Echo Six: Black Ops 6 - Battle for Beirut (19 page)

The man tried to lunge for Talley, but Buchmann gripped him easily, kicked his legs from under him, and shoved him to the ground. He stood with one boot on the man's chest, pinning him to the ground, but still he wasn't finished.

"You think you're the only one who can imprison your enemies and consign them to hell? That infidel girl they sold to the Saudi won't last long when she reaches his basement. For her, it will seem like a hundred lifetimes. Soon, we Arabs will make slaves of all of you."

Talley waved away his arrogance and started to walk away. Then he checked and turned back.

"What girl?"

The man's thick lips twisted into a sneer of sadistic pleasure.

"Why should I tell you, infidel?"

Talley held his stare. "Because if you don't, I'll let Buchmann here beat it out of you."

The Arab gave him a piercing sneer and then yelped in agony, as Buchmann ripped off his turban, twisting his head so severely it almost turned one hundred and eighty degrees."

"You tell the Commander what he wants to know," the German snarled, "I promise you, I'm just getting started. I can go on for a long, long time."

The man opened his mouth to hurl abuse back, but all that came out was a high-pitched, piercing scream of agony. Buchmann had gripped his genitals in his massive fist, and was wrenching and twisting them every which way. Talley could almost feel the pain, but he didn't order him to stop. Not this time.

"I said, what girl?"

He shook his head, and tears were flowing from his eyes, tears of excruciating agony.

"No, I won't tell you. Not another word."

The German took out his huge, razor sharp combat knife and looked at Habeeb.

"The way it works best is this. First, I cut off every finger, and then every toe. When I'm finished, I'll take out your eyes with the point of the knife, one by one. If you still haven't talked, I'll slice of your balls. I'll keep going until you talk, or until your body is sliced into little pieces."

Jesus Christ, the man is serious. I have to stop him, but…

The Arab was wavering. His savage scowl had gone; it was now a look of overwhelming despair. He needed one more push. He nodded at the German.

"Do it, Buchmann, and when you've finished, put his remains in the carcass of a pig, and leave it in the desert for the vultures."

"Noooooooooo!"

The howl was sharp and loud enough to pierce wood. Talley looked at him.

"What girl?"

"She was taken inside Beirut, during the shelling. A Christian girl."

He felt his hopes fade. Nava was Jewish. Unless...

"How do you know she was Christian?"

"They said she had a cross, a small gold cross which they took from her. How could she not be a Christian?"

Nava!

He remembered giving her that cross. It was a family heirloom, and he wanted her to have it to remember him. Talley sat down next to the prisoner and stared at him.

"Tell me everything. Who took her, who has her now, and where they've taken her? If you talk fast and don't lie, I'll tell this man not to slice up your body. Otherwise, he'll start with your fingers and work around to your dick, while I start looking for that pig."

Habeeb shuddered and started talking. Inside of five minutes, Talley had the whole story of how she'd been taken by the two Arabs, who in turn were slaughtered at the checkpoint. But the killers realized her value and contacted the Saudi billionaire Malik al Saif, who was prepared to make a deal in return for any beautiful young girl. They donated a portion of the money for these deals to Hezbollah. It was healthier that way. And so Habeeb was made aware of the transaction. In this area, he was Hezbollah.

Goldstein and Zaki Nassif had walked over with Rovere and Whitefeather. When Habeeb finally named the destination, a compound outside the town of Arar, the pilot smiled and nodded.

"I know it well. I've flown cargoes there many times. I was due to fly there yesterday when I had the problem with my aircraft. Al Saif's palace is out in the desert, with swimming pools and tennis courts, you name it. The airfield belongs to him; it is next to the palace. His place is surrounded by a high wall and guarded by former members of the Saudi Royal Guard. If she’s in there, she'll never come out. Not alive."

Talley stared at him. "You were due to fly a cargo to Arar? So the strip is large enough for a small cargo aircraft?"

Zaki raised his eyebrows. "Big enough? Al Saif owns a Gulfstream G550, and the strip was lengthened for that size of aircraft. I fly a de Havilland Twin Otter, and it's no problem for that baby. You could land an Airbus A320 on there and still have room to spare."

He nodded. "This Twin Otter, it's here in Lebanon?"

The man looked puzzled. "At Zahle airfield, yes."

"What's the problem with it?"

"Not a problem exactly, but she failed the annual check. There were failures with some of the avionics, and the tires are wearing a bit thin." He shrugged, "Nothing serious, but you know what these bureaucrats are like."

"How far is Zahle?"

"About fifteen kilometers. Why do you ask?" And then he put it together, "Oh, no, no. You're not thinking of asking me to fly you into Saudi Arabia? No, it can't be done. Impossible."

Guy took Talley by the arm and pulled him to the side.

"Boss, you need to think about this. Saudi Arabia is important to NATO. An armed incursion into their territory would stir up so much trouble, it could almost start a war."

"I doubt it. I could be in and out of there before they even realize."

Guy wasn’t persuaded. "It could mean the end of your career. Think about it. Brussels would go crazy. Forget it, it's not going to happen."

Talley's voice was angry but low. "The end of my career? Are you serious? You know damn well what's going on with my arm." Guy tried to look surprised, but it didn't fool him. He knew. "You've all seen the problem I'm having with my right arm, and it's likely when we get back to NATO Headquarters, they'll put me on the bench. That's if I don't wind up in a wheelchair."

"That bad? What's the problem?"

"You've heard of Michael J Fox?"

"Sure. You've got Parkinson’s?" He looked shocked, "I can't believe it. Are you absolutely certain? I mean, have you had all the blood tests?"

"Not yet, but the symptoms check out. I have to face it, Guy. I'm finished. We'll get the hostages out and extract Echo and Alpha, and then my NATO work is finished. I'll offer Zaki anything he wants to fly me to Arar. If he refuses, I'll make him an offer he can't refuse, and fly the aircraft myself."

Guy smiled at the ominous line from the movie The Godfather, but almost immediately his face became stern.

"You're making a big mistake. This problem you're having could be anything. The chances are the physician will give you a course of pills, and it'll all be over."

"I doubt it. Anyway, I'm going to Arar. I'm getting her out."

His number two sighed. "I thought you'd say that, but you're not going on your own. We've been together too long, Boss. I'm going with you." Talley started to argue, but he held up his hand, "You're wasting your time. I'm coming."

"It's your whole future at stake."

Before Guy could answer, they both looked up as Rovere wandered over, with the inevitable smile on his face.

"Show me someone who doesn't dream about the future and I'll show you someone who doesn't know where they are going."

"Shakespeare?" Talley asked him.

The Italian shrugged. "Of course, what else is there to live for? Apart from a beautiful woman, naturally. When do we leave for Saudi?"

Talley grimaced.
Rovere heard it all. How many more of them were listening?

Goldstein shouted across to them, "Your other unit is coming in."

He looked up to see Werner Best leading Alpha Six toward them, jogging across the sandy scrubland. They looked dusty and all in. And they were minus some of the men they'd arrived with. He waited for the Captain to get close.

"It's good to see you, Werner."

Even if you did screw up the diversionary attack
.

"You too. It'll be even better when we're out of here."

"It won't be long. The helos are due in a few minutes. Where did you leave that soccer bus?"

Guy and Rovere looked at him surprised, and then comprehension dawned on them. They'd need transport to reach Zahle airfield.

"The bus? It's about one klick from here. We abandoned it. There's no further use for it.

"Maybe."

Rovere walked away to assemble the hostages ready for immediate embarkation on the Sea Hawks, the moment their wheels touched the ground. Guy joined the rest of Echo Six who were watching the Masnaa camp, in case they enemy tried a last ditch attack. So far, there was no sign that Hezbollah were regrouping, but every man there knew it could come.

He heard a distant buzzing in the sky. The evacuation would start soon. He left them and joined Zaki and Goldstein.

"I have to go to Arar, would you take me?"

Zaki pursed his lips as he worked out how to say no. But before he could speak, Talley moved closer him, so their faces were only inches apart.

"Listen, my friend. I have to get there, and I need a legitimate reason for entering Saudi airspace. The only way is with your aircraft. Before you give me an answer, let me tell you something. My career is about to hit the wall. I'm finished. This girl he bought is the only thing I have left in the world."

"You don't understand," the pilot replied, "Al Saif, is an important customer. If we do this…"

"A customer!" He realized he was bunching his fist in anger, and he forced himself to relax, "Come with me, and I'll show you what this important customer is like."

He almost dragged the Lebanese over to where the Hezbollah commander, Habeeb, was sitting on the ground, guarded by a scowling Buchmann. He dragged the prisoner to his feet.

"Tell this man about al Saif. The women he kidnaps, what happens to them?"

The Arab shook his head. "I know nothing of that. Nothing."

Talley nodded to the German. "He's lying. Persuade him to tell the truth."

A great smile lit his face, and Buchmann almost leapt forward in his eagerness. He slammed a huge fist into Habeeb's groin, and the Arab screamed. Talley knew it was wrong, knew that torturing prisoners was illegal, and a last resort. Ever since he'd allowed Buchmann to start on him, he'd felt pangs of conscience, but they were faint pangs, very faint.

If people want to behave like brutal scum, why not treat them the same way?

A second blow wasn't needed.

"I'll tell you. I'll tell you."

He explained what he knew about al Saif and the stories that came out of Arar. The first stage was always the kidnap. He bought his women, usually from Hezbollah members anxious to raise funds for their holy cause. Or for other, more personal purchases. Like clothes and shiny new SUVs. When the women reached the palace at Arar, he kept them in chains while the he enjoyed himself, raping and torturing them. Finally, when he was bored with them, he put them to death. It was always a very long and agonizing process.

Talley's eyes bored into Zaki. The Lebanese pilot’s face had paled as he listened to the account.

"That's your important customer. Is that the kind of person you want to do business with, a piece of shit that kidnaps, tortures, and rapes women? Because let me tell you, friend, one way or the other, I'm going in there to locate that bastard, and when I get my hands on him, I'll rip him apart. You need to make up your mind. You're either with me, or you're against me."

Zaki Nassif stepped back from the tirade, obviously scared of Talley's fury. He thought for a few moments and finally nodded.

"You're right. Al Saif is a festering sore on the Middle East. Believe me, I have experienced this kind of cruelty in my own life, and my family died as a result. He doesn't deserve any mercy. I will take you to Arar."

He was a bit quick changing his mind
.
I wonder how far I should trust him,
Talley thought.

"Journeys end in lover's meeting. Every wise man's son doth know," Rovere murmured, as he came over to them, "I'm with you, Boss. Let's hope this journey does end in a lover's meeting. By the way, the men are coming too. All of them."

He jerked his head up. "They're crazy. Brooks will RTU the lot of them."

The Italian shrugged, unconcerned. "Perhaps when he knows everything, he'll see things differently."

"I doubt it."

"There's always another possibility," Rovere continued, "This mission could end in disaster, especially if al Saif has a strong guard force around his palace. He is a billionaire, and those people can usually afford to employ the best, with the best equipment."

"There's something you haven't thought of, Domenico. No matter how good they are, we're better."

The Italian smiled and nodded. "True."