Bomber Boy Ikepius

8/13/2019 Bomber Boy Ikepius

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bomber-boy-ikepius 1/27



some o) them e+"laim. But then( some o) them started to laugh play)ully again as i)nothing had happened. %arouk had e+pe"ted an e+plosion( but "learly( there had onlybeen some air turbulen"e.

=e pressed the s!it"h again( again( and again. =e did not understand: *he Brothershad told him that all he had to do !as put his hand under his shirt and press the s!it"h.*he plane !ould e+plode he !ould go to Paradise( and the in)idels !ould go to hell.

espite the air "onditioning( %arouk started to s!eat.

*he !hite man seated ne+t to him ga'e him a "on"erned smile.

Is e'erything alright( my )riend> =e asked.

%arouk glan"ed at him( and tried to smile. =e then s"rat"hed his head as he thought o)something to say.

#ll this shaking is getting to me( %arouk lied( I think I am getting a little si"k .

?ou ll get o'er it. ;ust rela+. Breathe deeply and regularly. Besides( it s only about hal)the <ourney le)t. ?ou ha'e made it this )ar.

%arouk nodded( and smiled ba"k at the !hite man. =e seemed really ni"e. Pity that heshould die. =e had introdu"ed himsel) as 9att( or 9ark( or something( but that !ashours ago. %arouk did not remember be"ause he !as too o""upied !ith blo!ing up theplane. *hose !estern names all sound alike( and !hat !as the point o) rememberingthe name o) a person you !ere about to send to hell>

%arouk got up.

I ha'e to use the rest room( he said.#s he made his !ay to the ba"k( !here the rest rooms !ere( %arouk s eyes met !ithse'eral o) the other passengers. It !as only his se"ond time o) going to the rest roombut he thought that some o) them looked at him in a )unny !ay. E+"ept( o) "ourse( thepretty air hostess at the door to the restroom. %arouk thought that she liked him. #irhostesses should be pretty and "ourteous( but %arouk suspe"ted that her smile !asmu"h more than "ourtesy. It lasted too long( and she seemed to blush. *oo bad she

!ould soon go to hell.

In the rest room( %arouk -ui"kly remo'ed his <a"ket and shirt( dropping them on the)loor( and he then took o)) the bomb !hi"h !as designed like a !aist"oat. =e e+aminedthe bomb to see i) any o) the !iring had "ome loose. It looked good.

%arouk sat do!n on the toilet seat and sighed deeply. Time to die .

=e pressed the s!it"h and !aited. Nothing. =e pressed the s!it"h again and again(ea"h time listening to the "li"king sound it made. *hen he reali,ed that there !asnothing he "ould do to make the damned thing blo! up. =e thre! it do!n. h my god( Iam screwed .



%arouk kne! he had to think )ast. I) the bomb !as dis"o'ered on him( either on theplane or at the airport( he !as sure he !ould go to <ail.

%arouk thought about *he Brothers. *hey !ould be !aiting )or ne!s that the$orth!estern #irlines %light 2&3 had e+ploded. /hen the ne!s !ould not "ome they

!ould get mad *hey !ould think he had sabotaged them.

%arouk thought about his mother( his brother and sisters. =is )ather !as also ali'e but%arouk hated him. In )a"t( i) *he Brothers de"ided to kill him( %arouk !ould be -uitethank)ul )or it. But 9ama and the kids it !as )or their sake that %arouk had agreed to goon the mission. $ot be"ause he belie'ed in any ;ihad( or be"ause he !anted to go toany Paradise

%arouk pi"ked up his "lothes and started to put them on. *hen he )olded the bomb andput it behind the toilet seat. *he stupid thing !ould not blo!( so he !ould not go to <ail)or nothing.

%arouk opened the door.

Episode 2

Ba"k at his seat on the plane( looking out o) the !indo! at the "louds belo!( %arouk smind "ame to the pie"e o) paper in his hand. =e looked at it and smiled. *hen )or the)irst time %arouk really read the note: Carla ;esson. 212 @A2&1( "arla<etson aol."om.*he pretty air hostess liked him a)ter all. $ot her )ault4 %arouk !as tall( handsome andathleti". But abo'e all !as that sua'e. =e had a strong( analyti"al mind and "ould talkhis !ay out o) almost any situation. 9ore so( he "ould make <okes as easily as Chris

5o"k./ell( a guy like that "ould easily attra"t !omen( espe"ially !omen !ho !ere bored !ith)lying non stop all the time.

%arouk kne! ho! to -ui"kly turn things in his )a'or. *he "on'ersation had been 'erybrie)4 perhaps she thought he !as e+perien"ing air si"kness or something. 8he hadbeen "on"erned about one o) the passengers in her "are but be)ore she kne! it( %aroukhad disarmed her !ith his "harm( his !ay !ith !ords( and his knee !eakening smile.=ad %arouk s mind been settled then he !ould surely ha'e talked a bit longer !ith her4maybe gi'ing her a pe"k on the "heek in the end.

%arouk put the pie"e o) paper in his breast po"ket. =e )elt really un"om)ortable. *here !as a heada"he )rom thinking too mu"h( his mouth )elt dry )rom the air "onditioner( andthe o""asional <olt o) the air turbulen"es made him )eel 'ery di,,y.

*he man by his le)t !as playing a portable ele"troni" game de'i"e4 no doubt tired o)trying to make "on'ersation !ith an ob'iously snobbish person.

%arouk "losed his eyes. 9aybe !hen he !ould open them again the !hole episode !ould only be a dream a bad dream.



#lighting )rom the plane %arouk kne! e+a"tly !hat to do. /ell( some!hat. Call *heBrothers and tell them that the bomb had )ailed to blo!( "all home and tell them to geta!ay )or a !hile( <ust in "ase *he Brothers !ould resort to something )unny. But )irst()ind a pla"e to hang out.

En<oy your )light( 9r. 9uttab> the uni)ormed lady at the "ounter at the #rri'al *erminalasked.

Can t say I en<oyed banging my head on e'erything in the plane but( it !as okay.

Business or pleasure>

I ll try to get as mu"h pleasure as I "an. I think the t!o !ork together .

8he smiled( stamped the passport and said !el"ome to the .8 o) # .

*hank you 'ery mu"h ( %arouk replied.

Quick work . But uniformed ladies at airports are reputed to be the worst kind of humanbeings. Maybe this one was having difficulties with her marriage.

%arouk strapped his ba"k pa"k on. It !as his only luggage4 he had not e+pe"ted to"ome out o) the plane ali'e. /hat is the point o) "arrying a lot o) baggage !hen you aregoing to blo! it all up any!ay>

%arouk made his !ay through the !ide e+it o) the etroit 9etro #irport. *here !ere a loto) ta+is to "hoose )rom. %arouk sele"ted one and "almly got in.

/here to> *he /hite gentleman at the steering !heel in-uired( already mo'ing the"ar.

*ake me to the poorest part o) to!n( !here a poor guy like me "an easily blend in.

*hat has to be Brightmore. But I !ouldn t go there i) I didn t kno! my !ay around.

#nd !hy is that> %arouk -uestioned.

It s god damned 8omalia do!n there( the man said( raising his eyebro!s as i) toemphasi,e his point.

%arouk smiled. *hen perhaps that is !here the .8 should be spending her money(instead o) Ira-D.#ny!ays( thanks( but I think I "an manage.

on t say I didn t !arn you( the man responded( and then pro"eeded to mind hissteering !heel.

#)ter a )e! minutes o) e+amining %arouk through the mirror( the dri'er de"ided thatthere !as more to the young man sitting behind him.

8o !hat s a guy like you doing in a pla"e like this> *he dri'er asked.

I am a !riter.



6ooking to dig up some dirt about #meri"a( huh>

%reedom o) in)ormation. I belie'e you ll )ind that some!here in your "onstitution.

*he dri'er s"o))ed. ?eah. 8omething like that. *ogether !ith )reedom o) mo'ement()reedom o) asso"iationD marriageD a lot o) none+istent stu)).

$one+istent stu))> %arouk "hu"kled( I don t think )reedom o) in)ormation is none+istenthere. ?ou are <ust too used to it. /here I "ome )rom you "ould go to <ail <ust )or talkingabout the go'ernment.

?eah> #nd !hat sort o) pla"e is that>

China.

$o kidding *here are bla"k people in China no!>

I !as making a point( sir( %arouk 9uttab said.

*he dri'er nodded intelligently. ?eah. /ouldn t !ant to be in ChinaDor $orth Korea( or8!eden.

8!eden> /hy( 8!eden is one o) the best "ountries to li'e in

8!edenD8!it,erlandD8o'ietD 8omething !ith an 8. *errible pla"e( )rom !hat Ihear.

8o'iet( maybeD oesn t e+ist anymore though. %arouk 8aid.

h huh. 8ounds like you tra'el a lot. /here are you really )rom>

%arouk looked out the !indo! )or a )e! se"onds. =e sighed. I am )rom 8udan really (%arouk lied.

hD I guess that s a tough pla"e to li'e.

%arouk nodded re)le"ti'ely. *ough pla"e indeed( he said.

*he rest o) the dri'e !as -uiet. #)ter about 30 minutes( they arri'ed at an interse"tion.*he dri'er stopped the "ar and looked around ner'ously. *hen he "he"ked his meterand sighed.

*here !as a sign abo'e !hi"h said /est %ort 8treet .

=ere !e are *he dri'er announ"ed.

%arouk asked the "harge( paid it( and alighted )rom the "ab. *he dri'er immediatelyturned around( and sped o))

Episode 3



*he )irst building on le)t( on /est %ort 8treet had a small sign saying 'a"ant ( but%arouk had de"ided to keep !alking. =e thought the building !as too e+posed. %inally(a)ter about ten minutes o) !alking( he "ame to an apartment building !ith a tree in )ronto) it. *here !as a !ire )en"e separating it )rom one building on the le)t( but neither o) thebuildings !as "ompletely surrounded by the )en"e. Nice safe looking place ( %arouk

thought( and then he !ent in./hen the landlord For manager as he had insistedG le)t( %arouk put his bag on the bed(opened it( and brought out his phonebook. =e sear"hed through and stopped at a nameand number: Jamil Senior . *his !as the man !ho had sent him on the sui"ide mission.

%arouk had to "all. But sin"e he hadn t a "ell phone it !ould ha'e to be at a phonebooth later in the e'ening. %arouk started to ask himsel) ho! he had "ome to be in thispredi"ament.

It !as t!o years ago.

%arouk had le)t =igh s"hool se'en years be)ore( but !as still struggling. #t that point intime he !as !orking as a night shi)t se"urity guard in a bank. *he dreams o) sa'ing up)or "ollege !ere steadily )ading a!ay. =is )ather s business had )ailed( the landlord !asthreatening to thro! them out( and his younger ones had trouble !ith paying up s"hool)ees the problems <ust seemed to keep piling up. But that !as not the !orst o) it4 the$igerian 8to"k 9arket had "rashed !ithout !arning and pra"ti"ally all o) %arouk s hardearned "ash had gone do!n the drain.

*hat !as !hen he met *a)ik. *he s"ru))y kid )rom "lass. ;ust that *a)ik !as no longers"ru))y. =e !as looking good4 he !as dri'ing a posh "ar and !as !earing a ni"eper)ume. /ho !ould ha'e thought *a)ik !ould e'er !ear per)ume>

*a)ik had gi'en %arouk some money and had promised to introdu"e him to his partnersin #bu<a !hen he )inished the business that had taken him to 6agos.

That was how it had started.

#bout a !eek later( *a)ik had taken %arouk !ith him to #bu<a( and had introdu"ed himto the brothers as a trust !orthy person.

8enior at *he Brothers. ;amil #hmed !as his real name( but e'erybody <ust "alled him8enior. %arouk reported dire"tly to him. =e had ne'er )or on"e beha'ed in a belligerentmanner( but %arouk suspe"ted that it !as all an a"t.

*he man seldom <oked. =e laughed !hen e'eryone else laughed at a <oke( but e'en thelaugh seemed )ake. *hat man !as a stubborn( sa'age( headstrong "hara"ter and <ustseemed "apable o) anything. E'en though he "ame )rom a !ealthy )amily( and hadspent so mu"h o) his li)e abroad( he <ust seemed to hate the !est.

;amil had spent hours talking anti !estern talk. *alking about the insults the #meri"ansare heaping on the people o) Islam( and the killings o) 9uslims in Palestine like

!orthless sheep. *he other re"ruits !ere buying it. But not %arouk. $o( you "ouldn t



brain!ash %arouk 9uttab like that. ?ou !ould need something more "on'in"ing. #ndthere !as. *a)ik *he trans)ormation !hi"h %arouk sa! in *a)ik did all the "on'in"ing.

*here !ere times !hen %arouk !ould ha'e told ;amil to <ust shut the hell up( but %aroukkne! that !ould be "ounterprodu"ti'e. =e !ould not ha'e to !ait long be)ore it !as histurn to look and smell good. =e didn t. *hat year he !as sent to %ran"e.

/hen %arouk returned to $igeria( he !as told to prepare )or a great mission in ser'i"eo) #llah. Preparations )or this mission took se'eral months to "omplete. 8ometimes(

!hen it seemed like it !as at hand( it !ould be postponed again.

%inally it !as ready. %arouk !as paid A million $aira to settle his )amily. =e duti)ullydid4 he bought a ni"e pie"e o) land in 6agos( and put the rest in a bank a""ount !ith hismother as bene)i"iary. *hen !hen the time "ame( he told his )amily that he !as goingon a trip abroad.

The die was cast. No retreat, no surrender .

But no! the deal had gone bad. %arouk 9uttab kne! there !as nothing he "ould doabout it. The bomb must have been found by now ( %arouk thought( Surely it issomeone’s ob to clean the rest! rooms on the plane . *he authorities !ould ha'e beenalerted( and they !ould ha'e "he"ked the se"urity "ameras at the airport. Besides( his)ingerprints !ere all o'er the damned thing.

In a )e! hours( the "ops !ould be literally "ombing the streets )or him. $obody to turnto( no !ay to get out( nothing to do. " am screwed .

%arouk "he"ked his po"ket. *here !as the sta"k o) #meri"an "urren"y he !as handedbe)ore he had boarded the plane.

Two days later

=ello( is that the poli"e> 9y name is %arouk 9uttab4 I !ould like to report that there is abomb on a plane at the etroit 9etropolitan #irport. *he plane is $orth!estern #irlines%light 2&3. I put the bomb there. I !ould like to gi'e my sel) up )or arrest.

I am staying in Brightmore( /est %ort 8treet. *he building is number 2A. *hank you.%arouk hung up the "all.

) "ourse( %arouk had made t!o "alls on the pre'ious day. =e had "alled *he Brothersto e+plain !hat had happened. *hey didn t ha'e an ans!er. /orst o) all( they did notha'e anybody they "ould dire"t him to. *hey promised to ask )or help )rom othernet!orks( but later( !hen he tried to "all( their numbers had been s!it"hed o)). %arouk





bla"k man !ith hand "u))s behind his ba"k !as pushed and dragged( and put in a bla"k'an. 8ome o) the people shouted ;erks 8"umbags Can t a man be bla"k nomore> D #nd so on. *hey must ha'e been )ed up !ith the $in<as )or some reason.

E'en in the 'an( %arouk !as surrounded by mean looking operati'es( !ho sat !ith theirguns at the ready( as i) to blo! out his brains i) he dared to breathe. =e began to

!onder i) he had made the right de"ision.

*he sirens )inally stopped blaring and 'ehi"le stopped s!aying. %arouk 9uttab !as thendragged out o) the 'an( and into a tall building. %arouk !as taken inside to a large room

!ith only a )airly large table in the middle( and t!o "hairs on opposite sides o) it. *here !as a large re)le"ti'e glass on the !all( and no air "onditioning. %arouk had seenenough o) this in the mo'ies4 he immediately kne! he !as in some kind o) interrogationroom. =is "u))s !ere remo'ed( and he !as told to sit do!n.

#)ter sitting )or "lose to an hour by that time %arouk !as really -uite bored the door !asopened. %arouk li)ted his head and sat up. #et’s get this over with .

# man !alked in bearing a plate and a "up. *!o sand!i"hes on the plate( and some"o))ee in the "up. *he man did not say a !ord. =e <ust set them on the table( and ga'e%arouk a "old stare. %arouk thought the stare said: eat up you son o) a bit"h. I don te'en kno! !hy !e bother to )eed s"um like you

*he sand!i"hes didn t look in'iting4 the bread looked stale. Besides( %arouk !asn thungry.

8till( he pi"ked up a sand!i"h. =e !as sure he !as being !at"hed through the glass(and !anted it to be seen that he !as not putting up a )ight. =e !ould e'en eat theirstale sand!i"hes. *he "o))ee tasted good.

/hen %arouk !as hal)!ay through the sna"k( the door !as opened and in stepped aman. Cau"asian( tall( his hair !as neatly "ombed ba"k( and his )a"e !as "lean sha'en.=e !as !earing a bla"k suit and tie( and !as "arrying a )ile. =is )a"e !as 'ery gra'e(and he seemed 'ery "on)ident.

%arouk smiled. $ow. %ames Bond .

Hood a)ternoon 9r. 9uttab. 8pe"ial #gent a'id Hray .

*he man did not o))er his hand4 he must ha'e )elt that he !as dealing !ith the enemy.

%.B.I or C.I.#> %arouk asked.

I am !ith the Bureau ( "ame the ans!er.

h. I had the impression that there !as less bureau"ra"y in the C.I.#. I !as hoping totalk !ith someone )rom there.

Considering the "ir"umstan"es( 9r. 9uttab( I don t think there is anything either o) us"an do about that. But i) you !ill "o operate( I !ill see to it that time !asted is minimal.





=o! do I kno! you are not lying ( #gent Hray asked.

#m not sure !hat the moti'e "ould be .

*o try and buy time.

%or !hat> %arouk -uestioned.?ou tell me.

?ou tell me !hy I didn t <ust )ind a gun( shoot some people( and kill mysel).

?ou are not "ra,y .

#nd ho! do you kno! that>

a'id Hray paused. =e e+amined %arouk s )a"ial e+pression( and his posture. =e "ouldsee that %arouk !as troubled about something( but he <ust "ould not )igure out e+a"tly

!hat it !as. nly a desperate person gi'es himsel) up to the #uthorities.

#t length( a'id Hray took a deep breath.

?ou !ant something( 9r. 9uttab . /hen you de"ide to tell me !hat it is( you "all me.9aybe !e "an help you.

a'id Hray got up( pi"ked up his )ile )rom the table( turned around and started to lea'e.

/hen he got to the door( he suddenly stopped and turned around. ne more thing(%arouk. =o! did you get the bomb on the plane>

I didn t. It !as already there ( %arouk ans!ered.

*hank you . a'id Hray opened the door and le)t.

%arouk bo!ed his head4 resigned to his )ate. =e did not "are i) he !ould be killed( thathad been his mission in the )irst pla"e. %arouk 9uttab had only one )ear his )amily. =ehoped had not s"re!ed up his )amily )or A 9illion $aira.

* P $E/8

Oran"e Seller#Terrorist Spy Na$$ed ith %&& 'illion Naira

(rom Daily)ost *online+

*he Heneral ))i"er Commanding( H C( 1 i'ision $igerian #rmy( Kaduna( 9a<orHeneral Harba /ahab( has announ"ed the apprehension o) a suspe"ted orange seller

!ho spied )or terrorists. =e e+plained that a)ter in'estigation( it !as dis"o'ered that o'er00 million naira had passed through his bank a""ount !ithin the spa"e o) 3 months.

/ahab !hose area "ommand "o'ers the north !estern region( made this sho"kingre'elation !hile addressing ne!smen in Kaduna relating to !hy the army is "arrying outa general stop and sear"h in the area.



=e !as there as a lookout. =e !as like a spy. =e looked around( got in)ormation and)ed those guysD *hat is !hy I said !e are not dealing !ith idiots. /e are dealing !ithpeople !ho ha'e one or t!o guys !orking and thinking( and gi'ing them in)ormation.#nd !e kno! that be)ore they atta"k( they must look )or the so)test lo"ations.

The "overnment has $een ,na$le to tra-e the so,r-e o the ,nds/ or where it has"one.

Episode 0

1a- in Ni"eria

*he Brothers had gone into hiding. *hey had le)t their sa)e house in /use( and hadtaken re)uge in a mansion in 9aitama both parts o) the Capital( #bu<a. *hey ne'er"ame out. 8enior ;amil( ha'ing studied Engineering in man( and li'ed in England(kne! enough to order his "ommandoes to s!it"h o) their phones. ;amil !as !aiting tosee !hat !ould happen. E'en though there !as plenty to eat and drink( *he Brothers)elt terrible at losing their )reedom o) mo'ement.

*he 9uttabs( kne! nothing o) *he BrotherJs retreat( and so "ontinued in hiding. *hebasi" ne"essities had been pro"ured. #nd( o) "ourse( the tele'ision set !ithout !hi"hthe 9uttabs "ould not. By going out only in the e'enings( and sto"king up on )ood items(the 9uttabs "ould -uite easily hold out )or a !hile longer.

Epe( a suburb o) 6agos had been "are)ully "hosen be"ause apart )rom being remoteand largely ina""essible( it !as also like hiding in plain sight. *he reason )or this is that9a<id kne! that *he Brothers !ould e+pe"t them to )lee entirely )rom 6agos( or the/estern 5egion as a !hole. *he brothers "ould also e+pe"t them to -ui"kly "ross theborder in any o) the neighboring "ountries. *hey !ould ne'er think o) sear"hing in Epe.

#s a )urther "aution( no member o) the 9uttab )amily retained his )ormer mobile phonenumber that is e+"ept 9a<id. ?et( he bla"klisted most numbers( and !ould only re"ei'ea "all i) he thought it !as a "all )rom #meri"a( in !hi"h "ase it !ould be %arouk trying tomake "onta"t.

Pain)ul as it !as to lea'e home at night( !ithout a !ord to good )riends and neighbors(the 9uttabs )elt that it !as a ne"essary thing. Besides( they "ould look )or!ard to abetter li)e on"e the episode !as o'er.

%arouk had been trans)erred to an apartment !ithin the building. # tiny room !ith no !indo!s. But there !as a bed( a "hair( and a *. ( he e'en had a bathroom. It lookedrather like a hospital room instead o) a "ell.



%or 3 days %arouk had not spoken to anyone. *he !oman !ho brought his )ood !asprobably a mute4 %arouk had tried to make a "on'ersation !ith her on"e( but she <ustlooked at him out o) the "orner o) her eye( kept her )a"e blank( and "ontinued !ith !hatshe !as doing. %arouk kne! she heard and understood him. =e de"ided that it !aseither she !as <ust )ollo!ing orders( or she <ust didnJt talk to s"umbags.

*his !as a detention( but the door !as ne'er lo"ked. %arouk kne! this be"ause the !oman !ould only kno"k( !ait )or him to ans!er( and then she !ould open.

?et( %arouk ne'er !ent near the door. =e kne! that the building !as hea'ily guarded.*hough the thought o) es"aping ne'er "rossed his mind( %arouk !ould ha'e liked tolea'e the room on"e in a !hile( and )ind a "leaner or a guard to talk to. *hat )eeling thathe !as being !at"hed !as !hat restrained him. 9aybe he had been !at"hing too manymo'ies.

8o e'ery morning( %arouk !ould say a short prayer( do some push ups( sho!er( andthen pi"k up the book on the *. . It !as !ritten by $elson 9andela. =o! apt.

*here !as still nothing about him in the ne!s. $othing about the bomb on the planeeither. Perhaps they did not !ant to "ause an unne"essary pani".

n the )i)th day( at about the time !hen break)ast "ame( %arouk !as sitting "rosslegged on the )loor( !at"hing a politi"al debate about gay marriage. =e thought there isa war coming, and you people are having a silly debate about other people&s se'ual

preferences .

# kno"k on the door.

J?eah( "ome inJ. %arouk said( !ithout looking up. #lmost "ertainly it !ould be the mean !oman !ho brought in his )ood.



J?ou !ill "ome !ith me( 9r. 9uttabJ( a man !earing a bla"k 'est o'er his shirt and tiesaid.

%arouk looked up( grabbed his rumpled shirt )rom the bed and stood up. *he manturned around and e+ited. %arouk )ollo!ed. *hey "ame to the same interrogation room

!here %arouk !as )irst inter'ie!ed. #s soon as they both entered( the man turnedaround and le)t. =e "losed the door behind him.

a'id Hray stepped )or!ard and o))ered his hand.

J=o! are you %arouk>J

JBreathing.J

a'id Hray then introdu"ed another man !ho !as sitting on the "hair he had used thetime be)ore. ;a"k $i"hols. *his man !as in his 0Js and he !as Hrey haired. $o doubt(

;a"k $i"hols !as a senior man in the %.B.I.

J=o! are you 9r. 9uttab>J ;a"k $i"hols o))ered his hand( and then gestured to theopposite "hair( a"ross the table.

%arouk !ent o'er to the "hair and sat do!n.

J/e appre"iate the use)ul Intel you ha'e gi'en usJ( $i"hols said !ith a "o!boy a""ent( Jand !ant you to kno! that though the phones ha'e been turned o))( !e ha'e identi)iedsome o) their regular "allers( and are tra"king them.J

%arouk nodded( and then stared blankly at the t!o men.

J$o! !e !ant you to go a step )urther.J

J=o!> I "annot !ork mira"les.J

J*rue( but you "an make things !ork a little )aster by gi'ing us a positi'e I. J. $i"holsthen put his hand in his breast po"ket( and produ"ed a photo. =e pla"ed it on the table(slid it to!ards %arouk.

%aroukJs heart skipped t!o beats. It !as a photo o) %arouk and his brother 9a<id.%arouk s!allo!ed hard as his heart began to ra"e !ildly. But the period o) blankness

!as 'ery brie)4 %aroukJs brain soon started )un"tioning again. *he pi"ture !as not ne!4

he remembered it. It !as a pi"ture )rom t!o years ba"k. But !here did they get it>*hink. *hink. *hink....... (acebook *hey had broken into 9a<idJs )a"ebook a""ount.F%arouk had "losed his sin"e <oining the brothersG #n old pi"ture )rom )a"ebook pro'ednothing.

JI ga'e you a lead to pursue your enemies but I see you ha'e de"ided to go a)ter my)amily instead.J %arouk dire"ted the "omment at a'id Hray( !ho !as standing Forhiding>G behind his superior.



a'id Hray did not ans!er.

JBy that "omment I assume he is your biologi"al brotherJ( ;a"k $i"hols said.

%arouk did not ans!er. ) "ourse( $i"hols !as lying. The )merican government knowseverything.

J/e did not kno! that( 9r. 9uttab4 our s"outs <ust )ound it( and sent it in. /e appre"iatethat you are helping us !illingly.J

Kill my mother( my bother( and my sisters. Ho on. I !ill thank you )or it. Besides( it !illser'e as a message to *he Brothers .

$i"hols %ro!ned. *he interrogation !as not going as planed4 %arouk !as not beingintimidated. It seemed that the guy !as a stubborn diehard 9uslim %anati" a)ter all.

I don t kno! !hat you mean( $i"hols said.

I !ill tell you !hat I mean !hen I kno! that you ha'e killed them ( %arouk said.$i"hols thought about it. %arouk 9uttab got angry !hen he sa! his brother s pi"ture.*his !as a <ealous( prote"ti'e anger. =e !anted to keep his )amily out o) harms !ay.But his theory !as "orre"t4 tou"h his )amily and *he Brothers !ould in)er that heremained loyal. *hey !ould also use it as a rallying point. *hey !ould say that the#meri"ans had harassed a )amily o) harmless 9uslims. %arouk !as a 9uha<ideen Fa

!arriorG( but his )amily kne! nothing o)( and had no hand in the aggression. *hey !erein'iolable.

It seemed that %arouk !as so angry that he !as "hanging sides again. 9aybe he hadde"ided that the #meri"ans "ould not be trusted. 9aybe he !as <ust "ra,y. ) lot ofMuslims are cra*y .

J=elp us to help you( 9r. 9uttabJ( $i"hols said.

J=elp me>J %arouk laughed( JI am a dead man.J

J*ake our hand o) )riendship( %arouk. Het your )amily out o) the danger ,one. It alldepends on you no!.J

;a"k $i"hols "ould tell that %arouk !as going )or it. %arouk looked a!ay( and his nostrilse+panded. Tension . *hat !as good. $i"hols de"ided it !as best to !ait )or %arouk to"ome around.

It took )i'e long minutes.

J/hat do you !ant )rom me>J

J;ust tell us a little more about the people !ho sent you.J

J*he Brothers(J %arouk sighed( Jthey are led by ;amil #hmed.J



%arouk !ent on to e+plain ;amilJs British and mani "onne"tions. =e e+plained that;amil had re"ei'ed training )rom the dreaded #l Khaida terrorist net!ork. =e still"ollaborated !ith them( and that it must ha'e been them !ho planted the bomb on theplane. %arouk )urther e+plained that ;amil "ame )rom a 'ery !ealthy )amily4 his )athero!ned a bank. =e had senators and senior "ustoms o))i"ers as )riends( and "ould "ount

on their aid !hene'er the need arose.J*hank you )or the in)ormation( 9r. 9uttab. =e studied engineering in man( and li'edin 6ondon. /e !ill "he"k the databases and get ba"k to you by tomorro!.J

%arouk nodded.

JI understand that you ha'e not had a""ess to a phone.J

JI) you !anted me to ha'e a phone you !ould ha'e gi'en me one.J

J/ellJ( $i"hols re"ei'ed a small pa"kage )rom Hray( !ho !as standing behind him(J"onsider this a gi)t.J

%arouk re"ei'ed the item !ith a broad smile. ) bugged phone. So they think " amstupid .

J?our %amily !ill be relo"ated to one o) our sa)e houses !ithin your "ountry. Com)ort.8e"urity. Huaranteed.J

J?ou mean on"e I "all them.J

J?es.J

%arouk sighed. So the phone was bugged .

JIt is important that you tell them !e are "oming. 8o they donJt mistake us )or theenemyJ.

%arouk nodded again. =e nodded -uite sheepishly.

;a"k $i"hols stood up( e+tended his hand. J*hank you 9r. 9uttabJ( he said.

a'id Hray also shook hands !ith %arouk 9uttab( and then he turned around and le)tthe room. *he o))i"er !ho had led %arouk to the interrogation room appeared( and led%arouk ba"k to his detention room.

Episode

*he British sit"om series !as hilarious. It made them )orget i) only )or a )e! minutestheir "ramped( bare( surroundings. *he ringtone o) a phone pier"ed through the soundo) their laughter. E'eryone suddenly be"ame -uiet.



9a<id thought he had kept the phone "lose to the *. . It !asnJt there. =e got )ranti".*here !as no )urniture in the room( but there !ere sta"ks or heaps o) "lothese'ery!here. 9a<id( a)raid o) missing the "all( almost di'ed at a pair o) <eans he had

!orn the night be)ore. =e -ui"kly )elt the po"kets( and brought out the "ell phone.

=e "he"ked the "aller I. . Call 1 . %arouk thought that "ould be anybody. Perhaps it !asone o) his old girl)riends getting tri"ky( perhaps it !as the poli"e( and perhaps it !as thepeople his )amily !as trying to hide )rom.

9a<id pressed the ans!er key. =e did not speak( he <ust listened.

J=ello( 9a<id.J # 'oi"e "ame through the earpie"e.

JBrotherD is that you>J 9a<id did not "on"eal his e+"itement.

=is mother and sisters too !ere e+"ited4 they started to gather round. 9a<id put thephone on the loudspeaker.

J=o! are you( and 9ama( and %athia and 9aria>J

J/e are )ine. /hat about you>J

J onJt !orry about me. I am okay.J

J8o( !hat s going on> /hy are !e hiding )rom your )riends>J

JIt s a long story. *here !as a misunderstanding. I am trying to "orre"t it.J

J8o !hen are you "oming ba"k> #re you going to stay there> %ind !ork>J

JIs 9ama there> Can I talk to her>J

JI am here( %arouk(J 9rs. 9uttab said( "olle"ting the phone )rom 9a<id.

J=o! are you 9ama>J

J9y ba"k hurts.J

%arouk thought that !as normal. 8he "omplained a lot.

J h. Is that all>J

J%our o) us are stu"k in a one room apartment all day.J

J%our o) you> $ot )i'e>J

$o( your )ather re)used to "ome !ith us. =e is still at the old pla"e.

h. I see .

*here !as a bit o) silen"e.

9ama( I ha'e ne! )riends no!. *hey !ill "ome and take all o) you to a sa)e pla"e.





Episode %

JPlease "on)irm that this is the ;amil #hmed you !ere talking aboutJ( a'id Hray said(putting 3 photographs on the table( sliding them to!ards %arouk.

%arouk looked at them. *hey !ere e'idently old passport photos( enlarged )or "larity.Probably )rom an immigration o))i"e some!here.

J?esJ( %arouk nodded. JBut he has a big beard no!( like 5i"k 5ossJ.

#gent nodded. J o you re"ogni,e any o) these buildings>J #gent Hray passed anothert!o photos to %arouk.

J?esJ( I stayed here !ith *he Brothers )or a little more than a year( this other one...I ha'ebeen to this pla"e. I think they are another group( but I kno! nothing about themJ.

J*hank you....*he )irst building has e'idently been abandoned( but there seems to besigni)i"ant a"ti'ity in the se"ond one...!hi"h you said you ha'e 'isited.J

%arouk nodded. #nd then stared blankly at the man.

J/e ha'e reasons to belie'e that our enemies are hiding there.J

Blank stare again.

JI am going to ask you to help us 9r. 9uttab.J

J?ou !ant me to <ust !alk into the buildings.J

JI !ouldnJt put it like that( but yes. ?ou <ust ha'e to sho! in publi" pla"es around there.=ope)ully( they !ill "ome )or you.J



%arouk sighed. J kay. /hate'er you say.J

%arouk had been )ollo!ing the same routine )or t!o !eeks no!: !ake up( go to theearly morning prayers( get ba"k to the hotel( eat( read( !at"h mo'ies or "artoons( go tothe @ p.m prayers( get ba"k to the hotel( eat( sleep....<ust like that. ay a)ter day.

%arouk )elt that he needed to get used to the !eather again. #bu<a is a 'ery hot "ity4 thetemperature sometimes rea"hes up to 3M degrees Celsius. #)ter only t!o !eeks in#meri"a and he already )ound his nati'e !eather un"om)ortable. %arouk )ound that alittle )unny.

It !as boring( but )ar better than being in that %.B.I semi prison. /alking around helpedrelie'e his mind o) the tension. Besides( there !as the lo'ely #)ri"an sun. *!o !eeks in%.B.I "ustody and you reali,e ho! good the sun is.

*he #meri"an )ood !as good( but %arouk )elt that it !as better !hen one ate ito""asionally. *hat !ay( it !as tantali,ing. But burgers( marsh mallo!s( and e'en their)amous pi,,as began to lose their appeal on"e they be"ame staple diet. /hat a <oy it

!as to on"e again ha'e some tu!o( pounded yam( and pepper soup

*here had been no "onta"t )rom the #meri"ans sin"e they "he"ked him into the hotelunder the guise o) a "onstru"tion "ompany. =e had the phone but they ne'er "alled.#part )rom the handshake !ith a )e! people at the mos-ue( and the JhelloJ !ith somehotel sta))( the daily phone "all to his )amily !as the only human "onta"t %arouke+perien"ed in thirteen days.

*hen one day( at the @ p.m prayer. %arouk !as !ashing his )eet !hen a man "ame andsat beside him.

J8alam aleikumJ( the man greeted( and o))ered his hand.



J8alam aleikumJ( %arouk ans!ered( and shook the manJs hand.

*he prayer started and the man took a position ne+t to %arouk. Per)e"tly normal.#nybody "an stand ne+t to anybody during prayers.

*he prayer ended. %arouk turned )irst to one man on the le)t( and shook hands !ith him(then to this man on the le)t. *hey shook hands. *he man did not let go.

J8enior is !aiting )or you.J *he man said.

%arouk stared at him( -uite stunned.

J*he !hite "ar parked outside.J *he man spoke again.

*he man then led %arouk to a !hite saloon "ar parked at the side o) the road. #s they !alked along( %arouk thought where are these )mericans >

*he dri'e !as long. $either the dri'er sitting alone in )ront( nor the man )rom themos-ue said anything. %arouk sat per)e"tly still4 he thought that i) he asked any-uestions they !ould think he !as s"ared. Better not to arouse any suspi"ion.

%inally( they arri'ed at the up s"ale neighborhood o) 9aitama. *he neighborhood o)8enators( big businessmen( and ri"h )oreigners. *he dri'er stopped in )ront o) the gateto a mansion and then he honked the horn. # guard peered through a hole in the gate.=e then pro"eeded to open it. =e had a ri)le slung on his ba"k. *here !ere se'eralmore armed men sitting "lose to the gate. *his !as surely the home o) someone 'eryimportant.

*he mansion !as painted !hite( and had re)le"ti'e !indo!s. %arouk )elt sure they !erebullet proo). *here !ere t!o "o"onut trees in the "ompound !ith seats )or the men torela+ under the shade. Curiously( right under the trees( there !ere !hat seemed to betables( but !ere made o) "on"rete. %arouk understood that they !ere really tren"hes )orthe de)ense o) the "ompound. *his !as meant to be a )ortress





J/e !onder ho! you managed to return homeJ( ;amil said.

%arouk "leared his throat. =e also s"rat"hed his head brie)ly. It !as a re)le+ a"tion.%arouk hoped that they !ould not noti"e( but he kne! that they !ould. *errorists arepsy"hologists !ith guns.

JI got a )light to %ran"e the )ollo!ing day( and )rom there I landed in 8enegal. *hen Itra'elled by road.J

J=mm. Interesting story but J

*here !as a strange sound in the passage !ay.

JKabir( go and "he"k J ;amil "ommanded.

*he same man !ho ser'ed the tea rushed out o) the room( shutting the door behindhim.

*he noise !as repeated( and this time !as )ollo!ed by a thump( as i) something had

suddenly dropped to the )loor.

E'erybody sprang up. Pandemonium E'erybody !as looking at e'erybody else( askingthe same -uestion: what is going on+

%aroukJs heart !as beating !ildly. =e "ould hear it louder than the noises those men !ere making. Plus %arouk had no idea i) they !ere armed or not( and i) they !ouldpoun"e on him.

8uddenly( bang

*he door !as ki"ked open. 6ike e'eryone else( %arouk turned to )a"e the door. *he$in<as again *his time the tor"hes on their !eapons made sense.



JHet on the ground( no! on t mo'e n the ground J *hey shouted noisily as theybegan to surround *he Brothers.

*he Brothers !ere -uite apparently "on)used. 8till they !ere de)iant. E'en !hen the#meri"ans mo'ed in on them( )or"ing the )ront lines to the ground( the others did notmo'e. It seemed like they pre)erred to die.

But not %arouk. =e got do!n on his knees and raised his hands as a sign o) surrender.*hat !as !hen he heard ;amil shout Jtraitor J and the !orld suddenly turned blank.

#s soon as ;amil )ired his pistol( the #meri"an %or"es opened )ire. It may ha'e beenpani"( or it may ha'e been that they !ere <ust )ollo!ing orders. *hey did not stop untile'ery <ihadist in the room !as )elled.

* P $E/8

Ni"erian !rmy Says !rrests 1o o 4aram 'em$er at Senator5s 4ome

(rom Re,ters *online+

# senior member o) the Islamist se"t Boko =aram has been arrested at the home o) asenator in the group s stronghold in northeastern $igeria( the military said on 8aturday(adding to e'iden"e that the group has ties to go'ernment o))i"ials.

Boko =aram is )ighting to "reate an Islamist state in $igeria and its )ighters ha'e killedhundreds in bomb and gun atta"ks sin"e laun"hing an uprising in 200N.

9ilitary spokesman 8agir 9usa said the arrest !as made on *uesday in the Boko=aram stronghold o) 9aiduguri.

8huaibu 9ohammed Bama( !ho has been on the !anted list o) terroristsD!asarrested by the task )or"e troops in a ser'ing senator s house( he said.

9usa did not say !ho the senator !as. In ;anuary( President Hoodlu"k ;onathan saidBoko =aram had in)iltrated all le'els o) go'ernment( !ithout gi'ing details.

#t least 2(A00 people ha'e died in )ighting sin"e Boko =aram s rebellion began( =uman5ights /at"h F=/5G said. *he se"t has be"ome the main se"urity threat in #)ri"a s top

energy produ"er( and /estern po!ers are !orried about its gro!ing links to more)ier"ely anti !estern ;ihadist groups in the region.

# re"ent "ra"kdo!n by the military has brought a lull in more "oordinated and deadlyatta"ks seen early this year but 'iolen"e in the remote areas o) the predominantly9uslim north "ontinues almost daily.

Hunmen killed a Chinese "onstru"tion !orker in 9aiduguri on %riday( !itnesses and anengineer !ith his )irm told 5euters. In Potiskum on 8aturday( a to!n in neighboring



northeast ?obe state( gunmen stormed the home o) )ormer "ustoms o))i"er and killedhim and three others( !itnesses said.

=5/ has said that the Boko =aram and $igerian se"urity )or"es may ha'e "ommitted"rimes against humanity during their "on)li"t. *he hea'y handed ta"ti"s o) the army help)eed support )or Boko =aram( se"urity e+perts say.

*he medi" said he thought that %arouk !ould ha'e li'ed i) he !anted to. =e had seenpeople !ith more )atal !ounds sur'i'e. =e thought that %arouk <ust ga'e up.

%arouk mar 9uttab died on board a .8 army heli"opter. Perhaps it !as his destiny todie !hile he !as airborne.

The Niger Area Times reported the )ollo!ing day that there had been an assassinationattempt on a 8enator( and that there had been an un'eri)ied number o) "asualties in theshoot out bet!een the assassins and his se"urity details.

*he #meri"an ambassador to $igeria !as summoned to e+plain !hy #meri"an )or"eshad entered $igerian territory !ithout permission( and in'aded a building belonging to aser'ing $igerian senator.

*he $igerian go'ernment !rote a letter o) apology to the #meri"an go'ernment( and !as not named on the list o) terrorist "ountries.

*he 9uslim "ommunity !as outraged that dead !ere not buried a""ording to 9uslimrites. $obody apologi,ed )or that be"ause the building !as !ide open but a)ter thein"iden"e( nobody dared enter the "ompound )or three days.

*he 9uttab )amily remained in the %.B.I sa)e house )or si+ months. *hey !ere"ompensated( and allo!ed to li'e !here they !anted.



E'erybody that sur'i'ed li'ed happily e'er a)ter.

The End.

!,thor6s Notes

Bomber Boy is the se-uel to my )irst no'el The Para ise Tha "as . I try as mu"h aspossible to bring so"iety into this no'el but )ear that the reader !ill only truly get thebigger pi"ture a)ter reading The Para ise Tha "as .

I hope the reader does not imagine that I am biased in my !riting.

*he !ar bet!een the people o) the East and /est should not be"ome a !ar bet!eentheir t!o religions. *he !orld has seen too many senseless !ars under the JHod is !ithusJ premise( and !e as a spe"ies are rather stupid to let this "ontinue inde)initely.

*his !ar seems to be shi)ting to #)ri"a. Both the East and /est !ield signi)i"antin)luen"e on the peoples o) #)ri"a. *his is e'ident in the religion( "lothing( language andother aspe"ts o) #)ri"an "ulture.

9y personal plea is this: please do not bring your !ar do!n to #)ri"a. #)ri"a has toomany problems F h,n"er/ disease/ poverty/ -orr,ption and so onG as it is( and <ust"annot a))ord to be burdened by this "on)li"t.

I lo'e to get )eedba"k )rom my readers. HaiusMonline gmail."om

!lso $y this a,thor7

*he Paradise *hat /as

=unting o!n 9r. 5ight and Keeping =im

*he 9edian %a"tor



Documents

Bomber Boy Ikepius