In the Company of Heroes by Michael J. & Hartov Durant & Michael J. & Hartov Durant

Author:Michael J. & Hartov Durant & Michael J. & Hartov Durant [Durant, Michael J. & Hartov, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General, Fiction, United States, Biography & Autobiography, Military, East, Transportation, Durant; Michael J, Aviation, Africa, Other, Black Hawk (Military transport helicopter), Operation Restore Hope; 1992-1993, Veterans
ISBN: 9780451219930
Publisher: Penguin

“Sir,” was all I said.

“I trust you are well?”

“My guards should be commended.”

Firimbi was standing off in one corner, and I hoped he could understand my compliment. Abdi turned his head, cocked it slightly at Firimbi, and briefly closed his eyes. My roommate looked at me, and I could see the pleasure in his expression.

“I may have some good news for you, Mr. Durant.” The minister focused on me again. “It appears that a representative of the Red Cross might be able to visit you.”

God, that would be fantastic, I thought. If a Red Cross worker witnesses me alive, it’s one more step toward a survival guarantee.

However, by this time I was on to Abdi’s game. He was a professional politician, and he never gave up anything for free. I just looked at him as if waiting for the rest, and it came along soon enough.

“Would you like to be visited by the Red Cross?” he probed.

“Sure,” I said as casually as possible, “if it’s not too inconvenient.”

He smiled at me. The man was a shark.

“And after that, perhaps you would speak to some journalists?”

“No, Sir. I would not.”

He nodded pensively, though I saw the ire flash briefly in his eyes.

A burst of AK-47 fire suddenly erupted outside from somewhere nearby. Abdi didn’t even blink, and I’d be damned if I was going to blink first. He crossed his arms over his chest as he thought for a moment. He had all the time in the world.

“Your family now knows of your situation, Mr. Durant,” he said.

A tight constriction gripped my throat. Images of Lorrie and Joey and my parents swept across my mind’s eye, but I showed him nothing on my face.

“The video of you is still being shown every day on the news. You have become a media ‘celebrity,’ shall we say.”

Once again my mind shot over every word I had said during that taped interrogation. But I was still satisfied with it and felt no remorse at anything I’d uttered. And as far as having my face splashed across television screens, I had found a way to deal with that exposure as well. If I ever got out of there, I could have a buzz cut, grow a mustache, and still go back to work.

Since I didn’t visibly react or address any of Abdi’s news, he apparently decided that he wasn’t going to get much from me today.

He turned to leave while his bodyguards snapped to, and then he turned back.

“I will have that radio delivered to you today.”

“I’ll be grateful for that, sir,” I said, while giving no indication of what my gratitude might entail. Still, Abdi hadn’t revealed anything about the path this event was taking, and I decided to pose a question and gauge the truth of his answer in his eyes. “Mr. Minister?” I asked. “When will I be allowed to see my family?”

My meaning was clear. Are you going to release me or not? But this time the Minister did not leave it in the hands of Allah.

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