Part 7 (1/2)

Mike nodded, exhaling smoke from his nostrils. ”I do.”

Ben leaned forward, his elbows on his desk, and stared at Mike. ”And what would you suggest we here do about it?”Mike shrugged and shook his head. ”I'm just a lowly intelligence-gatherer,” he said with a wry smile. ”Planning strategy is up to you higher-paid generals.”

Ben's shoulders slumped. ”And unless President Oster-man asks for our help, we're in no position to do anything to prevent this El Farrar from carrying out his plans.”

72.”That's about the size of it, General,” Mike said, his face suddenly sober.

”Mike, I want you to get in touch with whomever you can in the U.S. that might show some sense and let them know what we think is going on.”

Mike laughed out loud. ”And just who might that be, Ben? I've tried a couple of times to let Osterman's government people know what this Arab has in mind, but they would rather bury their heads in the sand than do anything about it.”

Ben pursed his lips. ”Perhaps I could set up a telephone link with Claire and tell her personally. She's usually paranoid enough to take precautions, even if she doesn't quite believe our motives are pure.”

”Why are you so concerned with what happens to Claire Qsterman?” Mike asked.

”Because a stable government to our north is to be desired, even if it is run by a megalomaniac like Claire,” Ben said. ”h.e.l.l, almost twenty percent of our budget this year is going to help the U.S. keep its head above water and provide essential services to its citizens. Can you imagine what would happen if this Arab zealot manages to create even more chaos up there?”

Mike nodded. ”It would probably mean another war between us.”

”Correct,” Ben said, ”and that is something we just don't need right now.”

73 Ten It took Abdullah El Farrar and Mustafa Kareem and their men a little over three days to travel from Indianapolis to the port city of Yarmouth in the province of Nova Scotia. Crossing the border between Canada and the U.S. was uneventful ... the guards didn't even bother to check the back of the van, just waved them through.

Once in Yarmouth, they traveled an additional ten miles to the compound where Farrar had bis men gathered for the incursion into the U.S.

Hastily built Quonset huts housed twenty thousand men, who'd been brought to the island on large transports and off-loaded at night using smaller boats so as not to alert the Canadian authorities to their presence.

Osama bin Araman, Farrar's leader of his troops, met them in a large office on the edge of the camp. He served them Turkish coffee in tiny cups along with dates and other Arab delicacies.

Farrar smacked his lips over the strong, bitter brew, and then he stared into Araman's eyes. ”Are the men prepared to do battle, Osama?” he asked.

Araman nodded. ”Yes, my leader. I have been conducting daily trainingexercises in terrorist tactics, explaining to them how to pick appropriate targets for their bombs and grenades.”

74.”Have you divided them up into teams of fifteen to twenty men as I ordered?”

”Yes, and I have with each team at least one man who can speak pa.s.sable English.”

”Good,” Farrar said, slipping a date between his teeth and chewing it as he spoke. ”Then all is in readiness.”

Araman nodded again. ”We can have the men loaded onto the transport s.h.i.+p within ten hours, and the trip across the ocean to Portland, Maine, will take only another six or seven, depending on the weather.”

He pulled out a map and spread it out on the table. ”As you can see, my brother, there are no good east-to-west roads in Maine, so we will have to travel south along the interstate until we pa.s.s through Boston to Worcester. From there, the men can spread out both west toward Syracuse and south toward New York and Philadelphia. Once they have dispersed, there are many roads for the men to take and then they will be unstoppable.”

Farrar studied the map. ”Why not just take the men by s.h.i.+p all the way down the coast to New York City and land there?” Farrar asked.

Araman shrugged. ”It is possible, of course, but our s.h.i.+p would have to pa.s.s the Navy base at Bridgeport, Connecticut, Abdullah, and I fear that would be unwise. If one of the US. navy s.h.i.+ps spotted us, they could call in an air strike from the nearby Air Force base at Dover, Delaware.

I feel it would be much more dangerous that way, but if you prefer . . .”

Farrar shook his head. ”No, Osama. I chose you to lead my eastern contingent of troops for your expertise and knowledge of these matters, so I will let you decide the course to take.”

Araman inclined his head in a slight bow of thanks. ”As you wish, my leader.”

”How do you propose to land twenty thousand men in Portland and then transport them several hundred miles down 75.75.the coast without alerting the U.S. authorities?” Mustafa Kareem asked as he perused the map over Farrar's shoulders.

”That would be impossible,” Araman answered. ”My plan is to have several teams begin their terrorism in the city of Portland, attacking the governmental offices and local police stations in a coordinated manner.

In the ensuing chaos, as the city burns and explodes under our attack, the rest of the men will hardly be noticed as they head southward.”

”So, by the time the U.S. government responds and sends troops to quell the disturbances in Portland, our men will be safely on their way into the interior of the country.”Araman nodded, smiling craftily. ”Yes, and after they separate into hundreds of smaller groups, each going their separate ways, they will be almost impossible to stop,” he said, spreading his arms wide.

Farrar slammed his hand down on the map, a smile of admiration on his face. ”You have planned our attack well indeed, Osama,” he said.

”Thank you, my brother,” Araman said, dipping his head modestly at the compliment.

Farrar stood up. ”Mustafa and I must rest for now,” he said. ”Let us plan to leave tomorrow night, so that we may land in Portland around midnight.”

”Excellent,” Araman said. ”Come, I will show you to your quarters.”

Claire was sitting on the edge of the bed she'd prepared for Herb Knoff in her quarters when her secretary rang saying she had a phone call from Ben Raines on the longdistance line.

”You want me to have it transferred in here so you can listen in?” she asked.

He shook his head. ”No, thanks. I think I'll take a nap. I'm kinda tired.”

76.She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, as one might a child.

”See you in a little while,” she said.

”Don't let him talk you into anything you'll regret,” Herb advised before turning over and pulling the covers up to his neck.

Claire walked into her office next door and sat down at her desk. She took a deep breath, wondering what Ben Raines had to say to her, and then she picked up the phone.

”h.e.l.lo, this is President Osterman,” she said into the receiver, her tone frosty and official.

”No need to be so formal, Claire,” Raines said. ”It's me, Ben.”

”Ben Raines, the perpetual thorn in my side,” Claire responded. ”How are you?”

”I'm doing all right, for an old man,” Raines said.

”Dare I hope this call is your way of telling me you've contracted a fatal illness of some sort?” Claire asked.

”No. In fact, it's more in the way of a warning to you that a fatal illness to you and your presidency may be growing just around the corner.”

”Are you threatening me?” Claire asked, surprise in her voice.

Raines had the temerity to laugh out loud at her suggestion. ”No, of course not, Claire. I'm just calling with some friendly advice.”

”Since when have we been friends?””Since now,” Raines replied. ”My Intel officer has some information you might be interested in.”