Chapter 21

Suhayl sat silently as his charges slept. The CIA agent was also sleeping after keeping the first watch while the McGees had instantly given in to their exhaustion after carrying their children through the hours of flight. As he sat, he thought about whether or not his plan was the right one. There might be other ways of getting them to safety. While he knew that there were people stationed near the consulate, hoping to find the McGees there, it might be possible to get them into the building without detection.

...except that he was supposed to maintain his anonymity at all costs and if he got Tim there, he would have to answer questions. His employer was emphatic about that. No one knew who Suhayl worked for and few asked. Since the CIA agent wasn't officially here, he wasn't likely to ask too many questions either.

The other issue was the lack of knowledge of who these people were who wanted Tim and whatever it was that he could do. When the enemy was an enigma, it was dangerous to assume that the simple approach would work. Maybe it would, but maybes weren't enough. Especially not with a woman and children involved. Suhayl would not be responsible for any injury to Tim's family.

Suddenly, Tim's daughter woke up. She looked afraid and Suhayl was about to quiet her. Even if he was fairly certain that they were safe here, he didn't want her to start making noise. But then, she looked at him. She looked down and saw her parents on either side of her and Suhayl knew that she took comfort from that. But then, she looked at him again.

To Suhayl's surprise, she got up and walked over to him, her dark grey-blue eyes full of questions. He had never seen eyes that color before and he was intrigued by it. However, in a way, she reminded him of Samia at that age, wanting to know everything.

"Are you like Norris?" she asked, in a whisper.

"Who is Norris?" Suhayl asked, keeping his voice soft as well.

"He's one of Baba's friends. Like him," she said, pointing to the CIA agent who was still sleeping.

Suhayl smiled at the simplicity of her perceptions and shook his head. "No, I am not like Norris."

"But you know Baba?"

"Yes."

She blinked at him. It was like she was trying to reason everything out in her head.

"How do you know Baba?"

"I met him in the desert."

"Do you know his scars, then?"

For a moment, Suhayl wasn't sure he understood her question. Then, he nodded gravely.

"Some, yes."

"Which ones?"

"The scars around his eye and his feet."

She mouthed an oh without making any noise. For a moment she rocked back and forth on her heels.

"Are we going home?"

"Soon, I hope."

A hint of fear crept into her eyes. Knowing where that emotion could lead in a young child, he smiled.

"What is your name, al-saghīra?"

"Baba doesn't call me that. What does it mean?"

"Little one."

"Oh. I'm Salma. I'm named after my mama's mama. She died before I was born."

"I have a daughter. Her name is Samia, very close to your name."

He was rewarded with a smile.

"What is your name?" she asked, politely.

"Suhayl."

Tim suddenly breathed in and sat up, looking around wildly. Suhayl moved over to him quickly, not wanting him to make any noise either.

"Tim, you are awake?" he asked.

Tim was breathing heavily, not really hearing him.

"Tim," he said again. "You must stay quiet."

The movement woke the other two McGees and Zahara seemed to realize right away what was wrong. She expertly shushed the boy and then scooted close to Tim and put her arm around his shoulders.

"It is all right, Tim," she whispered. "We are all safe."

After a few more seconds, Tim seemed to really wake up and he sagged against Zahara for a moment, covering his face with his hands. He was shaking. Suhayl was concerned at this kind of reaction, no matter the situation. Tim had not seemed to be this way the last time they had crossed paths.

"Mama... Mama?"

Zahara looked at Suhayl for a moment and he saw the chaos reflected in her eyes before she turned from her trembling husband to her fearful son.

"It is all right, Jonathan," she said and held him close, comforting him to keep him quiet.

Salma walked over and sat down in between her parents, waiting. For the moment, she seemed content to do that, although Suhayl wondered how long she would be willing to do it.

Then, Suhayl watched as Tim straightened and took a deep breath. He was not in a good state, but he swallowed and visibly tried to calm himself down. Then, he reached over and took Jonathan and hugged him.

"It's all right, Jonathan," he said, softly. "We're all together and we're going to be fine. I know it's weird that we're in this different place, but it's okay. Don't worry."

He kept up a flow of quiet calming words until his son stopped fretting. Zahara was now letting Salma sit on her lap. And finally, everyone was awake and ready to communicate. The CIA agent had awakened at some point and was sitting silently. Waiting.

"Suhayl, I know we need to talk about everything, but is there a chance that we could get something to eat first?" Tim asked.

"Yes. You will all stay here. I will be back."

"Okay."

Suhayl slipped out of the room and walked silently over to the priest who had let them in earlier.

"Hal yumkinuna al-husūl 'alā sha'n'akulihi?"

"Na'am," the priest said. He walked out of sight and came back a few minutes later with a tray of simple food. Bread, dates, figs, and ful. There was also a pot with hibiscus tea and a few cups.

"Shokran," Suhayl said.

The priest just nodded and gave the tray to Suhayl who took it and carried it back into the room. He set it on the floor in front of the McGees and he was glad to see Tim gesture to the CIA agent who simply nodded and sat on the floor with them to eat. They all ate eagerly and Suhayl was also glad to see that the children did not complain about what they were given. Either Tim had said something to them while he was gone or they were simply used to eating a wide variety of foods.

After they were finished, Zahara took the children to the corner of the room and pulled out one of the books Tim had brought with them. Suhayl had been surprised at that decision during the night, but as the children sat down beside her and quietly listened, he could see the value of it.

Then, he focused on the situation.

"What's your name?" Tim asked the CIA agent who had said almost nothing up to now.

"Omar," he said with no trace of accent to his American English.

"You're staying with us?"

"Until you're home or I'm dead," he said.

Tim looked like he wanted to protest but he just nodded and then looked at Suhayl.

"Why are you here? How did you even know about those people?"

"There were whispers of something happening in Egypt. A man claimed to know of something big although he did not specify initially," Suhayl said. "I was sent to investigate by my employer, but there was a terrible storm that caused damage to the tents and some injuries. So I did not leave when I was told, but then, I had to come and begin to search out what was happening."

"What did you find?"

"First, a man almost killed because he was going to tell me something important. Then, a meeting between three men who spoke of the need to accomplish their task. They spoke of you."

"By name?" Tim asked.

"Yes."

"And my family? Did they know about them as well?"

"Yes. They were also to be taken."

Tim nodded slowly. "For insurance."

"Very likely."

Tim looked at Omar. "What do you know of this?"

Omar shook his head. "Nothing. If anyone at the CIA knew, it wasn't passed along to us. So far as I know, our only task was to provide protection should it be needed, but it wasn't anticipated that it would truly be needed."

Tim took a long, slow breath and then closed his eyes as he exhaled.

"There's no escape," he whispered, almost inaudibly.

A long pause and then Tim opened his eyes again.

"What now? Can you help us out of the country?"

"Yes, but not to a plane that will take you home. Not from here. I do not have the connections necessary for that."

"Then, what do you suggest?"

"That I take you and your family to my home."

Tim shook his head. "I don't know, Suhayl. This is different than before. I wasn't sure if anyone was after me the last time. And I didn't know I'd run into you guys. This time... we know that they are. How determined will they be to get me? I don't want to bring anything down on your family. It's bad enough that I have to live this way. It's worse that my own family has to deal with it. Yours shouldn't. It's not their fight."

Suhayl raised an eyebrow. This was the way Tim had been thinking the first time. Only worse. Tim had regressed in a way that was not good to see.

"I cannot get you to the consulate. This is a big group trying to get you, Tim. I do not know who they are. I have not been able to determine their origin. I only know that they are well-organized and they are prepared. The longer we stay here, the more likely it is that they will find us. If we leave here, then, we have a better chance of getting you and your family home."

Tim nodded reluctantly and then looked at Omar again.

"What do you think?" he asked.

Omar took a breath and considered. "They were prepared. These aren't just mindless terrorists, willing to die for a cause. They're trained. They're ruthless. They didn't hesitate to try to kill your wife when it was apparent that you were out of their reach."

Tim winced at that.

"I saw no one specifically. I can't comment on who they might be, but it's possible that it's coming from Russia. There have been groups based there in the past. Some with very questionable ties. Quite frankly, Agent McGee, I don't see any value in trying to stay in Egypt. Even if I know more about operating here than elsewhere, it's clear that we're compromised. So we need to do what we can to get out of the trap. We've avoided it so far, but we're outnumbered and they were prepared even for you to have people guarding you. Getting away from where they made all their plans is a very good idea. And if Suhayl has a place he knows, that's all the better."

Tim sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Suhayl could see that he didn't like this. Then, to his surprise, Tim turned.

"Zahara?"

She looked up and then whispered to Salma who took the book and began showing the pictures to Jonathan. Then, Zahara came over and knelt down beside them. She put her hand on Tim's arm. It wasn't a casual gesture. Tim needed it, Suhayl could see.

"What is it?"

"Suhayl wants to move us out of the country, to take us to Saudi Arabia and see if we can find a way home from there. What do you think?"

"We cannot get to an airport?" she asked, looking at Suhayl and Omar.

"It is a very big risk here. They are looking for you."

"Of course. You will take us to a city?"

"No. To my home where we can make better plans and perhaps make contact with those who can help."

"Right now?" she asked Omar.

"Total radio silence until we know that we're secure. Any outside contact could be monitored."

She nodded.

"And you would... be willing to bring us there, even knowing that others are after us?"

"Yes," Suhayl said.

Suddenly, Zahara smiled. "We would be able to meet Samia," she said to Tim. "I have often wanted to meet this child who was so kind to you."

"Yes, you would," Suhayl said.

Tim managed to smile at that. "I probably won't even recognize her after all this time."

"You will," Suhayl said. "Well, Tim?"

He was forcing Tim to make the decision simply because he could see that Tim didn't want to make the decision. There was a long pause and then Tim nodded.

"All right. How will we get there? It's too far to walk and that's a long ride through the desert."

"We will skip part of the desert."

"How?" Tim asked. "You said that we couldn't fly."

Suhayl smiled. "There are boats."

"Oh, no," Tim said, although there was less fear and more distaste.

Zahara laughed a little, but then she looked confused. "Would not a boat also be a risk?"

"If it was official, yes."

"Pirates?" Tim asked.

"Yes."

"That's got to be risky, too. What about the kids?"

"I will be cautious about who I choose. Some know me and they know that to cheat me would be bad. For them."

A pause as Tim took another deep breath. Finally, he nodded again.

"Okay."