Solomon's Gold

CHAPTER 49

Dayoud paced back and forth in the small apartment, while Hamid and Amin watched.

"It was bad luck," Hamid said.

"We failed," Dayoud said. "That is all Tehran will see. We will never have another opportunity like that. Months of planning, gone, with no results."

"It's not our fault," Amin said.

Dayoud scowled at him. "You are a fool."

"You don't have to be insulting."

"Do you understand nothing? Yesterday, you were talking about going home. That is no longer an option."

"What do you mean?"

"He means it is necessary to redeem ourselves in the eyes of Allah," Hamid said.

Dayoud nodded approvingly. "That is right, brother. You see clearly to the heart of the matter."

Amin looked from one to the other. "What are you saying?"

"Explain it to him, Hamid."

"He means we must now become shahid."

"Martyrdom?" Amin was shocked.

Hamid's voice was gentle. "Think about it, brother. It was never certain we would return home. We always knew it might be necessary to give our lives for the cause."

"Yes, but…"

"We took the oath, you know we must honor it. If we had succeeded in killing the Jew and the American president, things would be different. Now we will use our lives to sow death among the unbelievers."

Amin bowed his head. "You are right, brother."

Hamid patted him on the arm. "Allah will welcome us to Paradise."

"I have already thought about our targets," Dayoud said.

He went into the bedroom and took a folded map from the dresser. He came back to where the others sat and spread the map out on the kitchen table. Three areas were circled in red.

"This is a map of Manhattan," Dayoud said.

He tapped the map with his finger. "This is Times Square. It is always crowded at night, with thousands of people. The Americans gather there like mindless cows in the field. I will take the gas into the midst of them and release it. Many will die."

Dayoud pointed to a second spot.

"This is Penn Station. It is a major transportation hub for the city. Subways and trains and buses all come here. Hamid, you will take a vest and find a central spot. When you are satisfied that you can do the most damage, you will fulfill your oath. You will be the first to gain martyrdom."

"God willing," Hamid said.

"What will I do?" Amin said.

"You and I will go to Times Square together. The explosion at Penn Station will confuse the police and draw them away. Your target is a theater on 48^th St. where a popular play is being staged. The play glorifies the deviant sexuality of this decadent country. It is a perfect statement that the infidels cannot ignore."

"I will wear a vest?"

"Yes. You will wait outside until the play is over. When the stream of people leaving is at its peak, then you detonate the vest."

"What if I'm detected?"

"The vest will be hidden under your coat. No one will notice you."

"When do we attack?" Hamid asked.

"Today is Thursday. Tomorrow is a day for prayer. We will attack on the evening of the next day."