Hostage Crisis Read Free Page A

we do know, General?”
    “Of course, Major. We’re tracking Masud and Miss Shawcross’ precise movements. Miss Shawcross has a personal GPS tracker. It was issued to her before she left Kandahar. Provided she keeps wearing it we’ll always know where she is, down to the nearest metre or so.”
    The GPS would lead them right to Hassan, too, Connor thought. He could scarcely hide his delight. “We’ll be attempting a rescue, I assume.”
    The general nodded. “Joint Ops is putting together detailed plans.”
    “I want in, sir.”

CHAPTER FIVE
Masud’s injury
Southern Afghanistan
    In a cave somewhere in the mountains, Hassan sat next to Kate Shawcross watching goat stew bubbling slowly on a fire. Hassan hated goat stew. Instead, he had trapped a wild hamster, killed and skinned it just as his father had taught him.
    It had roasted over the fire during evening prayers, and now he pulled juicy flesh from the tiny bones. He offered some to Kate.

    â€œGah! Are you kidding?” Kate scrunched her face up and looked away.
    â€œIt is rude to refuse,” Hassan replied in English.
    â€œYeah? Well, I’d say kidnapping is a far worse crime. How old are you, anyway?”
    â€œTwelve,” he replied. He sat down next to her. “In our country,” he continued, “we always treat guests, even our enemies, with respect. That is our way, the Afghan way.”
    â€œReally? Well, thanks, but no thanks.”
    Orange flames flickered and danced on the wall of the cave. Amin sat cross-legged close to the fire plucking tunes on his tanbur , a long-necked lute.
    Hassan shuffled a little to his right, pressing up close to Kate. She leaned away. “I am a prisoner too,” he whispered. “I had no choice but to join them. The Taliban killed my family for talking to you Americans. I am waiting for my chance to escape. I can help you. When the moment comes, we shall get away together.”
    Kate stared at Hassan, open-mouthed.
    Masud was in deep conversation with some of his men. Kate noticed he was perspiring heavily, shivering and looking exhausted. Fresh blood seeped through his shirt from his old shoulder wound. “How much further do we have to go?” she asked Hassan.
    â€œAmin tells me another three days or so before we reach the Taliban training camp close to the border. Why?”
    â€œOh, just wondering.” Kate’s medical training told her that Masud was sick. Very sick. And that scared her. She could tell the others depended on his leadership. Without it, she feared the worst possible fate; that they’d abandon their hostage plan and simply kill her. Would ISAF try to rescue her? Would they come in time? Kate reached up to make sure the top buttons on her blouse remained fastened. Beneath, hung round her neck, lay a chunky necklace containing a GPS tracking device. The local ISAF commander had insisted she wear it. Thank god, she thought. At least they know where I am.
    Mid-sentence Masud closed his eyes and slumped over.
    â€œMasud! Masud!” Those beside him panicked, jumping to their feet, shouting, pulling at his arms to try to get him up. Someone called out, “I think he’s dead!”

CHAPTER SIX
Connor has a plan
Camp Delta
    Connor was ordered to attend the late-night official briefing together with the commanders of two other Special Forces units, Arrow and Spear.
    “Trying to take on Masud in the open is simply too risky, and so we’re going to let him reach their training camp,” the head of Joint Operations announced. “It’ll mean taking on more Taliban, but we judge the odds will be in our favour. Using the GPS tracker we’ll know Miss Shawcross’s exact location and so the extraction team can be in and out fast. Major Connor, I’d like your Delta Force team to handle that.”
    Connor nodded.
    “Meanwhile, the compound will come under sustained assault from Arrow and Spear in a manner that will maximise confusion and mayhem. Speed