Sirens, page 24
patriarchal head of the Irish Protestants in the north.' He looked
disgusted. ' usual, the English did all the dirty work, going into
Andytown, pulling out the suspected IRA boys.' He shook his head. ' was
a real bloodbath.' ' it's been going on for so long.' ' so!' He set down
his prized cup with a bang. ' where does it get us, I ask you! Blood and
more blood. Families decimated.
Sorrow and despair.' He pushed his cup away. ' you see the real reason
I'm making this film; show people the utter stupidity of it all." He
gave the Guardian a backhand swipe so that its pages flew across the
floor like birds with broken wings. '! I don't know why I bother reading
the bloody stuff anyway!' But the next morning he was back at tea,
studying the paper as if nothing at all had happened. El-Kalaam was
crouched on the floor next to James with z beside him. They had a map of
the villa and its environs spread out between them. They were over it,
piece by piece. ''re certain to have men here soon,' El-Kalaam said.
e must be certain there's no chink in our armour. It ildn't do to be
surprised at this late stage, uh?' His foreer traced a rough rectangle
on the map. ''s here Go and see that all is well.' Malaguez nodded and
dlessly obeyed. On his way out, he passed Rudd and the glishmen on their
way back down the hall. They were g the bathroom door.
Fessi prodded them and they it against one wall. He allowed them to rest
then. El-Kalaam. glanced over at James. ' don't look at all my fri
Rita!' he called. ' water out here. Keep man's wife in there with you.'
In a moment, Susan appeared. She carried a glass of water. r makeup was
gone and her carefully coiffed hair was falling und her ears.
El-Kalaam ordered her to kneel before him; complied. ' see how easy it
is,' he told James. ' were bom to e orders.' He jerked his head at her
and Susan let James at the rim of the glass. In the kitchen, Rita was
supervising the women's cooking. ' had not touched a pot or pan herself.
' is it' Heather said as she stirred the soup, ' he ows you in the
cadre? It's obvious he hates women.' ' does not hate women,' Rita said
with a note of defensives in her voice. ' has no respect for them. Men
and omen are only different because they serve different functions
life.' ' don't see any difference -2 ''s foolish to even talk to you.
Keep quiet and stir your UP. Heather turned her head away. ''s just that
I don't under- ;. Part of the revolutionary role is to make yourself
Understood.' Rita looked at the back of Heather's head for a moment. '
my man was killed by Israelis in a raid, I found I could no longer
function as I - as a woman functions. Perhaps part of me was killed
along with him.' Heather turned around to 210 211 face her. ' could
only think of one thing. I took my brother's machine pistol and went
across the border into Israel.' ' yourself?' Heather said. '?' ' don't
remember it all. Only some time later hands pulling me away from bodies
- there were three of theml they told me later - I swear I had never
seen them before.' Her head swung around. ' was El-Kalaarn who pulled me
away. The killing frenzy was still on me and he took me out into the
desert so that I could empty my machine pistol. When it was all over, he
asked me to join him. ' am not like the others,' she said softly. She
took a bit of food from the counter, ate it. ' am half dead.' She
pointed. ''re burning the soup.' Her voice was a whiplash. ''re wrong
about women,' James said from his sitting position against the bookcase.
''m not wrong about anything I say.' El-Kalaam lit a cheroot. ' are
about this,' James persisted. ' don't know Heather.' El-Kalaarn grunted.
He took the cheroot out of his mouth. J don't have to. She's the same as
this dark-haired one.' He glanced up at Susan. ' Gut of here now. Can't
you see we've finished with you?' Susan went back inside the kitchen.
"All Western women are the same. One need have no fear of them. They
know nothing. They dont think; they just talk.' He made a flapping
gesture with the fingers and thumb of his hand. ' would you like to make
a wager on that?' James' blue eyes were bright. ' don't make wagers,'
El-Kalaam said. ' even with my equals.' He puffed on his cheroot,
glanced over at James. After a time he said, ' is it your wife is
supposed to know how to do?' ' a gun.' El-Kalaa&s face broke into a grin
and he threw his head back. He laughed. ', you are the lucky one. Lucky
I don't take that wager.' ''re a coward then." The smile left
El-Kalaam's face and he scowled menacingly. His body tensed. His hands
balled up into fists. Then the emotion was gone. The grin was back. '
seek to insult me, t it won't work. I won't be baited.' Rita appeared. '
food's ready.' ' -Kalaam looked up. ' the brunette feed Fessi and the
others. The wife' - he looked pointedly at James - ' serve -nw and then
you.' ' about Malaguez?' ''ll eat as soon as he returns. I don't want
anyone else out of the vilia at the moment.' Heather came out of the
kitchen Varrying a platter of steamed vegetables. El-Kalaam beckoned ber
over to where he sat. ' down,' he said. After a moment's hesitation she
did. Very slowly he began to pick at the food. lie used only his right
hand. ' your eyes down while I'm cating,'he told her. Susan came out of
the kitchen, followed by Rita. They went across the room to where Fessi
and the other members of the cadre sat. The front door opened and
Malaguez came in. El Kalaam looked up. The other man gave a curt nod and
Elkalaam went back to his meal. ' about my husbandf Heather said. '
about himf ' needs to eat.' Delicately, El-Kalaarn took a slice of
vegetable between his b and forefinger. Very deliberately he placed it
between es' lips.
James tried to chew. The food dropped on to his ' see?' El-Kalaam
shrugged. ' does no good. No good ' needs something liquid. I made some
soup.' El-Kalaarn ignored her, tumedto James.'I beg your pardon," said
itonically. ' were right, after all. She is good for ,,something.' When
James did not answer, he turned back to @'Heather.
"Your husband tells me you can shoot a gun.' ',' she said. ' can."
El-Kalaam snorted. ' what do you shoot? A paper target? Ducks on a pond?
Or perhaps you're a rabbit killer? Oh yes, I see it in your eyes," he
said triumphantly. ' can handle a gun all right! He pushed the platter
away, disgustedly. ' feed Rita. When you're finished you may give your
husband the soup you made! He rose, ' he can keep it down." 212 213 He
strode across the room to the telephone, dialled a number.
"The prime minister,' he said into the receiver. ' is now close to three
Am, Pirate. What have you to show for your time?' He listened for a
moment. His face darkened. ' do I care for your problems. If it's a
difficult or an easy task makes no difference to me. Our Palestinian
brothers must be freed by six tonight. ' if not ... ? You recall your
old friend Bock, don't you, Pirate? Of course you do. Why else would you
have sent your daughter here? You and Bock go back a long, long time. To
the old days in Europe. We know all about that. You would not trust her
with anyone else, isn't that so?' His voice was thick with rage. ', I
trust you've got a photograph of your old friend Bock, Pirate. Watch for
him. If our brothers are not free by six you're going to need that photo
to recognize him.' He slammed down the phone, turned to Malaguez.'He
thinks we'll get nothing out of him but he's wrong.' He pounded one fist
into his palm. ' accursed Israelis are inhuman? He took a deep breath.
'. They need a lesson. Malaguez, bring Bock along. Fessi, you know what
to get.' He stopped, brought Heather up beside him. '.' ' are we going?'
El-Kalaam said nothing. He took her along down the hallway, past the
bathroom with its open doorway, to a room at the far end of the villa.
Once it had been Bocvs suite but now the cadre had turned it into
something else. The windows had been boarded up, the huge bed overturned
against it. No light came in through the window. There was one lamp on
in the room. The shade had been removed and the light was a harsh glare.
Heather squinted.
El-Kalaam. moved her out of the way as Bock was brought in. Malaguez
took him into the centre of the room. He stood with his calves against a
slat-backed wooden chair. They all waited silently until Fessi came in.
He closed the door behind him. He was carrying what appeared to be a
length of garden hose coiled over one shoulder. There was a brass nozzle
at one end, a screw-on socket of the same metal on the other. '
understand,' El-Kalaam said to Bock, ' you are quite a fine public
speaker. That is unusual in an industrialist. Capitalists are often too
busy giving orders or stuffing their it e cocked his head to one , W. h
expensive food, uh?' H ' then a man who makes his living exploiting the
poor . know how to speak to them, at least.' I was poor once,' Bock
said. ' know what it means." "Ali hah 1 Yes indeed.' He. spread his arms
wide, grinned. ' this is for the poor. Oh, I can believe that.' His
voice changed and his eyes narrowed to slits. ', I tell you, Bock, you
will have to do some speaking now. You will convince your old friend,
the prime minister, of his folly. He tells me he's experiencing delays,
that there are many political factions in Jerusalem who must be
appeased.' ''s quite correct.' ' you take me for a fool? Do you think I
don't know who s Jerusalem? If the Pirate orders our brothers released,
they I be released. It is folly, this stubbornness. He values your ,; he
values his daughter's life, doesn't he?' ' values the welfare of his
country more,' Bock said. ' like a true Zionist!' El-Kalaarn cried. '
this is %the real world, my dear deluded Bock not, Allah be praised,
?"some Jewish pipe-dream you people insist on living. Decisions of life
and death will be made here during the next eighteen ,,hours.
Part of the responsibility for what does or does not '..happen falls on
your shoulders.' ' Jews have had six thousand years of life-and-death
rdecisions,' Bock said. ' know what I am doing. There's nothing for us
to talk about. You'll simply have to get along out me.' ' Jew,"
El-Kalaarn sneered. ' smart.' He poked Mock in the chest with a
forefinger. ' stupid is all you are. You'll see. And remember this
conversation. You'll beg me to . you off to do my bidding.' His face was
very close to Bock's. ', you will.' He turned to Fessi. ' attach it.'
Fessi disappeared into the bathroom. Small sounds emanated from the open
doorway, Then Fessi reappeared, nodded curtly.
"Malaguez,'El-Kalaam commanded. The broad-shouldered man untied the flex
from around Bock's ankles. '.' Malaguez slammed the butt of his MP40 on
to Bock's 214 215 shoulder. The industrialist moaned, sank down on to
the chair. ''s better! Malaguez tied his wrists behind the chair's
slatted back. '.' Fessi took the nozzle end of the hose from behind his
back. He brought it close to Bock's face. ''re so filled up with Zionist
ideals,' El-Kalaarn said coldly. ' you will feel how it is to be filled
up with something else.' Bock's eyes swivelled from him to the nozzle
Fessi held. ' you ever seen a drowned man, Bock? I believe you have.
During your days in Europe, uh?
The bloated bodies like carrion. The stink. You looked at the face of
your best friend and couldn't recognize it.' He looked down into Bock's
sweating face. '. You've seen them drowned and gone. And you've thought,
Better them than me, uh, Bock? ', now you'll feel what it's like to
drown. And, in the end, you'll do what I wish! Bock gritted his teeth.
Sweat dripped off his round chin. '.' El-Kalaarn reached out and pinched
Bock's nostrils closed. He shook his head but El-Kalaam held on. After a
time he opened his mouth to breathe and Fes@i shoved the brass nozzle
into it. ' say never, Bock,' El-Kalaam. said, still holding his nose
shut. Bock's eyes got big. As Fessi fed more of the hose in, he began to
gag. He sat up straight. His eyes began to water.
He made horrible mewling sounds around the obstruction in his mouth.
"It's tough, isn't it, Bock?' El-Kalaarn said. ' so helpless!
Bock's eyes were rolling wildly and he began to shake, first his legs,
then his thighs and, lastly, his torso. Heather could see the muscles of
his throat convulsing. ' a poor creature you are, Bock. But it's only
typical of your race! ' are you going to do with him?' Heather asked.
''re choking him! Without looking at her, EI-Kalaarn said, "Fill him up
with water, Fessi. But not too quickly. We want the effect to last. It's
more ... persuasive ... that way! 216 re. Kalaam.
shrugged. ' is only a word. Women are good words. Men deal in action.
Results are what count. One t always sacrifice something to get what one
wants. In this en you ve sacrificed your humanity,' she said. U@@ e
turned so swiftly it was a blur. His hand came up and
"Slapped her across the face. ' are you to tell me of .... ty?' he
thundered. ' of guns. Hunter of small Is. You kill without purpose, for
sport. I kill for my le, my country, so that we may return to our home.
There justice in what I do but you -' he spat at her feet.
"There is excuse for what you do.' He jerked his head. '. e her out. Let
her wait with the brunette! @Jn the awful silence of the living room,
they could not block the intermittent cries that drifted towards them
from the end of the hall where the terrorists were working on Bock.
At last, Malaguez returned down the hallway. There had no sounds for
several minutes and Heather, her arms d Susan, bit her lip in
anticipation of the outcome. Malaguez stopped, beckoned to Heather and
Susan. ' both come with me now! was waiting for her when they broke for
lunch. She walked exhausted, to her trailer and, opening the door, found
rummaging around in the half refrigerator in the far er next to the
dresser. ' for clues?' she said as he stood up. @-:Bonesteel turned to
face her, a small bottle of Perrier in his d. He smiled. ' looking for
the lime.' ''re too late,' she said, closing the door behind her. ''m
out! He unscrewed the top, took a swig. ''t you rather have a glass?'
she said acidly. She was oyed that he had not seen fit to talk to her
before this. He waved the bottle at her. ''s okay.
I'm used to eating the run.' He wore a lightweight pale mauve suit that
did not me off any rack. Daina wondered how he managed to pay r it on
his salary. ' certainly are well dressed for a cop! She sat down in a
217 plush chair, took her shoes off. He grinned. ''s what comes from
being a kept man.' It had perhaps been meant as a joke but something in
the back of his blue-grey eyes refused to laugh, remaining sullen and
withdrawn. He leaned back, his buttocks against the top of the
refrigerator. ' said you wanted to talk to me. What about? ' said you'd
want my help.' ', yeah, well, I don't think ''ve changed your mind! He
put the bottle down, went across to the small window, peeked out at the
bustling lot by hooking his finger, pulling back an edge of the
curtains. ' don't want you involved! ' not?' He turned to look at her.
'. Whitney, coming from such a smart lady, that's an awfully dumb
question! ' want to help! ' appreciate that! His eyes said something
else. ' there's nothing for you to do.' She took another tack. ' weren't
very honest with me the other day! '?' He did not seem surprised. '
about?' ' bloody emblem you found on the side of the ... speaker box!
She swallowed, willing herself to forget the horror that had lain
inside. ''s police business, Miss. Whitney! ' business, too.' She leaned
forward and he sighed, massaging his closed eyelids for a moment. When
he spoke next, his voice had taken on the droning inflection of a
lecturer who was either incompetent or very bored with his material. '
little over two years ago, on November thirteenth, the body of a
twenty-three-yearold college student was found within the northwest
borders of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. She had been brutally
beaten and disfigured before she died. Beside her body was a rock on
which had been drawn what was later identified as a sword within a
circle. It was also later confirmed that this emblem' - he deliberately
