Farhad paused. “Of course, the pilot was alcoholic, and clinically insane.
But I did wonder whether he was completely wrong about worrying that someone might use such a missile to attack a commercial aircraft.”
Kazem shrugged. “I’m no expert, but it certainly seems possible. I don’t think that really explains your Captain, though.”
Farhad nodded. “No, it doesn’t. Anyway, we weaved our way unsteadily towards our destination, finishing with a ‘combat landing.’ We hit the ground hard enough that all the overhead bins popped open, showering the passengers with luggage and coats. The plane’s landing speed was too high, so that the pilots had to stand on the brakes to stop it, and the cabin filled with smoke and the smell of burning rubber. Everyone was crying, screaming, and praying- even, I’m embarrassed to admit, me.
Finally, the plane came to a stop just short of the runway’s end.”
Kazem smiled. “Well told. I hereby withdraw my complaint about the folding seat!”
Kazem Shirvani and Farhad Mokri exited the cargo plane with relief. Both because it had not been a particularly comfortable flight, and because no honest person could say flying in a plane carrying three experimental nuclear devices was a relaxing experience.
“So, we are not far from the port,” Kazem said. Though the Gulf wasn’t visible from the air base, the feel of being near a coast was unmistakable.
“That’s right,” Farhad responded. “Once the trucks are loaded, it should take no more than half an hour to drive to the dock. As you heard, I called and confirmed the boat is waiting for us.”
Kazem nodded. Jammed against each other as the plane’s propellers were still turning after they’d landed, he couldn’t have avoided overhearing the conversation if he’d tried.
Farhad pointed at the first pallet being wheeled out of the back of the cargo plane. “I know we’ve already gone over this, but please check again. I told them to remove the air-dropped device first, because it’s going on a flight to Manama on that plane,” he said, pointing to a plane with the markings of a well-known cargo airline.
Farhad continued, “We picked this airport because it is a dual-use military and civilian facility. We can maintain security over the shipment, and it will still appear to be a perfectly routine cargo flight. Since Manama is only three hundred kilometers away, the flight won’t take long.”
Kazem nodded. “Excellent. And did I understand correctly that we will be traveling together with both ground weapons on the same boat?"
“Yes, we will,” Farhad smiled. “Smugglers have existed along the Gulf coast for hundreds or indeed thousands of years, and the Saudis have certainly never managed to stop all of them. Of course, our task has become much easier because many of the Saudis' coastal patrol ships have been redeployed to the Yemeni coast, to attempt to intercept our gifts to the Houthi freedom fighters.”
Kazem grunted and trotted over to the pallet that had just been pulled from the plane. It took no more than a glance to confirm that it was the air-dropped weapon, since its design was radically different than the two intended for ground deployment. He looked at Farhad and gave him a thumbs-up. Farhad then nodded and told the man wheeling the pallet to proceed with it to the next cargo plane.
Kazem walked back to Farhad, and watched with him as the other two pallets were removed from their cargo planes with a forklift, and onto a large truck with a built-in liftgate. Kazem noticed that the truck’s cab had two doors on each side, and so appeared to have room for several passengers.
“Will we be traveling to the port with the devices?” Kazem asked.
“Absolutely,” Farhad replied with a nod. “We’re not going to take any chances,” he added, as two heavily armed men in plainclothes exited the truck and stood silently in front of Farhad, immediately making him think of soldiers reporting for duty.
Kazem frowned and leaned towards Farhad. In a near-whisper, he asked
“Aren’t these fellows a little conspicuous?”
Farhad grinned and shook his head. “Here at a military base there’s obviously no problem. Even at the port, though we won’t be at a naval base we’ve still made arrangements to secure the pier we’ll be using. That particular pier is one of several getting no recent use, because they were damaged in a storm last year. Ours has been repaired, but is still marked as off-limits. Port security has been told to keep everyone else well away from the piers as a safety measure until repairs are completed. So, I doubt anyone will get close enough to pay attention to us before we’ve gone.”
Farhad stopped speaking as the last pallet was loaded, and the back of the truck was secured. Then, he nodded towards the truck.
“I will be your driver for this part of our journey. If you’d like to keep me company up front?” Kazem lifted one eyebrow in response, as they all started walking towards the truck.
“I had no idea truck driving was among your many talents. Is there a story?” Kazem asked.
As they entered the front of the truck, immediately followed by the two armed men in the back of the truck’s cab, Farhad shrugged and said, “Nothing especially interesting. This work forces you to acquire many skills.
Honestly, I’m just hoping that all of them together will be up to this task.”
With that, Farhad smoothly put the truck into gear and set off. As promised, less than half an hour later they were at a pier festooned with warning signs, as were the two nearest piers. There was no boat at the pier.
Kazem opened his mouth to speak, but Farhad shook his head. “The British have a term. Wait for it…” Kazem shrugged, and settled back in his seat.
A few minutes later, Kazem saw a ship was on its way, and realized it must have been tied up at another pier nearby. As it drew near, Kazem became aware of a smell that quickly became overwhelming.
Kazem muttered an oath that drew a low chuckle from the two men in back.
Farhad grinned and said, “They grew up here in Bushehr, so they’re used to the smell. We’re using a fishing boat, and this is a traditional model without refrigeration. Even with stem to stern cleaning, I don’t think you’d get rid of the smell. Not, mind you, that I think such a cleaning has ever been attempted.”
As the fishing boat was tying up at the pier, a forklift began moving down the dock towards them. It turned out that the fishing boat had a hold sized for cargo pallets, so while Farhad and Kazem watched, within minutes both devices had been loaded on board. One of the armed men had boarded to watch the operation from that side, while the other faced outward, carefully eyeing the minimal activity nearby. As Farhad had said, no one came near.
Once the forklift had gone Farhad and Kazem boarded the boat, along with the second guard. The boat immediately set off, and Kazem resolved to say nothing else about the smell. Obviously, there was nothing to be done about it.
At Farhad’s suggestion, they were sitting on one of the benches lining the boat’s outer rail. Farhad had pointed out that this had two advantages. First, if he fell victim to sea sickness the railing was nearby so he could avoid making a mess. Second, the sea breeze helped to carry away much of the smell.
Kazem turned to Farhad and asked, “Are we still on schedule?”
Farhad nodded. "Yes. As planned, it will be dark by the time we reach our landing point on the Saudi coast. That will not be far from the desalination plant at Ras al Khair. We will offload both devices there, and move both by truck to their targets. You will stay with the device going nearby to Ras al Khair, while I will go down to Jubail.”