A Pennsylvania-class battleship, the USS Arizona lay in the waters of Pearl Harbour where she had been sunk. Known as a super-dreadnought, the Arizona had been commissioned in 1916, but had remained stateside during World War 1. Following that conflict the ship had briefly escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference. In 1919, the Arizona was dispatched to Turkey to monitor the Greco-Turkish war, and thereafter was assigned to the Pacific fleet where it would remain for the rest of her life.
A weak point lay in the sentimentality surrounding
the Arizona. It was a time honoured navy tradition thatmen who had served on the Arizona could have their remains deposited there, and over the years the rules had been loosened to allow other naval personnel who had distinguished themselves in some way the same honour.
It was that type of sentimentality that Hakim had identified as a weak spot and one which he intended to exploit.
He was confident the plan was a good one.
Naval uniforms had been secured for all of his team.
The necessary paperwork had been forged and would pass inspection.
Hakim was confident his plan was a good one.
The day had dawned. He took the fabulous sunrise
as a good omen. They were mostly silent as they made their final preparations. They all piled into the big jeep that would take them down to Pearl. Jahil was driving again, Hakim seated beside him upfront in his peaked naval cap. He was also wearing dark sunglasses. They all were. April had been warned beforehand that her son would die a swift death if she didn't play along. After the incident with Ryan she had no doubts about Hakim. He would kill Daniel. She wrapped her arms around him as
Jahil started the engine.
"What's happening, mummy?" he whispered, his
brown eyes wide.
She hugged him tighter. "It will be okay, Daniel," she
whispered back. "Mummy will protect you."
A silent prayer ran through her mind. She wondered
for the millionth time what Mano was up to? Would he reach them in time?
Hakim used his level of command ruthlessly. He
told the security at the harbour that he had special permission to bury the ashes of a slain naval commander at the shrine.
The security guard looked dubious. "On a day like
today?"
"Especially on a day like today," Hakim urged. "If you knew what this man did for his country?"
The security man knew when to give up the ghost.
"You've got the necessary paperwork? What else do you need?"
Hakim smiled. He had it in the bag. "One of your boats?" he suggested.
YOU ARE READING
MANO
AçãoThere's a new cop in Hawaii, and he doesn't take prisoners. The tale is a post 911 piece and concerns the hunt for an ISIS terrorist cell intent on carrying out a dirty bomb attack on the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbour. The group is led by...
