Broken Lands Page 9

  “I will need to schedule some exams for some of the new recruits that I want to initiate this week. They are so eager to get started and to be included in our operations. I feel like putting them into action, but we know better about the possible risks involved and want to be extra sure about their preparedness. We cannot afford to take any unwarranted risks,” she expressed in a serious tone, yet with a soft look.

  “I’m so glad that the people in your movement are becoming self-assertive with all this new awareness and vision,” I responded with a tone of content and relief. “I promise you that we will do the utmost to resolve the pressures on Inkasar.” My voice signaled a sense of duty, compassion and sincerity.

  “Yair. You are undoubtedly my guardian angel. I love you so dearly,” she whispered amorously.

  After breakfast, we returned to our room, gathered our belongings, checked out and quickly left the hotel. A calm silence embraced my soul as I felt the early morning breeze coming my way from the boardwalk. As we neared my car, Jezabilah told me that she felt a tingling in her lower abdomen, and just then, a large flock of ravens perched above us in the trees lining our path, began crowing loudly. I felt like singing and to dance, to click my heels in mid-air and sound a victory fanfare on a bugle, expressing the joy that was in my heart.

  The following week, Jezabilah initiated a massive cleanup campaign which touched every town and city. There were mass demonstrations against the government in every corner of Palestine that called for the necessary changes in order to remove those who had stripped Palestine of its honor. Dozens of Hamas leaders were arrested and those that violently resisted were eliminated by Inkasar operatives. A wave of pertinent information travelled all through the Palestinian nation, revealing the facts and realities about all the brave Inkasar operatives who had the guts to face the threats of the present governing body. The speeches that the leaders and members of both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas used to make became irrelevant. They were too busy scrambling to find hiding spaces in order to stay alive. There were calls of praise for the Inkasar movement demanding immediate elections. The people wanted their honor back, the chance to speak freely, and to be able to provide for their families. They were tired of being second-class citizens, while those who ran the national budget lived in high style, well above the harsh living conditions, enjoying luxury and opulence. Everyone demanded a new legal system that would scrutinize all that had transpired in the past, and a new set of laws for their society; a system run by a governing body that would be humane and just, and would treat people rightfully.

  Chapter Seven

  Besides the constant training we had at headquarters, I maintained a tightly adhered to schedule of workouts on my days off. On Saturday, the bright morning light glistened off the waves creating a collage of soft blend of chromatic greens and white foam. The weather was pleasant and simply perfect for going out for my scheduled jog around the neighborhood. I took a quick shower, put on my workout attire and hopped out of my apartment. I felt the warm, soothing, southern breeze caressing my body as I ran my regular path on Yarkon Street. Just below on the beach front, there were hundreds of bathers in the water and thousands sitting elbow-to-elbow on the sand with their beach umbrellas and chairs lined up like a drive-in movie. I could hear the sounds of gliding pelicans and seagulls as they circled above the beach, maneuvering in the wind that carried them. One group of pelicans who had gathered on the sand was joined by a small flock of sea gulls. These birds had a special relationship between them and on many occasions, I had seen pelicans sharing their catch by leaving fish on the sand, allowing the gulls to share in their morning meals. One special moment I’ll never forget is when one of the pelicans opened its beak so wide so as to enable one of his seagull buddies to pick out one of the fish that was gathered in its pouch. Touching moments like these were quite inspiring. It gave me a feeling of optimism recognizing that there is a special unity between all the creatures on the planet. Even though the current events around the world cast a shadow of doom on humanity, animals and plant-life alike, the miraculous beauty of nature and the flowing currents of life generated a bright light of hope on a rather dismal, dark forecast.

  While breathing in a coordinated sequence, my thoughts shifted to savoring the time Jezabilah and I spent together. I ran, pacing myself, maintaining the proper stride, balance and the positioning of my feet as they landed on the sidewalk with each step. I felt blessed to be so much in love, never having felt such an awesome sense of affection for someone before. I wondered what the future would hold for Jezabilah and me, would we find common ground upon which our relationship could endure? Will we complete this most challenging mission? Is it possible that the Palestinians would have a woman as their leader?’

  I was in a cool-down phase of my jog, as I had just passed the Hilton-Sheraton boardwalk. It was still void of the usual mass of joggers and bikers in the early morning. Suddenly I heard someone calling me from behind. The voice was unfamiliar to me.

  “Yair, please stop.” Realizing the voice was getting closer, I gathered myself to a cautious, defensive mode with readiness to use my pistol should the necessity arise.

  “Wait, please, stop and listen. I was sent by Inkasar.” I slowed my pace and then immediately stopped in my tracks and faced the young man. He was gasping for air from trying to keep up with me. I recognized his face from the Inkasar potential membership files, but I didn’t remember his name.

  “There was no way of reaching you in any other way. Hamas has recently brought in some new technicians from Iran, and they have done a good job of jamming and locating our links with special viruses that affected our relays,” he took in some more air, as he struggled anxiously to speak, showing clear signs of weariness. “That is why,” he gasped and paused again, “your IsraEyes system didn’t pick up the abduction as it happened. They had planned everything sequentially and, I must admit, timed it very well.”

  “Who are you?” I inquired. “What abduction are you talking about?”

  “My name is Khaled. I am a field agent for Inkasar. There is a matter of urgency at hand. Hamas intelligence agents have taken Jezabilah into custody. As we speak, she is being interrogated at the Jericho Police Station for her association with your people and for supporting the conspiracy against the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Please help us. Our people are stationed near the complex, but it is being well guarded and we do not have a plan of rescue that would guarantee that no harm would come her way.”

  “What is the field code?” I demanded, even though I already understood that he was a legitimate member of the Inkasar movement.

  “AZTECHNOLOGICAL,” he replied firmly. I was both relieved by the correct code confirmation, and extremely concerned about the information I had just gotten.

  “Damn, those bastards are going to kill her. There is no way she is going to say anything to them, and that will make it that much more difficult for her all around. We must get on our way immediately,” I exclaimed in frantic agitation.

  I alerted my teams and had them key in the coordinates of the Police Station where Jezabilah was being held. I insisted that Khaled disappear immediately and return to the border crossing he had used. I quickly stepped curbside to flag down a taxi. While I sat restlessly in the back seat of the cab, I input some commands on my cellular. Dozens of agents at the Organization headquarters reacted simultaneously to my orders. Once my coordinated directives were downloaded to all agents’ communication modules, chains of commands were generated for all involved. The secondary codes automatically summoned all the necessary people needed to implement this specific mission.

  I hurriedly got into my car as soon as I arrived at my apartment complex, and drove to headquarters at high speed, safely paving my way with the siren and a bubble-top emergency warning light that I affixed to the top of the car. My mind was charged with images and thoughts that centered on only one thing; Jezabilah’s well-be
ing.

  “Those bastards. If they hurt her in any way, I will take them out one by one and hang them off the Tower of David by their balls. I’ve had it with these assholes.”

  When I arrived, everyone at the excursion docks could see the signs of rage in my eyes. It had taken only 15 minutes to round up the teams of tactical field agents. They were already geared up and ready go, just waiting for my command. The technical divisions at headquarters had worked out the communication jams that were created by the Iranians, and Erez reciprocated by wreaking havoc on the enemy’s grids and links. I made all the last-minute checks and coordinated our mission with the border patrol, making certain that they would be prepared for any back up should we need it. The police station in Jericho had been a venue used by Fattah and Hamas security agents as a ground base of operations and as an interrogation center. Some members of the Al Aqsa Brigade also used the station as a command post for setting up terrorist attacks. There was a partitioned detention hall and on the second floor, there were three rooms equipped specifically for torture. This location had already been added to Inkasar’s hit list, but unfortunately due to the breaches in the communication network, the original planned attack had had to be delayed.

  The Inkasar operatives that were positioned near the police station were apprehensive. They were very relieved to let us implement the assault rather than risking Jezabilah’s life with a questionable attack of their own. We set out on the mission and after the short ride from the border, our teams reached the main street of Jericho right according to schedule. Wadad and Amir, the two Israeli Druze agents, along with the two Bedouin operatives, Aleef and Ibrahim, were all dressed in traditional Palestinian Police uniforms with the Palestinian Keffiyeh headwear. When we arrived at the police station, we had no problem at the checkpoint. Wadad and Amir stopped the jeep in front of the station. Aleef and Ibrahim got out of the vehicle and pulled Joshua and me out of the jeep aggressively by our handcuffed hands. Wadad and Amir walked behind us pushing us forward forcedly with the butts of their rifles. We all proceeded into the building, and just to make sure that the guards wouldn’t be suspicious in any way, our guys kept handling us roughly, Joshua and I receiving an occasional slap on the head as we were escorted onward. The guards never gave any of us a second look when we passed the entrance to the building. The guards at the entry point, accepted the scenario as if we were actually prisoners being led to a holding pen to be interrogated. I was relieved that we had completed that first, and possibly the most important, phase of the rescue operation.

  “I can see you guys on satellite view, Yair,” called out Erez, as he came in loud and clear in the audio implant in my left ear. “You are GO! There are no patrols around the area, other than the guards you just passed out front. According to our database and scanner links, you have 12 minutes before one of the larger patrols comes around as scheduled.”

  Once we were inside, we proceeded directly to the upper floor where interrogations usually took place. In the interim, Aleef and Ibrahim kept guard and watched out for anything unusual in the area of the stairwell. As we continued carefully upward, we suddenly heard loud screeching and quickly headed in the direction of the sound. Jezabilah’s agonized voice was the source of the screaming and it was coming from the last room at the end of the corridor. We quickly approached the door and when I gave the hand signal, we broke in, kicking the door open and immediately took our shots. The three Hamas agents that had been tormenting Jezabilah, both physically and verbally, didn’t get a chance to actually see us. The force of the bullets catapulted them against the wall. The only other guards were in the lower corridors, and when they came running up the stairs alarmed by a noise; created by the impact of the flying bodies. As these guards approached, Aleef and Ibrahim systematically eliminated them as well. Joshua and I slid our silencer-mounted pistols back into our holsters and pulled out the special garment we had tucked away in our apparel.

  I injected Jezabilah with an injection of Glucagon to help her regain consciousness and quickly dressed her. The wig and mustache we applied did not match her exotic eyes, but we didn’t think anyone was about to notice that aspect of her look. We carefully laid her down on one of the stretchers we had found in the medical room and began carrying her out. While we were approaching the stairs, I noticed that there were some counterfeiting presses in one of the rooms. I would have liked to destroy everything in the room at that moment, but the explosion would have alarmed far too many security forces to the area. Saving Jezabilah was more than enough for now. I carefully looked over the presses in order to remember them correctly and relay the proper information to Erez so he could set up a scheduled attack on the target, after we had crossed the border safely.

  We left the building under the previous pretense used when we first entered; ‘prisoners being led by their guards.’ To emphasize the masquerade of having gone through some very tough torment during an interrogation, Joshua and I had punctured some blood pellets all over our faces and clothes. While we proceeded to the jeep, Wadad and Amir roughed us up before kicking us and pushing us into the vehicle. It was like a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie, set in the Middle East. All the while, Inkasar’s covert units had given us protective coverage. From the minute we had arrived at the scene, Inkasar snipers had been positioned all along the perimeter of the Police Station and at specific points on the cleverly mapped getaway route that had been planned through some of the back streets. Avoiding contact with the enemy was always preferential when maneuvering through any given area.

  I was obviously relieved; one could see a subtle grin showing through the usual commanding expression on my face. Jezabilah and I glanced at one another nonchalantly at every casual opportunity. Neither she nor I knew could guess if and when our special relationship would become a public item. But as it was, she was in good hands all around, and that was enough for us.

  “That was pretty smooth sailing,” said Joshua, as the Jeep made it to the edge of town. Joshua began rocking happily in a seated dance with arms angled in all directions.

  “Stop jerking back and forth, we’ll flip over because of you,” remarked Wadad Taher, with a wide, joyous smile.

  “Lighten up, we’re almost over the border,” replied Joshua.

  “This area is the most secure of the passages, but you’re right, we should always be extra careful, there is still a chance of sniper attacks,” I added.

  “The element of surprise we implemented is part of the gig,” added Salaam Abdullah, the other Bedouin member of the team.

  “Damn it, can’t a woman get some peace and quiet around here?” Jezabilah injected with a big smile on her face. “You guys are like a chatter box.”

  We all laughed, feeling satisfied with our successful mission. Considering all the great pain she was feeling from the torture she had endured in Jericho; it was a wonder that she could smile at all “I thought women were the ones who talked a lot, but you guys have proven me wrong,” she added.

  “Relax, Jez. We are just a bit elated from saving your ass,” said Joshua in a satirical manner.

  “Goof on, soldier, but I guess I should work on my sense of humor, in view of all that you have done for me,” Jezabilah said aloud. To herself she thought, ‘Could I express my feelings to anyone? Would anyone understand what had unfolded, and how intimately close Yair and I have become? Not now, and possibly, not ever. A new way of thinking is way overdue, and I’m going to make sure that it gets a chance. I will certainly have to increase the number of guards to protect me.’

  The border crossing was the simplest matter of all, since our clearance was monitored and gauged by satellite every step of the way. The Israeli border patrol had been on the lookout for our vehicles at all the optional exit points from the minute that the word got out that the rescue was a success and that we were in transit.

  There was great anxiety and stress at the Inkasar secret headquarters when they at f
irst heard of Jezabilah’s arrest. The members felt unbearable tension. However, when the news about her rescue came over their newly protected communication devices, there was great joy and jubilation. Jezabilah was so important for them, not only as a leader but also as a provider. Everyone at Inkasar was waiting for the day when there would be a normalization of the peace accords with Israel. Her coordinated effort with her Israeli partners brought about new programs that used volunteers to feed and clothe the impoverished in the population, wherever they could be located.

  “Khaled, praise the Lord! She is free. They did it. I saw them in the jeep that passed our position just minutes ago,” conveyed Anwar, one Inkasar’s younger members, named after the late Egyptian President.

  “Thanks, Anwar, I’ll call Jamal in Gaza and tell him that she’s OK!” replied Khaled. Khaled scattered the auxiliary unit that had been positioned in readiness, just in case something was to go wrong. Khaled was almost certain that the rescue would be a success, but in spite of that, as in all operations, it was necessary to have backup crews ready to go. The government was furious to know that such a movement was undergoing expansion and strength. Since Inkasar had spread information detailing the government’s deficiencies and ineptness the public’s scorn and discontent reached a new high.

  Jezabilah’s guard was tripled as soon as she returned to Gaza. She continued with her initiative; calling on the public to join Inkasar and to start believing in a new direction for Palestine. The government officials who had originally ordered her arrest, were extremely upset when they heard that she had been rescued and was still campaigning. The public’s discontent was clearly evidenced by of the fact the Inkasar movement had been constantly expanding, continuing to build in strength, and preparing for missions that focused on locking up radical extremists in both territories. In just a few days, after tremendously intense attacks by Inkasar operatives, Hamas had lost power in three of its major districts. Hamas militias who resisted Inkasar’s forces were eliminated. Their offices and warehouses were taken over and the tunnels which served as passages to infiltrate Israeli border towns were exposed and demolished. No longer were the people feeling the constant scrutiny of the brutal, authoritarian government which controlled them. After decades of deprivation and suffering, accepting a fresh new reality was going to be easy for the people of Palestine.