The Struggle by Nelson Lowhim

Author:Nelson Lowhim
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Eiso Publishing
Published: 2011-06-15T06:00:00+00:00

Before they got into the car, the Haji and Mohammad hid their guns in dug out holes underneath the seats. Walid had everyone in the group install them after he'd almost been caught by a random American checkpoint. Today, however, he had an overwhelming sense that some Iraqi was going to shoot him, so he kept his gun in his waistband. In the car, Haji drove and Mohammad sat in the back, his eyes closed.

"What are we doing this for?" Haji asked.

"Because it must be done." Walid lit a cigarette. He wasn't in the mood for more arguments. The confrontation with Abdullah had drained the energy out of him. At least he knew Haji wasn't thinking of usurping him. His dear friend Haji wouldn't dare take a piss without asking first.

"La, it mustn’t. You know what will happen if we are caught driving back with bombs? This isn't an extra magazine; they won't just take it away. They will throw us in jail forever. If they don't kill us first."

"Be quiet. If you are not man enough to fight against the Americans you should have said so in front of everyone else. Then everyone would know where your heart lies." Walid watched his words slice through his friend and felt a twinge of regret. He shouldn't have been so harsh.

"You shouldn't say such things. You know where my heart lies. Haven't I always helped you?" Haji spoke, his voice rusty with a tinge of fright.

Walid took a deep breath. Haji and Mohammad were his closest friends. The men that he could trust no matter what happened. He looked back to where Mohammad sat. Though his friend appeared to be sleeping, there was a slight crack in his eyelid and movement of his eyeball that indicated otherwise.

Walid placed a hand on Haji's shoulder. "I did not mean what I said, azizi." He patted him. "This will be done carefully, I will make sure none of us will get caught. All right?"

"How can you promise that? No one knows how these Americans work. Not you. Many men have died. Men better than y...us. Are you doing this because you think Abdullah will think less of you?"

Walid clenched his fists, but held back from striking his friend. He was trying to be nice, but these questions were out of hand.

A group of school kids crossed in front of the car, and Walid took a deep breath through his nose to calm himself down. The smell of smoke-cologne made him want to spit. "I am not doing this for Abdullah!" he hissed, reaching for his gun reflexively. He could see Haji flinch. Perhaps he had to be tough to everyone.

"Take it easy you two," Mohammad spoke up, leaning forward.

"What do you have to say?" Walid turned around.

"Well that you two are fighting over nothing. You." Mohammad pointed at Walid. "Shouldn't listen to that clown, Abdullah. He's just a loud mouth who will get us into trouble. And you." He pointed at Haji who had stopped at an intersection and turned to listen.

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