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moonstruck�cow."�
"A�cow?"�I�had�offended�her.�She�got�huffy.�"You�know,�I'm�not�like�the�other�
Darkwings.�You,�Daphne,�were�brought�up�in�this�world.�Rogue's�a criminal,�and�
besides,�he�used�to�be�in�the�CIA.�Cormac's�an�actor.�Benny& �well,�she�has�an�aptitude.�
I�don't�think�I�was�cut�out�to�be�a�spy."�
I�put�my�arm�around�her�shoulder�and�gave�her�a�bracing�hug.�"You're�just�having�a�
crisis�of�confidence.�You're�doing�great,"�I�said,�lying�through�my�teeth.�
"No,�I'm�not.�I've�been�'compromised.'"�Her�face�crumbled.�She�was�heading�for�the�
waterworks�again.�
"Compromised?�Absolutely�not.�Technically�you�haven't�um& �you�know.�You're�doing�
superb.�I�mean�that."�
"You�do?�I�figured�I�had�totally�messed�up."�
"No,�really,�you're�acting�like�a�real�pro.�What�did�you�find�out?"�I�asked.�
"He�gave�me�this�envelope.�It's�got�instructions�or�something�in�it.�I�didn't�look.�I'm�
supposed�to�deliver�it�to�the�'right�person'�in�the�government."�She�handed�it�over;�
then�she�summed�up�the�little�she�knew.�
Shalid's�uncle,�an�adviser�to�President�Musharraf,�called�him�into�his�office�in�
Islamabad.�The�uncle�told�"Shally"�that�he�needed�him�to�handle�a�matter�of�grave�
importance�and�asked�Shally�to�act�as�a�courier�to�the�United�States.�Since�the�cricket�
star�traveled�internationally�with�some�frequency,�his�trip�would�raise�no�questions.�
Shally�swore�to�Audrey�he�didn't�know�anything�more.�He'd�apologized�for�involving�
such�a�beautiful�woman�in�something�potentially�dangerous.�He'd�suggested�they�leave�
the�restaurant�and�go�back�to�his�room�"to�get�to�know�each�other�better."�
Oh,�boy,�I�thought.�What�I�said�was,�"And�what�do�you�want�to�do?"�I�already�knew�the�
answer,�but�I�figured�she�wanted�my�approval.�
"I�think�I�should�go�with�him�and�try�to�get�more�information,�don't�you?"�
"Oh,�yeah,�sure.�Definitely.�Benny�and�I�will�take�the�envelope�back�to�J,"�I�said.�After�
we�open�it,�I�thought.�"Will�you�be�okay,�though?"�
"Yes.�I�have�to�try,�anyway.�It's�like�Rogue�said�last�night�about�the�fighting�part�of�this:�
It's�time�I�learned.�I�need�the�practice,�that's�all."�
"Good�attitude.�But�remember,�you�haven't�been�compromised�yet.�Don't�let�it�come�
to�that,�okay?�Call�Benny�or�me�if�you�feel�you�can't�handle�things�and�need�us�to�get�
you�out�of�there."�I�might�as�well�be�spitting�in�the�wind,�but,�as�Darius�pointed�out,�I�
lived�in�a�glass�house�and�couldn't�throw�stones.�
Audrey�nodded�and�then�she�smiled,�her�beautiful�face�radiant.�"Shally,�he's�just�an�
amazing�man.�Isn't�he�handsome?"�
"Yes,"�I�said.�And�he's�human,�he's�Muslim,�and�he's�working�with�terrorists,�I�thought,�
and,�girl,�you�are�so�screwed.�But�I�didn't�voice�any�of�that.�She�was�too�far�gone.�She�
wouldn't�have�listened�to�me�anyway.�
We�watched�Romeo�and�Juliet�leave�the�restaurant;�then�Benny�and�I�hurried�out.�We�
descended�the�wide�curved�stairway�with�its�gold�banisters�and�went�as�far�as�the�
Palace's�lobby.�A�comfortable�sofa�in�a�relatively�empty�section�of�the�huge�space�
provided�some�privacy.�We�sat.�I�breathed�openmouthed�on�the�glued�flap�to�try�to�get�
it�open.�That�didn't�work.�It�still�stuck�tight.�I�shrugged.�
"Just�tear�it�open,"�Benny�encouraged.�"We'll�tell�J�we're�sorry�after�we�read�it."�My�
sentiments�exactly better�to�beg�for�forgiveness�than�to�ask�permission.�I�used�a�nail�
file�as�a�letter�opener.�Printed�on�a�single�sheet�of�typing�paper�was�this:�
Praise�to�Allah,�the�Almighty,�the�Merciful,�the�Magnificent.�
You�idolatrous�infidels,�traitorous�apostates,�and�turncoat�deviants�have�violated�the�
pure�way�of�the�Prophet.�Now�the�splendor�of�the�spearhead�of�jihad�is�aimed�at�your�
hearts.�
We�demand�the�swift�and�immediate�return�of�our�brother,�the�beloved�of�the�
Prophet,�cleric�Hassan�Omar�and�the�holy�relic�in�his�hands.�
When�that�which�is�sacred�is�restored�to�us,�that�which�the�Great�Satan�prizes�will�be�
returned�to�you.�
If�the�profane�violation�of�the�Prophet may�Allah�bless�him�and�greet�him and�that�
of�our�brother�cleric�Omar�does�not�cease,�a�fatwa�issued�by�the�gracious�brother�Abu�
Masab�decrees�that�your�death�ship,�your�liberty,�and�every�living�thing�around�it�shall�
be�struck�down�by�the�swift�lightning�of�the�Almighty.�
May�God�protect�Hassan�Omar�and�watch�over�him;�may�his�religion,�his�book,�and�
Sunna�the�Prophet�aid�him.�We�ask�the�Almighty�to�bless�him,�us,�and�all�Muslims.�
With�his�divine�aid,�may�our�clear�victory�and�Hassan�Omar's�release�from�suffering�be�
at�hand.�We�ask�the�Almighty�to�gather�us�as�he�sees�fit�for�the�glory�of�the�next�world�
and�the�prize�of�the�hereafter.�
 The�Wahhabi�Mujahedeen�
"Now�jist�what�do�you�get�from�that?"�Benny�asked.�
"About�as�much�as�you�did,�I�guess.�Audrey's�theory�about�kidnappings�and�exchanges�
was�dead on.�From�what�I�can�figure�out,�the�Wahhib�Mujahedeen�thinks�we're�
holding�the�cleric�Hassan�Omar�and�some�'holy�relic'�They�want�both�back�in�exchange�
for�the�Intrepid.�If�they�don't�get�them,�they're�issuing�a�fatwa,�an�order,�to�destroy�not�
just�the�ship,�but�America."�
"Do�we�have�this�here�Omar?"�Benny�asked,�reclining�back�against�the�plush�cushions�
and�staring�up�at�a�huge�chandelier.�
"Damned�if�I�know.�Maybe�he's�one�of�those�'persons�of�interest'�who�J�said�was�in�
custody."�
Benny�contemplated�the�chandelier�for�a�bit�longer;�then�she�sat�up�and�took�the�letter� [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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