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“Ah. I see,” Drummond said, in a tone which suggested he didn’t. “Well, let’s offload these boys and do so quickly, shall we? You have a long drive back and we have an equally long drive to the airport. If we’re lucky, we’ll hit the Russian Road just after sunset. The fewer eyes, the better. You have all their papers?”
“Right here.” He handed over a large envelope. “Everything’s signed. All you gotta do is slot the boys into transports.”
“We’ll see to it. Oh, yes, we have petrol here.” A nod to his subordinate. “A precaution so you are sure to make it back. Why don’t you stretch your legs while we refill your tank and get the boys situated?”
“Sounds like a good idea,” he said, clicking out of his shoulder harness. Although theideafelt more like an order. “I could use a breather.”
“Splendid.” Drummond paused then continued in that same mild tone, “But I’m afraid I have to insist the boy’s rifle stay with you.”
Oh, no.He already knew what he would see before he looked and when he did, he wasn’t disappointed. “Kazim, I told you to put the rifle down.”
“I’m not going.” Kazim kept his gaze pinned to a spot by his feet. The rifle was in his left hand, but the magazine still lay in the footwell. “I go back with you.”
“You can’t,” John said, squelching a sudden swell of panic. A hush had fallen in the back; the other boys were seemingly frozen in place. For his part, Drummond only studied the boy the way a lepidopterist turns a butterfly this way and that, trying to decide if this might not be a new species no one has ever seen. Which was good; Drummond was keeping his cool. Perhaps that was because Thin Man had backed up a step and leveled his weapon. Would Thin Man shoot a kid? John decided he didn’t want to find out. “You have to get on a transport, Kazim. That’s what Shahida would want.”
“No.” Kazim’s face was in profile, but John saw how the boy’s lower lip trembled and twitched as he fought against emotion. “I go back.”
“You can’t?—”
“Everybody say what Kazim do!” The boy’s words were a lash. His head jerked up and John could see emotions warring on his young features. “Parents say! Fouad say, Mir say,Shahidasay!” he shouted, his voice suddenly cracking. He was so wound up, his command of English had slipped and now he pounded his chest with the balled fist not gripping his weapon. “WhenKazimget tosay?”
“A legitimate question,” Drummond said, his tone still mild. “You don’t want to get away from people who will only hurt you?”
Oh, escaping to another country is no guarantee. Plenty of people out there who don’t mind being cruel.But John kept his mouth shut.
“Yes.” Kazim’s mouth quivered. Swallowing, he sat up straighter. “But John no safe going back alone.”
“Why?” he asked, confused, at the same moment that Drummond nodded and said, “Ah, so that’s it. This Shahida, what would she do? What would her orders be?”
“I ride to protect John and my friends.” Now that he was calmer, his English was smoother, too. “John cannot drive and shoot same time.”
“I’ll be fine,” John said.
“No.” Drummond raised a finger. “The boy has a point. Iwouldloan you a man, but I have no authorization. Therefore, only two options remain.” To Kazim: “We could force you to comply, but I don’t wish to do so because then you might actually try to shoot someone and I’m afraid I can’t allow that. I would be very sorry to seriously hurt or even kill you, Kazim.”
“I am good?—”
“You are not that good.” Drummond cut the boy off. “Those men will fire before you can level a weapon. Please don’t doubt that for a second. I am equally certain that Shahida would be very upset if any of your friends here or even John were hurt inthe process. Still, I admire your courage,andI think you have a very valid point.”
“What?” John goggled. “What are you saying?”
“You have a long drive back, Captain. You will arrive close to sunset. In my experience, that’s when the animals come out to play. A lone soldier in a vehicle is a very tempting target.”
You don’t get it. We barely have enough room as it is.The words were poised, on the tip of his tongue, and then he swallowed them back. Because Drummond wasn’t wrong. Neither was Kazim and, really, what was one more skinny kid?
“All right.” He looked at the boy. “But from here on out, you do what I say, understood?”
“Yes,” Kazim said, working to smother a smug grin. He failed, miserably. “I understand.”
Shahida is going to have your hide, kid. If she didn’t take a piece out ofhimfirst.
“Splendid.” Drummond made alet’s rollmotion with a forefinger. “Then let us get this proverbial show on the road.”
After that,things happened quickly. While Thin Man filled the Humvee’s tank, several of Drummond’s men took charge of shepherding the boys into the back of the supply truck. Within fifteen minutes, the boys were safely stowed, the jerry can empty, and he and Kazim were back in their seats.
“Well.” Drummond extended a hand. “Good luck, Captain. We will take care of these boys and pass the word to expect your convoy this evening. Do you know when you expect to shove off?”
“Assuming everything goes to plan, as soon as I get back. Even with there being some daylight left, I don’t think anyonewants to cut things too close. If the last transport really is wheels’ up by midnight, then figure we better get the kids onto those transports no later than thirty minutes before they close the cargo bay doors and do final checks.”