The Uvalde Raider by Ben English (great books for teens TXT) 📕

A pregnant silence filled the room as each of the three captives beheld in full measure what they were presently captive of. It was at that very moment when each became cognizant of this human embodiment of a wholly metastasized, malignant, form of wickedness.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Qassam” began Ezekiel, searching delicately for the right words to reach something akin to a conscience inside this self-defined terrorist, on a self-described mission of mass murder. “Is it not written in your Quran that your Allah loves the kind and the compassionate, and that he does not forbid you to be kind and equitable to others? There is nothing holy or honorable or justified in the murdering of innocent people.”

The Hezbollah operative gave Ezekiel a quizzical look, cocking his head to one side. “Your choice of phrasing shows you know something about the Quran, Colonel, or perhaps you were told something of it by others. How is that so?” Qassam pondered a moment more and then seized upon a thought, wagging his index finger emphatically.

“Yes, I remember now. You served as part of the American delegation sent by your President Eisenhower to help with negotiations during the Suez Crisis. You were in Nasser’s Egypt for most of the year of 1957, weren’t you?”

Qassam’s question was rhetorical and phrased as more of a statement in fact than anything else. Ezekiel gazed blandly back at the Hezbollah leader with his best poker face intact. Yet inside he was wondering just how much Qassam actually did know, both about him and The Uvalde Raider. With a growing apprehension the elder Templar was discovering his opponent was not only in fact highly intelligent as well as resourceful, he also did his research thoroughly and had a keen mind for seemingly insignificant details.

“You have very good sources of information, Qassam” Ezekiel responded impassively.

“And you have a very good memory, Colonel. I am pleased that you evidently tried to learn more about our people and our beliefs all those years ago,” stated Qassam.

“But be that as it may, in reality your recollection is both fragmentary and imprecise. You see, in jihad there are no innocents among infidels and non-believers. Unfortunately for you, that is how your people are divinely defined in the Quran. For it is written, ‘Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war.’”

Qassam raised his right hand and shook it in the empty air. “Beyond that it is also written: ‘Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah and your enemies, and others besides.’”

The Hezbollah leader’s voice raised an octave or two in passion as he went on, “Please note the terms ‘every stratagem of war’ and “to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah.’ You and your kind are our enemies and we are commanded to make war on you in every way possible.” Pointing to the Flying Fortress parked outside he added emphatically, “There is our steed of war and it is how we will strike terror into those hearts!”

Qassam then paused to recollect himself and flashed a well-calculated, wolfish sort of smile. “Besides, I seem to recall a ghastly number of innocent people killed in your bombing raids of World War II. It is said that entire towns and cities ceased to exist. Now tell me, Colonel, how does that square with your professed love for the innocent?”

The features in Ezekiel’s face tightened and his eyes glinted in response. “That was war, Qassam.”

“As it is now, Colonel Templar” the terrorist replied self-assuredly. “And there are exactly 164 verses in the Quran to tell us how to fight it.”

Calming himself internally and still groping to somehow reach common ground, Ezekiel tried a different approach.

“Then what kind of war are you fighting against those such as Saddam Hussein and others like him?” queried Ezekiel. “How can we be this great enemy when we stand with you against such a terrible menace to your fellow Muslims? Look at what he has done to the Iranians and the dissidents within his own land. Even nations such as Syria are making ready to join us against him.”

“Colonel,” Qassam scoffed, “you believe too much in those childish adages attributed to our culture such as ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ Do not take us for fools or simpletons, we are far more sophisticated than that in thought as well as action.

“Yes, the Syrians will assist you in ridding us of an outright apostate such as Saddam, much in the same manner as they have assisted us in our own cause for many years. They do what they can for our shared faith of Islam, as do we. But that does not make any two of us enemies to each other because of a temporary alliance of convenience to you. When you lived among us, did you not hear of the concept of Taqiyya? You take us as being backwards and simple minded, yet it is you who is being deceived. A true believer will never lie to another believer, but he will readily do so to non-believers to protect himself or to protect Islam.

“We Muslims have used Taqiyya since the time of the Prophet. For it is written, ‘Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, unless you indeed fear a danger from them.’ That feeling of danger is why many of my brothers may praise you with their words but secretly curse you to hell in their hearts.

“No matter what sort of scheme you may devise to separate