AND LOVE CHAP 129

Tragedy & Escape

8 DAYS PREVIOUSLY

Eli Abdul comes to his senses. He is freezing cold. It's night and he is outside, alone. There is a heavy weight on top of him – it is a body! No, two bodies! He struggles to free himself, then sits up. He squints in the darkness, there is a half-moon low on the horizon. He turns one head so he can see the face of the person. He faints!

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When Eli becomes conscious again it is almost dawn. The sky to his left is lightening; obviously east. He looks straight ahead, south, then makes a quarter turn to his right again, southwest. Now he is facing Mecca, he thinks. He clears space, kneels and says his morning prayers to Allah.

When finished he straightens up; he is so cold, his joints ache. He tries to think.

Why is he here? Ah, the commando raid. His brother, Ibrahim, ridiculed him; called him a coward. He felt forced to participate. His mother would have tried to keep him at her side; but she had escaped a month ago. Had she made it back to America? He didn't know; he wished he had gone with her; but his brother became aware of his mother's plans and stopped Eli. But Sarah had slipped away under cover of darkness.

He really wished he hadn't come along. He saw his father shot, right in front of him. Dad fell backward, landing on top of Eli. Maybe he was a coward! He laid still, like he was dead. Is that what cowards do? But he's alive! And alone, and cold.

He looks around; 1, 2, 3, 4 bodies. He searches them, he finds his father's dagger. Buried deep in his belly. He pulls it out and blood and fluids rush out. He drops to his knees and vomits. He thought that his stomach was empty. He wipes the dagger clean and sticks it in his belt. He finds no other weapons or food.

This is probably what cowards do, but he's alive. Alive. He's a survivor – isn't he? He remembers watching survivor with his mother. What did they do to survive? Think, Eli!

Water, food, clothes & shelter. Oh, a weapon. He feels himself – no weapon except his father's dagger. They probably took them all. He starts searching the bodies. It is gruesome! Savages did this. Mutilation, horrible. Gross disrespect. Who does this?

He finds an almost empty waterskin. He removes the cork and sniffs. He gags, urine! He finds another, urine! He finds 1 more, the same. Who does this?

He looks at the horizon, and sees 6 camels walking right to left; about one half mile away – he thinks. He sees a pair of sturdy sandals, puts them on and starts out on an intersecting course.

SURVIVAL MANTRA

3 minutes w/o air; 3 days w/o water; 3 weeks w/o food. What about scared to death? Huh?

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ON THE ISLAND – AFTER SCHOOL

Cassie leads the charge into the house this time. She heads for the office, empty. The girls backtrack to the kitchen. Mom is sitting at the table, her open laptop in front of her. Sipping a Coca-Cola.

"Mom, guess what?" Cassie shouts, her sisters right behind her.

Eddie abruptly slams the laptop closed. She looks guilty.

"Mom, what were you looking at?" Mal wonders out loud.

"Never mind. What's up Cassie?" Mom nonchalantly turns to her daughters.

'Browser history' Mary Rose thinks.

Cassie bursts out, "I am the lead photographer for the St. Bridget Times!"

"The school paper?"

"YES! Isn't that awesome?"

"YES! I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." Mom bubbles over. "How often is the paper published?"

"Every 3 weeks. And I have 2 staff that I get to boss around!"
"Easy girl, don't let this go to your head." Mom cautions.

"Cass, tell mom who your staff are," Mal nudges her big sister.

Mom waits, Cassie blushes. "Well?" Eddie prompts.

"Joshua Allen," Cassie whispers.

"THE QUARTERBACK!" Mal and Mary Rose explode.

Mom is puzzled, "So?"

"MOM! He's the dreamiest boy in school!" A sister duet comes out with.

"Oh . . . OH! We saw his picture in the paper, didn't we?" Eddie comes to her senses.

"Yeah, mom. Like 3 touchdown passes last week," Cassie's younger sisters bring everyone up to speed.

Cassie blushes, mom grins. 'Interesting.'

Cass dashes for the stairs; cries of "autograph", "kiss" and "picture" follow her.

Mom snickers, and opens her laptop again. 'That was close.'

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Jimmy's apartment

Love birds, cuddled on the love seat.

"Nicky? How long should we be together . . . ah . . . before, ah, you know?"

"Trouble completing a sentence there, sweetheart?" She teases.

"Yeah, help me out here."

"At least 9 months, Jimbo."

"Really?" He whines. That's not what he wanted to hear.

"Well, we could always ask my mother." She smirks.

"NO! 9 months works."

"I thought so, lambchop."

"What? Lambchop?"

"Eddie's sometimes nickname for Jamie. Like it?"

"It's . . . interesting. For sure."

"I thought so. Say, should I ask to use the Chevelle again?"

"Not so soon, babe. They might get suspicious."

"They know."

"WHAT!"

"History, Jimmy. I told you." Nick giggles.

"Did you tell them?" He gulps.

"Didn't need to. They're smart."

"Did you wipe it down good? I might've been messy." He grimaces.

"You were, and I did. Not to worry. I've got you covered!"

"You did that night, for sure!" He rolls over and does the covering this time!

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ON THE ISLAND

"Nick, can you pick up the drycleaning for me, please?" Eddie hollers from the office. 'I wonder if TARU has some old comm units?'

Nicky strolls in, holding out her hand. Eddie looks at her, puzzled. Then she gets it. "Ah, no. You have a car."

"No keys, no errand." Nick starts a count down. "5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . keys flash to Nick's hand.

"Thanks, back soon."

'Damn girl!'

Sarah heard all that and comes running. "I come, please?"

"Sure, follow me."

MIDWAY CLEANERS

"Hello, I am Sarah Abdul. Eddie Reagan told me that you were looking for help. I don't see the sign that she mentioned."

"Oh, we took that down. Nobody was asking about it. Are you interested?"

"Yes, what kind of help do you need?"

They talk back and forth, finally agreeing on a 1-month trial. Nicky collects the clothes and they head home.

Sarah enters the office all smiles.

"Well, you look pleased with yourself," Eddie admits.

"YES! I have a job. Well, a 1-month trial. But . . . ah, there is one thing."

"What is that, Sarah?"

"Transportation." She looks down, wringing her hands.

Eddie thinks . . . an idea comes to mind. "I have an idea, when do you start?"

"She would like me to come Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Why?"

"Do you have a NY driver's license?"

"Yes, I do." She gets it out of her wallet and shows Eddie. Ed writes down the number.

"Let me make a call and we will talk."

"Ok." Sarah slips out of the office.

BAY RIDGE

Frank's cell rungs. "Hello, Eddie?"

"Yes, dad. Do you still have Pops car?"

"Yes, it's here. Why? All the drivers out there have vehicles, right?"

"Correct. All except Sarah Abdul."

"Oh, the sheriff's wife, right?"

"Yes. She just got a part-time job at Midway Cleaners in Middle Island. But she lacks transportation. She has a NY DL I can't check her record."

"I can. Do you have the number?"

Eddie gives her father-in-law the info. He promises to call her back.

10" LATER

Frank calls; Sarah's record is clean. She has had the DL for 8 years (Yes, she is a naturalized US citizen). He is willing to let Sarah use Pops' car if Eddie or Jamie will vouch for her driving skills.

"Ok, dad. Jamie and I will work that out. If she checks out, why don't we come to dinner next Sunday and one of us drive the car back here. Would that work for you?"

"That would be perfect! And we town folk would love to see you all."

Eddie chuckles. "Great, we'll work on that. Love you, dad."

"Love you, too!"

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Eli Abdul reaches the top of a little rise, and looks around. There are no camels in sight. No oases. No palm trees. No water. But there is a road, and an approaching vehicle. He turns toward Mecca and says a quick prayer. He turns, kneels and assumes an attitude of supplication.

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TBC