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Leaders of Hope

Leaders of Hope

Leaders of Hope cover. Designed by Abdullah Alomari

By: Oscar Krol
Leaders of hope tells the story of a world that has collapsed under its own system, where people have revolted against their own governments, only to leave the world to military dictators supported by old world corporations. The book describes the tales of two friends –Gordon and Dalia- who become separated from the start of the revolutions and are forced to fight for what they believe is justice in a world wrought with death. As the two of them go their separate lives, through fate or luck they are rejoined only to have their friendship flourish into love before confronted with reality, treachery and jealousy. Dalia and Gordon not only fight for themselves but for the future of a nation, a nation that may or may not act like a domino for the rest of the world.
This novel is a work of fiction and any resemblances between characters, events, locations described in it and real people and places is purely accidental and not intended.

To my Parents,
Always guiding me, always pushing me for greatness. Always the support I needed and forever in my heart. Regardless of where I end up, my mind will be strong and my heart kind because of you. I could never begin to thank you enough, but perhaps by writing it down, my everlasting love will become immortal in literature.
To Samantha,
The one who sparked my desire to write and fanned the flame of my creativity within me. Without you, this book would not exist, nor would any future novels either. My Life will never be the same and I hope to keep it that way. Always and Forever.
And thank you to everybody who has been a part of my life and has forged my mind and life. In all your small and large ways you have made me who I am today, and for that there cannot be any worthy payment than the hope that I have meant as much to you as you have all meant to me.
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Leaders of Hope, Part 1, Chapter 1

Part One


“The darkest time in life is when you
cannot remember the time when the light existed”

Opening his eyes to an isolated sandy beach in the middle of nowhere with nobody in sight could be considered a blessing to some people. At 16 Gordon’s dark blond hair absorbed the heat of the sun and tanned his white skin. The crystal blue waves calmly brushed on the shore in front of him, there were songs of various tropical birds in the cool air and the wind filled his hair with the distinct sea shore smell. So as most people would do he lied on the smooth sand, swam in the ocean and watched the birds fly past with grace and arrogance. In the midst of this heaven on earth there was no pain, no harm and no worries, a life most people would want.

As the sun set in an array of orange and red, Gordon re-enter the water, its cold surface tensed his sun warmed muscles but they soon adjusted to the new temperature. The waves barley existing, brushing lightly past his chest. The colorful fish swim by him as if he was a rock that posed no threat to them. Colours of yellow, blue, purple and green flashed below the surface of the ocean and above the birds match the symphony of colors as they glided to the near trees to roost for the night. Suddenly the water retreated quickly, the fish gone and the water now at Gordon’s ankles. He watched at the birds fluttered off their branches in a mass frenzy as if to flee from a stalking cat. Gordon turned to the ocean and before he registered the shock from the oncoming image, he was engulfed by the crystal blue ocean. 

Mother Nature swallowed Gordon whole, it rolled and twisted him under the massive wave that crashed upon his head. Under the water Gordon was cut by rocks and coral, his eyes stung by the salt water and his balance was lost. Gordon no longer knew where was up and instead, just kick his legs frantically. To his misfortune he swim down. Farther and farther, Gordon never reach the bottom nor did he realize where the surface was. As he swam he held his breath with painful desperation to survive. Yet when reflex took over from voluntary hold, Gordon swallow a rush of the warm tropical sea that so many crave.

Gordon opened his eyes. He saw his pillow and his watch on the nightstand. Gordon felt the sweat on his body; it felt as if he had been swimming. Gordon’s eyes focused and his head realized the dream he had just awoken from. Not another one he thought to himself. Gordon read the time on his watch, 6:14 am. Right before the alarm as usual. The watch then started to tune as it struck 6:15am. Gordon outstretched his drenched arm and turned off the alarm. Easing his legs from the middle of the bed sideways, just to flop them over the edge to add momentum to the rising of the rest of his body. Now standing he continued in half steps to the opposite  room, taking a towel from the cupboard and continuing to the bathroom in between the rooms. After a quick glance at his new formation of morning hair Gordon turned on the shower and proceed with hygienic cleansing.

Shaking the water off his body like a dog he put a towel around his waist and left the vicinity of the bathroom. Walking out he heard the television is turned on, yup, they are awake. Gordon continued to clothe himself, the usual melancholies of grey pants and a white shirt joined by black socks and shoes. Attaching his slim black leather strap watch and placing his tinted sunglasses into his shirt pocket. Gordon heaved his black skateboarding backpack of books onto his left shoulder and continued out of this room and down the stairs.

Gordon placed the bag on the floor next to the front door and took his closed lid coffee mug from its side pocket and continued to the nearby kitchen. Walking past the many antiques that his family had collected over the years from living here. The Persian camel bone paintings showing villagers hunting and celebrating, the Indian ox cart turned into a shelf holding several pots and bowls, the Chinese cabinets filled with Asian hand blown glass figurines and Yemeni swords still sharp with experience and use. He walked into the kitchen and greeted his Sri Lankan maid (or domestic helper if one cared for political correctness). Gordon opened the beige top cabinet and his eyes glared at the vast flavours of tea that flashed before him in the florescent kitchen light. Green tea with jasmine, Japanese rice tea, caramel tea, earl grey tea and mint tea as well. Twenty flavours in all in this cupboard alone. Gordon shifted through the various teas and picked his usual morning desire; Chocolate Mint tea, a perfect blend of strength to wake the body up yet not strong enough to cause regurgitation. Closing the lid on his newly brewed tea, its glorious chocolate like smell was cut off as he placed it next to his bag.

Fixing a breakfast of cereal Gordon walked passed the stairs to his backyard and  met his hyperactive dog, a black base of fur with white socks of feet and small brown stripes going around over these white socks. On his chest is a neatly formed white patch of fur, so well formed it matched the chest of a knight waiting for his emblem to be made on his breastplate armor. Anubis named after the Egyptian god of death, not a fitting name for such a lovable pooch but still a unique name nonetheless. In between mouthfuls of cereal Gordon took a spoonful and dropped its contents onto the floor, effectively sharing his breakfast with Anubis, who happily ate the sugary goodness. As they ate Gordon watched the trees swing in the light breeze, then in the corner of his eye he saw a small brown mouse climb from branch to branch. 

Once finished with eating Gordon let Anubis drink the remaining milk. Anubis being a canine of half breeds between a saluki and a random assortment of street dogs, he was an effective recycling bin of food for the house, as well as an effective dish washer when applied to food stained plates and bowls. Leaving Anubis and returning inside Gordon collapsed on the couch near the front door and wait for his parents. With the load stomp of his father’s footsteps coming down the stairs, Gordon sat up. Picture a confident, half awoken man with shorts and a muscular frame turned to fat. Place dark sunglasses on him and a dollop of short dark blond hair and you have Gordon’s father in the morning. His 20 years of judo still pay off in figure and intimidation. His frizzy hair identifies that he just woke up and yet although physically half awake, his mind was always deep in thought.

“Hey pumba”, he says.
“Morning” Gordon replied as he walked towards his bag. Opening the front door, Gordon walked outside and was hit by the intense humidity and heat of the Middle East in May. A coastal city along the Indian Ocean. The city was small and surrounded by sun baked dark mountains that enclosed the quaint little city which also restricted its growth. Although quickly developing, it is years behind other Middle Eastern cities like Dubai which is well known globally. This coastal city however was not, it is the coastal retreat from the large cities and provides and home away from home for the weekend tourists who frequently visit for its pristine beaches on the Indian Ocean.

Opening the large black gate plated with opaque plastic on it connected to the parameter of wall Gordon released the bolts at its base and placed them into the holes in the ground, hooking the gate,more or less in place. Gordon’s father now in the white Honda turned it on as Gordon’s mother walked out the front door saying “I wondered where you were, I didn’t see you this morning.” Gordon’s mom usually wore her suits to the college, being a dean she must dress the part. Her straight black hair made curly touching her shoulders flowed in the humid air. Gordon’s mom, a calm, optimistic, lively and loving woman brushed her hand over Gordon’s hair as she walked by him. Once in the car Gordon’s father executes his fatherly duties and drove both Gordon and his mother to work and school. 

By: Oscar Krol
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Leaders of Hope, Part 1, Chapter 2

2

That was Gordon 2 years ago, alive on the inside and waiting for an opportunity to express his opinions but otherwise quiet and watching the world and its beauty. Admiring the sheer contrast of a simple flower blossoming in between the buildings, a butterfly fluttering from plant to plant, both filling him with joy to still see nature in this mechanized world that he lived in. Whilst still being himself that life of his was long gone now. Ever since the bombing of Iran by the USA, the Middle East became a strategic point turned upside down through United States occupation and the Iranian Conflict.
Although Gordon’s house still stood after the first bombing, his parents were killed whilst out shopping for food. Learning this from a phone call from the hospital froze Gordon’s mind and body for 3 days. On the forth day he realized he would have to leave the Middle East after 16 years there. Gordon’s only home was now in rubble and a major staging point for the US Empire. This was not a good place to be in the short future with the local government tired of being a puppet to both sides; it seemed to have rising tensions between the USA and within itself.

Packing his suitcase of what little clothes he could fit in it and what majority of essentials he believed he needed, Gordon zipped up the large grey suitcase which rolled on wheels. Rummaging through the house’s 7 rooms Gordon looked for money and totaled about 1,500 USD by the end of the search Gordon continued to look for valuables that he could sell or barter with in emergencies. Jewelry was an essential part of this. Gordon took his passports (Canadian and Polish) and did a final sweep of the house looking for anything that could be useful. Already packed with cans of food his suitcase could not hold any more, but perhaps his back pack could. Inside with the money, passport and jewelry was a box of matches, pens, pads of paper, 2 cans of food, a mobile, small patches of rope, a kind of Swiss army knife, a large 12 inch bladed knife, a pair of socks and a calculator which Gordon found no reason to take out of his school bag, now turned survival bag.

During his sweep, Gordon’s mind wandered on how his world turned for worse so quickly. The newly elected United State’s President McKenzie, a man of 50 but with the heart of a revolutionary teenager; McKenzie’s approach to the Middle East situation was simple “it’s a terrorist base and must be destroyed” to paraphrase his words. Iran feeling threatened took charge into Iraq and liberated the country from the United States and NATO forces and quenched the long lasting conflict between Iran and Iraq, whilst rallying other Arab nations to its side.

The USA retaliated with full force from air bases in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. Bombing Tehran was thought to cripple the Iranian nation and cause the Arab states to disband. Unfortunately for McKenzie, they had under estimated the defenses around the Iranian capital and the US bombers were unable to penetrate. The Iranian president, after the bombing of Tehran repositioned himself and his political advisors to somewhere else in Iran, presently unknown.

McKenzie’s rage and racism against the Arabic culture had caused the creation of temporary camps to be built to place suspected terrorist Islamic population of the USA in, to “prevent future casualties on our homeland” to paraphrase his words again. With massive hysteria in the USA McKenzie’s large emphasis on the Christian faith brought the voters together for a massive rush in the election of a staggering 65% victory. He still continues his greatly Christian campaign across the USA to hold it together and is now visibly stretching across into Europe. Again the world was split into 2 sides of religion like in the crusades.

If it were only that simple though. Africa, a continent of poverty and a landmass filled with helpless people fighting for stability, was now colonized much like it was in the 1800’s. European, Asian and the American powers all claimed a stake somewhere on the continent. Unfortunately for its people, Africa has the last remaining  large deposits of natural resources that are accessible to everyone except the Africans. Uranium is extracted for another arms race and oil is drilled to fuel the tanks and bombers that will soon be deployed. Although under the shadow of independence the African nations are controlled by debt and corporations that suck what wealth the continent did have.

Fighting has broken out already. Sudan remained separated, Niger in turmoil but not enough to stop its uranium supplies from being mined, South Africa again in confusion with the rise of a fanatical leader. All the while China and Russia claim land in Central Africa, nobody knows as to why yet, but there is no conflict for this land and the 2 powers were quickly seizing it under the light of liberation and rebuilding the courtiers. Europeis now one power. The European Union no longer exists as it did before; it became the official entity of Europe and now contains the states of France, England, Germany and the other former members of the EU. Turkey however never got in and has become neutral to the conflict that is occurring on both sides of its borders. However its neutrality is being tested as many bombs have exploded in Istanbul and Ankara. Even the famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul was damaged as one of the minarets collapsed due to a massive explosion, god that was a terrible sightGordon reminisced.

When this idea past through Gordon’s mind he knew that the world would be going through hell right now, but first he had to get himself into a safer place before he could do anything else. Somehow Gordon had been sitting on the very couch he sat on waiting for his parents to drop him off at school. Thinking about his life in the Middle East, Gordon was devastated for his life to have to end like it did, he had spent his whole life there. Although Gordon had already planned to leave that summer to university in England, he did not intend to leave under these circumstances.

Right now, Gordon had nowhere to go to but to Poland, where his cousin was living. His cousin was almost like a brother to him, now married and all, his cousin used to live with Gordon and his parents for a few years. He introduced Gordon to many aspects of life that he would have otherwise had been unable to see, being shielded by his parents and the simplicity of the little city.
As Gordon walked out the front door, he stopped his large rolling suitcase and stared into the smoky remains of the city in front of him and beyond into the open Indian Ocean. As the sun set just like in his dream 2 years before Gordon could see a new wave in the distance coming from the sea. But unlike in his dream this wave was not connected to the sea and instead loomed quickly like a mechanized dark cloud. It was another bombing raid and the planes were coming right for his house.
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Leaders of Hope, Part 1, Chapter 3

3

Gordon started sprinting towards the back door. Leaving his suitcase behind and having his backpack fling around on his shoulder with each sprinting step. Gordon ducked down into a crevasse under the stairs that was in front of the back door. As the plane engines grew louder Gordon could hear the air raid sirens start to sound. Its iconic sound alerted the rest of city and Gordon could start to hear the firing of anti aircraft guns in the distance. In between all of this, Gordon heard Anubis barking in the backyard. Not thinking for a second about the planes Gordon dashed towards the back door and quickly pushed it open. He saw Anubis 15 meters away barking at loud images passing by in the sky. Gordon shouted his name over and over but to no avail, the sirens and anti aircraft guns blocked him out. When the first bomb dropped near the front door Gordon felt the shock wave hit his back along with pieces of concrete. At that moment Gordon had locked eyes with Anubis who had turned at the sound of the explosion. The last image Gordon saw was Anubis running towards him.

Gordon awoke to feel a great pressure on his back. His eye lids opened to the sight of rubble in front of his face. Gordon pushed himself off the floor and to his knees causing the rubble on top of him to fall to the floor. As he strained to stand he collapsed back to his knees, almost blacking out. Gordon tilted his head down and waited for his blood to reach his brain again before moving once more. His whole body was in pain. Gordon checked his body, looking  for injuries he might not have noticed, noticing only small scratches but no major injuries Gordon felt lucky, his hideaway under the stairs probably saved his life. Gordon took this time to re-asses his situation. He looked around. Gordon’s backyard was now nothing but toppled trees surrounding a large crater. Trees now charred and broken and pieces of brick and concrete all around. Gordon saw no sign of Anubis, it did not take him long to realize, his companion was dead.

Gordon tried to stand again and now took his time and started to walk slowly outside into what was the backyard. The door now nonexistent and instead just a frame in the fractured wall, Gordon stepped outside. In the distance the high rise building were smoking, some were standing others had toppled during the bombings. Gordon looked around to the left and right and saw smoke and demolished buildings. The smoke, dust and ash from these buildings did not let him see beyond several meters in some directions and so he turned to re-enter the house. When Gordon entered what was the kitchen, he only felt what could be described as the feeling of a passing miracle. The noon sun blasted down on him as the roof above the kitchen had caved in. Most of the walls had been destroyed and now Gordon walked over the tarnished rubble of his destroyed house. The only things left intact were the 5 steps that he had hid under, the refrigerator and 2 walls near the back door, Gordon stepped over the large pieces of his house to continue to what was the front door and its steps outside.

Now standing where he had left his suitcase Gordon saw that the steps were gone and that there was another crater on the road in front of his house, Gordon noticed burned pieces of clothing and obliterated tin cans rustling in the humid breeze. Across the street Gordon made out what was perhaps left of his suitcase and the rest of its contents, all of which were now useless, Gordon was happy he still had his backpack on him. On this ledge in front of his house, Gordon could look again at the sea; he saw no more buildings obstructing his view. Where there had been charred houses and a port, all there was, was smoke and large piles of materials. Jumping down off the ledge Gordon walked to where the walls of his house were, he turned around and looked at its remains.

 Checking his backpack for holes and its contents, Gordon was relieved nothing was missing. He readjusted the straps to loosen the tightening pain and started to walk west to the main road of the small coastal city. Walking for 15 minutes through his old neighborhood Gordon saw almost nothing had survived. The few buildings that did stand were heavily damaged and were missing at least 1 section of a wall. There were few people. Evacuations had started 2 days ago and many people had been able to leave, or at least Gordon thought so. But nobody bothered to evacuate those who were poor. The Indian and Pakistani construction workers who now lay dead in their portable housing next to what was a house under construction were left to fend for themselves. As Gordon walked past them and brutalized machinery he saw an Asian man in a blue construction uniform walking amongst the dead, looking through their pockets like a vulture feasting off a battlefield and he had spotted Gordon.

Looking directly at Gordon He got up and withdrew the pocket knife in his hand and he started to walk forward towards Gordon with haste. Gordon pulled out the 12 inch blade and shouted “Don’t you fucking think about it!” with that gesture the man put his hands up and started running in the other direction. That knife was one that even Rambo would praise; it’s been in the family for 6 year now, what family? Gordon sighed as he sheathed the knife and into the deep back pocket of Gordon’s baggy grey jeans and he continued west.

Now on the main road walking towards the center of the city Gordon could really see the destruction. Most of the small buildings had been destroyed and some of the larger buildings as well. Some of the midsized buildings were not though, since they seemed to have some kind of anti aircraft guns on top of them. Now an hour away from his house, Gordon could see the old mud fort, and to his surprise it still stood, stood like it had all these years. It had survived the British, the Portuguese, rival tribes but will it now survive Iranand the USA? On top of this fort flew the city’s local flag, its pure blue color almost blended in with the sky. Gordon wondered if the Iranian bombers intentionally missed the fort or not. Opposite the Fort was a long road, this road used to have the cinema, some shopping centers and car distributors. All gone now. Just piles of rubble next to small destroyed walls. There was nobody on the streets, just Gordon. No military, no civilians, no animals and no vehicles. They all must be in the center or evacuated.

Looking at his cracked watch Gordon saw the time was 2:30 pm. Gordon walked through the devastated city and peered at the remains of planes. On the wing of one he saw the Iranian flag, on another the United States flag. Seeing the casualties of war tore his mind. You always hear about it but you never see it. And now there it was in front of Gordon. Gordon, dazed by a pounding headache and the realities of war he walked by the remains of more bodies, some of which were not whole any longer. In war, Gordon acknowledged, they are the lucky ones, no longer having to live with the mistakes of those who control and manage this world. In the end you see bodies, not flags, not ideals, not religion. Just human bodies lying next to each other. Gordon wondered if they would still want to fight for their country if they had the chance to re-do their actions knowing they would die today.

Nearing the center of the city, the roads were blocked, not only by hills of rubble but by armed soldiers. It was obvious that the center of the city was the staging point for the military forces in the city. Realizing that continuing forward would be a call to death Gordon turned around and retraced his steps for a while. Walking at a slow pace in the summer heat it was now 5 PM. He had walked away from the city center and started to walk along the road to his old school and eventually to the nearest civilian airport. The local airport was under military rule now and Gordon knew he would find no help there. Walking out of the city the roads were only slightly covered with debris but the roads themselves were not damaged. It seemed like the bombers concentrated on the city itself. By 6 PM due to Gordon’s slow pace and continuing headache he had only just passed the parameter of the airport which was guarded again by soldiers. They looked at Gordon through their gun sights without saying a word and only lowered their guns when Gordon was at a far distance from them. Gordon scoffed to himself thinking that this was his home and now he was perceived as a threat.

The sun had begun to set, it was nearly 7 PM and Gordon was exhausted. In his ignorance he forgot to pack water in his backpack and so instead used his knife to open one the can of peaches he had packed and quickly drank its juice. On the top it said that it had expired yesterday but Gordon felt willing to take his chances and ate the peaches. When he had finished he walked for a few more meters to find a suitable place to sleep. It was near the road but not on it. It was in the campus of the slightly modern looking local college. Gordon did not want to miss the chance of a passing vehicle that he might be able to hitch a ride on but he did not feel like being run over by it either.

It was now almost dark, and now the only light had come from the full moon. The military had started a blackout to reduce chances of being spotted during a night raid. Gordon strained to see the time on his watch it was nearly 9 PM. After this he had laid down, using is bulky backpack as a pillow on a patch of grass. Repositioning the knife in his back pocket and placing it to his left with its case unbuttoned. Before Gordon realized how tired he was he fell asleep.

Gordon was awoken by the sound of a passing truck. He lifted his head and saw that it was entering the campus grounds. Gordon quickly picked up the knife and stood up. The truck’s white lights reflected off of his body and shone brightly off of the knife as well. With a screeching stop the truck halted just after the gate. Two men immediately jumped out the front doors and pointed their rifles at Gordon through their open windows; one of them shouted in English “Put down the fucking knife!” The other immediately shouted what Gordon thought was the equivalent in Arabic. Gordon quickly complied and dropped his knife, it almost landed on his foot but he dared not make a sudden move for fear of being shot.

In the blinding truck lights he could only hear one man shout in English “do you speak English!?” Gordon heard the other translate that into Arabic “enta tetkalam englaisy?” Gordon shouted back “yes!” He saw one figure move in front of the truck’s lights. He inaudibly spoke to his partner and then spoke in a slow but raised voice to Gordon “do not make any sudden moves or you will be shot.” Gordon had no problem following that order. As he moved closer he could see that the man was still aiming his rifle towards Gordon. As he treaded even closer Gordon saw his foot solider like figure come into focus. Big man, big muscles, big gun, not somebody you would like you get in a brawl with. When only 5 meters away from Gordon, Gordon could now see some of his features; the man was black and from the accent sounded American too, with a crew cut hair style, all the while not releasing his aiming gaze at Gordon.

 “Let me see some identification.” The man said. Gordon motioned to his backpack and the military man suddenly raised his rifle and tensed his finger alarming Gordon “Don’t! Kick it over here.” Gordon lightly pushed the bag over with his leg to under the soldier’s oversized body. He moved his head half way across his right shoulder, never leaving his left eye off Gordon. He shouted to his partner “watch my back” he lowered the gun slowly, and picked up the bag.

He rummaged through it and fished out Gordon’s polish passport. ‘Gordon Scarovo?” he asked and looked at the picture to verify the image with Gordon’s face. Gordon nodded and replied ‘yes’.
“This passport is out of date, you know. There are no more national passports like this in Europe.” Gordon nodded again. The man continued “we cannot take you with us, we are the last truck of American and Canadian citizens leaving this area, the last European truck leaves tomorrow, I suggest you walk back to the city and wait there.” He tossed the bag over to me and started to slowly walk away. Gordon spoke out and said “I am Canadian.”

The soldier froze in his tracks and said “show me some real identification this time.” Gordon pushed his bag over to him again with his foot. ‘Check my bag again’. The solider picked up Gordon’s backpack again and found the Canadian passport. He took out a scanning device and scanned the RFID (Radio frequency Identification) chip inside the passport. He validated it and put the passport back in the bag and walked towards Gordon. “Walk towards the truck.”

He stepped on Gordon’s knife just as Gordon started to slowly go for it. He made a tuting sound and said “you better leave this with me until we get to Dubai.” Gordon nodded, rose and started to walk to the truck with his bag on his shoulder. He had picked up Gordon’s knife and placed it in his pocket the solider shouted past me to his partner “lower your gun, this one is Canadian.” He complied and hung the gun around his shoulder on its strap. As Gordon neared the truck he saw that his partner looked Arabic but was wearing the Canadian army uniform. He had black hair that was straight but with volume that stuck to his fore head, his face had distinct Arabic characteristics but he was very slim for a foot soldier. Gordon questioned him saying “I didn’t know Canada was in UAE. What are you guys doing here?” he responded saying
“Canada is here to evacuate its citizens and to provide the USAwith some support. I enlisted to provide the Canadians with some help with the Arabic language, otherwise the Americans would go shooting every one they found.” He shot a glace to his partner and smiled. He offered his hand and spoke “Private First Class Ahmed Aziz”. Gordon shook his hand and told him his name.
The African American man looked at Gordon and announced “I’m Sergeant Jackson, like I said we are the last transport for the America’s and we have got to get moving, get on in the back.” As they disbanded, Gordon walked round to the back of the green army truck with Aziz. Aziz unlocked the truck’s back flap and said “hop on.” When Gordon looked in the truck he saw 6 people. 4 adults in their mid 30s and 1 elderly man hugging a young girl clinging on to a ginger cat. Gordon climbed on board and Aziz locked the truck’s flap. When he closed the front door the truck had suddenly come back to life and with a slight cough it started to reverse and then drove westward, away from the small coastal city and its pristine beaches.


By:Oscar Krol
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Leaders of Hope, Part 1, Chapter 4

                                          4

Gordon awoke from what felt like a yearlong sleep, checking his watch he saw that they had been driving for several hours now,Where on Earth are we heading? In front of him was the elderly man and what he assumed was the man’s granddaughter. Next to Gordon were three women who all slept on each other’s shoulders. The 4th adult sat next to the elderly man but had no connection to anybody; he seemed to keep a distance from all of them, off in his own world, much like Gordon was. He looked out the back of the truck and saw an old decrepit and no longer operational concrete factory pass them by, the factory was not lit and seemed to blend in with the dark starless night. Gordon recognized the aging factory as it vanished into the night, so that’s where we are heading.
Gordon watched as the little girl’s cat sat and slept peacefully on her lap. The cat was Himalayan, with a thick brown fur coat puffed up by the humid desert air with lateral black stripes across its back. Around its neck was a small black color with a silver bell that rang with every bump made by the truck “where did you find that beautiful cat?” The little blond pig tailed girl said that it had been wondering the streets and that she wanted to take care of it.

“Once she found it I couldn’t separate the two of them” the elderly man said as he wrapped his arm around his granddaughter, hugging her tightly. The cat yawed, flashing its perfectly sharp white teeth and then stretched, vibrating as it did so, twirled around twice and then went back to sleep. The girl then started to massage the cat behind the ears and the cat responded with a continuous purr.

Out of the dark road in front of the truck, an explosion rocked everybody in their seats and everybody slid to the front as the truck’s tires squealed on the ash fault as it braked. Then the first shots rang out into the quiet night. The gunfire ripped through the cloth covering the back of the truck. A cry of pain was let loose as one of the 3 sisters was hit by a bullet. “Everybody get down!” Gordon cried. The elderly man took hold of the little girl and threw himself on top of her body to protect her. At the same time the 3 sisters scrambled for the floor. The man in the corner did not move. In the volley of bullets hitting the truck Gordon jumped out of the back of the truck and ducked behind the back left wheel. This was the only cover left from the bullets being fired from the dunes to the right of the truck. As soon as Gordon crouched down Jackson turned and almost fired his rifle. ‘You scared the shit out of me!” Jackson shouted over the automatic rifle fire.

‘Where’s is Aziz?”
“He’s still in the front under the glove compartment. If he moves they will spot him and kill him.” Jacksoncontinued to fire randomly past the front left wheel into the dunes which were now sparkling with gunfire over its top.
“Can you shoot?” Jacksonhad asked hastily.
“Yes”. In one motion Jackson un-holstered his pistol and tossed it over for Gordon to catch.
Gordon lied, his only experience with a gun was with an air rifle shooting soda cans but right now, any experience helped yet there was not much they could do.

They had limited ammunition, terrible cover and only one experienced soldier in action. The unknown assailants were behind a dune which had provided them with the high ground. Giving Gordon and Jackson almost no chance of hitting one of them. Gordon stuck his hand out the back of the left wheel and fired more or less towards the attackers. With a loud burst the truck’s back right wheel popped and almost cause the truck to capsize on its right side.

There was no way of checking if any of the passengers were still alive as the bullets still kept on being fired all around the truck, pinning everybody down. “Damn it!” Jacksonshouted. “I have no more bullets. We are totally fucked now.” With those words Gordon’s heart sank as he squeezed out the final bullets from the pistol. Click and it was empty.

They were now defenseless. Jackson and Gordon had their backs on the wheels of the truck and soon the bullets stopped hitting the truck. Jackson could hear words being spoken in something like Arabic over near the dunes. Jackson stuck his head under the truck to check if anyone was coming. He had only looked under for a split second before he raised his head again. He looked at Gordon and raised 5 fingers in his left hand and pointed to the dunes with his right. At that moment he put his hand in his pocket and threw Gordon’s uncased knife at his feet. As Gordon grabbed the knife off of the cool road he heard a softer click come from Jackson. Looking back at Jackson and what he was holding, Jackson looked at Gordon and nodded his head slowly, Gordon replied with a nod of his own.

Jackson rose over the truck’s smoking hood and threw the green grenade out of his hand into the desert. As he was ducking back down shots were fired and one had hit his left shoulder. Collapsing behind the front wheel whilst the grenade exploded Jackson exclaimed in gasps “I’m alright.” Gordon looked under the truck and saw only three bodies laying in the sand. Where did the other 2 go? Gordon heard a pair of feet shuffle near the front right wheel and saw one foot move out. The assailant was walking around the hood of the truck. Gordon motioned at Jackson who immediately tensed his muscles and got ready to tackle the man. At the first sight of the man’s figure Jacksonleapt at the soldier. Several shots vibrated in the air past Gordon’s head but nobody was hit.

Jackson and the man now rolled around in the sand punching and kicking each other. Gordon could do no good interfering, he slid the knife into his front pocket, tearing a hole straight through it but still holding the blade against his thigh. He went to the back to get the passengers out of the truck. When Gordon started to unclip the truck’s back flap he heard the cocking of a rifle near his head. He felt the heat from the barrel of the assault rifle near his ear. The man poked the barrel on Gordon’s head telling him to move forward and around the truck. Gordon started to walk when a familiar jingle of the bell alerted the solider to the inside of the back of the truck.

With sheer instinct Gordon pulled the knife out of his pocket, almost cutting his own thigh and whilst crouching and turned the knife towards the soldier, thrusting his arm immediately into the soldier’s gut. The man released his rifle which fell hard on the sand coated road as blood started to drip. Gordon slowly rose and he felt the blade slice through the man until it was stopped at his ribcage. Gordon looked the man in his dark green eyes. Both of their eyes became lifeless. As the life from the man faded, so too did Gordon’s self humanity. Blood was now leaving his mouth. Gordon retracted the knife and the man collapsed backwards into the sand. Picking up his gun Gordon ran around the truck to where Jackson was engaging with the enemy. Gordon watched as the solider pinned Jackson down and forced his hand into Jackson’s wound, making him scream in agonizing pain. Gordon shot a bullet past the soldier who instantly looked up. Jacksontook the initiative and shoved him off his body and continued to assault him. “Jackson get out of the way!” Gordon shouted. No reply. Jackson continued to punch the defenseless soldier. Aziz ran out of the truck and rushed towards Jackson, pulling him off of the bloody soldier.

Jackson tried to continue the attack but had been subdued by Aziz “Stop man, he’s down and out” Aziz howled at Jackson. Jacksontook another moment before he could come back to earth and calm down. Aziz then let go of him and walked towards Gordon with his open hand “pass me the gun.” Taking the gun, Aziz walked passed Gordon to check on the man he had stabbed. Aziz crouched down to him checked the man’s pulse and moved on to the other 3 bodies in the sand and repeated the process. Jackson looked at Gordon blood covered hand and spoke “thus is the use of war, to kill each other.” He walked by Gordon and put his brused hand on Gordon’s left shoulder and continued to the back of the truck.

“It’s all clear people.” When Gordon joined the group he saw the elderly man, the little girl and two of the sisters look up at him. Jackson pulled the truck’s back flap and motioned for the people to get off the truck. Slowly the elderly man and his daughter holding her cat jumped off the truck into the blood stained road. At the sight of the dead soldier the little girl cringed and hugged the cat even more, ringing its life saving bell. The two sisters followed. In tears they were holding each other. When they got off the truck, Jackson got on to check the 2 bodies still on board. Gordon walked with the sisters around the left of the truck and told them to sit down.

When Gordon looked to where the unconscious soldier was. There was an empty impression in the sand and footsteps leading out into the desert. Following the footsteps with his eyes Gordon saw a figure running in the distance. “Aziz! He’s getting away!” Gordon yelled. Aziz ran 10 meters into the sands and then put one knee in the sand and placed his elbow on his other knee. He aimed slowly. With the crack of the bullet firing Gordon watched as the figure collapse head first into the sand. Aziz started to jog towards the body. Jackson appeared behind from behind Gordon. “They are both dead” he said quietly. There they were stranded on an empty road, so close to their destination: Dubai.

Jackson walked past the passengers who were now in two pairs sitting down with their gazes cast in the sand. Jacksonentered the truck and had started talking. When he came out he announced that he called for transport to the airport and reported the attack. When Aziz came back with the body, he started to search the body and his pockets. He found nothing. Even the uniform was pure black. There was no flag, no dog tags, no identification, nothing. “What could this mean?” Gordon asked

“One of two things” said Aziz. “Either the Iranians have somehow deployed this small task force for an operation here in UAE and we were just in the way. Or” Aziz paused and continued “Or the somebody else has sent this team to take out this transport in desperation to remove the American forces out of the UAE.” The three of them looked at each other for a moment, then at the body, then at each other once again. They did not say a word. With the blinking of truck lights in the distance they lifted their heads towards the road and got the passengers to stand up and get ready to move out to Dubai, they all felt that sooner the night would be over, the better.



By Oscar Krol