A Desert Called Peace Part 5

"Why do I put myself through this?" she asked of no one in particular. She asked and she answered, "Because family is important and I do not want my husband to have lost his...especially if I can help it."

"Come on, kids," she ordered, then led two of them forward. Linda carried Milagro, the baby.

Imperious, impervious, unsmiling and unfriendly, Pat's Uncle Robert watched without any expression at all as Linda led and carried the children into his office. If my own wife...useless mouth...had managed to have children perhaps I would not resent this woman having taken my only practical son. I should not blame her...but I just can't help it. If my own wife...useless mouth...had managed to have children perhaps I would not resent this woman having taken my only practical son. I should not blame her...but I just can't help it.

In her own way equally impervious, Linda smiled with a warmth to rival the sun of her homeland. She glanced about Bob's office, mentally comparing his trophies and mementos golf, business, and such with her husband's, much to the favor of the latter. I am proud to be the mother of I am proud to be the mother of my my husband's children. husband's children.

Truth to tell she found the entire office to be borderline tacky, unrestrained and unrefined. It wouldn't do to mention that, though.

"Linda," Bob greeted, without noticeable enthusiasm.

She didn't answer directly. Being old money, she was probably better at playing status games than Uncle Bob when she cared to play them. Instead, she placed Milagro down on the floor and said, "Go see your grand-uncle, ninos ninos."

The two little ones scurried around Bob's imposing desk. The eldest, the boy, strode like a young prince, before putting out his hand to shake, formally. By that time Milagro had already climbed aboard.

Still sitting in his chair, his throne, Bob looked down into a lovely little girl's enormous brown eyes, saw the image of the nephew that was more like a son, and felt his heart melting.

He looked up to say something to Linda. She was looking out of his office window, wide eyed, speechless, an expression of shock written on every curve of her unlined face. Bob's eyes followed and saw. Mouth gaping wide, he exclaimed, "Oh, my G.o.d!"

Columbian Airlines Flight 39, 0849 hrs The airs.h.i.+p hit near the base of the skysc.r.a.per. Its structure, even while coming apart, was just strong enough to force its nose through the thin walls and into the main lobby with its toxic dose of international lawyers. As the s.h.i.+p lost speed to the collision, its engines in the rear broke loose and drove forward, smearing pa.s.sengers and crew alike, before tearing out of the remains of the front and smas.h.i.+ng into the shocked barristers. With the engines came a great invisible cloud of hydrogen gas, pouring into the open lobby before igniting from a spark created by the one of the engines tearing through a steel support.

The hydrogen began burning in front, incinerating several score shrieking attorneys. Then the flames raced through the rich oxygen-hydrogen mix present in the tunnels carved through the s.h.i.+p by the flying engines. Flame then burst out of the rear, tearing open the hydrogen cells there. The contents of these, once mixed with oxygen, effectively exploded, driving the remains of the s.h.i.+p, and much of its hydrogen, further into the lobby of the TNTO. There it burned hot enough to incinerate several thousand more international jurists, as well as to set aflame anything therein remotely flammable.

Yusef and company, however, didn't get to see any of that. They were dead and on their way to wherever and whatever might prove to be their final reward, moments after the s.h.i.+p's nose touched concrete.

Terra Nova Trade Organization, 0849 hrs Arms clutched protectively around the now crying Milagro, Bob rushed to the side of the fallen mother. Julio followed.

"What happened?" she asked, groggily.

"I don't know, I don't know," answered a shocked Bob as he helped her to her feet. "The LTAs never come that that close. Jesus, it hit us!" He thought about that for a moment, then amended, "No, it close. Jesus, it hit us!" He thought about that for a moment, then amended, "No, it crashed crashed into us. On purpose. Christ!" into us. On purpose. Christ!"

As Bob spoke, the fire sprinklers came on overhead, sprayed for a few seconds, and then died as pressure from below fell to nothing. The pipes had been cut. Unchecked by the sprinklers, smoke and the hint of flame began rising past the exterior windows.

Milagro began coughing as faint smoke filtered into the office complex. Minutes pa.s.sed as Linda soothed the child, Julio calming the next oldest beside her. Just as the last tears were wiped and the last sniffles snuffed, Julio looked up and pointed out the window and across the city to where another airs.h.i.+p closed on a building only just just less grand than the TNTO. That was the headquarters for the Global News Network, based in First Landing. less grand than the TNTO. That was the headquarters for the Global News Network, based in First Landing.

Julio said, "Mom, there's another one..."

Cochea, 0903 hrs, 11/7/459 AC Hennessey and his two friends missed the first impact. However, like the rest of the world, they saw it replayed over and over in the next several minutes.

"Dear, G.o.d!" Hennessey exclaimed, once he made the visual connection. Stomach sinking and heart pounding he added, "That's my uncle Bob's building." He raced for the phone, frantically dialing his cousin Annie's number in First Landing.

1050 5 th Avenue, First Landing "Dammit, dammit, dammit, DAMMIT, STOP that ringing!" Bad as the ringing was, the sound of her own shout seemed enough to tear the top off of Annie's head. She shuddered and pulled a pillow over in an attempt to shut out the nagging phone. No such luck. It continued to ring. DAMMIT, STOP that ringing!" Bad as the ringing was, the sound of her own shout seemed enough to tear the top off of Annie's head. She shuddered and pulled a pillow over in an attempt to shut out the nagging phone. No such luck. It continued to ring.

"s.h.i.+t," she muttered. "May as well see who it is."

Slowly, reluctantly, not a little angrily, Annie stumbled to the phone.

"Who is it?" Annie asked, her voice still distorted by alcohol. After Linda had left her at the restaurant, she had consumed more than her share of Black Russians before going home alone.

"Annie, it's Pat. Where's Uncle Bob right now?"

Anger drained from Annie's voice. "Oh, hi, Pat. I imagine he's at the office. Why?"

Hennessey's voice in the telephone receiver was frantic. "Turn on the TV, Annie. Something's happened at the TNTO."

"Sure...ok..." Annie walked unsteadily to pick up the television's remote. The set came to instant life just in time for the woman to catch the second airs.h.i.+p slamming into GNN Headquarters. For several seconds she stood dumbfounded, then blurted into the phone, voice breaking with tears, "Pat...Linda and the kids are in there!"

On Annie's screen, another plane stuck low at the World League Headquarters. There were three building burning now on the First Landing skyline, with smoke and flames beginning to billow up and out.

TNTO, 0915.

It was pandemonium. Office workers ran to and fro frantically, looking for some escape. Cute little secretaries in short skirts wept. Some people, those a bit calmer or braver, punched numbers into their cell phones for a last goodbye to their loved ones.

The smoke inside was worse now, though it was still not clearly visible to the naked eye. Outside, however, it was an angry black cloud rising past the windows like a swarm of vicious wasps. Tongues of flame licked up occasionally, though the greatest flames were just visible through the smoke, dancing around the GNN building.

Milagro clutched in Linda's arms now coughed from the smoke and cried. Her elder sister, nicknamed "Lambie," tried to be brave though a quivering lip and dampened eyes betrayed her. The boy, Julio, put an arm around Lambie's shoulder and hugged her close and tightly.

Uncle Bob had left them for a few moments to check on the possibilities of escape via elevator or stairwell. He returned, looked at Linda, then shook his head slightly. No way out. No way out.

At his nod, she steeled her face and pushed her emotions away before they themselves ran away with her. For the nonce, she also pushed away the decision: burned or crushed or fallen? Oh, my babies, why? What did you ever do to harm anyone? Oh, my babies, why? What did you ever do to harm anyone?

A hand gently brushed the baby's hair and cheek, brushed away a tear and a bead of sweat. The floor was growing noticeably warmer. "Don't cry, Milli, we'll be fine," she lied.

Taking his cue from his mother, ten year old Julio said much the same to Lambie. Even as he spoke those few words of comfort, he looked at his mother meaningfully. We're going to die, aren't we, Mom? We're going to die, aren't we, Mom?

Linda answered, indirectly, "I wish your father could see you now. He would be so so proud of his son." proud of his son."

The boy smiled, as best he could manage, and nodded. He wished his father could see him, too, see him grow up to be a man. He had wanted to be a soldier like his dad. Well, he would act like one now.

Bob stood there for a moment, watching the silent interplay with admiration. I was so wrong. What a woman my nephew found. What children she brought to our family. I, I was so wrong. What a woman my nephew found. What children she brought to our family. I, he concluded, he concluded, have been an utter a.s.s and a fool. have been an utter a.s.s and a fool.

He walked the few steps to Linda and handed her his cell phone. "Here, call your husband if you can get through. Give him my regards...and my regrets." He patted her shoulder, not ungently, nor even lacking a certain late-blooming admiration and affection.

Linda took the device and smiled up, gratefully.

"I have something else I have to do," Bob announced.

The uncle, the old tyrant, walked to his desk, fiddled with a computer that had no wires coming from it, then began to speak.

"John," he said aloud to a face that appeared on his screen, "there's not much time. Can I do a codicil to my will over this line? I can? Good. Prepare to copy this then. 'I, Robert Hennessey, being of sound mind and body...'"

Cochea, 0924 hrs Hennessey was pale, Parilla saw; paler even than the gringo norm. His eyes were glued to the television screen that showed the imminent collapse of all his hopes, the destruction of his life. On the screen people were jumping from the flaming towers to smash their bodies below. It was better than burning.

Hennessey's own cell phone rang. Jimenez picked it up, answered, then not without some reluctance pa.s.sed it over. "It's Linda," he announced in a breaking voice.

Like a drowning man grasping desperately for a life preserver, Hennessey took the phone.

"Honey, where are you and the kids?" he asked, desperately.

He heard screams and cries in the background as Linda answered, "I'm here at Uncle Bob's office...the children are with me. I am so sorry, Patricio."

Hennessey felt his heart sink. "Is there any way out?"

Her answering voice held infinite sadness and regret. "No...I don't think so. The only way off would be helicopters, now. And I don't hear or see any. It's getting very warm in here, husband. We'll have to go soon. Why don't you talk to the kids? Do not worry; I will wait as long as possible but I will not let our babies burn if I can help it. Goodbye, Patricio. You know I love you."

"I love you, too, Linda," he wept. "I always have."

"Dad?" Hennessey heard young Julio say, voice quavering, then firming up. "I am being brave, Dad..."

TNTO, 1003 hrs The air was very bad now. The windows people had knocked out in order to jump had let in as much smoke as fresh air. Ashes floated on the fire-fanned breeze.

Uncle Bob, Linda and the kids crouched low, breathing what oxygen there was in the hot, stifling, and murky office.

"Not much more time...Linda," Bob said. As if to punctuate, a chorus of heartrending screams came from down the hallway. The fire had eaten through the floor, consuming a half dozen office workers who had been steeling themselves for the jump. The screams seemed to go on and on.

Linda stifled a sob as she hugged Milagro and Lambie to her breast. With tears rolling freely down her face, she said, "It's just so wrong. wrong. What did my babies ever do to harm anyone? What did What did my babies ever do to harm anyone? What did I I do? What did Patricio do that he should be left all alone?" do? What did Patricio do that he should be left all alone?"

Bob just shook his head. He had no answer that would help. He looked out the window towards the GNN building, even as a cloud of dust and smoke began to billow out from it.

"It's collapsing," Bob gasped through the smoke laden air. "The fire is getting worse. We have to go now."

Linda nodded, sniffed, suppressed a cough. "One last thing first." She took her arms from around the girls briefly, put her hands on her stomach and said, "I baptize you in the name of the Father..."

It was almost time to go. The heat rising from the floor, telltale of the flames below, was already too much to bear for long. Nor could anyone on the floor stand for all the thick, toxic smoke that hung above.

A swarthy man laughed. "Infidels," he cried, "see the judgment of Allah. See the wages of your iniquities. You will all die here and burn in h.e.l.lfire forevermore for your crimes against the will of the Almighty."

Uncle Bob answered back, with more force than reason, "G.o.d will send you and all your kind to h.e.l.l, Samir, you miserable, treacherous b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

Julio looked calmly at his mother. Ten years old or not, he was her son, and his father's. "Mom, will Daddy make them pay, the men who did this?"

"That will be as it will, my baby," Linda answered. "But...knowing your father, I can't imagine that he will not. He is...he can be...a very harsh man."

Linda looked at the flames rising behind her. "Almost time, children. Pray, now." She began to recite, "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come..."

Others joined in the final prayer, and one began to sing a half-remembered hymn, in English. Yet Linda recognized the song by its Spanish version. She, then the children, then another dark and lovely young girl in a short red s.h.i.+rt joined in, in Spanish.

Perhaps because she was an island of relative calm in a sea of insanity, people cl.u.s.tered around Linda. Most stopped praying, a few going silent but more joining in the hymn. In English it was known as, "Abide with me."

As the song neared its end, Linda and Bob stood. It was easier to stand near the smashed-out window than it had been in the smoke filled interior. Bob took Julio in one arm and wrapped the other around Linda's slender waist. Linda, with one arm around Milagro and the other holding Lambie stopped singing for just a moment to say, "Close your eyes, babies," and to kiss each of the little girls atop their heads.

She resumed singing and began to walk forward, others following. At the very edge she hesitated, but only for the tiniest fraction of a second. She and Bob took the last step forward, the hymn echoing in their ears: "Help of the helpless, O abide with me..."

It was a long way down. Linda felt her speed build. Her stomach seemed to want to come out of her mouth. She heard the babies she clutched so tightly scream as if from a great distance. She reached terminal velocity and the falling sensation in her stomach disappeared.

There was a brief sense of shock and then....nothing.

Cochea, 1028 hrs "Don't look, Patricio," implored Jimenez, voice strained with despair for his friend.

"No...don't," whispered Parilla, shaking his head slowly.

Hennessey ignored them, his eyes fixed on the television image. Down went the Center Tower, slowly, majestically. With it went his wife, his three children, possibly a fourth, too. Linda had hinted before she left for the Federated States that she might be expecting. He gave off a soft, wordless cry.

In the background Lucinda bit her hand to stifle wracking sobs. "The babies, the babies, the babies...my Linda....I changed her diapers as a baby...my little ones..."

Overwhelmed with grief, Hennessey just let his head hang, tears running down his face to gather and drip from the end of his nose and chin. He made no sound, yet his shoulders shuddered spasmodically.

Not knowing what else to do, Jimenez walked to the liquor cabinet, extracted two gla.s.ses and a bottle, then poured a light drink for himself and a much larger one for Hennessey.

"Here, Patricio, drink this. For a while, it will help."

Eyes of the Prophet, Zion-occupied Filistia, Terra Nova, 11/7/459 AC As Hennessey wept, even as thousands and millions in the Federated States and some few other places wept their grief and shrieked their anger, a series of rather differently spirited and impromptu but, one cannot doubt, wholehearted and completely sincere demonstrations erupted around the globe. From one end of the Salafi and Moslem quarter to the other cheering people took to the streets, automobile horns blasting, people dancing, women warbling the Arabic call to battle and victory.

Hennessey, thousands of miles from Nablus watched one such woman, her face transformed with radiant joy.

Parilla whispered, "b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! They should be destroyed."

Jimenez watched the image carefully, engraving every line of the harridan's face onto his mind. "'What though the field be lost?'" he quoted, whispering. "'All is not lost; Unconquerable will and study of revenge, immortal hate and courage never to submit or yield.'"

University of Ninewa, Sumer, Terra Nova In contrast to the smoke and flames of tall buildings cras.h.i.+ng down, the university was white and placid. Students and professors, some of them white coated, gathered in small groups to converse worriedly and even frantically.

From a third story window overlooking the central green square of the campus, a Sumeri brigadier general watched out. His name was Sada and he, and the brigade he commanded, were here to guard. What they guarded only Sada knew and he wasn't telling.

Turning away from the campus scene Sada looked back at the television screen which showed, over and over, the destruction in First Landing. He sat, heavily, and put his head in his hands. They're going to crush us for this They're going to crush us for this, he thought.