Destination Eden

by Jim Payton

  Chapter 21

  Janet awoke to Jasmine again saying her prayers.

  "Come on lazy bones," said Jasmine. "Time to be up and at them."

  They showered, dressed and went to the dining room for breakfast. Janet noted that Jasmine ate using only her right hand, something she deduced to be an Islamic 'thing'.

  As they opened the door to Janet's room, following breakfast, they found an envelope lying on the carpet. It had apparently been pushed under the door.

  "What's this?" asked Janet as she picked it up. It was sealed, but there was no writing upon it. She slipped her finger under the flap and ripped the envelope open. There was a sheet of folded A4 paper inside. On it were a series of words written in a language she did not understand. They were made up from cuttings taken from a newspaper and glued, or stuck some how, onto the paper. Janet handed it to Jasmine.

  Jasmine read aloud.

  "Pay One thousand American dollars and stop the search for your friend. He will be released upon payment. Instructions will follow. No Police."

  Janet and Jasmine stood staring at each other. For a moment, neither said anything, and then Janet burst into tears. She was uncertain whether they were tears of relief or fear. Jasmine hugged her and calmed her down. They sat on a couch holding each other.

  "What do we do now?" asked Janet.

  "Wait until we hear from them," said Jasmine. "Do you think you will be able to raise a thousand dollars?"

  "Yes, but shouldn't we go to the Police?" asked Janet. "I know they say not to, but isn't that just something kidnappers say? After all, surely they know we have been to them. It's on TV and in the papers"

  "Maybe in New Zealand," retorted Jasmine, "but Turkey is a lot different. You can't always trust the Police. Actually, you can never trust them. I think this is a good thing. I think they mean not to tell the Police about the demand. There is the possibility that it might be a hoax, but let's play along and see. If they won't provide proof that Eti is okay, then we will get in touch with the Police."

  "Oh my God," gasped Janet. "I never really thought that Eti could be in real danger. I guess I just accepted that it would be something in connection with our quest. That criminals would physically attack us never crossed my mind. After the helicopter thing it should have though, shouldn't it."

  Jasmine nodded her head.

  "Yes, it should have. You have all been a bit naive about the whole thing. I hate to say this, but you should probably have brought a security detail with you. This country can be dangerous, especially in the North Eastern area where there are a lot of cross border incursions by militants."

  They sat in silence for a while, and then, as something occurred to her, Janet asked Jasmine:

  "Why is the ransom note written in Turkish?"

  "What do you mean?" asked Jasmine.

  "It just seems funny to me that the kidnappers would make their demand to me in a language that I don't understand. In it, they tell me not to go to the Police, but if you had not been here then I would have needed someone to translate for me and I could well have used the Police. The whole thing would then have been a disaster."

  "Yes," admitted Jasmine. "You are right. Let's not over-think it though. There could be a number of explanations. These people are obviously criminals, and therefore not too bright, so presumably they have just assumed that because you are in their country you will know the language. As I said, not very bright. Another reason could be that they are watching you, have seen you with me, and know that I would be able to translate for you."

  "Of course," agreed Janet. "That sounds more reasonable doesn't it?"

  They sat in silence for a while before Janet again burst into tears. As Jasmine tried to calm her down, the telephone rang. It was Jason ringing from New Zealand.

  "Oh Jason, thank God it's you," cried Janet. "They've got Eti and want a thousand dollars before they will give him back. We've got a ransom note and they are watching us. What are we going to do?"

  "Calm down Janet," urged Jason. "Things will work out. Just take a big deep breath. Now that's better isn't it? We have our prayer group praying for you and Eti.

  "Now, is Jasmine with you?"

  "Oh yes. She has been wonderful Jason. Why haven't you told me about her before? I don't know what I would have done without her."

  "Yes, she is something isn't she? So what is happening as far as the Police are concerned?"

  "Well, Jasmine has got all these contacts, and the Police are now taking it as serious. They realise that it could turn into a big International incident so it is on television, radio and in the newspapers. Jasmine thinks that pressure has made the people who have Eti panic. As a result, they have decided to get some money for him and leave it at that. They say we aren't allowed to go to the Police though."

  "And what does Jasmine say about that?"

  "She agrees."

  "Okay, she's the local expert I reckon. When do you have to pay the money, and what arrangements have been made to get Eti back once it is paid?"

  "Oh Jason, I don't know. I hadn't thought of that. It just says that they want a thousand dollars and when they get it they will release him and that instructions will be given at some time. Jasmine says that we need to know that Eti is unharmed before we pay the money. Jason, I just don't know what to do."

  "Janet, Janet," said Jason roughly. "Get a grip on yourself. You are a grown woman. You are intelligent and resourceful. Calm down and start thinking clearly. Running around in a panic is not going to help anyone, and especially not Eti. He will be depending on you to be strong and do the right thing, as we all are. Don't let us down.

  "Now, put Jasmine on the line will you please."

  Dully, Janet handed the telephone over to Jasmine.

  While Jason and Jasmine talked, Janet sat on the couch and tried to calm herself down. She took several deep breaths and ensured that she pulled her mind back to the present. As she sat, she felt a calmness envelope her. She found herself in a vacuum. Jasmine's voice was not penetrating. Actually, there was no sound. There was just her and her beating heart. She could 'see' Eti. It was as if he was sitting across from her. Clearly she heard him say, "Trust God Mrs. trust our Lord," and then, with his cheeky grin, he disappeared.

  Sound penetrated again and the vacuum of silence slid away. The word 'trust' stayed wedged into her mind. 'Trust our Lord.'

  Janet walked over to the bedside cabinet and pulled out the Gideon's bible. Something in her mind brought back a memory of words in Isaiah about trust and strength. She found it in Chapter 40, about waiting and trusting the Lord to help you so that your strength would be renewed and you would be able to fly like an eagle and be able to walk and not grow weak.

  "That's all very well for you," said Janet. "This ain't so easy." However, the calmness stayed with her, although panic tried to push its way through. Janet found that she was able to keep it at bay though, and, she started to see things a lot more clearly.

  Jasmine's voice drew her attention.

  "Jason wants to speak with you again," she said, holding out the telephone.

  "Yes Jay?"

  "You can trust Jasmine Janet," said Jason. "She knows her way around and can be pretty tough when she needs to be. If there is anything you need, let me know, and keep in touch."

  "I will Jay, and thanks. Jasmine has been a great help and we'll get it sorted. Sorry for being a cry-baby."

  "No worries," said Jason. "I have arranged for a few thousand dollars to be available for you at the nearest bank, so access it for the ransom as and when you need it. Okay?"

  "Of course Jay. Thank you."

  "No worries," repeated Jason as he hung up.

  Janet put down the telephone and turned to Jasmine.

  "So," said Janet, "what's next do you think?"

  "Unfortunately it now becomes a waiting game I think," said Jasmine. "The kidnappers will probably make contact with a place and time to swap the money for Eti, and then we will do it and that will be t
hat."

  "You're probably right," agreed Janet."

  Anything in there to help?" asked Jasmine pointing at the Bible Janet had been searching through.

  Janet explained the passage that she had found.

  "You don't believe in the Bible though do you?" asked Janet. "You've got the Qur'an and that was written by Allah wasn't it?"

  "No," laughed Jasmine. "It was written by Mohammad."

  "So who is Allah?"

  "That is our word for God. We are not all that different from you, you know."

  "But you don't believe in Jesus do you?"

  "Yes, we do, but to us he was a prophet before Mohammad. Mohammad was the last of the prophets. Like you, we believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, we believe that translators corrupted the original writings over the years and that the angel Gabriel revealed the true word to Mohammad between 610 and 632. We believe in one God, a Day of Judgment and bodily resurrection.

  "All in all, we are pretty much like you."

  "So, do you believe in what we, Eti and I, are doing? Do you believe in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve and everything?"

  "Oh yes. Adam was the first of the prophets and everything came into being by God's command, 'Be' and so it was."

  "Well why are we always against each other. Why are Muslims trying to kill us all so that they can get to Heaven and have twenty-seven virgins or something?"

  Jasmine laughed.

  "Aren't all men the same? Always dreaming of sex?"

  Janet laughed as well.

  "I guess."

  "Those beliefs are a corruption of Mohammad's teachings. Just as you have extreme fundamentalist Christians, we have them in Islam. The jihad, which you take to be a holy war against you, the Infidels, really relates to our own personal war against sin and evil. It's as simple as that."

  "Perhaps I need to look at Islam differently then," said Janet.

  "It's up to you," replied Jasmine.

  They lapsed into silence, each with their own thoughts. Janet's centred upon Eti and finally she said to Jasmine, "I need to be doing something. I just can't sit here waiting for them to initiate things."

  "I can understand that," agreed Jasmine. "Let's go for a walk. Show me where you were camped when Eti went missing. Maybe some little detail will come back to you, something that might help."

  They left the hotel and headed towards the park where Eti and Janet had camped. It was just approaching midday and the call to prayer issued forth from the Mosque. Jasmine asked Janet if she would like to go into prayers with her. Janet felt a tug inside her to do so but her fear of the unknown was stronger, and she declined.

  "I'll say my prayers out here," she said and Jasmine merely nodded.

  Janet sat on a bench seat, closed her eyes, and asked God to keep Eti safe. Again, she experienced a fluttery but warm feeling inside her chest, and a belief that all would be well.

  When she opened her eyes and looked around, she saw that there were very few people on the streets. Those that were, mostly had backpacks, or looked like tourists without backpacks. Her eyes settled on a person leaning casually against a tree on the opposite side of the street. He was dressed casually, like the tourists, but his clothes were clearly local. His colouring and demeanour placed him as Turkish, although Janet knew that was merely an assumption on her part. Initially her gaze flicked over him but then came back. She wondered why he was not at midday prayers. Their eyes met and he glanced quickly away. Janet stood up and took a few steps towards him. He turned and started to walk away. Janet continued after him. He walked a little faster and glanced back at Janet.

  "Hey," she called. "Hey, you!"

  The man then started to run. Janet also broke into a run. She was no match. Within a hundred yards, she had lost sight of him. She checked down alleyways in the vicinity but could not see him. She fixed him in her mind and knew that she would recognize him if she ever saw him again. There was just a touch of fear in her mind. Although there may have been an innocent explanation, for what Janet now regarded as something untoward, she did not believe so.

  "It's got to be something to do with Eti," she said to herself.

  Slowly she made her way back toward the Mosque. People were coming out of it having completed their prayers. Janet quickly spotted Jasmine and then stopped in shock. Jasmine was talking to the person she had just chased through the streets. Janet took cover behind a tree and watched. The man handed Jasmine an envelope, kissed her on both cheeks, and then wandered off into the crowd. Janet remained where she was and watched Jasmine open the envelope, take out what appeared to be a letter, and read it. Jasmine then returned the paper into the envelope and tucked it into her pocket.

  Janet stepped out from behind her tree and walked towards Jasmine. Looking up, and seeing Janet, Jasmine waved.

  "Who was that?" asked Janet.

  "What?" responded Jasmine.

  "Who was that talking to you?"

  "Oh, him. I don't know really. He seemed to think he knew me but I can't remember him. A lot of people think they know me but they've usually just seen a photograph in a newspaper or something."

  "But kissing you?"

  "Oh, that. Nothing really. Just a friendly gesture. So, did you say your prayers?"

  "Yes," said Janet. "I prayed for Eti to be kept safe."

  "Me too," said Jasmine. "Oh well, let's carry on to where Eti disappeared shall we?"

  Janet was now feeling quite apprehensive. She felt that Jasmine was not being truthful. Not only did her explanation about the man seem forced, she had not said anything about the envelope she had been given. While Janet hoped there was a reasonable explanation, she decided to review her trust in Jasmine, and reassess all that she had said keeping in mind that she might not be all that she appeared to be.

  They arrived at the park where she and Eti had set up their tents. It appeared tranquil. Tourists were plentiful; reading the inscriptions on plinths situated on one side of the park. Jasmine explained that the plinths were memorials of local people who had died in wars that Turkey had been involved in. That reminded Janet of the New Zealand - Turkey relationship that had developed as a result of a battle between their soldiers at Gallipoli during the First World War. Now both Turks and New Zealanders commemorated those killed during that battle, one lost by the Allies consisting of mainly New Zealand and Australian troops attempting to establish a landing place, for a flawed Winston Churchill plan, on the coast of Turkey.

  The park did not do anything for Janet except bring back the pain of her loss. She went through the motions of showing Jasmine where the tents had been, where she had sat awaiting daylight, and then packing up and leaving. There was nothing to indicate what had happened, and that everyday life continuing to take place upset her. That, and the fact that Jasmine was apparently not what she appeared to be, further depressed Janet.

  "Let's go," she said to Jasmine. They headed back towards the hotel.

  "Where will you get the money from?" asked Jasmine.

  "What money?" asked Janet, still preoccupied with her own thoughts.

  "The money for the kidnappers."

  "Oh, that. It's waiting for me to pick up when we get told where to take it."

  "Do you think that perhaps we should pick it up now?"

  "No, not really. If it isn't with us then there is no chance of it being stolen before we hear from the kidnappers is there? Unless you know something I don't?"

  "No," said Jasmine. "It was just a thought crossed my mind."

  Back at the hotel Janet lay down on her bed, depressed, and tried to make sense of what had developed. Jasmine mooched around for a while and then said that she had to return to her home and pick up a few 'things'.

  No sooner was she out the door than Janet was on the telephone to Jason. She explained what she had seen and burst into tears.

  "Oh Jay," she ended, "I think Jasmine is one of the kidnappers, or at least working with them."

  "Calm down Janet. Calm down
a minute please," begged Jason.

  "I'm going to have to get out of here Jason. She's evil. I know it. There is just no way a Muslim can be trusted. I don't care what you say, or she says, she is not here to help me. There is no other explanation for her behaviour."

  "Stop it Janet," commanded Jason. "Sit down and listen. There are other explanations. As I have told you, and as you now know, Jasmine is well known, not only to me, but also to a large number of important people around the world. Over the years she has done a lot for Christianity and Islam."

  "But she lied to me and she was trying to find out where the ransom money is," interrupted Janet.

  "If she told a lie then there will be a reason for it. Let's face it Janet, you are in a highly stressful situation. You are in a strange and dangerous place and one of your most important supports, Eti, appears to have been kidnapped."

  "Has been Jason, has been kidnapped and may not even be alive for all we know."

  "My point exactly Janet. Maybe Jasmine has been approached by the kidnappers and is negotiating with them, or something."

  "Well why not tell me?"

  "Because you are in such a highly emotional state. If the negotiations are delicate then there is always the risk that you might do or say the wrong thing. It may be that she is unsure if she is dealing with the right people and doesn't want to get your hopes up. There are a number of explanations Janet."

  "I suppose you could be right," begrudged Janet.

  "I am right," said Jason.

  "She has been great up until now," allowed Janet.

  "There you are then. You are a stranger in a strange land Janet so you are right to be suspicious but I can guarantee Jasmine is on your side. Ask her."

  "I'll see. Thanks Jay. I guess I'm not as strong as I thought I was."

  "You are doing very well I think," soothed Jason. "You've been shot at, followed by strangers, mixed up in the middle of an earthquake and had your partner apparently kidnapped. It's not your everyday holiday now is it?"

  Janet was forced to give a short bark of a laugh.

  "Well, putting it that way," she agreed, "I suppose you are right."

  "I am right. So, let's say a little prayer shall we?"

  After saying goodbye to Jason, and hanging up the telephone, Janet felt a lot better. She washed her face and made herself a cup of coffee. By the time Jasmine returned, she had composed herself and pushed her doubts to the back of her mind.

  "How are you holding up?" asked Jasmine as she laid an overnight bag, with a change of clothes underwear and makeup in it, on the bed.

  "Very average," confessed Janet. "I have a lot of doubts and a lot of worry about the whole thing."

  "Of course you have," said Jasmine. "Look, these things take time. I have handled this type of thing before."

  "You have? Kidnapping?"

  "Yes. Because I am known to be a 'moderate', and can communicate with 'infidels', I have been used as a 'go between' before."

  "So they trust you?"

  "Not wholly. They use me for their own purposes, but by doing so I am usually able to achieve a satisfactory outcome."

  "Always?"

  "No, not always unfortunately. A couple have ended badly."

  "Will this one?"

  "I don't think so. This is a bit different."

  "Different, how?"

  "The contact seems unusual, and the ransom is such a small amount. Why go to so much trouble and risk for such a high profile target as you and Eti, and only ask for a thousand dollars?"

  "I would have thought that a thousand dollars would be a lot for a Turkish criminal."

  "For a 'run of the mill' one, yes. You and Eti, though, are not 'run of the mill.' There could be a political motive behind it, or more likely, a religious one."

  "How will you know?"

  "Well I won't until I see how they want to organise the payment and swap."

  "Do the Police know you do this sort of thing? Like, won't you being involved, make Eti's position more dangerous?"

  Jasmine laughed.

  "I'm not that important Janet."

  "Thinking back to the ransom note, I am sure that the kidnappers know you're involved."

  "Why would you think that?"

  "Well, as I mentioned before, the demand was in Turkish. Surely they would not have risked me not knowing what was being demanded? I think they used Turkish because they knew for certain you were involved."

  "Mmmm, good thinking Janet."

  "And that means they have been, or are, watching me."

  "Yes, it would."

  "And that guy I saw you with at the Mosque had been watching me. He gave you something."

  "No he did not."

  "I saw him Jasmine. You put it into your pocket."

  "Oh, I see."

  "Are you going to tell me exactly what is going on?"

  Janet and Jasmine stood staring at each other. Neither spoke. It was like a test of wills. Eventually Jasmine reached out a hand, pulled Janet to her, and hugged her until Janet's stiffness disappeared.

  "I'm sorry Janet," she said. "I was just trying to keep the seriousness of the situation from you."

  Janet pulled free from the embrace.

  "So how serious is it?" she asked." Please just tell me so I know exactly what I am facing. Are you for real? Are you on my side? Does Jason know what you are up to?"

  "Yes," said Jasmine. "I am on your side. Sit down and listen."

  She waited until Janet was seated.

  "You can trust me. As I said, I was trying to spare you the details. I was obviously wrong to do that. You are stronger than I thought. Usually witnesses fall apart in the face of threats so I have found it beneficial to sideline them and prevent them making irrational decisions under the pressure.

  "I doubt Jason knows that I do this sort of negotiation type of thing with kidnappers, although he may do. It is no great secret. Certainly not amongst those in the know.

  "I have been following you and Eti via your blog and website, as I have told you, because Jason had mentioned it and as I have said, it was happening in my country. The task to find Eden is something momentous to all three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. I didn't expect to become involved, but when Jason contacted me I jumped at the chance to help.

  "When the ransom demand came I realised something unusual was afoot, as your Sherlock Holmes would say. The sum demanded, as I said, was ridiculous, and the fact that it was not made until I was on the scene, and then in Turkish, rang warning bells. It told me the kidnappers knew I was involved, and wanted me involved."

  "Why would they want that?" interrupted Janet. "Surely, it would be better to have someone inexperienced in these things; someone more likely to just front up with the money. Someone, perhaps, from whom they might be able to extort more."

  "I agree."

  "So this leaves us where?"

  "Well, there has been a development."

  "A development? What do you mean? It's to do with the envelope that person gave you isn't it?"

  "Yes."

  "What was in it?"

  "It's difficult."

  "I'll bet it is."

  "I know the person you saw me with. His name is Ishmael. He is a Jew and has attended some of the lectures I give from time to time at various teaching and learning establishments."

  "And he has information about Eti."

  "Indirectly, yes."

  "What do you mean indirectly? He either has or he hasn't."

  "Just hold on a minute Janet. Let me tell this in my way will you? It will be a lot quicker that way."

  "I would have known now if you had told me at the time, but okay, I'll shut up. The floor is yours."

  "Thank you. Ishmael has also followed your quest. Once we got the Police organised and Eti's photograph started to appear on T.V. and the newspapers saying he was missing, he put two and two together with a conversation he had overheard in a cafe. He has some rather strange acquaintances. He is p
robably tied in with Mossad, the Israeli spies. Anyway, he says he overheard a group talking about a kidnapping that they had undertaken on behalf of some people who wanted a foreigners expedition stopped. From what he could understand, one of the people had been kidnapped and was being held prisoner. A ransom demand had been made and the intention was to accept a reduced or small amount of money in return for the expedition being cancelled. Ishmael has the feeling that the matter relates to Eti. He didn't know that I was involved but approached me to get a message to what he called 'the appropriate channels' so the matter could be resolved. The envelope you saw gave descriptions the men Ishmael overheard."

  "So what have you done with that information?"

  "I have given the descriptions to the Police along with the cafe location and the date that Ishmael overheard the conversation. The Police will make their enquiries at the cafe and hopefully have cameras in the area, or perhaps even the cafe may have a security camera. I haven't told them that we have had a ransom demand.

  "I have also passed the information over to the Turkish Security people. I have had contact with them in the past due to their misunderstanding of my relationship with various people from other countries."

  "Are you telling me that you are a Turkish spy?"

  "No I am not."

  "Not what? Not telling me or not a spy?"

  "Yes."

  "I see. Well I don't but I understand. I can't say I believe in all that secret squirrel stuff but I understand the need."

  "Good."

  "So where does all this leave us, and more importantly, does it get us close to Eti?"

  "I think so. It gives me hope. The fact that the whole thing seems to relate to your search for Eden is a good thing. It is high profile enough to prevent harm befalling Eti. The big question is though; who or what is the organisation wanting you to stop? I can imagine that there are a number of religious groups who would not want you to find Eden. It could affect their income stream. It could also cause major territorial problems with all three Abrahamic religions wanting a piece of the action."

  "Another Jerusalem."

  "Precisely. Tell me again why you want to find Eden. You are not that religious are you? You don't appear to be."

  "I guess many would call me one of the 'frozen chosen.'"

  "Which means?"

  "I believe but have trouble bringing that belief into the real world. Not like Eti. He is a true believer in the Jesus Way. He lives it. I sometimes think I am getting closer. But, to get back to your first question. I made a silly bet with a fellow teacher that I could prove creation against his evolutionary stance. As a result of that stupidity, I have put Eti in danger. For all I know it could be that teacher, Palmer, behind the kidnapping. He has some pretty dodgy associates, and there is no way he wants to loose the bet."

  "That crossed my mind I must admit. As you've told me, you were followed by an associate of his at one stage weren't you?"

  "Yeah. His name was Marshall. There were also those guys killed when their helicopter crashed. They shot at us. I suppose it could be whoever employed them. Do you think the Police will make the connection?"

  "I'll make sure they do.

  "Look Janet, I'm sorry I wasn't fully up front with you about Ishmael but I doubted your strength. I judged you when I should not have. As I have told you, 'Allah does not look at your face or your body, but at your heart and deeds.' I did not look at your heart. I will deal with that in my prayers."

  Janet reached out and put her arms round Jasmine

  "Hey," confessed Janet. "I haven't been fair either. I made assumptions without knowing all the facts so you had better forgive me as well."