The Nestorian Alliance by Michael R Watson

Author:Michael R Watson [Watson, Michael R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michael R. Watson
Published: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

We quietly slipped out of the hotel just before dawn and made our way on foot to the airstrip at the edge of Mosul. It wouldn’t take us long to fly the 65 miles to the small desolate airstrip at the southern base of Mt. Cudi. I was a little surprised and suspicious that we didn’t have a welcoming committee when we arrived at the plane. As Americans, I’m sure we stuck out like a sore thumb in this part of the world. I’d actually be surprised if the man in black didn’t know every move we’d made since we arrived. I encouraged everyone to hurry and get loaded before we did have company. Once we were loaded and Frank had gone through the pre-flight check, we taxied out to the runway. It was starting to get light outside. Soon the sun would be breaking the horizon and emerging over the hangars. We could see that activity was increasing as the airfield came to life. Frank was lined up on the runway. He called for clearance from the tower. There was no response. He repeated his request. Still no answer. At a small airfield like this, maybe it didn’t officially open until later. I was the first to notice a vehicle as it came speeding toward us from behind one of the hangars.

I slapped Frank on the shoulder to get his attention and yelled over the sound of the engine, “Frank, get us out of here! Now!”

I must have caught him off guard because he just looked around at me with a puzzled expression. He hadn’t been able to hear me with the radio headset on. I pointed outside the window at the car speeding toward us. Frank looked and nodded that he understood. He pulled the headset down around his neck.

“What about the control tower? We haven’t been given clearance yet?”

“Do you really want to wait for clearance?” I asked.

He took one more look out his window then shook his head no. We began to pick up speed as he edged the throttle forward.

“Who is it?” yelled Frank. The plane lurched forward as Frank shoved the throttle all the way forward.

Jack answered, “I don’t know, but I can guess.” Everyone nodded in agreement. We all had a pretty good idea who it was. The man in black. Who else could it be?

A second car appeared from behind the hangar ahead, probably trying to head us off. We were starting to pull away from the car behind us. The car off to our left was closing in. A man was hanging out of the front passenger window yelling something.

“Oh no!” shouted Saleem.

“What is it?” asked Rudy.

“Look,” said Saleem as he pointed. “The guy hanging out the window. He’s got a rifle.”

There was a muzzle flash and a puff of smoke, but as far as I could tell, the bullet had missed its mark. Our lives were now in Frank’s hands. We needed to lift off soon.

“C’mon, Frank!” I shouted.

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