The debtor nations, except Egypt, have banded together to repudiate all loans and erase foreign debt. This act will force hundreds of banks in the United States and Europe to fail. Western bankers and their national financial experts have called for round-the-clock talks in a last-ditch attempt to stall the coming economic catastrophe. Our imperialist bootlicking President is the only holdout. Hasan is scheduled to attend the talks and undermine-tine our Islamic brothers and third World friends by begging the Western money changers for more loans to keep his eroding grip on Egypt. This we will not permit. Bis millah, we will take advantage of this moment to establish a true Islamic government for our people."
"I say we kill the tyrant and be done with it," Khaled Fawzy said harshly. He was young and arrogant and tactless. Already his impatience had resulted in a failed coup by his student revolutionaries that had cost thirty lives. His dark eyes darted back and forth around the table. "One well-placed ground-to air missile as Hasan's plane takes off for Uruguay, and we will be rid of his corrupt regime for good."
"And open the door for Defense Minister Abu Hamid to set himself up as dictator before we are ready," finished Mussa Moheidin. The famous Egyptian writer was in his mid-sixties. He was a witty, urbane and articulate man, with a slow and gracious manner. Moheidin was the only man at the table Ammar truly respected.
Yazid turned to Bashir. "Is that a valid prediction, Colonel?"
Bashir nodded. A vain and shallow man, he was quick to display his narrow vision of military affairs. "Mussa is right. Abu Hamid dangles the prospect of his support for you, using the excuse that he is waiting for you to produce a mandate from the people. This is merely a stalling tactic. Hamid is ambitious. He is banking on an opportunity to use the army to set himself up as President."
"All too true," said Fawzy. "One of his close aides is a member of our movement. He revealed that Haniid plans to install himself as President and consolidate his position by marrying Hala Kamil because of her popularity with the people. "
Yazid smiled. "He has built a castle of sand. Hala Kamil will not be available for the marriage ceremony."
"Is that a certainty?" asked Ammar.
"Yes," Yazid answered smoothly. "Allah has willed that she not live beyond the next sun."
"Please share your revelation, Akhmad," begged alHakim. Unlike the other dark-skinned men around him, alHakim had the face of a man who had spent half his life in a dungeon. His pale skin seemed almost transparent. Yet the eyes, which were magnified by thick-lensed glasses, were set in unshakable determination, Yazid nodded. "I have been informed by my well-placed sources in Mexico that because of an unexpected heavy invasion of tourists there is a shortage of luxury hotel rooms and palatial residences in Punta del Este. To keep their nation from losing the summit talks and the international limelight, Uruguayan officials have arranged for the foreign leaders and their statesmen to be hosted on board chartered luxury cruise ships moored in the port. Hasan and the Egyptian delegation will be staying on a British liner called the Lady Flamborough. President De Lo nzo of Mexico and his staff will also be on board.
Yazid paused and looked from one man to the next. Then he said, "AHah came to me in a vision and commanded me to seize the ship."
"Praise be to Allah!" Fawzy burst out.
The other men glanced at each other, incredulous. Then they turned their attention back to Yazid, expectantly, without voicing a question.
"I see by the look in your eyes, my friends, you doubt my vision."
"Never," said alHakim solemnly. "But perhaps you misinterpreted Allah's command."
"No, it was quite clear. The ship with President Hasan and his ministers must be seized."
"for what purpose?" asked Mussa Moheidin.
"To seal off Hasan and prevent his return to Cairo while our forces sweep into power."
"Abu Hamid wig call out the army to foil any overthrow other than his,"
cautioned Colonel Bashir. "I know this for a fact. "
"Haniid cannot stop a tidal wave of revolutionary fervor," said Yazid.
"Civil unrest is at a peak. The masses are fed up with harsh austerity brought on by payment demands on foreign loans. He and Hasan are cutting their own throats by not denouncing the godless moneylenders.
Egypt can only be saved by embracing the purity of Islamic law."
Khaled Fawzy leaped to his feet and raised a fist. "You have only to give me the order, Akhmad, and I will have people in the streets."
Yazid paused, breathing heavily with religious zeal. Then he said, "The people will lead. I will follow."
The expression on alHakim's face was grave. "I must confessI have dark misgivings."
"You are a coward!" Fawzy snapped in rash defiance.
"Mo ed alHakim is wiser than you," said Moheidin patiently. "I know his mind. He does not wish a repeat of the Achille Lauro fiasco in nineteen eighty-five, when Palestinians commandeered the ltahan crew liner and murdered an old Jew invalid in a wheelchair."
Bashir spoke up. "Terrorist slaughter will not help our cause. "
"You wish to go against the will of Allah?" said Yazid, annoyed.
Everyone began talking at once. The room went sour with vehemence as they argued back and forth.
Only Ammar remained detached. They're idiots, he thought, goddamned idiots. He tuned out of the debate and stared at the photo of the cruise ship. The wheels inside his head began to shift through the gears.
"We are not only Egyptians," argued Bashir, "we are Arabs. The other Arab nations will Turn against us if we murder our officials and any of theirs who get in the way. They won't see it as a gift from Allah, but rather as a political terrorist plot."
Moheidin gestured toward Fawzy. "Khaled made a point. Better to kill Hasan on home territory than launch a bloodbath on board a ship holding the leader of Mexico and his delegation as well."
"We cannot condone an act of mass terrorism," said alHakim. "The negative consequences for our new government would be disastrous."
"You are all worms who belong in Hasan's camp," Fawzy spat. "I say attack the ship and show the world our power."
Nobody paid any attention to the militant fanatic who was viciously anti-Jew and anti-Christian.
"Don't you see, Akhmad," pleaded Bashir, "security in Punta del Este will be impossible to penetrate? Uruguayan patrol boats will be thick as locusts. Every ship housing sumnut leaders will be heavily guarded.
You're talking a suicide assault by an army of commandos. It simply can't be done."
"We will have help from a source that must remain confidential," said Yazid. He turned and studied Ammar. "You, Suleiman-You're our expert on undercover operations. If a team of our best fighters can be smuggled on board the Lady Flamborough without detection, can the ship be taken and held until we can form a republic in the name of Islam?"
"Yes," replied Ammar, without taking his eyes off the cruise ship's photo. The voice was quiet, but it carried total conviction. "Six days is cutting it slim, but the ship can be carried with ten experienced fighting men and five experienced seamen, with no bloodshed providing we have the element of suprise."
Yazid's eyes gleamed. "Ah, I knew I could count on you."