Chapter 15: Unraveling

Images assaulted Cody's dreams. Once again, he saw the images of the evolution of mankind from a shambling anthropoid to an upright representation of modern man, but there was a difference. The images solidified into a single picture that contained all the images of the evolutionary changes in man. Cody had seen a similar picture, representing man's evolution, at the Smithsonian. Suddenly, there were two pictures depicting the progressive evolution of man, side by side, but with a key difference. The first series depicted an abrupt change from the shambling anthropoid to modern man. The second series depicted a gradual change, that ended at the same modern man.

There was another difference between the two series of images. The first series of images were blurred, from the point of abrupt change to the end, as if out of focus, while the images in the second series were clear. Cody understood that the clarity of the two series of images had nothing to do vision. The lack of focus was an internal condition, and not related to the vision of the viewer. Cody felt as if the second series, the series of natural evolution, included a deeper insight into man's psyche. An introspective view of mankind's nature was completely lacking in the first series of images.

Another image was added to both series of images, additions that caused Cody to begin thrashing in his sleep. Both new images still depicted modern man, but with two shocking differences. The added image in the first series was as clear as that of the second series, and the face was recognizable. It was Cody's face. Cody watched in horror as the impact of the sudden clarity in the first series became evident. The final, clear, image in the first series began cracking.

The vision of the two images changed. The view seemed to zoom in on the first set of images, and zoom in further on the final image with Cody's likeness. Echoes of the cracked persona appeared behind Cody's image of forced evolution, except the echoed images didn't bear Cody's face. Every echo's face was different. Some of the first echoed images also cracked, and some of them completely dissolved. As the echoes faded in the distance, the cracks became fewer, and the damage of the sudden, forced introspection became less lethal to man's mental stability. Finally, in the distance, men thrived in their newfound understanding of themselves and their fellow men.

Cody jerked awake in a cold sweat, and with a sense of foreboding. He was confused for a moment, as he tried to determine if the dread was caused by the dream, or a danger to the convoy. After a moment, he decided it was both.

"Where are we?" Cody demanded, as he straightened in his seat and looked around.

The landscape was a dim gray color, and, for a moment, Cody wondered if he was still asleep. They were approaching a line of buildings. He looked over his shoulder, and saw mountains behind the convoy. They were silhouetted by the strengthening rays of a rising sun that hadn't appeared yet.

"We're entering Beirut," Gabir said worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm okay, but something's wrong," Cody said.

"We tried to wake you at the last checkpoint," Cynthia explained anxiously. "You wouldn't wake up. You were thrashing in your sleep. Do you feel okay, son?"

"Mom, I'm okay," Cody said distractedly, and with a bit of exasperation. He knew that she worried about him, but there was nothing that he could do about it. He was trying to focus inward in an effort to identify why he felt so uneasy. "I had a weird dream, but I think something else is bothering me. I'll tell you about the dream later, once we're in the air. Something is wrong. I feel like something is wrong, and I don't know why."

"We are fifteen, maybe twenty, minutes from the airport," Gabir pointed out. "We're lucky the airport was built on the eastern edge of the city. Could the danger that you sense be something about the airport?"

"I don't know," Cody answered, still searching with his mind for danger. "It could be. Mom, do you have cell reception?"

A moment later, Cynthia replied, "Not yet, Cody. The cell system in Lebanon is pretty spotty."

"Well, would you keep an eye on your cell phone?" Cody asked. "If you get a signal, call the airport, and make sure that plane is warming up."

"Good idea," Cynthia responded.

"Warn the men," Cody ordered Gabir. "Let them know to expect trouble."

"I already passed the word to expect increased danger as we enter Beirut, and near the airport," Gabir reassured Cody. "They are professionals, Seeker. They will respond appropriately, when there is danger."

"Okay," Cody replied, leaning back in his seat.

He wasn't relaxing. Cody was reaching with his mind, and searching for any danger to their party. He didn't feel anything, but he wasn't reassured.

"Hurry," Cody murmured anxiously.

Gabir nodded to the driver, and their speed increased. He also sent a message telling select men to ensure they had silencers on their pistols. Initial military actions were always solitary. He felt that anything that prolonged their advantage of surprise should be exercised.

The narrow streets of Beirut were busy in the early morning hour. Delivery trucks supplying businesses with goods and early commuters clogged the streets. It seemed that every early riser was determined to slow the convoy. An army patrol attempted to stop them, but Lieutenant Al Khoury leaned out the window and berated the Corporal in charge, and the convoy hurried on. Cody explored every intersection the convoy approached with his mind, searching for danger. Every blockage to traffic was mentally examined intently. His attention flashed toward each loud noise, whether mechanical, human, or animal. His mom's announcement that she had a cell signal, and that the plane's engines were warm, and idling, didn't reassure him. The fifteen minute drive through Beirut was a nightmare for Cody.

Cody's sense of danger spiked as they reached the northwestern edge of the airport, but he still didn't have a specific target for the danger. The road ran the entire length of the long runway, with the entrance midway in the expansive barrier that surrounded the airport. They couldn't see planes, or anything on the airport grounds: a twelve foot barricade surrounded the airport.

The Beirut airport had existed for over thirty years, with war raging around it. The airport was considered a strong military defensive position in the defenses of Beirut. The airport perimeter was protected by twelve foot tall revetments surrounding the entire installation. Lethal electric fences and razor wire prevented anyone from easily scaling the revetments. Motion detectors on the wires notified the guards, whenever someone challenged the airport's perimeter.

Another testament to Lebanon's war-torn past was the additional revetments, arranged to protect individual aircraft from bombardment by mortar and artillery fire. An individual aircraft could still be hit, but neighboring aircraft were protected from blast damage and fuel fires. The aircraft revetments lined the taxiways, and protected many of the aircraft hangers.

The main entrance to the airport was near the center of the two mile western revetment wall, and was protected by a reinforced military guard post. The guard post itself, and the adjoining walls of the revetment, were made of reinforced concrete. The drive-in entrance was protected by retractable four foot high, six inch thick, steel bars. A squad of ten soldiers manned the post, with five on the gate at all times. The remaining five solders, called a ready relief, and the sergeant in charge of the post, relaxed in the guard shack. The guard was changed every two hours. Two of the on duty men sat, on top of the guard shack, in a machine gun emplacement.

The post was designed to withstand a concerted attack from an enemy until reinforcements could arrive. The post was not designed to withstand an attack from an enemy already at its perimeter.

Cody didn't identify the danger he felt until the first vehicle had stopped at the entrance to the airport. Gabir had opened his door, and was preparing to step out of the SUV with their papers, when Cody felt the danger. Another convoy had just turned onto the road that followed the airport perimeter, at the northwestern corner of the airport. The convoy was still nearly a mile away, but it was gaining speed.

His mind quested, and touched something evil. Hatred boiled in that mind. Anger seethed. Rage seemed to lash out at Cody's tendril of thought. Cody gasped in surprise, and what seemed to be an echo of pain reverberated through his mind.

"Gabir," Cody said tensely. "Colonel Baccus is in that convoy."

Gabir nodded, and keying his radio, softly said, "Quietly, take them down now."

Cody could barely hear the soft 'phitt' of silenced pistols from the vehicle ahead of him. Three soldiers outside the guard building slumped back against the wall. The two soldiers manning the machine gun slumped in their position, before one fell to the ground from the top of the building. Five guards jumped from the lead vehicle. Four rushed into the guard building, and the fifth slapped the control that lowered the steel posts blocking the way into the ground. He followed his four companions into the building. Five more guards ran past the vehicle Cody was riding in, and four of them entered the building. A single shot, and a scream, was heard from inside.

The steel posts had finished retracting, and the convoy began moving through the gate.

Cody's vehicle pulled to the side, inside the gate, and Gabir spoke into his radio again, "Everyone! Get to the plane and begin loading!"

Gabir got out, and Cody followed. Only eight men, of the nine men who had entered the guard building, exited the door. Gabir sent a silent, inquiring look at the leader of the squad, and got a reluctant head shake in return. Gabir closed his eyes for a moment, in silent prayer, as the last vehicle rolled past the guard house.

"Raise the posts and destroy the controls, quickly!" Gabir ordered. "Then we get out of here."

One man nodded and slapped the large control button to raise the posts. He rushed inside, and shots were heard. The odor of fried electronic circuits drifted out the door.

"They can defeat the posts, if they can reach the gate," the leader of the squad-sized group objected. "All it would take is a couple of quick shaped charges. How long would that take? Three minutes, tops," he said, answering his own question. "The plane would never make it off the ground before they breached the gate. We will hold the gate," he said with determination. "You must get the Seeker out of here. You know there is no other way, Gabir. Accept it. This gate must be held until you escape."

Gabir hesitated a moment and looked around desperately, as if searching for another answer. Rifles were fired, and bullets began impacting the structures around the gate. He didn't find another answer, and nodded reluctantly in agreement.

Gabir placed one hand on the man's shoulder and, in a voice choked with emotion, said, "Honor, Majeed."

"And Glory, my friend," the man replied with a crooked smile, placing his own hand on Gabir's shoulder.

Gabir nodded and gruffly repeated, "And Glory. Honor and Glory," before abruptly turning and getting back in the SUV. "Let's go, Seeker. We don't have much time," Gabir barked angrily, his voice oddly choked.

Cody got in the SUV behind Gabir, and the door wasn't even closed before the engine roared and they sped away. He heard the crack of rifles, and the tat ... tat ... tat of a machine gun, as the SUV stopped beside the revetment that protected the C-130. They were running toward the loading ramp at the rear of the aircraft, when Cody slowed, looking back at the gate. The plane was already beginning to move forward.

Gabir shoved Cody toward the open ramp when he slowed, and yelled, "Move it, Seeker! Get on! We have to leave."

"We have to wait for them," Cody yelled back, over the roar of the aircraft engines.

"They aren't coming," Gabir yelled back hoarsely.

"But, they'll be killed," Cody objected, looking at Gabir for the first time.

Cody had heard the conversation at the gate, but thought they only planned to hold the gate until everyone was on board. He was horrified, as the dawning realization swept over him, that these men were willing to sacrifice their lives for him.

Gabir, the hardened warrior, and the shrewd battle leader, was crying.

"Yes, they'll be killed," Gabir cried out angrily, the words almost unintelligible over the sound of the engines. "And, if we don't get on that C-130, their sacrifice will mean nothing. Move it, Seeker," Gabir ordered again, angrily, with another hard push on Cody's back that almost caused him to fall.

Cody stumbled onto the lowered ramp as the C-130 turned onto the taxi way. Gabir was right behind him, the last one on the plane, and the C-130 began picking up speed. The ramp began closing, and Cody rushed to a window so he could see the gate.

'No. No. No, ' Cody thought to himself, trying to deny his major share of the responsibility for the tragedy unfolding on the ground below.

He had to hold a support to remain standing as the big plane began moving faster. He saw a flash, just before a rocket propelled grenade destroyed the machine gun position on top of the guard house. He couldn't hear the explosion, or the sound of rifles firing over the roar of the aircraft engines, but he could see the muzzle flashes and explosions.

The C-130 didn't wait for clearance from the tower for takeoff. It didn't even wait to get on the runway. C-130s were designed for short takeoffs under adverse conditions. The taxi way was a lot better than the dirt fields that many of the aircraft had used in years past. Within moments, the big airplane was lumbering into the air, and Cody could see over the revetments that bordered the airport. He was appalled by what he saw.

There were over a hundred men arrayed against the small force holding the gate. He could see the scattered bodies of dead soldiers lying on the road, and a few of his own men motionless at the gate. Another rocket propelled grenade exploded at the gate, and two more of his men fell. Cody felt like they were his own men, and he reflexively reached out to the defenders with his mind. He felt their pain, and their determination. Cody felt their absolute belief in his purpose, and felt his own resolve stiffen in response.

Cody could see a man, clearly with the convoy, pointing towards the aircraft. He felt the man ordering his soldiers to fire at the aircraft, and he felt the man's rage. Some of the muzzle flashes from the soldiers grew brighter when their weapons were turned toward the aircraft. Cody was mesmerized, watching as a line of tracers reached toward the C-130 from a heavy caliber machine gun mounted on top of one of the vehicles. A sharp tang ... tang ... tang sound reverberated through the aircraft as three rounds hit the fuselage. Everyone ducked, as if it would help, except for Gabir.

Cody turned his head, and considered the tears still coursing down Gabir's face.

"All men serving under us are important to us," Cody said softly. "Was that squad leader more important than most?" he asked gently.

Gabir nodded his head, and took a moment to get control of himself so he could answer.

"Majeed was my oldest friend," Gabir said in a choked voice, unashamed of his tears. "We grew up together. We received our training for the Order together, and took our vows to the Order together."

Gabir laughed, but the choking sound that came out was anything but humorous. It sounded like his soul was being torn out.

"We used to play, as children, and in our minds, our games always brought us Honor and Glory," Gabir continued, and the emphasis on the words 'Honor and Glory' was clearly important. "As teenagers, even after we took our oaths, we bragged to each other about achieving Honor and Glory. Even as adults, we have joked about Honor and Glory."

Cody gently lay one hand on Gabir's shoulder, as the airport disappeared into the distance, and said, "Today, he did achieve Honor and Glory, Gabir. I am sorry for being the cause of this day."

Gabir nodded, and turned to face Cody, before he fiercely growled, "You did not cause this day, Seeker. Those soldiers caused this day. Their belief that man's birthright should be withheld caused this day," Gabir said angrily. "You had better succeed, Seeker. You had better find what is hidden, and release it to change the world. No matter the cost, Seeker. You ... must ... succeed. Majeed's death means nothing if you do not succeed. Do you understand, Seeker?"

Cody nodded, vowing, "I will try with every fiber of my being, Gabir."

Gabir nodded, just as Amy screamed, "Brian's been hit. The Lieutenant, too."

Cody rushed to the seat that Brian and the Lieutenant had been sitting in, but Cynthia beat him. Neither of them could help.

Brian had sat in a seat by the window when he boarded. Salim had sat in an aisle seat. When Amy saw they had been shot, she had climbed over Salim to sit in the middle seat, between Brian and Salim.

Amy had eased the boy's head down to her lap. Brian was gasping, trying to breathe.

Blood was already pouring from Brian's mouth as his mangled chest tried to draw in air. His eyes were locked on Amy, and seemed to plead for help. Brian's hand gripped Amy's wrist like a lifeline as he struggled to hang onto life. The struggle didn't last for more than a few heart beats. His eyes glazed, and the flow of blood slowed to a trickle. His grip relaxed, and he died.

Amy started crying, and rocking in her seat, holding Brian's body and saying, "No. No. No."

"It looks like a bullet went through your student and hit the Lieutenant," Gabir said, grimly surveying the damage caused by a large caliber bullet.

Cynthia pushed the Lieutenant's body aside like so much refuse, and let it fall to the floor, so that she could sit beside Amy. She put her arms around the crying girl, and held her, murmuring quietly in her ear.

Cody ground his teeth in disbelief, anger, and sorrow. Students weren't supposed to die on archeological digs. They all knew this was a dangerous expedition, but his students weren't supposed to die.

A crewman for the C-130 appeared at Cody's elbow. He looked at the dead bodies and shook his head sorrowfully.

"Will either of them make it? " the crewman asked, regretting the question as soon as it left his mouth, because the answer was pretty obvious. At the negative responses, he cleared his throat, but continued in a softer voice with, " Sorry. Is anyone else injured? We can't help these two, now, but we've got to do what we need to do to make sure the rest survive."

"No one else," Cody choked out. "No one else was hurt. What do you need to do? Do you need help?"

The crewman nodded again before saying, "I need to get a patch on those holes in the bird, so we can get some altitude. We can't pressurize, or maintain inside temperature, with the holes in the skin of the plane. We're using too much fuel at this altitude. The pilot's staying low right now to stay off radar, but we can't pressurize to go higher. Judging from our sendoff, the pilot thought it would be safer. But we're going to need to go up in a little while, or our range will be severely decreased. I need to make sure there was no other damage to the aircraft, too," the crewman said apologetically. "Oh, and the pilot needs to know where we're going. Right now, we're heading straight out to sea."

Gabir placed a hand on the crewman's shoulder, and said, "Calm down. You're babbling. We understand, and we'll work on the repairs."

Cody looked around the interior of the aircraft, angry and frustrated at the situation. He mentally checked the rest of his charges, including Maria, Jamil, and Manuel.

"You, and you," Gabir said, pointing toward two of his men. "Help the crewman with the patch job. You, and you," he said again, pointing towards two more soldiers. "Move the Lieutenant's body to the back of the plane. We need to move the bodies aside for the moment."