The Tree of Life by Timothy Browne

Author:Timothy Browne [Browne, Timothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947545052
Publisher: Agape Orthopaedics
Published: 2018-04-14T20:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 42

* * *

The Trap

Sunday—Post-Quake Day Fifteen

Akleema sat fuming in the back of the room, watching Abdul prattle and brag with the men. She hated his youthful arrogance. The two of them had barely spoken yesterday, but every time Abdul had passed her, he smirked as if to say, “I told you so.”

She had to admit that after the success at the festival, palpable excitement filled the air. The men were ready for victory. Their team had totaled twenty-one, including the group from Syria, the trusted men who worked at the hospital, and the two men who had just sacrificed themselves. Now there were nineteen.

“Allah be praised!” Abdul was saying. “The mission was successful Friday night. The news has reported that more people have died from their injuries, making a total of eighty-three infidels killed.” He smiled proudly.

“Twenty-nine of those were children,” Akleema said under her breath.

Abdul didn’t seem to hear her or chose to ignore her. He was too busy bragging.

In private he had lamented the fact to her. “Spineless boy,” she murmured to herself.

“My brother sends his congratulations and promises more trucks and men in the next few weeks. We are to establish an Islamic State training base here in Hakkâri. We are the tip of the spear to be driven into the heart of Turkey.”

Abdul paused to acknowledge a man raising his hand.

“Commander, when is our next mission?” he asked barely able to contain his excitement.

Commander. The White Snake scoffed to herself.

Abdul smiled and replied calmly. “All in good time. All in Allah’s time. For now, we should prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies. Each one of us should be prepared to meet Allah any day.”

Abdul’s phone dinged in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked it. “It is time for Thuhr, second prayer,” he announced. “Everyone meet me tomorrow in the hospital courtyard after first morning prayer and we will start our physical training. Some of you look like you have been indulging in too many sweets.” He chuckled and looked at Omar.

“Yes,” the administrator said, patting his belly, “I have been working hard on my costume,” and the men laughed.

***

Akleema sat on the twin bed in the room Omar had provided. She was steaming. Abdul hadn’t even acknowledged her at the meeting with the team. It was obvious he was pushing her aside, making her insignificant to the mission. She shook her head. Being related to his brother did not make Abdul fit to lead this mission. That was her job; she had earned it. She had lain under his filthy brother to have the right to lead the caliphate in this region. Abbas would never have told Abdul that they had been lovers but he made it clear she was to lead.

Abbas had warned her of Abdul’s pride. He did not trust his younger brother. She had coiled her legs around him, listening to him laugh as he compared his relationship to Abdul to that of Cain and Abel’s. He’d said, “I’m sure Abdul longs to take my place, but I will send him away instead of killing him.

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