45 The Iraq Trip (1/2)
Chapter 45: The Iraq Trip
Translator: _Min_Editor: Lis_, Rundi
”Food, yours.”
His English was more broken than the Eastern Man.
A terrorist with a masked face and an AK47 placed a bowl of muddy looking soup and black bread on the table. He mocked the white man who crawled into the corner before he turned around and slammed the door.
Robert weakly moved when he saw that the man left. He quickly walked to the table and grabbed the rock hard bread.
His blond hair was already greasy, and his face looked pale, but his eyes remained bright. Even if he didn’t know what’s the soup or the hardly chewable bread in his hands was made out of, he didn’t look the slightest bit remorseful.
He chewed carefully, despite the fact that the food was barely edible.
But he knew that this would maximize the amount of energy he had and would preserve it. Then, he could seek the opportunity to escape.
Robert’s face did not look distressed at all. Even if the poor reporter that stayed beside him yesterday was screaming in pain, he remained calm.
Without a doubt, that guy must have his throat slit and recorded. The majority of the government would not compromise with the terrorist groups and pay ransom for the hostages. Maybe in a couple of days when he heads back, he could see that poor sucker on Facebook, in the form of video, if he could go back.
This was not the first time Robert faced situations like this. Militants in Kuwait kidnaped him and almost slit his throat. But the good thing was that Blackwater International took the money and did some good deeds with the UA army. They managed to save him at the absolute last moment.
However, this time it was far more questionable. Although he was a UA citizen and acted in the interest of the country, recently his act of smuggling oil from Iran has caught the attention of the FBA. Rumor has that special agents were collecting evidence in this area. Maybe due to this insider’s betrayal, this was the FBA's act of taking him out, then why would the UA army save him?
The bald Biden had no guts. If the FBA just threatened him a little, he would join the witness protection program and sell out his old friend.
Robert was not too angry at this. He had seen his fair share of betrayal. If he died here this time, then Biden was lucky, but if he managed to return to Los Santos, hehe.
A ferocious smile flashed across Robert’s face.
Of course, all this talk would be nonsense because his probability of survival was so slim. Although Nick was reliable and a fitted warrior, he was alone after all. Facing a group of fully equipped terrorists would be unrealistic.
Especially in hostage rescue, that must be done with one swift action.
He mocked at himself for the thought as he finished the last bit of bread before lying on the bed again.
His instinct told him that he would be okay this time. His instinct had saved him on more than one occasion, so he trusted his instinct and didn’t give up the hope for survival.
－
Jiang Chen got off the plane and stepped into the Baghdad International Airport.
The religious city was not exactly as they described it in the news, in constant chaos. At least, not near the airport.
The marks left by the war has been slowly healed through the passage of time. It was also evident by the constant flow of foreign tourists. However, he knew this prosperity was limited.
IS already occupied half of the area in Northern Iraq. Even if the sky above Baghdad were still clear, it wouldn't take long before a gloom of war cast its shadow.
Jiang Chen in shades stood in front of the airport for a while before he took out his phone to check Google maps. He quickly found the arranged meeting spot with Nick.
Just as he was about to call a taxi, an unlicensed car stopped in front of him.
”Sir, do you need a taxi?”
It was in Han, although not fluent.
”Yes, do you know Han?” Jiang Chen was surprised. He had paused for a moment before he opened the car door.
”It’s because I often find jobs near your wells, for example servicing PetroChina workers. So I learned Han in the process.” The young man smiled with his white teeth exposed as he skillfully started the car. ”My name is Ehsa, what about you sir?”
”Jiang Chen. Head to this place on the map.” Jiang Chen showed the location on the map to Ehsa.
”Okay.”
With the changing scenery passing by him, Jiang Chen chatted with the taxi driver, who was around the same age as him and he heard some interesting stories.
”Sir if you are here to travel, I recommend a few cities in the South. However, don’t head north as Haditha is almost conquered, it might not be long until Baghdad is unsafe too.”
”Hmmm? Looks like you know these things pretty well. How long have you been doing this?” Jiang Chen smiled.
”For about six years, I have been driving taxis ever since I left the army. I also spent some time being a tourist guide,” Ehsa replied.
”You have been in the army before? I feel like you are no older than me,” Jiang Chen asked with confusion in his voice.
”I enlisted when I was 12, in what you guys call the Iraq war.” Ehsa shrugged as the topic did not seem to bother him. ”A hectic show without even seeing the enemy. It was over before it started. I just felt like Saddam gave me a gun and sent me to surrender in the front line.”
He was amazed by the young man’s experience but didn’t continue on the topic further.
The car soon arrived at the destination, and Jiang Chen generously handed a 10 USD bill to him. He watched the car leave as he stretched and looked for Nick.
”Here.” Just at that moment, the foreigner sitting under the shade, drinking coffee, waved at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen sat directly across from Nick. But before he sat down, Nick hastily began speaking.
”Just yourself?”
”Yes.” Jiang Chen grabbed an empty cup and poured himself a cup.
It was bitter, seems to be authentic Turkish coffee.