Extraction
“Sorry commander, the smoke bother you?” he looked at the commander who was now standing.
“No, it doesn’t but its killing you, you know” It was just snug enough to politely say “ don’t try to belittle my statement about your friends. I am serious. ”
“I’d suggest that Petty Offi cer Ryan here go below and discuss with his friends how they intend to pay for the damages.” He had no sooner said that than a police sergeant opened the door and came inside and stood waiting for Tim’s reaction “Go with him and talk to your friends Ryan. Go over what I talked to you about on the way here. They can work this out here or stay in the P.I. for some time I assure you.” Helms was giving them a stern look along with the instructions.
The station may have been a spit and polish offi ce appearance but the detainment area made a Tijuanna jail look like a Holiday Inn. One light lit the hallway to the lock-up area. The steel door was bolted and had an electronic solenoid that moved a thick heavy bar back from the locked position. The sentry unlocked the door and the policeman opened it slowly. The stench that came out of the cellblock was probably fl ammable it was so rank. Ryan’s eyes immediately started watering and his throat grew tight. It was a combination of the most horrible drunken wine puke and human feces that he had ever experienced. they walked only a short walk into the cellblock until they came to a cell with six people in it. In the dimly lit comer a fi gure was sitting on the fl oor. His head was between his legs. Tim recognized the shoes as those of Andrade. Lindquist blinked his eyes and stood by the cell door as if the guard and Ryan were going to open it for him and he would walk out.
“Well Captain dipshit, you really had yourself a good time I hope. Its going to cost you dearly.”
“Ryan—Jesus, get us out of here—I think I already have caught polio and been exposed to all sorts of Asian disease. We can’t talk to these fuckers, they say we are on l egal hold or whatever” Andrade was getting up now. He recognized Ryan’s voice. He had a shiner on his left eye and his mouth was bleeding.
“Shit. Andrade, what did you run into? I heard it was Lindquist that had the fight.”
Tim could see him better now. His eyes were adjusting to the dark. Andrade just glanced over at the guard and stood silent. Tim knew what he was indicating.
“Ok you two Brig Bunnies, what do you have in the way of cash on you and how much in credit cards available? I’m going to have to work fast to get you out of this tonight or you go off to Manila and that will be the end of your free days on this planet, I assure you.” Ryan tried to get the point across with a minimum of words.
Lindquist said he had $250 in US dollars and Andrade said he had$150 maybe.
“Not good enough. What about cards? “Ryan asked.
“Mine are back at the base in my locker. I can only tap it for $300 cash per day anyway.” Volunteered Lindquist. Andrade said his cards were also at the base and he had already drawn his $300 before they came into town.
“Give it to me—all of it” Ryan said.
Andrade reached inside his hip pocket and gave Ryan a roll of bills. Lindquist pulled money from every pocket and then took off his shoe and handed Tim a Ben Franklin.
Between them they had $400. This was not gong to do the job. Ryan had to come up with a plan The guard saw the two give him the money and he motioned Ryan to move away from the cell. It was time to go back down the dimly lit hallway to the fresh air and the commanders office.
They were just approaching the steel door when Ryan told the guard to stop. He turned and looked at him and placed his hand on his nightstick “I want you to move those two to a place where they can breathe— understand?
Give them something to drink also—hear me?” He made sure that even in the darkly lit hallway that this guy could see that the bill he was handing him was a fifty.
He remained stern and Ryan thought to himself, shit, I Just did away with fifty that we will never see again and this gangster will accuse me of trying to bribe him and toss me in there with them-stupid move Ryan He took the fifty and opened the door.
Helms was in the receptionists offi ce when he returned. Curiously, Ryan wondered why he had not stayed in the commanders offi ce while he was gone.
“Nice place huh?” Helms could tell Ryan’s reaction to what he had just seen downstairs. “Work with me on this.” He said to Helms as they left the office. The two came up with a plan that should work. He knew the commander could have any of the restaurants that accepted credit cards run Andrade’s and Lindquist’s.
Ryan and Helms would take the two back to the base and they would return with the credit cards, run them at a local restaurant of the commanders choice for fi ve hundred each and boogie. Tim let Helms put the remaining $350 cash on the commanders desk while they were alone discussing the deal.
He went for it.
In no uncertain terms he told Helms what would happen if they got back to the base and decided not to return to town to run the credit cards.
Ryan and Helms now went down the stairs and back to the area Ryan had just came from with the guard. The guard stopped short of going through the steel door. He directed them to enter the room to the left and wait. He would get the release papers. His instructions were to have Helms sign that the two would be his responsibility until they left the country. They entered the room to find both men sitting at a large wooden table drinking San Miguel.
The guard had done as instructed. He had moved them into a fresh air area and got them something to drink. As the Chief and Ryan approached the table, Helms recognized the two as the crew that had worked on the engine earlier today.
“Meet Captain dunbfuck and his faithful companion dipshit.” Tim re-introduced the two to Helms.
“This is not over yet, you two Brig Bunnies, but when it is, your ass is mine.
Either of you so much as even think of going on liberty in DaNang or anywhere else we stop, you’d better think again.” Ryan was looking at both of them as he spoke Helms interrupted; “Before he gets your ass, I guarantee you, you are going to give me your undivided attention to what I will instruct you to do or you can kiss your asses goodbye.” Helms walked over closer to the two sitting at the table.
“You will leave here and go directly back to the base, get your credit cards and come back to the restaurant we will give you the name of and let them bill each of you $500. And you’d better pray that your fucking account will give fi ve big ones to this establishment or you are on your way to Manila and a very uncertain future.”
“You just screwed all chances of ever getting off this Navy base again. The Marine you decided to mess with is in charge of the security here. Drunk or not, this mean bastard has a memory and the next time he sees your ID cards at the Cubi gate, you are toast.
To this point the two sat and watched Ryan and Helms with wide eyed attention and obvious appreciation for what they had just done for them. “We will take the Jeepnee straight to the gate Chief and do as you say, I promise.”
There was a definite tone of appreciation in Lindquist’s voice. It took another 20 minutes to sign the duo out of the custody of the police. As the four Sailors walked out of the station, Andrade started going over the evening’s events.
Helms and Ryan were in no mood to discuss and recount their party. They took the fi rst cab the other side of the gate and left the two standing in the taxi area inside the base. Helms lit a new cigar on the way back to the club and started giving Tim the reason he was lucky enough to get the two out of the police custody.
Riglisanto was his wife Melina’s childhood friend. His father served in McArthurs’s Army corps during WWII. It was during the evacuation of the islands and prior to the Japs invading that Melina’s father and Riglisanto became friends. John Riglisanto was the son of a wealthy rice broker in Manila. When the Japanese occupied the islands, they confi scated all the family property and destroyed much of the plantation’s machinery and ability to harvest and ship rice. It was Melina’s father Captain John Banyon that helped the Riglisanto family after the war. All of the property was returned and the business again fl ourished. His work for the family with the US government in getting the papers signed and authorized was never forgotten. Melina’s father was later killed in a plane crash in Korea. When Chief Helms and Melina were married, the young Police commander, fresh from graduation in the US was just returning to the Philippines He decided on the position in Olongopo after being asked by General
Ramos. The request was polite and offi cial but the family knew that it was
Ramos’s intent to have a loyal political ally. he could trust in charge. After
all, martial Law was still in force and the General may need any support he could count on from that area.
The mutual relationship between the Ramos family and Riglisanto’s many cousins and kin in the area who were prominent in business and local government, made the alliance and appointment as commander a very powerful position.
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CHAPTER 1
Tikrit , Iraq Morning June 6,1996
Haydar had his mind made up. He would join Bishar and his cousin Awwab in their journey to the Madrasa Khasa in Pakistan. His mother would have a very dim view of his travel away from his home and birthplace but the thought that he would be in the company of Bishar and Awwab would certainly not be good. He would explain that he has been offered an education that was not available to him in Tikrit. He could become an Engineer as his father wanted him to be. He would study Engineering and return to Tikrit and become a very notable and distinguished professional designing a new infrastructure for his city.
The Americans and NATO were bringing into the country contractors from all over the world to rebuild the country after the recent war. He would be able to take advantage of that opportunity if he had a degree which he certainly could not obtain here with the limited funds of his family. His grades were good enough to obtain a scholarship but he would have to be schooled in another country. It sounded good to Haydar and he hoped it would sound as good to his mother. He had never lied to his mother and felt bad about what he must do but as Bishar had explained to him, sometimes the older people are fearful of change and hold back and therefore lose the chance to advance. Some things are necessary Bishar assured him, to make progress for the family. Sometimes even a slight “embellishment” on the true nature of the trip to Pakistan. He would write often and send details of his progress in the school and would assure his mother that he would say his prayers three times a day no matter where he was. He would tell her that He absolutely knew that his late father would want him to take this opportunity and he would, in a manner, be honoring him by returning to his city of Tikrit as a Engineer.Haydar had it all in his head just how he would present this planned odyssey to her at the right time. He would have to hurry. Bishar said that they would be leaving day after tomorrow.
Bishar trusted this man known only as “Mannar—the strong one” simply because his cousin had written in his letter that the man would bring the group together when they left their homeland. Today however he was beginning to fear Mannar. It was understandable that the man would be somewhat nervous and anxious to get the group of young recruits together and leave for their new training location. It was not so much the way Mannar barked commands at the group—that was to be expected of a military leader, it was the look that this man had in his eyes. His eyes were not bright and clear like those of his teachers and cleric. This man had evil eyes and was dark set. They looked even more fearful when he looked at you from beneath his head cover.
“Bishar you have the responsibility of getting all these recruits assembled tomorrow by the warehouse and it must be done without anyone noticing that we are leaving the village as a group. Before the light of the sun comes over the east side of the Mosque we must be underway on our journey.” Mannar was pointing at the chest of Bishar as he spoke. “There will be no problems my captain. These are all my friends and will obey my requests.” Promised Bishar.
“Good.”
“Are we all going to be in one vehicle or will we leave in small
groups?
“Why do you ask youngster?
“I would like to travel with my friend Haydar if we are going to split
up.” Replied Bishar.
“I do not often give advice to one so young as you Bishar, I command and you follow. Because you are the cousin of my combat brother Awwab, I will give you this one last bit of advice and after this you will not ask for favors or advice. Is that understood young man?”
“Yes my Captain. I will not bother you again, I promise.”
“Good. Remember this and keep what I am about to tell you as our secret and confidential understanding.”
“I promise.”
“Good. You must never ask where your next journey is going or when. You will never ask your leaders to explain why they ask you to do something. Doing so will indicate to these people that you have doubt and are not secure in your belief. This could bring you great problems within the organization because secrecy is one of the most important elements of strategy and logistics. Should one of our leader’s suspects that you are becoming inquisitive in respect to where we are moving to or when, your life could be in danger. Never forget this friend because you will not be told it again or by anyone else.”
“I appreciate your valued knowledge Captain and I will retain this in sincere confidence.” Replied Bishar It was getting late in the evening and Haydar knew the time had come when he must tell his beloved mother of his decision to go with Bishar on his journey. He had packed all that he would be permitted to have with him on the journey according to Bishar’s instruction. No family photographs or items with his family name or initials. No items of clothing or sports attire that had his school name embroidered. He had everything that he could take neatly tucked into his knapsack and tied very tight. The charm that his father had given him on his 10th birthday would not be a problem he told himself because he would keep the silver coin on his necklace and out of sight. Only he would know that it would be constantly around his neck to remind him that he was in the sight of his father no matter where he was. His Quran was small and was made of sturdy material also given to him by his father.
“I can not believe you are directly disobeying me. You dishonor your late father and our family to do such a thing as this. “His mother went on and on.
“I am doing this in honor of my father mother. I will become an Engineer and help rebuild this village and my country for the future.” Bishar sounded convincing to himself but he could see that he was definitely not registering with his mother.
“I promise to write you every possible chance I get mother. You will always know my thoughts are with you and you will also know where I am. Really.”
“Can you not see young one? It is not that you are leaving me alone here in this village to grow old by myself but who you are going with.” Abidah Jarrah could see that her son had made up his mind and there was no changing it. No matter how she referenced her family pride and the fact that this Bishar was not a person that would be a good associate for Haydar, the fact was there. She had lost her son to Satan and he was doomed. She would give him her love and then remove him from her thoughts. She could not worry about something she knew so little about. What would be, will be. She gave her son a kiss on his forehead and held him ever so tight in her arms.
He was gone when she awoke the following morning. The sun was just behind the hill and still out of sight when Haydar joined the group assembled by the warehouse. He recognized two of his classmates in the group that he had never known were considering joining this adventure. He was pleased that he would have some friends that could provide something of a reference to family as he moved forward in his new life.
“As of this day forward you will not be known by your family names. The only time you will see your family name is when you will require identification for the authorities. Other than on these occasions, you will be known to each other by your new names.” The strong one was talking. “In the next few days we will all be traveling in very tight and uncomfortable quarters and so it is now that you will be given your new name. You will come to me with the name the group has chosen for you and I will consider if it is appropriate.”
When Haydar was introduced to the strong one by Bishar, he asked that they be permitted to travel together.
“Of course young man. Bishar will be your constant companion from this time forward. I can see that your friendship is genuine and that is a quality that will make you an important warrior.” The strong one then motioned for the entire group to come inside the warehouse.
As they opened the large doors to the building, Haydar was surprised to see three large white nine passenger vans lined up. They were American made and appeared to have air conditioning. On the side of each was the name of a university in , . . . Iran??
“I am confused Bishar.” Said Haydar to his friend.
“About???” replied Bishar.
“These vehicles are from some university in Iran. Will they be safe to travel in when we reach Syria?”
“ Syria?”
“Yes, did you not say that you were going to see your cousin who is training in a camp in Syria?”
“Everyone here was told they were going to Syria when they were recruited Haydar. It is the first part of learning to be a good Mujahideen. Never let your enemy know where you are going next or when. You were told this in case any of the group were questioned by someone that may be a spy or give away our intent. Do not ask the strong one that question. You will be starting off on the wrong foot for sure.”
The group boarded the vans and left the warehouse in the dark of early morning. As they headed east and into the countryside the sun came up and was very bright.