The Other Half of My Soul (29 page)

Just when Rayna thought her tears had finally dried up, they flooded her eyes once again. “Hasn’t Eli’s death taught you anything? Will there ever be forgiveness, Mom?”

“Forgive you? Never! And don’t
ever
again refer to me as
Mom
because I’m no longer your mother. I disowned you five years ago.”

* * *

In late December of that year, after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Kamil and Alexis were married by a reform rabbi in a quiet ceremony in Manhattan. Rami and Rayna served as their witnesses.

Taking Kamil aside, Rami’s eyes watered and a lump caught in his throat. “Eli left you his greatest treasure . . . his wife.”

“I will cherish Eli’s gift and thank him every day for entrusting me with Alexis. My sadness is that Eli had to die for this to happen. I will always miss him.”

“Not a day passes that I do not think of Eli . . .
mabrook
, Kamil. Congratulations. This is your wedding day. Let it be full of joy.” Embracing, the two men searched each other’s faces. A deep-seated root had begun to stir.

* * *

By late spring of 2003, Professor Nolan’s nerves were frayed from strange Arab men trailing him at all hours. America was at war in Iraq. Yousef, backed by the Syrian government, was leading a major insurgency in that country. He desperately wanted the bacteria. If he did not get what he wanted within the month, Nolan, Rami, and Rami’s Jewish wife would be dead before summer was out. One by one, he would cut them into pieces.

* * *

After graduating with honors, Rami and Rayna moved back to their home in Bethesda. Rayna had just entered her fifth month of pregnancy. In early fall, she and Rami would have a son. They would name him Elijah, after her brother, Eli. Rayna planned to stay at home, write a book, and enjoy motherhood. Rami decided to accept Edmund’s offer to launch an international division in the firm’s legal department. His job would begin after Labor Day. The summer agenda was already formed. Rami and Kamil were going to assassinate Yousef.

* * *

When Yousef called Rami demanding that he fly into the Triple Frontier with the bacteria and formula in hand, Rami explained that it would be too risky to bring the bacteria onto a commercial flight. “Airport security in America is tighter than it has ever been. The bacteria would be confiscated,” Rami said.

Yousef exploded like lava spewing forth from an erupting volcano. “Damn you, Rami! I have a war in Iraq to fight. You bring me the bacteria, or I will personally string your heads across Baghdad for the whole world to see. Yours, Nolan’s, and that Jewish whore you call your wife.”

“Yousef, you shall have the bacteria.” Time was no longer on his side. Rami worried about Rayna and the baby. He wanted this nightmare to end. Yousef’s death was his only hope.

“You will receive instructions to fly into a border town in Texas. From there, you will cross into Mexico. A private aircraft will be waiting at a designated landing strip. You are to turn over the bacteria and the formula to the pilot. No more games, Rami. You’ve run out of time.”

thirty-three

Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.

—Margaret Mead

After dinner, Rayna went into the study to write her column. Rami cleaned up the kitchen, ran a load of laundry, and sat down to read the latest issue of
InterContinental Weekly
, but he could not concentrate. Restlessly, he paced the house, then stood in the doorway of the study. “When will you be done?”

“Rami, are you okay? Come talk to me.”

In the study, he knelt down at Rayna’s side. His hand rested on her abdomen. “I love you. I love our son.”

Rayna saved her work, then put the iMac to sleep. Swiveling around in the black leather desk chair, she faced her husband, “Let’s go into the family room.”

* * *

Together, on the sofa, Rami laid his head in Rayna’s lap. An unsettling stillness enveloped them. She stroked his forehead and buried her fingers in his hair. Rami glanced up and smiled, “I just felt our son move.”

“He’s been doing that a lot today.” Lowering her head, she grazed his lips. “I want to know what’s going on.” Rami vacillated. Concerned, Rayna urged him on. Slowly, everything that Rami had been keeping from her, he now unleashed. She listened to all that he said. “So Yousef intends to get rid of you, and Nolan, and me. But you and Kamil plan to kill him before he does. And you need Omar’s help to carry it off. Do I have it right, so far?”

Rami nodded. “Kamil will not rest until he extracts vengeance for the murder of his family. And I will not rest until you and our son are safe. Kamil believes that with Omar’s help, we can do it.”

“And you? What do you believe? Do you think Omar will help you? Can you trust him?”

“I only know I cannot go on like this. I cannot sit back and let Yousef destroy us.”

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed in the large bay window. Within seconds, claps of thunder roared across the sky. Heavy rains quickly followed. Big hailstones pounded against the house. Fierce winds rattled the windowpanes. The lights flickered. Once. Twice. The house went dark. On the sofa, protected from the summer storm, they made love.

* * *

The lights flickered again, then glowed. The tempestuous uproar had moved on to new territory. Rayna scanned Rami’s troubled face, “I’m really scared. The last time you went to South America, you almost didn’t come back. We both know what Yousef is capable of. He has a lot of people eager to do his bidding, including Abdallah.” Rayna needed to think. She needed time to work this through in her head.

The cuckoo on the fireplace mantel made itself known. It was eleven o’clock. Rayna reached for the remote on the large mahogany coffee table. She clicked on PBS.

Good evening and welcome to BBC News. Here are today’s headlines. Across Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe is operating mandatory terrorist training camps for boys as young as the age of six. Israel retaliates for three suicide attacks that killed eleven and injured scores more. And a professor from the University of Maryland has been abducted and beheaded. Now the news.

Stunned, Rami lurched upright. Rayna let out a frightful noise. Their deepest fears were coming to life.

Doctor Quintin Nolan, a professor of chemistry and philosophy at the University of Maryland, was abducted yesterday. He was beheaded at an undis-closed location. His remains are on display, hanging from a bridge in Baghdad. The Islamic militant group al-Shahid has claimed responsibility. The following tape comes to us from Al-Jazeera television.

The image on the screen showed a frightened Doctor Nolan in his final moments, begging for American intervention. Tied to a chair with his hands secured behind him and a blade at his throat, Nolan whimpered. Two men masked in hoods flanked him.

Wearing his military uniform, Yousef Mugniyeh spoke confidently. “This American accepted money from us. He agreed to provide us something in return. He did not live up to his part of the bargain. He betrayed us. He betrayed our people. He betrayed our cause. Allah has decreed an eye for an eye. More retribution is yet to come.”

English subtitles translating from the Arabic rolled out across the bottom of the screen. Rami did not need to read them. He understood exactly what Yousef had said. In horror, Rayna shrieked. The phone rang. Rami grabbed it. “Yes?”

“Rami, are you okay? Do you know about Nolan?”

“Kamil!” Rami’s voice begged urgency. “I do not care about myself, but Rayna . . . and my son . . . and Nolan. Poor Nolan. He did not deserve this. He was only trying to do the right thing. Such a good man. He would not harm anyone. And his daughter. Anna was so close to him.” Fractured sentences revealed Rami’s broken spirit. “What do I say to her? I must . . . I must . . .” His voice trailed off.

“Rami, I have more bad news. Nolan told Yousef that you destroyed the bacteria. He spilled everything, hoping to save his head. Literally. You are his next target. Then Rayna. Yousef is on a rampage.”

Rami’s heavy, irregular breathing resonated over the line.

“I just hung up with Omar. He’s been trying to reach you.”

“My cell is turned off.”

“I gave Omar your unlisted home number. Rami, you must speak with him when he calls.”

“You know I have my doubts about Omar.”

“Listen to me, Rami. Omar said he is no longer afraid of Yousef. He loathes the man and hates living under his domination. Omar told me there’s nothing more for him to lose. He wants his life back, and killing Yousef is his only hope. Omar is asking for our help. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

“I will not gamble Rayna’s life on Omar’s words. I do not trust him.”

“Omar warned you of the World Trade Center attack. Doesn’t that count for something?”

“But Eli is not . . .”

“Omar had nothing to do with that attack, and you know it. He’s not responsible for Eli’s death. Now, do you want Yousef dead or do you want Rayna dead? Those are your options.”

Weary, Rami dropped the phone, buried his head in his hands, and cried. Rayna picked up the receiver, “Kamil, I’m going to put Rami back on, but understand how very distraught he is.” She placed her arm around Rami’s shoulders and put the phone to his ear. “Listen to Kamil.”

“Rami, Omar has a pilot’s license and has convinced Yousef to let him fly the plane that will meet you in Mexico. Your orders will be to turn over the bacteria and the formula.”

“Kamil, I am going to kill the evil monster. With my bare hands I will kill Yousef. I should have done it a long time ago.”

“Rami, listen to me. Alexis and I will be there tomorrow. She’ll arrange for a few days off to stay with Rayna while we’re gone. I have an early morning interview, then we’ll head out. We should be at your place by no later than three. Don’t do anything foolish. Wait until we get there.”

* * *

In the late afternoon of the next day, Rayna and Alexis sat at the kitchen table sharing a pot of tea while contemplating the dire situation. In the study, behind closed doors, Rami and Kamil talked with Omar on the speaker phone.

A nervous edge filtered through Omar’s muffled voice. “I do not have much time. At any moment, I may have to hang up. Can you both hear me?”

“Yes, barely. But we can hear you,” Kamil established.

“At noon on Saturday, I will fly a small plane into Reynosa, Mexico, and land on a dirt strip, which someone has labeled a private airport. I have been instructed to pick up a package from Rami that contains the bacteria and the formula. But since Yousef now believes that Rami does not have the bacteria, he waits to see what will be given in its place. I suggest you make it a snake. A very large, very alive snake. A real serpent. Kamil, do you remember I once told you that snakes are Yousef’s downfall?”

“I remember, Omar. We will have a snake with us.”

“Rami, a man named Saleem will be on the plane with me. Yousef has directed him to shoot you. Once you are out of the way, Yousef will go after Rayna. He and Abdallah intend a grisly tor-ture for her . . . a slow, cruel death. They know Rayna is a Jew.”

Rami’s stomach plunged. His dark eyes blazed with deadly hatred for the man he wanted to kill. It was not for himself that he feared, but for Rayna. What Yousef planned for her drove him mad. He could not bear the prospect. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“You cannot know except for what I tell you. Time is not on our side, so decide quickly.”

Rami let out a long, audible sigh. “I need to think.”

“I warned you about the attack on the World Trade Center. I backed Rayna when you were both in the Triple Frontier . . . in a restaurant with Yousef . . . remember?”

“My wife is a Jew. Why would you want to protect a Jew?”

“My father used to say that Muslim leaders use Jews as pawns to condition the people. Rallying around a common enemy unites Muslims, diverts attention away from the repressive regimes they live under, and keeps the masses from rising up.”

“I remember your father well. He is a wise and tolerant man . . . soft-spoken and kind to everyone.”

“Rami, my father died last year. I loved him very much.”

“I am so sorry, Omar. I did not know.”

Quietly listening to the conversation, Kamil put his hand up, motioning for Rami to accept Omar’s help. “Omar,” Kamil jumped into the dialogue, “we’ll work together. All three of us.”

“So it will be. I will keep in touch, but I must go now.”

“Wait, Omar! What do we do next?” Rami zealously pursued.

“Wait for Yousef’s instructions. Be in Reynosa at noon on Saturday with the snake.”

* * *

Two hours had passed before Rami and Kamil emerged from the study. Alexis set the table and put out the salad. Rayna removed the vegetable lasagna from the oven. Over dinner, Rayna picked at her food. “Poor Nolan. There’s no justice. What kind of a cruel, hateful world is this? Poor Nolan,” she lamented. “He never had a chance. Like Eli never had a chance.” Teary-eyed, she looked up at her sister-in-law. “I’m sorry, Alexis.”

“It’s okay.”

“Who’s next?” Rayna snapped. “Me? Rami? What about you, Kamil? Maybe Alexis. Maybe my son.” Fright cast a dark shadow over her already wistful state. She turned to Rami, “When did you say you’re leaving? Early Friday? The day after tomorrow? These may be our final hours together.”

“Rayna, rrawhee, this stress is not good for the baby.”

“Is this our destiny? My son . . . without his father?”

“You can control your destiny,” Kamil proposed.

“Don’t tell me about controlling destiny, Kamil,” Rayna barked. “Tell me about my brother. Was Eli able to control his destiny? And what about Nolan? And your family? Your father? Your mother? Your brothers and sisters? Every one of them dead. So tell me, Kamil. Tell me how to control destiny. Tell me how! It’s a random world. Random! Be careful you’re not in the wrong place at the wrong time, because
random
will get you.” Pressing the palms of her hands against her eyes, Rayna forced back the tears.

Rami turned his chair and blanketed his arms around his wife. “Rayna, this agitation is not good for you, and it is not good for the baby.”

“Rayna is right,” Alexis interrupted. “Life is full of randomness. But if Yousef plans to kill, we would be insane to sit back, to hope, and to wait for random’s intervention. We would be insane to believe that random’s meddlesome trail of demons will refrain from leaving a mark on us. Where, Rayna, tell me where would humanity be if some brave people did not take risks to make this world a better, safer place.” Deliberate with her speech, Alexis hoped to catch Rayna’s attention. “I have already lost one husband. I loved your brother. He’ll always have a place within me. I don’t want to lose another husband. I love Kamil as much as you love Rami. The risk is big, but the alternative is worse.” Aware that all three at the table were intently listening to her, Alexis paused, then continued. “Kamil, Rami, and Omar each want Yousef dead. Each for his own reason. My husband will not rest until Yousef is no longer a menace on this earth. And Rami would be confined to a self-imposed hell if something happened to you and he had not done all he could to save you. And let’s not forget Omar, who is slowly being strangled by invisible chains.” Alexis rested her hand on Rayna’s. “You and I have a responsibility to provide our husbands with strong wings and strong roots. Wings to set them free to do what they must, and roots to welcome them home when they return. I have faith that Kamil and Rami will return. We both must believe that.”

Rayna closed her wet eyes. Rami massaged her shoulders.

Kamil took Alexis’s hand and interlaced his fingers with hers. “I could never put into words how very much I love you. I can only feel it,” he whispered.

Alexis remembered Rayna describing her love for Rami in much the same way.