~ Webb~
The drive was over an hour long, shakey, and despite the rattling and humming of our vehicle, very silent. Mac appeared to be deeply consumed with her own thoughts, and I didn't want to disturb them. Memories of Matthew kept invading my mind, and the anticipation of once again facing Amir rattled my nerves. Never before had I so desperately wanted to hurt someone, and I was overwhelmed by the blood lust that threatened to consume my very being.
As we approached the tall clay walls that surrounded the facility, Mac tensed and leaned forward attentively. " wow, this place really is in the middle of nowhere." she said. " what do they call it?"
" They call it the Vanax." I said, putting an emphasis on the title.
" Vanax? That's a greek mytholigical term for ' fortress from evil." she stated, creasing an eyebrow in confusion. "why would an islamic terrorist organization use a greek title like that?"
" Amir Hamid is very interested in European culture and Greek mythology. He studied in Britain for four years." I replied. It was hard to restrain the distasteful tone from my voice as I spoke of him.
" That's kind of strange." she said. " don't you agree?"
" I suppose so."
She studied me for a moment. " So 'how' important is it to you that you kill him?"
I was surprised by the forwardness of her question. " You don't waste much energy being subtle do you?"
" I try not too. well?"
I sighed. " too important." I admitted.
She nodded in understanding. " I'm not going to tell you not to kill him, but try not to want to. Vengeance never helped anyone."
I was contemplating her advice as we came to a stop at the tall, looming , iron gates of the Vanax. For a moment, the facility appeared to be deserted.
" Is anybody home?" Mac asked, tapping her fingers on the dashboard anxiously.
Just then, two heavily armed guards appeared at the gates. They wore plain grey uniforms, and I didn't recognize them from the previous time I had stayed at the Vanax. They rushed toward us, pointing thier guns at us and shouting something in farsi that I couldn't understand. Mac replied to them calmly, and I flashed them my I.D.
" My name is Joe Black, I'm here to see Amir." I spoke slowly, hoping that they knew a minimal amount of english.
" Joe Black." One of them mumbled as they rushed back through the gates.
" What are they doing?" Mac asked, tapping her fingers slightly faster.
I began to respond, but I found myself at a sudden loss of words when I sensed someone was watching me, and I glanced up at the gates.
" It's him." I said, and struggled to steady my breath, as an intense panic mixed with rage rose up through my chest at the sight of him. He walked confidently and gracefully toward us at a casual pace, a pleased welcoming grin spread accross his face. He looked like someone out of a classic Spanish romance, wearing a long sleeved white cotton shirt and black jeans. He shouted us a greeting, but I failed hear it as it was carried off by a sudden gust of wind.
I stepped out of the truck to greet him, and smiled, hoping none of the contempt I felt for him showed through my expression.
Mac stepped beside me. " don't worry, you're doing fine." she assured me under her breath, so that the nearing Amir could not hear her.
He approached me, laughing contentedly as if he had just heard a clever joke. " Mr. Black, so pleased that you could join us today. We have so much to catch up on, yes? " he shook my hand firmly, his attention already fucused on Mac. " and I absolutely must be introduced to this lovely creature." he smiled cunningly, looking her up and down with a great amount of interest.
" It's good to be back. This is Jane Anderson, that weapons analyst I was telling you about." I said.
" It's very nice to meet you." Mac said, smiling demurely and reaching to shake his hand. Instead he took her hand in his, and kissed it softly.
" Very nice." he agreed.
If she was at all offended by his actions, she hid it extraordinarily well. Not a trace of nervousness showed through her expression, as he looped her arm through his, and began leading us toward the Vanax.
" The two of you have so much to see here, a lot has been accomplished while you were away Mr. Black. New recruits and weapon systems. Some of the men have been adding to the gardens...." he continued on ambitiously as we made our way through the gates, I fought back a dreaded sense of imprisonment.
As the gates slammed shut behind us, the wailing sound of clashing iron chorused throughout the desert.
The drive was over an hour long, shakey, and despite the rattling and humming of our vehicle, very silent. Mac appeared to be deeply consumed with her own thoughts, and I didn't want to disturb them. Memories of Matthew kept invading my mind, and the anticipation of once again facing Amir rattled my nerves. Never before had I so desperately wanted to hurt someone, and I was overwhelmed by the blood lust that threatened to consume my very being.
As we approached the tall clay walls that surrounded the facility, Mac tensed and leaned forward attentively. " wow, this place really is in the middle of nowhere." she said. " what do they call it?"
" They call it the Vanax." I said, putting an emphasis on the title.
" Vanax? That's a greek mytholigical term for ' fortress from evil." she stated, creasing an eyebrow in confusion. "why would an islamic terrorist organization use a greek title like that?"
" Amir Hamid is very interested in European culture and Greek mythology. He studied in Britain for four years." I replied. It was hard to restrain the distasteful tone from my voice as I spoke of him.
" That's kind of strange." she said. " don't you agree?"
" I suppose so."
She studied me for a moment. " So 'how' important is it to you that you kill him?"
I was surprised by the forwardness of her question. " You don't waste much energy being subtle do you?"
" I try not too. well?"
I sighed. " too important." I admitted.
She nodded in understanding. " I'm not going to tell you not to kill him, but try not to want to. Vengeance never helped anyone."
I was contemplating her advice as we came to a stop at the tall, looming , iron gates of the Vanax. For a moment, the facility appeared to be deserted.
" Is anybody home?" Mac asked, tapping her fingers on the dashboard anxiously.
Just then, two heavily armed guards appeared at the gates. They wore plain grey uniforms, and I didn't recognize them from the previous time I had stayed at the Vanax. They rushed toward us, pointing thier guns at us and shouting something in farsi that I couldn't understand. Mac replied to them calmly, and I flashed them my I.D.
" My name is Joe Black, I'm here to see Amir." I spoke slowly, hoping that they knew a minimal amount of english.
" Joe Black." One of them mumbled as they rushed back through the gates.
" What are they doing?" Mac asked, tapping her fingers slightly faster.
I began to respond, but I found myself at a sudden loss of words when I sensed someone was watching me, and I glanced up at the gates.
" It's him." I said, and struggled to steady my breath, as an intense panic mixed with rage rose up through my chest at the sight of him. He walked confidently and gracefully toward us at a casual pace, a pleased welcoming grin spread accross his face. He looked like someone out of a classic Spanish romance, wearing a long sleeved white cotton shirt and black jeans. He shouted us a greeting, but I failed hear it as it was carried off by a sudden gust of wind.
I stepped out of the truck to greet him, and smiled, hoping none of the contempt I felt for him showed through my expression.
Mac stepped beside me. " don't worry, you're doing fine." she assured me under her breath, so that the nearing Amir could not hear her.
He approached me, laughing contentedly as if he had just heard a clever joke. " Mr. Black, so pleased that you could join us today. We have so much to catch up on, yes? " he shook my hand firmly, his attention already fucused on Mac. " and I absolutely must be introduced to this lovely creature." he smiled cunningly, looking her up and down with a great amount of interest.
" It's good to be back. This is Jane Anderson, that weapons analyst I was telling you about." I said.
" It's very nice to meet you." Mac said, smiling demurely and reaching to shake his hand. Instead he took her hand in his, and kissed it softly.
" Very nice." he agreed.
If she was at all offended by his actions, she hid it extraordinarily well. Not a trace of nervousness showed through her expression, as he looped her arm through his, and began leading us toward the Vanax.
" The two of you have so much to see here, a lot has been accomplished while you were away Mr. Black. New recruits and weapon systems. Some of the men have been adding to the gardens...." he continued on ambitiously as we made our way through the gates, I fought back a dreaded sense of imprisonment.
As the gates slammed shut behind us, the wailing sound of clashing iron chorused throughout the desert.