The Alliance

By:AliasCWN

Chapter 4

Moffitt joined a couple of goat herders who were headed for the town. The herders didn't object to the help of controlling the herd in the crowded streets. The sergeant stayed with the men and their goats until they neared the market. As they neared the vendors stands he excused himself before the herders could ask him any questions. He walked straight to the nearest tea house and ordered the strong sweet tea that was the man drink.

He sipped the tea and listened to the talk at the nearby tables. The first thing that he noticed was that the conversations were mostly in whispers with wary looks around to see if anyone was paying attention. A tea house was a place where the locals gathered to meet and talk; only there wasn't much talking going on. The room was unusually quiet and Moffitt had to listen very closely to hear what little was being said.

After a while he noticed that he was starting to attract attention. Finishing his tea, he rose and left the room. He paused at the door, trying to decide where to look next. He heard someone walking up behind him so he turned and headed for the market. If he had to lose a tail the market would be the best place.

As he walked he tried to keep an eye on the people around him. He couldn't spot anyone who seemed really interested in him, at least not yet. Stopping at the vendors stands, he made a few purchases in his guise as a traveler. He chose fruits and breads that he could take back to the others to supplement their rations.

While he was wandering the length of the market he overheard bits and pieces of conversations about the upcoming meeting. He strolled the length of the street a second time as he tried to pick up more information. He pretended to be interested in some of the wares so he could stay close to the men he heard talking. When the men wandered away Moffitt happened to glance at the merchant. The old man was watching him curiously.

"I could not help but overhear." He smiled at the old man. "There is talk that Faisal may be in town."

The old man looked around before answering. "You are not from around here."

"No." Moffitt answered. "I am just passing through."

"You should keep moving." The old man warned. "This meeting that they have planned, no good will come of it."

"You know of the meeting?" Moffitt pressed the old man for answers.

"Yes, everyone knows." The merchant replied. "They are planning a holy war. What they are planning will be bad for all of our people. Angering the invaders will only result in reprisals against all of our people. Even the innocent will suffer."

"So they hate both sides of the war that is being fought in the desert?"

"Yes." The old man answered with a knowing look. "Which side do you fight on?"

Moffitt paused at the question. "What do you mean old one?"

The old merchant snorted. "Do you think me a fool? You are no more Arab than I am a camel."

"You don't look like a camel." Moffitt answered with a smile. "And I did not mean to imply that you were a fool. But we do agree on one thing; this meeting will mean trouble for all of your people."

"But there is nothing that can be done." The old man replied sadly. "There are those who will not be turned from that course."

"There may be a way.' Moffitt argued. "If we can learn of their plans, and identify those who want the war, then perhaps we could put the blame on those truly responsible."

"And how do you plan to do such a thing?" The old man asked. "Anyone who speaks with you will be killed."

"All I need is the place and time the meeting will be held. If I have that I can get the rest. We could identify the ones responsible." Moffitt looked at the old man. "Would you have that information?"

The old merchant considered him for a moment. "And then you would leave?"

"I will need to return before the meeting but after the meeting I will go."

"That would be best." The merchant nodded. "They are suspicious of strangers."

"I will do my best not to attract their attention." Moffitt assured him.

The old man smiled. "Then keep your head down so your eyes are hidden. That is how I came to realize that you were not what you seemed."

Moffitt smiled. "Thank you for the warning. Now if you could tell me when and where the meeting will take place I would be in your debt. Perhaps together we can prevent these men from putting anyone else in danger."

"I have my doubts," the old man answered, "but you are welcome to try. Those who came for the meeting do not care what happens to the rest of us. I will tell you."

The merchant described where the meeting would take place, giving detailed directions. Whenever anyone came near he would go into a detailed description of the wares he had for sale until they were alone again. In case anyone was watching, Moffitt made sure to buy several items from the old man. He left with the information he sought and the well wishes of the old merchant.

Not wanting to give any clue that the old man had helped him Moffitt made sure to stroll along the vendors stands for a while longer. He bought a few more items to help his cover. He was nearly at the end of the market when he noticed someone who appeared to be following him. Glancing around him, he ducked into an alley and hurried away.

The Arab who followed him was careless. He didn't check before he hurried around the corner to look for the sergeant. Moffitt waited, leaning close to the wall with a knife in his hand.

The Arab's eyes widened as he spotted Moffitt waiting for him. His own hand flashed toward a knife in his belt but he was too slow. Moffitt's hand flashed forward and his knife embedded itself in the other man's body. The Arab's knife clattered to the cobblestone street and his body doubled over Moffitt's outstretched arm.

Moffitt caught the body before it could slide to the ground. He pulled the lid off a large woven basket and set it aside. Looking around quickly, he determined that no one had seen the encounter. Dragging the body to the basket, he stuffed it inside. The lid was replaced after tucking the man's robes around his body. With one final look to be sure he hadn't missed anything Moffitt began to make his way out of town.

Nearing the edge of town he had to make his way around a large gathering. The raised voices made it easy to hear what was causing the crowd to congregate. Moffitt stopped as he recognized one of the speakers. Faisal stood in the center of the crowd drumming up support for his holy war. Remembering what the old man said, Moffitt pulled his head scarf lower over his eyes. He stepped deeper into an alley and listened to the rhetoric. To him it sounded like the same complaints he had heard a hundred times before. While he admitted that some off it was true, there was even more that was grossly exaggerated or blatantly false. The crowd didn't seem to be concerned with facts though, they were taking in every word. Moffitt shifted uneasily and looked around at the Arabs surrounding him. Many of the faces were angry, falling under the spell of Faisal and the other leaders with him. Realizing that if he were discovered he would not stand a chance of surviving he began to back away from the gathering. He drew a few glances but he ignored them and walked away. Trying not to hurry, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. It was not until he was clear of the town that he took his next easy breath.

There were no handy goat herders leaving the town so he made his way along the road alone. He expected to be confronted by angry Arabs at any minute; their hate-filled cries still echoed in his ears. He had recognized Faisal and several of the other leaders from the pictures that had been in the packet from the captain. He realized as he walked that the leaders who were going to attend the meeting were already present, stirring up support for their cause.

Moffitt's thoughts were filled with scenarios of possible disasters if the alliance were allowed to go forward. But of course, that was why his unit was there, to put an end to the alliance in any way they deemed necessary. Having lived among the Arab population Moffitt knew that not all of them felt the same as Faisal. He worried about the innocent ones who would be hurt if the alliance had its way. There were others who feared the same thing; those like the old merchant in the market. Moffitt hurried on, determined to stop the slaughter that he feared was coming.