a great deal of money had passed between parties to ensure the flights were not interrupted, or even checked. The second part of the trip was from Ireland to Yemen. Once there the party transferred to SUVs for the final leg of the journey—the Hand of Allah training camp in the Yemeni desert.
They arrived at the camp while it was still dark, somewhere between midnight and two o’clock. James saw little except the black shapes of tents and a pair of prefabricated huts. The moment the SUVs stopped a pair of armed men took charge of James. He was marched across the dusty ground, thoroughly and intimately searched, not for the first time, and then pushed inside a steel cage. The door was secured and a large canvas sheet was draped over the cage, shutting out even the faint light. He had nothing except the clothes he was wearing and his leather-bound Koran.
Whatever James might have been thinking about his treatment, he knew there was nothing he could do, so he made himself as comfortable as he could and slept. The ingrained capacity to resist, from his SEAL training, clicked in and James shifted his perspective. He woke to the sound of activity outside the cage. He heard men moving about, the distant rumble of a truck motor. Later, as the sun got higher and the heat penetrated the sheet, James picked up the sound of auto-fire. The rhythm of the gunfire suggested target practice rather than the sound of real combat.
Sometime during the day the front corner of the sheet was raised. A plastic bottle of water was pushed between the bars, followed by a foil-wrapped portion of food. James took off the cap of the bottle and took a sip of water. It was fresh and chilled. The meal was boiled rice and meat. James wasn’t sure what the meat was but he ate the food anyway.
No one came near him after that. James couldn’t be certain why he had been imprisoned. As long as he was still alive he decided all he could was go with it. Not that he really had much choice in the matter.
Beneath the canvas cover the cage became increasingly hot. Sweat drained out of James even though he didn’t move. He used the water sparingly, not knowing if he would get any more. He drank a little and used some to wet his face. The chill water had become increasingly warm as the time passed. He recited some of the prayers he had learned in case he was being observed.
Daylight faded. James spent another long night in the confines of his cage. The temperature dropped and it turned cold. James slept fitfully, spending his time going over his cover story to keep his mind active.
He also allowed some time trying to figure out why he had been locked up. Stony Man had spent time and effort creating his Ibrahim Hammid biography. He found it hard to accept his cover might have been blown. His only contact since taking up the Hammid role had been Phoenix Force before he had met Kerim. He couldn’t imagine any might have pointed the finger at him. James backtracked, admitting it was not written in stone that he might have been identified as someone other than Hammid. But he didn’t go for that.
So why the cage?
Was Kerim still digging into his fake life? Had he found something that had aroused his suspicions?
James wrapped his jacket tight around his lean body. The stifling heat of the day would have been welcome right then. He didn’t like the cold.
James was kept in the cage for three more days. Given water and food, but no human contact. In the end it made little difference what he thought. He was under the control of Hand of Allah. He would have to take what they handed to him and play their games.
On the morning they took away the canvas sheet and sunlight poured over him, James stared out on the camp, blinking in the harsh light. A half-dozen figures surrounded the cage, eyes watching him closely. One stepped forward as the cage was opened. It was Kerim. He spread his arms, palms exposed as he smiled at James.
“Come, brother. Join us now.”
James stumbled from the cage, limbs stiff from inactivity.
“Assalam alaikum,” Kerim said.
“Wa alaikum al salam,” James replied.
“Did I not say this is how it would be?” Kerim said to the other Hand of Allah men. “That our brother would accept what Allah decreed? Did I not say he is worthy of our respect?” Kerim embraced Ibrahim Hammid. “Tell me, brother, were you not concerned for your safety? Did your faith not waver?”
James turned to face the man. “Why would it? If Allah was testing me I would not be afraid. His strength gave me strength.”
“Then you have proved yourself worthy, Ibrahim Hammid. You are among brothers.” He pointed in the direction of one of the huts. “Come, we will see to your needs.”
As he entered the hut behind Kerim a cool stream of air could be felt. It came from an air conditioner in one corner of the hut. James stood for a moment and let the flow wash over him.
“A generator behind the huts provides the power,” Kerim explained. “It is needed to keep the temperature down to cool the environment.” Kerim smiled. “Even out here the trappings of the modern age are needed.”
James made no comment as he eyed the top-of-the-line laptop computer sitting on the plain wooden desk. There were a number of cheap plastic office chairs ranged around the desk.
“Allah provides,” Kerim said, ‘but even He cannot give us everything we need.” He gestured to a seat. “Sit, Ibrahim, and I will provide.”
Kerim brought James a cup of black coffee from a thermos flask. He watched as the first cup was quickly drained and refilled it. He sat behind a plain wooden desk and studied his new recruit.
“You are still puzzled. Yes?” James nodded. “A simple test we put every new man through,” Kerim said. “A test of resolve. A way of assessing inner faith. And to satisfy those who may have suspicions as to the character of someone they know little of.” Kerim laid his hands flat on the desktop. “I chose you, Ibrahim, because what I saw and heard when we first met convinced me you were a true believer. A man with the will to make your stand against the true enemies of Islam. If I had not had enough faith then I would not have chosen you. I would have walked away and you would still be on the city streets. A lost and wasted soul. Others have been brought here, put in the cage, and many have broken quickly.” He smiled again. “But you, Ibrahim Hammid, lost nothing of your faith. The doubters will be satisfied now.”
“Thank you, brother,” James said. “Your faith in me makes me humble.”
Kerim began to speak in French, his voice soft, persuasive.
“You will rest and refresh yourself today. Tomorrow your training will begin. Weapons. Handguns. Automatic rifles. Hand grenades. The use of the knife.” He paused. “Forgive my indulgence but it is not often I am able to converse in French. It is a language I enjoy. Do you mind, brother, if we speak it together?”
James shook his head. “It was my mother’s tongue. It reminds me of her.”
They spent some time together. Kerim had food brought in for James. Gave him more coffee. James ate sparingly. Gorging too heavily after four days of very little food could have made him ill.
Finally Kerim said, “Forgive me, brother. You need to rest.”
He led James outside and took him to an empty tent. Inside was a low cot and blankets. Then he took James to where he could wash and dress in provided clean clothing.
“I will leave you now. Rest well, brother.
