Wings Of Fire

by Dale Brown

  And then, to al-Khan's complete surprise, Susan Salaam walked out on stage, and then there was no doubt. The entire People's Assembly fairly leapt to their feet and applauded, some even cheering and stamping their feet.

  Susan Salaam walked gingerly, as if still in pain, but she did so without using crutches or a walker, just a simple wooden cane with a large, wide crook supporting her left leg. She wore an eye patch on her left eye, and the hairline on the left side of her head was higher than on the right, indicating she had lost some hair or sustained a head injury.

  Her hands were marred with cuts and burns; her arms and torso were covered by simple, unadorned clothing, but the burns definitely appeared to extend down her arms.

  But her natural beauty was still striking, still breathtaking. Susan made no attempt to hide any of her wounds with makeup, which enhanced her beauty, her sense of pride-and her pain-even more. She embraced Ahmed Kalir and then stepped to the podium, waving to the assembly. Yes, even al-Khan had to admit, she was still beautiful, achingly so.

  It took several long minutes for the cheering and applause to die down, and then she began: "Members of the People's Assembly and fellow Egyptians, with great pride and with your support and prayers, I gladly accept the National Democratic Party's nomination for president, and on behalf of my husband, our late President Salaam, I announce that I am a candidate to be your president."

  The applause was back, even louder than before. Khalid al-Khan was stupefied. In just a few brief moments, he had gone from a close second in the election race, to the uncontested winner, to just another also-ran.

  He could stand it no longer. He stood up, raised his hands, and said in a loud voice, "Hold! Hold!" The assemblymen weren't responding, so Khan quickly stepped up on stage. "A point of order!"

  The Speaker of the People's Assembly hurried back to the dais. "Order!" he shouted. "Order!" Susan Salaam had stepped back away from the dais to allow al-Khan to speak. "Please let Ulama al-Khan speak!"

  After the assembly had quieted down, mostly in rapt attention to the looming confrontation on stage, he said, "I am most grateful to God that Madame Salaam is alive and well. And I know that it warms our hearts and strengthens our souls for Madame Salaam to seek the same office as her dear husband, who certainly now sits at the right hand of Allah." More applause, not for al-Khan or for Susan, but for Kamal Ismail Salaam, their slain president. How can he possibly fight a dead man? Only with the law-that's all he had left.

  "But if I am not mistaken, a candidate for president of Egypt must hold a seat either in the Supreme Judicial Council or the People's Assembly," al-Khan

  went on. "As much as we honor the memory of President Salaam, as much as it would gladden our hearts to see Madame Salaam once more in the presidential palace, she cannot run for president because she does not hold a national elective office." He turned and bowed graciously to her. "I am sorry, my child, but it is the law."

  Finally, what appeared to be leaders of the various groups were getting together. More talking, more gesturing. Finally, several from the group of leaders began filtering up toward the speaker's seat.

  This didn't look good at all. Al-Khan turned. His angry gaze caught the attention of the Speaker of the People's Assembly, Representative Jamal Gazali, a member of the National Democratic Party coalition but also the leader of the Society of God, a smaller party representing the religious conservatives in Egypt. Gazali motioned al-Khan quickly to the podium. "What is happening here, Gazali?"

  "It is of no consequence, Ulama," Gazali replied. "The matter will be dealt with, and all will be taken care of."

  "I asked you what is happening, Gazali."

  Gazali looked nervous. "There apparently is a statute still in the law that allows the wife of a legislator or other public official to take her husband's office if he dies while in office," Gazali said. "The law was put into effect after the War of Retribution so the government could continue functioning even if lawmakers serving in the armed forces were killed in battle-"

  "Are you saying that Salaam may still become a presidential candidate even though she is not even Egyptian!" al-Khan thundered.

  "It is of no consequence, Minister," Gazali said quickly. "Salaam may have been the wife of a public official, but in peacetime the statute is symbolic, nothing more." Gazali made some pretense of being needed on the other side of the podium and scurried away after giving the eleric another nervous bow.

  - But al-Khan could quickly see for himself that this was much more than symbolism-it was about to happen. A few moments later Gazali stood to address the Assembly:

  "The Assembly will come to order," the speaker ordered. When the chamber assumed some semblance of quiet, the speaker continued, "A motion has been brought before us by the honorable senior delegate from Alexandria that any wife of a public official who dies while in office may assume her husband's office for the remainder of his term. There is considerable debate by the members on whether or not this applies to the high office of president."

  Gazali paused, then glanced at al-Khan. The deadly warning stare he received in return decided his course for him-Khalid al-Khan was too powerful a force in Egypt to be crossed.

  "We note with pride and affection the love many in our country have for Madame Salaam," Gazali went on. "We note that Madame Salaam served Egypt well as an officer in the American air force, advising and supplying our armed forces with vital information, advice, and counsel during the conflict between Iraq and Kuwait. She has been a faithful and loving wife to our beloved president and a friend to us all. We also recognize her countless contributions to the betterment of Egyptian society, especially her patronage and support for universal education, the restoration of our ancient libraries in Alexandria, and the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned and outcast children in our cities.

  "However, we question the efficacy of this award as it applies to peacetime Egypt," Gazali said, slowly and deliberately. "The law was put in place to be sure our legislatures and bureaucracies continued their work even if its members were killed in battle. Although this honor has been recently applied many times, we see this as merely symbolic, an honorific, which is used as a convenience and token of honor until new elections are held. Further, this custom has never been applied to the office of president, and well it should not, for fear of eroding the importance of that high office. Another consideration, of course, is the fact that Madame Salaam was not born in Egypt, and has

  not yet qualified to become a naturalized citizen. Therefore, we do not consider Madame Salaam as meeting the strict standards of the law, and therefore-"

  The Assembly chamber erupted into sheer bedlam. It seemed every representative was screaming and shaking their fists at Gazali. Several lawmakers even got out of their seats and attempted to rush the podium, but were turned away by uniformed security officers that appeared as if out of nowhere. No one had ever seen such an uprising in the Assembly chambers before-and certainly, Khan had never seen such a loud outpouring of emotion.

  Through this chaos, Ulama al-Khan made his way off the dais and to a side hallway toward the back exits. He knew he had lost. The memory of Kamal Ismail Salaam was too powerful and Susan Salaam was almost as popular in Egypt as her husband-perhaps even more so, because of her bewitching beauty.

  Several Assembly members siding with Kalir shook their fists, shouted, and even tried to grab at al-Khan as he made his way off the dais. Supreme Judiciary security officers, led by the chief of security of the Supreme Judiciary Council, Major Amr Abu Gheit, who was assigned as alKhan's personal bodyguard, roughly pushed the protesters out of the way, even clubbing one across the head with a pistol butt.

  What fools, al-Khan thought. They would actually consider physical intimidation to try to turn him aside? Several more assemblymen rushed to their colleagues' aide, but Gheit and the rest of al-Khan's bodyguards had no trouble subduing them as the presidential candidate made his way out of the chamber.

  As he emerged from the ch
amber into the back hallway, he turned to Gheit: "Take down the name and political party of any representative who even dared look angrily in my direction," he ordered.

  "Why? So you can have your henchmen kill them as well?"

  Khan turned. There, standing before him, w s Susan Salaam. Her husband's aide and national security adviser,

  -Ahmad Baris, was standing with her. A few Assembly aides and staffers were milling about, fascinated by a confrontation between these two political rivals.

  "Madame, it is good to see you alive," Khan said evenly. Aware of the growing crowd gathering to watch them, he stepped forward to Susan as if reaching out to shake her hand, lowered his voice, and said, "But you should not have returned to Cairo. Your life here in Egypt is finished. Go back to the United States and start a new life."

  "General Baris warned me not to return to the capital, to go into hiding until just before the funeral and to go back into hiding immediately afterward," Salaam said, her voice loud enough for all to hear. "But all I could think about was what happened to us at the celebration, and I knew I had to confront you directly, to see your face as I accused you directly-"

  "Accuse me? Of what?"

  "I have been able to piece together what happened that morning at the mosque. You substituted your own handpicked Judiciary guardsmen for the presidential guards that normally would have been on duty during the procession, and you gave them strict orders to always face the procession, not scan the crowd for any sign of danger. By the time the assassins were in place, it was too late for them to react to save my husband."

  "Are you suggesting that I had something to do with that terrible attack, Madame?" al-Khan said. "That is purely ridiculous! Why, I was no more than five steps behind you and your husband-I could have been blown to bits as well! Why would I put myself in such harm? I even helped pull you clear of danger once I realized what was happening! You seemed prepared to throw your body in front of that bomb in a vain attempt to save your husband from his destiny. I gave you the chance to live."

  "Maybe the rumors that you wore a Kevlar bulletproof shroud under your robes are true-because bystanders farther away than you were severely injured, while you and that rat-snake Zuwayy walked away unscathed-"

  "Unscathed? They told me one of my lungs had to be re-

  inflated, and His Highness King Idris the Second of Libya suffered flashblindness and loss of hearing that still lingers! We were lucky to escape with our lives! You actually think we would have engineered such a sloppy and dangerous assassination attempt in such close quarters?"

  "I think you put yourself in just enough harm so no attention would be drawn to you directly," Salaam argued.

  "You are delusional," al-Khan said, dismissing her with an angry wave of his hand. "I am glad to see you are alive, Madame, and I pray for you and your late husband. But I warn you, do not spread false rumors or try to discredit my good name. There are laws against such activities."

  "There are laws against subversion, conspiracy, and treason too, Khan," Salaam said bitterly. "But since when have you ever been concerned with the law, except when it most benefits you? You hide behind your robes and the holy Quran like a desert scorpion, hopping out into the sunlight just long enough to strike, then hide in the shadows once again and wait for your victim to die before devouring him."

  'Take great care, woman," al-Khan warned. "You try my patience."

  But Susan hobbled over to block his path. "I will get you for what you did, Khan," she hissed. "If it takes my very last breath, I will avenge my husband's killer-you and your puppet master, Zuwayy."

  "Get out of my way, woman," Khan ordered. His bodyguards were ready the instant he made eye contact. They had been staying back, visible but not intrusive, threatening but not imminently so, but when al-Khan motioned for them, they moved like coiled snakes. One of them grabbed for Salaam's cane, the other for her right arm.

  But as fast as they moved, Susan was faster. She let the man grabbing her cane pull her toward him, then merely redirected her momentum slightly, driving the crook of the cane up into his throat. The hall echoed with the crack of his larynx, and he collapsed to the floor, clutching his shattered windpipe. Then she immediately swung the cane with her left hand and cracked it hard against her second

  attacker's right kneecap. Even though she heard more bone crack, the big, burly bodyguard did not go down, but twisted Susan's right wrist around and down, trying to force her to the floor.

  Susan didn't resist, but simply twisted faster. The bodyguard lost his grip with a howl of pain when he tried to put weight on his right leg, sinking down to his left knee, and Susan was free. She watched and waited. The second bodyguard did exactly as she thought he would: He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his side arm, a fearsome-looking Spanish-made Star Z-84 mini-submachine gun. Susan simply swung the cane as if she were making a two-wood tee shot, aiming not for the gun but the bodyguard's head. The snap! they heard was the left side of his jaw, and he went down hard.

  A stunned Khalid al-Khan stared in amazement at the writhing men at his feet. The entire fight had lasted only seconds, but both highly trained bodyguards looked as if they might be in critical condition. "Obviously you have done a lot more than just be the supportive wife of a president, Madame."

  Susan hefted the cane. It was just an oaken cane, but now al-Khan could see that the crook was larger, its tip was menacingly pointed, and the shaft had decorative inlays in it that obviously served to help grip the cane in defensive situations. "A skill taught by some friends from Nevada. Weapons-and fighters-are all around you, Khan."

  "Are you insane, woman?" he breathed. "Are you gloating? Look at what you have done! You're a madwoman! Or are you trying to live up to your ridiculous nickname, Sekhmet the Goddess of the Hunt?"

  "I want you to know that you and I are enemies, Khan," Susan said, her voice low but hard as the oak in her cane. "I know you set up the assassination of my husband, and I know you are using your terror network to force any opposition into hiding or into silence. I know you are being funded by Zuwayy of Libya, and I know if you gain the presidency, that you will move to join the Muslim Brotherhood and force Egypt to join an alliance of terror that will

  cut off all Western aid and strangle our country. I will do everything in

  my power to stop you." Several security officers ran up to the growing crowd just then. Both General Baris and al-Khan barked orders at them, but the chief justice of the Supreme Judiciary's voice, authority, status, and perceived threat were far more powerful than Baris's, and Salaam and Baris were roughly led away.

  They were met outside by dozens of reporters and cameras, and the security guards slinked away as Susan and Ahmad approached them. "That was not very wise, Susan," Baris said under his breath. "Khan needs only the slightest excuse to have you arrested, deported-or killed."

  "I wanted to let him know that we're not done fighting," Susan said resolutely. "Beating up his bodyguards will be nothing compared to what I'm going to do to him on election day." She stepped over to the reporters and bank of microphones and started answering questions:

  "Yes, I attended my husband's memorial service," Susan responded to the first question. "Upon the advice of my husband's national security adviser, General Ahmad Baris, I attended in secret. I was also present at his interment in the family cemetery at Giza. It is a credit to General Baris and his staff that you did not know I was there. After the mourners left, I was able to perform the burial ritual." She held up her left hand, showing a large man's ring on her middle finger as well as her engagement ring on her ring finger. "I have Kamal's wedding ring, and he now has mine. I also placed topazes on his eyes, so he will not be blinded by the suns of heaven when he crosses over.

  "Yes, I spoke with Ulama al-Khan just now. We greeted each other with warmth and relief that neither was very seriously injured from the attack. He explained his objection in the National Assembly to me very well, which I fully accept. His concern was that new
elections not be clouded with any constitutional challenges during our nation's most critical time. I assured him that I will do what's best for Egypt and myself.

  "Yes, of course, my husband's murderers should be hunted down, but only to be brought to justice, not retribu-

  tion. This should be a time of healing, not revenge. I'm sure that's what my husband would have wanted, and I know that's what Dr. Kalir and Ulama al-Khan want too.

  "Yes, with the help and support of my friends in the National Democratic Party and the people of Egypt, I am a candidate for president of Egypt. Of course, my doctors will have to give their blessing as well-I am strong and determined, but I'm not foolish enough to think I know more than my doctors.

  "I suffered some damage in my left eye and some burns, but I'm feeling all right, kwaysa ilhamdu lillah, shukran. Thank you.

  "Yes, I believe I can work with Ulama al-Khan in a National Democratic Party-led government. The Ulama and I share many of the same beliefs: that Egypt can and must be the spiritual, moral, and philosophical leader of the Arab world and show by example the power and courage of the Arab people. My husband believed strongly in this, and I shall continue to work to make this idea a reality.

  "No, I have absolutely no intentions of leaving Egypt except for brief visits abroad or in some capacity with the government.

  "Yes, I still hold dual nationalities-I can't change my place of birth. But out of respect for my husband and to his countrymen, and reflecting the love I have for all Egyptians, I'm staying. I have no plans to reside in the United States or anywhere else but Misr, insha'allah. Sabah el kher. Shukran. Thank you all."

  General Baris and Captain Shafik escorted Susan out of the National Assembly building into a waiting car. "I think it went pretty well, don't you, Ahmad?" she asked.

  "The interview was fine," Baris replied. "But this is a dangerous game you're playing, Sekhmet. Men like Khan do little all day but dream up ways to defeat, humiliate, or eliminate their political opponents. Unless you want to reduce yourself to their scum-sucking level, stay away from political intrigue."