crew as well, haven’t you?”

  Nick nodded. “Four came in by train straight from Pakistan.”

  “Okay, but if this ever gets out we’ll deny it. I’ll give you some information about the rail system that isn’t general knowledge, and you can do what you want with it. One of our SIS blokes did a bit of snooping a few weeks ago. He’s a true blue British Arab, but a Coptic Christian. It’s still accurate as far as we know.”

  “Anything will help at this stage Gerry. We’re a bit stumped. We’re in the middle of a bloody huge country with about sixty million people in it, and we aren’t sure how to go about this.”

  “Okay. Currently trains run from Tehran to the Turkish border three times a week and to Pakistan twice, and anything that is happening is still restricted to Tehran and a few of the bigger cities around the Caspian and the Gulf. There isn’t much happening anywhere else, although paper checks are fairly stringent in Tehran and on the border. If you don’t board the train in Tehran and walk the last few miles at the other end, you should be okay.” Hawkins let them digest that first then cleared his throat.

  “Apart from the official exits into Turkey the border is pretty porous. It isn’t patrolled much, it’s far too isolated, and the Pakistanis are mainly Muslim so the eastern border posts can be pretty casual as well. If the tickets are bought by someone with a legitimate reason to do it, then that’s all the better. I’ll nip up in a minute and get more details for you.”

  “That’s pretty useful stuff and we can work on it if we have to. There’s one more problem though Gerry. Farhad has his sister with us.”

  “The same would apply Nick. A shortish
walk beats losing your frigging head.”

  “I’ll put it different mate. Laleh and I are together. It’s not to get a flight out Gerry, it’s permanent. We really are together. If I go anywhere, she goes with me.” He said that almost defiantly.

  Surprisingly Hawkins smiled. “Well it’s about bloody time you got corralled like the rest of us. So what do you want? I certainly can’t do anything about getting you both out yet.”

  “I know, but is there a way we can make this look official. Make people think. Give her some protection?”

  Hawkins pursed his lips then his face cleared. “We anticipated ex-pats needing something like that so we drew up some screeds on embassy paper, all dutifully signed and stamped by the Ambassador. We type in an appropriate middle bit. I can produce something along the lines of a recognised de-facto relationship between you and that you’ve been requested to attend embassy formal and social occasions as a couple. Is that what you mean?”

  “That would be perfect if you can do it Gerry.”

  “Okay, and if she always wears a chador or at least a head scarf when you’re anywhere Arabic it would make it easier for you as well. We’ve noticed the regime’s a bit funny like that. They brought in all these rules then got cagey about breaking them. If you obey the directives they’ll leave you alone. Is that it?”

  “Sure is. We’ll do a top up and get out of your hair.”

  “Okay Nick, see George in the bond. I’ll nip up and attend to the other stuff.”

  Nick Evans, Sinclair and Amini were fifteen minutes stocking their vehicle, and Hawkins skipped down a central staircase only a few minutes after. He held two large envelopes.

  “I’m handing these to Nick, Farhad. He’s a British subject, and what he chooses to do with them after you leave here is entirely up to him.” Hawkins was talking quietly because several people were transiting the large entrance foyer. He smiled when he passed the buff envelopes to the pilot.

  “I’ve put the original of your letter on file Nick, so it will hold up anywhere, and Abdul knows you’re coming and is quite looking forward to it. Fair winds and a following sea my friend.” Nick thanked him profusely. They both suspected that they might never see each other again.

  The Canadians had been expecting someone for weeks and the duty officer was relieved when Nick rocked up. He was with them in two minutes flat. Nick flashed his ID, and explained, and the Canadian confirmed that they’d got Webster out of the country weeks before. They’d been expecting a company representative for some time, so after Nick signed a formal release he got the bunch of keys.

  “You probably saw the vehicle when you came in Mister Evans. We disconnected the battery and the tool kit is still open in the back. Have a safe trip Sir.” Nick nodded his thanks. The battery took two minutes to re-connect and the Cherokee fired on the third attempt.

  “You take the one with the booze Jock, I’ll give this one a blow-though.”

  “Okay laddie. Take care and we’ll see you soon.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  He knew the way now so it didn’t take long to get to a leafy, shaded Sultanabad Road. He drew up in a small suburban recreational area that was like any city parkland area he’d ever seen. A few rough-wood tables and benches were set apart from a couple of swings and a climbing frame with a layer of wood chips on the deck with a lot of timber around it. Some of the trees were evergreen and fecund, but some had shed their autumn foliage, and looked naked, emaciated and forlorn. They waded west through the leaves and ducked into the drive.

  It was Abdul who opened up to the chimes. He hugged Farhad and stuck out a hand to Nick Evans, but when they stepped into the large, comfortable lounge Minu hugged them both. Farhad passed over Laleh’s letter before she glided off to make tea, while he and Abdul went into a huddle. They quickly lapsing into Farsi, and Nick had never been into languages. He gazed around the expensive, ornate room, admiring what were almost certainly genuine antiques.

  Minu took a while before she re-appeared with a tray, and Nick pumped her about the subtle, stylised pieces and the meanings of their subdued decorations while he drank. The other two barely noticed, nor that their tea was poured. They were still talking when a thick skin stained the rim of the delicate ceramics as it got cold. Minu shrugged and addressed the pilot.

  “Come Nick. Walk with me in the garden.”

  Nick lumbered to his feet and waited for her to open sliding glass doors.

  The house was in the foothills and the garden was watered by a heavy run-off from the Elburz’s, and was luxuriously greener than was normal in winter, though still too early for flowers. Minu threaded her arm through his as they ambled the crushed brick paths.

  “My little Laleh seems to be thriving down south Nick.”

  “She’s fantastic Minu. Almost over her nightmare. I thought she’d need months of counselling, but I was prepared to wait because I knew that couldn’t happen until we got out of Iran.” He felt a bit embarrassed. “I’ve never met anyone remotely like her before. She seems so free, yet in other ways so committed as well. She doesn’t leave you wondering about much either. Certainly lets you know what she’s thinking.”

  “According to her letter it’s all because of you. Her actual words were, ‘he carries me where I would never dare fly alone.’ She’s not talking about the helicopter Nick, although she’s obviously enjoying that too. That’s pretty heady stuff. She seems to be very much smitten with you.”

  “If she is, I’m really glad Minu. I didn’t know many relationships that worked before so I’ve been wary of getting my feet wet, but with her it’s not an issue. I’ve got a feeling we’ll still be like this when we’re in our seventies.”

  Minu inclined her head. “I know that Laleh feels that way, but I’m not sure she realises you do yet. Did you see the photos she sent?”

  “Not really. She and Jock were snapping away but I was a bit preoccupied.”

  The older woman took the envelope from a skirt pocket and passed over four Polaroids.

  The first was of Laleh grinning in the cockpit, and the second a semi-formal shot with her arm though his. There was nothing but white sand and purple hills anywhere else, but in the third they were wrestling playfully on what was obviously the settee in his house. She was trying to pin his shoulders to the fabric, and both seemed to be laughing out loud.

  But it was the fourth that was more than poignant. They were nibbling at each other while looking intently into each other’s eyes, but neither seemed aware that the camera was aimed at them. Nick looked through them again before he handed them back.

  “Those are how we are all the time Minu. Any day, just different parts of it. I took the one of her in the cockpit but I’ve never seen the others before.”

  “What is special to me is that she’s fallen for someone outside her own culture, someone she can feel a woman with again, someone who she can respect and be respected by Nick. It’s what she needed, so please don’t hurt her. She could never return to the inhibiting days of her youth.”

  “Well, I don’t know what to say really. She’s certainly much more physical than I expected an Iranian woman to be, so I do know that an arranged marriage would never have stood a chance with her. I reckon there can’t be many like yours and Abdul’s.”

  Minu smiled gently. “Ours wasn’t arranged Nick. Abdul was at Guys getting his Masters, and I was at LSE getting a Nursing Management Degree. We met, fell in love and lived together in London for three years. We wanted our families with us when we did get married though, so we left that bit until we got back here.” Her smile broadened. “The bump was fairly obvious when we did.”

  “I’m sorry Minu. I just assumed that.”

  She smiled. “Both our fathers were old fashioned and thought they should have arranged it, so they had a few problems at first, but our mothers soon whipped them into line. If you’d seen the grand-dads bouncing their first grandson around later you’d have thought it was their idea anyway.” Minu rubbed his a
rm.

  “Okay Nick, we’d better return, I need to write Laleh a short note.” The pair sped back, obeying signals when they could and protecting themselves when they couldn’t. They cleared Tehran before they felt free to speak more than platitudes.

  “I didn’t think Tehran was all that smart initially Nick, but it was great in the end. I feel better about a lot of things now.”

  “I’ve been a bit short on trusting people completely myself Fred, my own experiences I guess, but you guys have changed the way I think about a lot of things.” He glanced at his friend. “As far as I’m concerned we’ve got more information to work with but that’s all. There’s nothing we need to act on yet and nobody who knows about us would ever turn us in.”

  “You’re right mate, and I’m glad you put me in the picture the other day. I feel better about a lot of things myself now, and friend to friend, I’m really chuffed about you and Laleh. In the end I think you needed each other, and it’s another load off my mind. Shit, you realise were virtually brothers now don’t you?”

  Nick smiled. “Well, we’d better figure a way to get us all out of this dung hill then brother. Was the embassy any help?”

  “I’m amazed at what they’ve got. Stuff about train schedules, safe cities and groups that may help along the way. There’s even something about getting up to the Caspian, where it’s best to hire or steal a boat from, and some places down south where we could try for Kuwait or Oman. Their intelligence bloke must have earned his money.”

  “What about Abdul?”

  “Pay dirt again. Things are slow in Tehran but a Christian group is more active outside the capital. They’ve got a few cells springing up, and believe it or not there’s one in Qom. A member of his staff is the contact. I knew a couple of them were Christians, but he didn’t say who. He told me to be extra careful, but gave me an address and told me to go when the crowds are thickest. Tomorrow will still be fairly quiet so perhaps you can run me in on Sunday morning and pick me up the same time on Monday? I don’t want to risk being on the streets when there aren’t many people around, or be seen dropped off in a company vehicle either.”