A Day Ahead of the Devil by James E Mack

Author:James E Mack [E Mack, James]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Black Dagger Press
Published: 2022-08-11T00:00:00+00:00

18

WAZIR ABAD, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN, AUGUST 2021

* * *

The warm breeze stirred up the dust on the rooftop as Ghazi nodded and praised the caller. ‘That is great work Hamdad. Keep the foreigners there. I will be on my way to you soon.’ He ended the call and sighed with contentment, closing his eyes as a beatific smile broke across his face. This day was proving to be his best for many year’s. A day when those who most deserved it were about to be reckoned with. A day when the will of Allah would be brought to bear on the unbelievers and traitors. He opened his eyes and looked across the rooftops of the houses below him, settling his fierce gaze upon the airport and the planes landing and taking off. His security team paced around the perimeter of the roof Ghazi had chosen to base himself on for the next hour, the highest of the apartment blocks in Wazir Abad. The perfect location for a front row seat to what was about to happen. He looked at the phone and accessed his recent calls, selecting the one he needed. It was answered immediately as Ghazi had anticipated. He kept his question short.

‘Where are you?’

He nodded at the reply before speaking again. ‘Perfect. You can leave now. Make your way out of the area and back to the command house. Good work, Sayed.’

Ghazi made his way to the edge of the rooftop and stared at the airport and the flights arriving and departing. Lifting the binoculars to his eyes, he studied the details now clear before him. Ghazi identified Sayed immediately, his second in command taking long strides as he distanced himself from the Kabul Taliban and the individual he had emplaced in their midst. Ghazi also saw the delegation of Kabul Taliban remonstrating with a soldier in Afghan uniform who was stood on a parapet above the crowd. Behind the Afghan, American soldiers were shouting at the Kabul contingent, pointing rifles and waving their arms. Ghazi saw one of the Kabul Taliban take a step back and pull out a mobile telephone, bringing the device to his face. A few seconds later, Ghazi’s own phone rang and without taking his attention from the binoculars’ view, he answered.

‘Yes?’

The excited voice was loud and complaining. Ghazi made soothing noises and spoke calmly. ‘They are idiots. Simple soldiers. Tell them again that you are there as a direct representative of the Taliban leadership and that you are to be spoken to by someone of the same status.’

The voice continued to complain and Ghazi maintained his composed replies. ‘You are doing a difficult job but an important one my friend. Try again one more time and if they don’t get someone to meet you, go back to the command house.’

The voice sighed and committed to Ghazi’s direction, mollified and encouraged by the flattery. Ghazi ended the call and dropped the phone into his pocket, his attention still focussed on the view through the binoculars.

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