Death in the Desert (10 page)

Arun and Majid had both survived the crashes, and were now in separate cells in the lower levels of Al Haq’s mountain hideout. A doctor had treated their injuries.

‘What will happen to them?’ Mitch asked Omari.

‘That is not our concern,’ said Omari with a shrug. ‘That’s Al Haq’s problem. I imagine he will keep them alive, but under very close watch. My uncle is not a man to be fooled twice.’

The men of Delta Unit had their injuries tended to and were taken to rooms inside the hideout to rest. But rest was the last thing on their minds. Once order had been restored and a kind of calm had come to the mountain hideout, they sought out Omari in the room where he was
preparing for his talks with Al Haq.

‘We want to know how Benny is,’ Nelson told him.

Omari looked at the five soldiers with an apologetic smile. ‘I’m afraid I don’t know,’ he said. ‘We won’t find out until we get back to Kandahar.’

‘That’s unacceptable,’ said Tug.

‘Your uncle has all sorts of telecommunications, right,’ said Gaz. ‘We may be in the mountains in an ancient hideout, but the Taliban are hot on mobile and satellite phones. That’s how they communicate the Coalition positions.’

‘True.’ Omari nodded.

‘So what we’d like you to do is get on those phones to your UN contacts and find out how Benny is,’ said Nelson.

Omari hesitated and for a moment the men thought he was going to argue. But instead he nodded and said, ‘Leave it to me. I’ll see what I can do.’

It was six hours later, after the first round of talks with Al Haq, that Omari sought out Nelson and the others.

‘I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get the information you want,’ he apologised. ‘But the good news is the surgery was successful and your friend is making a good recovery. He’s still in a bad way, but there should be no permanent damage.’

The men looked at one another in relief. ‘Great news!’ breathed Two Moons.

‘So what happens to him?’ asked Mitch. ‘Is he still going to get charged with drug dealing?’

‘I’m still working on that,’ said Omari.

‘Maybe if I can talk to your contact myself I can get it sorted out?’ suggested Nelson.

Omari shook his head apologetically. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘Our talks are still at an early stage, and my uncle is wary of allowing you to have direct communications with the outside.’

‘But we fought alongside him!’ protested Two Moons.

‘We rescued him!’ added Mitch.

‘I know,’ agreed Omari. ‘But my uncle has stayed alive by being careful and trusting no one except his own immediate family.’ He smiled. ‘After what happened with Arun and Majid, I think even family will now be viewed with suspicion. And that includes me.’

Nelson sighed. ‘OK. But the sooner we can get more info about Benny, the better.’

‘I understand,’ said Omari. ‘And I’ll do what I can.’

The peace talks between Omari and Al Haq went on for days. The men of Delta Unit waited, worrying endlessly about Benny. How was he doing? Had he been arrested while he was in hospital?

Finally, after four days, Omari came out from the latest round of talks with a smile on his face. ‘My uncle and I have an agreement,’ he told the soldiers.

‘What are the terms?’ asked Mitch.

Omari shot a concerned glance at Nelson, who grinned. ‘Need to know only, Mitch. That’s for the politicians, not us. But we’ve done what we came to do. Mission accomplished!’

‘Right now, I need to know how we’re gonna get out of here,’ muttered Two Moons. ‘We haven’t got those Land Rovers any more and I don’t fancy driving all the way back to Kandahar in the wrecks they’ve got here.’

‘You won’t have to,’ Omari said. ‘Part of the deal is that my uncle now talks to a UN diplomat at a friendly embassy in Kabul. A helicopter will come and collect him tomorrow. I understand they will give us a lift.’

‘Travelling in style,’ said Gaz, impressed. ‘Sounds good to me!’

‘And what about Benny?’ asked Mitch.

Omari gave them a happy smile.

‘The latest news I have is that he is recovering very swiftly indeed.’

‘But what about the charges?’ demanded Nelson.
‘I can’t see that Colonel Taggart wanting to let him walk free.’

‘And you won’t want our cover story blown,’ added Tug. ‘If I read it right, this first meeting in Kabul is just the start. You and your boss won’t want it messed up now.’

‘Your colleague is an American citizen,’ said Omari. ‘Let’s just say, there have been some diplomatic strings pulled. Lieutenant Jaurez has already been transferred to an American military hospital in Kabul.’ His smile broadened and he pulled a satellite phone from his pocket, tapped a number, and held it out to the men. ‘I had him on hold,’ he told them. ‘I thought you’d prefer to hear from Lieutenant Juarez himself.’

Nelson snatched the phone from Omari and the men gathered round him, looking at the picture of Benny that appeared on the screen. He was sitting up in a hospital bed, with bandages around his head. ‘Hi guys!’ he said, smiling.

Gaz let out a huge cheer of delight and relief,
echoed by Mitch and Two Moons. ‘Hey, go easy, guys!’ protested Benny. ‘I’m recovering from a head wound, remember.’

‘How do you feel?’ asked Nelson.

Benny grinned. ‘For someone who took a bullet to the head – pretty good. The medicos have been brilliant. They say I’m going to be fine. By the time you get to Kabul I’ll be up and running.’

‘Walking might be more advisable at this stage,’ said Tug with a grin.

‘You got it,’ said Benny. ‘See you guys soon.’ The screen flickered, and then went blank.

Nelson gave Omari a grateful smile. ‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘And say thanks to your uncle. Linking up like that really was a sign of trust.’

‘Let’s hope it’s just the first of many,’ said Omari.

‘Amen to that,’ agreed Nelson. He turned to Tug, Two Moons, Gaz and Mitch. ‘So, are you guys ready to head out?’

‘And on to the next mission,’ agreed Mitch.

‘Give us a break, Mitch!’ said Gaz, chuckling. ‘I’ve still got bullet holes from this one.’

‘Yeah, but that’s what we do, ain’t it?’ Two Moons smiled. ‘Put ourselves in the firing line.’

‘Damn right!’ said Mitch.

Black Ops: Jungle Kill
Black Ops: Death in the Desert