"The only thing I ask is that you never mention my involvement here" said Kamal, "it must remain a secret between us so that I can continue to help our other Islamic brothers".
"Of course sir, I will never reveal this to another soul."
The men parted ways and went off into the silent night.
When Kamal returned to his room, the beautiful sixteen year old girl was already waiting for him naked in his bed. She was wearing a bright red wig.
The girl was not quite as co-operative as Kamal required, but a firm backhanded slap seemed to make her more agreeable.
Kamal left for home the next day.
Ten days later, at 11.05pm a suicide bomber detonated a backpack explosive device inside Paddy’s Pub, a nightclub popular with western tourists. As both the injured and uninjured revelers fled the club, a much larger device was detonated. This bomb was hidden in a white Mitsubishi van located outside the Sari Club on the other side of the road. All that was left when the van exploded was a four foot deep smoking crater.
The death toll was two hundred and two, comprising mostly tourists in their twenties and thirties as well as a few Balinese workers. The largest group among those killed, were Australian tourists who numbered eighty eight. Many more suffered horrific injuries and burns.
The Indonesian authorities worked diligently to track down the bombers. Indonesian Police and the military were given a great deal of latitude in their enquiries.
Those involved, and even some of those who were not, were eventually arrested.
That is, all except for the suicide bombers. They were of course blown to pieces.
Chapter 31
The private jet landed safely on the tarmac despite having previously declared an emergency with a mayday call to Tehran tower. Emergency vehicles lined the runway. The Cessna Citation business jet had cited engine trouble and was granted an emergency landing shortly afterward.
After being towed to a remote site on the airfield, a dirty dark windowed non-descript sedan drove up to the plane and a robed figure loped up the aircraft stairs.
"Welcome Ayatollah" said Kamal.
"Thank you for your continuing support" replied the visitor Ayatollah Hillali.
Hillali had come a long way from the Imam of the small Boston mosque to become one of the most influential mullahs in Iran, but his age was starting to show, his beard was snow white and he now walked with a pronounced limp.
"It is good to see you teacher" said Kamal as they embraced.
"What was so important as to warrant a secret visit?" questioned Hillali.
"In good time, let me get you some tea. Please sit."
After Hillali was comfortable, Kamal went over to the galley. He soon heated some water in the microwave and prepared two cups of steaming tea.
"You too have come a long way since Boston" announced the old man.
"Not as far you have come, teacher" responded Kamal reverently.
Hillali nodded to acknowledge the compliment.
"This is a beautiful aircraft" said Hillali anxious for an invitation to look around.
Kamal remembered the empty Chivas scotch bottles in the sink, and changed the subject instantly.
"I am sorry there is not time to show you around teacher, as I must leave almost immediately. May I get down to business, teacher?" asked Kamal on the fly.
"Of course Kamal, I understand the pressures of international business" said Hillali unfazed.
"I have been contacted by some friends in Gaza" began Kamal.
Both men instantly knew that this meant Hamas insurgents.
"I want to help with the destabilization of Israel. My friends believe that they can run a constant barrage of rocket fire into Israel if they can obtain the necessary technology and hardware" explained Kamal.
"We would of course love to help, we have a common enemy," explained Hillali, "but technology is expensive."
"I was hoping that would be your position teacher’’ said Kamal with a grin "I have something for you."
Kamal rose and walked to the back of the airplane. Behind a false bulkhead beside the bathroom was a hidden room not visible in the design schematic of the plane. He removed a suitcase and passed it to the cleric Hillali.
It was filled to the brim with untraceable cash. Inside there was enough U.S. dollars to fund a long term campaign.
"Here is some money to start. I know this will be expensive, so I will make a regular deposit of five million dollars every year to keep the program running. Please send me details of your bank." Kamal passed the suitcase to the Muslim cleric whose mouth had dropped open.
"Thank you Kamal. This will ensure our success."
In fact, more than ten thousand rockets have already flown on Israel from Gaza, launched by the Hamas freedom fighters.
It would have been bad manners for Hillali to open the case in front of Kamal.
"Thank you Kamal, I will ensure we do what we can to help our brothers. I know you are in a rush, let us begin immediately" said Hillali anxious to get to the car so he could count the cash.
"Please stay for just a few minutes longer teacher. There is something else I wish to discuss."
"Of course Kamal" said the Muslim as he pulled in his robes so he could reseat himself.
"Ayatollah, do you remember the Brotherhood building in Boston?"
"Yes, I think so. That was where you lived when you were studying at M.I.T. wasn’t it?"
"That’s it. Well, what I never told anyone was that I own the place. I could not find suitable accommodation, so I purchased the building, renovated it and setup the whole scheme. I engineered the whole project."
"My heart is gladdened to hear this. It is indeed valuable charitable work for Islam."
"Thank you Teacher. But I have an idea. At the moment, the manager makes the decision on who should be allowed to stay there, since we now have a waiting list. I would like you to find someone to take charge of the building. Perhaps you know someone who can help the students with their Islamic studies. They could also decide on who can use the facility" suggested Kamal.
"Of course I can arrange this, but to what purpose?" asked Ayatollah Hillali.
"These are some of the brightest Islamic minds in the U.S. If we choose our candidates carefully, this would make a perfect recruitment ground for our Jihad."
"I will see to it. Kamal, you are wise beyond your years."
Chapter 32
The publicity about the trial of the Bali terrorists was gaining momentum since the first charges were laid in April 2003.
Kamal was concerned. The press in Australia were putting undue pressure on the Indonesian Government as a result of the eighty eight Australians killed in the blast. In turn, human rights activists the world over were trying to ensure the death penalty was off the table should the conspirators be convicted. Kamal had little doubt that they would be found guilty since most of the legal checks and balances of western democracy are missing from the Indonesian system of justice.
When Kamal asked Amrozi for his guarantee of silence, this was only for effect. He had of course expected him to be martyred in the explosions with the other suicide bombers.
A lengthy period of incarceration could only cause Kamal additional nervousness. He had to ensure that the members of the press were kept busy with other matters. Then the terrorists could be quietly found guilty and executed without delay. Kamal’s anonymity was of paramount importance.
It was time to give the press something else to write about. Kamal spent a lot of time thinking about how to sidetrack the newspapers. Eventually he came up with a plan that was brilliant in its simplicity.