by Jim Payton
Chapter 20
Janet jerked awake. She lay still trying to piece together what had awoken her. There had been a sound, but she was uncertain if it had been in her dream, or outside it. Nothing was registering but she felt moved to check with Eti and see if he had heard anything. A glance at her watch showed the time as 3.30am. She opened her tent flap and looked across to Eti's tent.
"Oh my God," she cried leaping to her feet.
Eti's tent lay collapsed. Janet pulled the canvas aside to open it up. The poles had collapsed, or fallen, and it made it difficult for her to uncover Eti's sleeping bag. It was empty. Frantically Janet felt through the canvas in an attempt to ascertain if he was elsewhere in the tent. He wasn't. She now realised that the noise she has heard had been a cry from Eti. Janet willed herself to be calm and not jump to unsubstantiated conclusions.
After several deep breaths, she returned to her own tent and picked up a torch. By its beam, she was able to confirm that Eti was not within the park area. A check of the tent poles showed that the ropes holding them had been freed from their pegs. Eti's pack was still inside the tent but items from it lay scattered about. His bible lay to one side. There were no signs of a struggle, so if Eti had left, it had either been voluntarily or he had been rendered unconscious.
Janet felt tears welling up in her eyes and angrily brushed them away.
"This is no time to be a girl," she said aloud.
Almost automatically, and without thinking it through, Janet turned off her torch and quietly walked some distance away from the tents. She squatted down with her back against a tree. She had a good view of the tents even though there was no moonlight available. Her immediate thought was that some one associated with those men killed in the helicopter crash had kidnapped Eti for revenge. Janet also knew that she would be unable to help Eti if she panicked.
"What would you do Eti?" she asked herself. "If you discovered that I had disappeared, what would you do?"
The word 'pray' filled her mind. Actually, she could not be sure if it just appeared in her mind or if she had actually heard it. She focused her mind on Eti, looked up at the darkened sky, and said, "Please."
It would be nice to be able to say that either a course of action flashed into Janet's mind, or that something startling or supernatural happened, but they did not. Janet's heart continued to beat too quickly and a feeling of panic threatened to engulf her. She took several deep breaths and forced herself to see, in her mind, a white board. She envisaged picking up a marker pen and writing the figure one on the board. There was a short pause and she saw herself writing; check area. She followed this with the number two followed by Police. She continued the list and before long, she had a course of action to follow.
By that time, the night sky was giving way to a new day. People began walking in and around the area. It was almost as though it got lighter with every step some of them took. Janet's eyes were continually drawn back to the two tents. Tears would well up, and she would wipe them away, determined to be strong, and again survey the surroundings, only to be drawn back to the tents.
Willing herself not to succumb to her fears, and to a degree that was helped by daylight, Janet left the comfort of her tree, and approached the tents. Flashes of detective programs she had seen on television came into her mind. They always maintained that what was present at a crime scene would provide valuable evidence. With that thought, Janet took down Eti's tent, folded it up and put it to one side. She then, item by item, went through what remained. She checked and rolled up his sleeping bag. Neatly set down beside the sleeping bag was a pile of folded clothes that she recognised as having been those he had worn the previous day. No underwear was present, so she presumed he must have been wearing it to bed and been given no chance to dress before he had been taken away. His boots lay nearby. His pack had been ransacked and no effort made to replace the items left scattered on the ground. Following her search, Janet realised that whoever was responsible had, along with Eti, taken his cellphone, computer, specimens and notebooks.
To keep herself from falling apart, Janet concentrated on packing up Eti's gear. His pack was now much lighter than it had previously been. She packed up her own belongings and tent and placed everything in the middle of the park area in which they had camped. Janet then walked the area looking for any signs that might have been left behind by those responsible for Eti's disappearance. She found nothing.
In her mind Janet had the Police as next on her 'to do' list. She put Eti's pack on her back, picked up her own, and headed off to find a Police station. She found it quite close by and did her best to explain the situation to the uniformed person behind a desk. He spoke reasonable English. After she had told her story and provided a picture of Eti, the Policeman made a few written notes, and then suggested that perhaps her boyfriend had run off with another woman. An argument ensued before Janet left in tears. She had no doubt that the Police would do exactly zero about Eti's disappearance.
Once Janet realised that she was left alone in a foreign country, she found her panic returning. Sitting on a low stonewall, she took several deep breaths to calm herself. She again consulted her mental list. Reloading herself with the packs, Janet headed for the commercial part of Tatvan. She located an internet cafe and made Skype contact with Jason back in New Zealand. Initially Janet spent more time crying than anything else, so it took Jason some time to understand what had happened. Once he had the full story, Jason made Janet promise that she would book into a hotel and provide him with the contact details so he could make contact with her there. He told her she was to do that immediately, while he made arrangements for assistance.
Within half an hour, Janet had booked a room and provided Jason with her contact details. He made her promise to get something to eat and remake Skype contact within half an hour using the hotel's facilities. Janet found it comforting to have contact with somebody encouraging and helpful. While she had no appetite for food, she nonetheless forced herself to eat some cereal and fruit and have a shower, before contacting Jason. He advised that he had spoken with the New Zealand Embassy in Ankara and they would be providing assistance by liaising with the Police to ensure the investigation of Eti's disappearance. He also said that he was in the process of making various other contacts and would put Eti's disappearance on all the websites he could. They agreed to make further contact that evening.
With the immediate pressure off, Janet found a deep melancholy descending on her. The sadness was like a heavy weight pressing physically down upon her. She had never felt like it before. She missed Eti tremendously and realised that perhaps her feelings were more than just loneliness and friendship. Tears had again started to fall when there was a knock on the door. Janet debated not answering, but realised it could be someone from the Embassy.
She opened the door to find a young woman standing there. Initially Janet did not notice much about her except that she appeared to be in her late teens or early twenties and was extremely beautiful.
"Yes?" asked Janet.
"Miss Janet?" was the response.
"Yes, what do you want?"
"My name is Jasmine and your friend Jason asked me to contact you."
"Jason did? Oh my God, my God, thank you, thank you. Come in please."
Janet pulled Jasmine into the room and sat her down at the table. She held Jasmine's hands.
"Please forgive my manners. I am just so glad to see you. Some one has kidnapped Eti and all of his research and left me alone in this place. I just have no idea where to go. I have been to the Police but they don't want to do anything because they think he has run off with a girl. Surely he would go in more than his underwear if he did," gushed Janet.
"Not some of the guy's I know," smiled Jasmine.
"No, no, I don't mean like that," said Janet. "I mean, that was a stupid thing for me to say. I'm sorry, I'm not making much sense am I? Here I am, a grown woman and acting like an idiot. I surely didn't think that by coming here I would be shot
at, stalked and my companion and guide kidnapped.
"Sorry. Sorry again. You must think me awful. Let me try to let you get a word in edge-wise.
"How do you know Jason? Are you from the Embassy?"
"First of all," said Jasmine priseing her hands from Janet's grasp. "Let's make a cup of tea or coffee. Which will it be?"
"Oh, coffee please. That would be fine."
"It looks like the hotel only provides instant stuff I am afraid," said Jasmine looking through what was available on the room bench. "It is nothing like real Turkish coffee but you can't have all you want in this world can you?
"So, Miss Janet, how do I know Jason? Well, I am not from the Embassy. We both belong to an on-line discussion group of Christians looking at international outreach. Possibly you would call it Missionary work."
"And how long have you known him?"
"Oh, about five years."
"You must have still been at school then when you first made contact."
Jasmine laughed.
"Thank you Miss Janet but I have just celebrated my twenty-sixth birthday."
Janet also laughed.
"You do look very young Jasmine," she said.
"Thank you. Now, here is your coffee. Just you drink it and I will tell you all about myself so that you will feel confident with me helping you.
"Now, where should I start? Okay, I am a Muslim. What you say? How can that be? You are not wearing a burkha and you belong to a Christian outreach program. Yes, I must admit it does appear a little strange. However, to continue. I was born fortunate. My parents are very well off and money has never been a concern for our family. Unfortunately, for Mum and Dad, I damaged my Mum while she was giving birth to me and I am an only child. Consequently, I have been spoilt rotten. I admit it. Due to my parents being clever as well as rich, I have been blessed with some small degree of intelligence. I was able to do Post Graduate study in the United States and I am now employed as a Consultant by our Government. Not your every day job for a Muslim woman."
"But you're in an on-line discussion group with Christians."
"Yes indeed. Perhaps I am a spy? No, of course I'm not. I can see the advantages of Muslims and Christians working and worshipping together. We both have the same ancestor, Abraham, but our paths have diverged. I would like to see us come back together. Okay, I am an insane dreamer, but there you are.
"Now, about you. Jason tells me that you have reported Eti's disappearance to the Police but they have been less than helpful. Unfortunately, I can't say that I am surprised. He has also updated me on all of your adventures. I have been following you on Facebook, and your blog, as I was interested in what Jason had been telling me about you and Eti, and also because you are doing this in my country. Correct me if I am wrong, but you do seem to have some people attempting to ensure your expedition is a failure."
Janet explained to Jasmine in detail their experiences with Peter Marshall, the men in the helicopter and now Eti disappearing.
"Wow," responded Jasmine. "It seems to me that maybe you are on to something and it's making the opposition pretty uneasy.
"However, that is beside the point. First, we need to get your Eti back from wherever he has been taken. Let me start by putting some pressure on the Police. I have contacts a bit higher up the chain that will get things moving. There is nothing like the threat of a pending international incident to get people moving. I'll also contact the local television station and newspapers and get photographs of Eti circulated. Let's put the pressure on whoever has him."
Jasmine's enthusiasm gave Janet hope. She sat listening to her badgering and promising and threatening various people over the telephone. At her request, Janet emailed photographs of Eti to the addresses provided by Jasmine.
By the time evening arrived, Janet was unable to believe how Jasmine's efforts had altered the Police perspective. Combined with Eti's photograph on local television, and on posters around Tatvan, it gave Janet much more hope. There had been a telephone call from the New Zealand Embassy as well offering any support that was needed.
Jasmine took Janet down to the hotel restaurant for a meal. They sat discussing the day's events.
"I can't thank you enough," said Janet. "You have lifted me up no end."
"One of your sayings is, 'a problem shared is a problem halved' is it not?"
Janet found that she was able to laugh at that. She then turned serious. Reaching across the table, she took hold of Jasmine's hands.
"I know that I have only known you for a few hours, but it seems as though it has been a life time. Why, I wonder, are you really helping me? I know you are Jason's friend but I have obviously seen that you are fully a Muslim as far as your behaviour goes. You have said your prayers twice so far, although you went into another room to do so. You also said grace before eating now. Eti does that. I am often more slack. What I am trying to say is; why are you helping me a non-Muslim? Won't you get into some sort of trouble with your Church or Mosque or something?"
Jasmine squeezed Janet's hands and asked, "Why would I?"
"Well," replied Janet. "We have had Muslims work with us before but they came under pressure from family and friends to not do so. I don't want to sound awful, or ungrateful in any way, but are you going to be able to continue to help me?"
Jasmine leaned back in her chair.
"Don't you worry at all," she said. "It actually, and forgive me for saying this, pisses me off the way I get judged by non Muslims."
"Oh I didn't mean it that way. I just . . . well, I just don't want such a wonderful person as you to get into any trouble on my behalf."
"I'm the one who should be sorry," said Jasmine. "I know what you are saying. Judgment is one of my many soapboxes.
"Are you a Christian?"
"I say so but I'm not a particularly good one I don't think. I'm not as good a one as Eti for example. I go to Church and try to do what is right but sometimes life gets in the way."
"Muslims and Christians have a lot in common you know," pointed out Jasmine. "We share the same roots in Abraham, Moses and Jesus. We believe in one God. We are also greatly misunderstood by most of the world, and Christians in particular. They judge us although Jesus said not to judge least you be judged. Mohammed said, 'Surely Allah does not look at your face or your body, but looks at your heart and your deeds'. Sound familiar?"
"I didn't know that," said Janet with embarrassment.
Jasmine laughed but it was a gentle comforting sound.
"It's not your fault," she said quietly. "Just as Christianity is often judged by the goings on of televangelists and their fundamentalist groups, so are we judged by our fundamentalist Clerics and their followers. Just be assured Janet that I am your friend and we will find Eti.
"Now, let's get back to your room and get you settled in for the night. First thing in the morning we rescue Eti."
"We do?"
"Of course. With all the pressure now being applied those who have taken him, will want to get rid of him as soon as possible."
Janet and Jasmine went back to Janet's room. Absolutely exhausted emotionally, Janet fell asleep. As her eyes closed, she was aware of Jasmine kneeling and touching her forehead to the floor as she chanted something in a language she did not understand but presumed was Arabic.
