Trouble In Trinidad

by William Manchee

Chapter 13


Early Sunday evening, the Prime Minister and Anila were having a small dinner party. Guests at the party included the Attorney General and the United States Ambassador, both accompanied by their wives. Also attending was Walter Wellersby, a special emissary from Washington. They had planned the event to discuss the prosecution of Ray Mohammed and the other leaders of the NDC. They met at Michael's, a popular restaurant in the suburbs. As they drank cocktails and nibbled on some appetizers, they discussed the upcoming arrest of Ray Mohammed.
"It will be tomorrow morning, when he leaves his house, probably around eight. We'll transport him to the police station where Kevin Wells will be ready to identify him immediately. I've assigned our best investigators and our top prosecutor to interrogate him. Hopefully, he'll implicate Malcolm Mann and the rest of the hoodlums that run the NDC," the Attorney General said.
"I seriously doubt if he'll say anything," the Ambassador replied. "By now, he must have an attorney on standby. He's got to be worried about being arrested. I'm really surprised he came back to Trinidad after the assassination attempt. He can't be very bright."
"Perhaps he knows something we don't," Mr. Wellersby said.
The Ambassador looked at Wellersby. "Perhaps he does," he replied.
"When are you going to inform the press about what's coming down?" the Ambassador asked.
"We've called a news conference for noon tomorrow," the Attorney General replied. "We'll advise the press that we've arrested a suspect in conjunction with the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Shah and the shooting of Kevin Wells. Whether we elaborate any further depends on how much Ray Mohammed talks."
"If you go after the NDC, do you have a contingency plan in case there is violence?" Wellersby asked.
"We don't expect any trouble, but as a precaution, our military will be put on alert at midnight tonight. We currently have all of the NDC leaders under surveillance. If they try anything, then we'll pounce on them like a lion on a caribou."
Several waiters arrived to serve the dinner salad. As they were working, Anamica came in, hurried up to the Prime Minister and whispered something in his ear.
"What?" the Prime Minister said as his face became grim.
"No!" he said and then slammed his fist on the table. "This can't be!"
Anila, having overhead Anamica, let out a scream and began to cry. The Prime Minister put his arms around her to comfort her.
"What's wrong, Ahmad?" the Ambassador asked.
"Someone has kidnaped our two daughters and Kevin Wells!"
"Oh, Lord!" the Ambassador said. "You've got to be joking."
"They've killed six security officers and bombed their cars. I must leave at once. Sharad, let's go."
The Prime Minister and the Attorney General made a hasty exit from Michael's. Ahmad was visibly upset by the news. Anila was in such a panic, she had to be assisted out of the restaurant.
"Oh, Ahmad, what are you going to do?” she moaned. “They have our Kiran and Deviane. You've got to find them!"
"I will. Calm down. I'll find them and bring them home to you safely."
"Do you think the kidnappers will hurt them?" the Ambassador asked.
"No, I'm sure they want them as hostages."
"Who would do something like this?"
"I'm sure it's the NDC. They're the only ones that would resort to kidnaping to get what they want. But, they've made a big mistake. Now, I'm going to see to it that every last one of them hangs. Believe me, the bastards will pay for what they’ve done!"
Ahmad and Sharad were escorted to a waiting helicopter by security police. Within minutes, they were airborne and flying toward the capitol building.
"Let's go straight to Blanchisseuse Bay," Ahmad said. "I want to see if they've found out anything yet."
"That wouldn't be wise," Sharad replied. "You need to go to your office, where it is safe. If the NDC is really behind this, they may be looking for another opportunity to assassinate you. I'll get my best men out there. They'll find out what happened and track down the cowards responsible for this outrage."
"Don't fail me, Sharad. These are my children, my own flesh and blood. They are the reason I've fought so hard to get to the top. I'm looking forward to the day when they'll fill our house with grandchildren."
"Believe me, Kiran and Deviane are like children to me too. I will not sleep until they are home safe with their mother."
"Anila will die of grief if we lose them."
"We won't lose them. We don't even know for sure that the kidnappers have them. They may have escaped."
"Do you think that's possible?"
"To be honest, it's not likely, but with Kevin there, it might be possible."
"Deviane is very cunning and she knows the terrain quite well, perhaps they did escape, Sharad!"
"I will order a search first thing in the morning. What about the press? What should I tell them?"
Ahmad thought for a moment.
"We'll wait for the news conference tomorrow. If God wills it, we'll have them back safely. If not, we'll ask every citizen of Trinidad to search for them. This is a small country. It will be difficult for the traitors to hide their hostages."
The helicopter started its descent onto the roof of the capitol building. As soon as it landed, Ahmad and Sharad rushed inside. General Pelton met the two leaders as they entered the building.
"Mr. Prime Minister, we've put the military on full alert. Since we had already planned an alert at midnight, we should be well prepared for anything that might happen."
"Excellent. Has anything else occurred, other than the kidnaping?"
"No, sir. We've had no reports of anything unusual."
"Has anyone claimed responsibility for the kidnaping?"
"No, sir."
"Are there any witnesses to what happened out there?"
"No, sir. It's a complete mystery. Late in the afternoon, we lost radio contact with the security police escorting your daughters and Mr. Wells. We immediately dispatched helicopters that reached the scene within minutes. When they got there, the beach was deserted, except for three burning vehicles and a few items on the beach."
"What items?"
"Some towels, clothing and a picnic basket."
"They must have been swimming when the assault occurred," Sharad said. "What about tracks? Could you tell how many there were from the footprints?"
"Yes, sir. There appeared to be six men in combat boots running on the beach, perhaps chasing your daughters and Mr. Wells. The footprints stop at the water's edge, near the north perimeter of the beach."
"The caves. Did anyone search the caves?" Ahmad asked.
"No, sir. We weren't aware of any caves."
"Get someone out there tonight to search the caves. They may have hidden there. Deviane knows the caves well. She may have led them in there to hide."
The general barked some orders to a subordinate and he ran off.
"There's someone there now, so I'll radio for them to search the caves immediately. I'll advise you of what they find the minute they report back."
"Thank you, General. You may go. Keep me apprized of what's going on?"
"Yes, sir," the general said and then turned and left.
"Oh, Sharad, pray they are in the caves. They've got to be in the caves."

Chapter 14

The headquarters of the NDC was fully manned and operational. Hundreds of NDC members were scurrying about, getting ready to handle their first assault on the Shah government. Once they had their hostages safely stashed away in the basement of their headquarters, the game would begin. The Prime Minister would face a stinging attack for allowing Kevin Wells to be kidnaped, thus jeopardizing the prosecution of Ray Mohammed. Such incompetence would lead to a no-confidence vote and the end of the Shah government. The NDC would deny any involvement in the kidnaping and join in the call for the Prime Minister's resignation.
While the battle to form a new government was raging in Parliament, the NDC would strike. With the help of a small Cuban mercenary army waiting on standby, the NDC would seize all government buildings, the television and radio stations, and arrest, or kill if need be, the Prime Minister and all other members of the current government. Leaders of the NDC believed that with anti-American sentiment increasing each day, the people would rally behind the NDC once it was in power.
When they had gained control, they would rationalize the use of force to seize power by simply pointing out the urgent necessity to stop American economic aggression in the form of the Caribbean Trade Agreement. They would argue that Trinidad was about to suffer irreparable damage if the agreement went into effect, and by the time a new government could have been formed, it would have been too late. When the dust settled and an election could be held, the NDC would claim itself the savior of Trinidad and would win an overwhelming mandate at the polls.
Unfortunately, phase one of the NDC's grand scheme had not gone well. At eight p.m., Malcolm Mann was in an emergency meeting with his lieutenants.
"This kind of incompetence is unacceptable!" Mann screamed. "Hundreds of Trinidad patriots have been carefully planning this operation for over a year. Now the plan may have to be scrapped, before it even gets off the ground. All because a highly trained assault unit couldn't catch three unarmed teenagers on the beach. Damn them! I want the commander of that unit arrested and thrown in jail. I will not tolerate failure!"
"Sir," Ray Mohammed said. "They couldn't have gone far from the beach. It was getting dark, so they must be somewhere close by in the forest. We can still get them."
"How?" Mann asked. "As we speak, government troops are crawling all over the area. I don't have to tell you that if they find Kevin Wells, it could be the end of our party and we all may wind up at the end of a rope."
"We've got party members and supporters who live in that area. We could send them home to search for Kevin Wells and the Prime Minister's daughters. Since they live there, the government troops will have to let them in the area. All we have to do is find them before the government does."
"It's a interesting idea, but just as soon as it gets light, they will find them quickly. We may not have enough time. Even if we do find them, how will we get them out of the area with government troops surrounding us?"
"We won't wait for daylight. We'll start our search now. Our people know the area. The darkness will not hinder them. Once we capture them, we'll drive them to a safe location and bring them out by helicopter."
"All right, unless someone has a better idea, we'll implement Ray's plan. Assemble all these members you speak of, so we can brief them and send them on their way. Start calling our other soldiers in the area around Blanchisseuse Bay and give them their instructions. For the sake of Trinidad we must succeed!"
Twenty minutes later, a dozen men stood in front of Malcolm Mann. He looked them over carefully and then addressed them.
"I've called you before me to enlist your help in saving our beloved Trinidad. This will, no doubt, be the most important mission in your lives. If you are not successful, America will soon control our economy. As you know, we planned to have the Prime Minister's daughters and Kevin Wells as hostages by now. Somehow, they escaped our grasp and may be hiding in the forest near Blanchisseuse Bay. You all know this area well, so we need you to put on your civilian clothes and go home. We have enough men for three four-man search parties. You've been issued night vision equipment, which you'll need to use in your search. You should all have weapons at your homes, which you can use in the operation. One last thing, we'd like the hostages brought back alive. However, if that's not possible, then kill them. If you do nothing else, you must kill Kevin Wells! If the government finds him, all is lost!"
The men quickly dispersed, leaving Malcolm and Ray Mohammed alone in the conference room. Ray took a deep breath.
"What if they do fail?" Ray asked.
"I've arranged for you and I to have political asylum in Cuba, so don't worry."
"What about our comrades? What will be their fate?"
"They will surely hang at the hands of Ahmad Shah. He will show no leniency. Since we have attacked his family, no one will blame him."
"Can't we do anything to protect them?"
"No, they are expendable. When we return, we will get others to take their places."
Ray said nothing as Malcolm packed up his briefcase and left the conference room. Ray thought for a moment and then hustled off to his office. He picked up the phone and dialed his home number.
"Hello."
"Cetawayo?"
"Yes."
"Is Jane in?"
"Yes."
"Get her for me. Immediately, it's urgent."
"Yes Ray, right away."
Cetawayo ran into Jane's bedroom and told her to pick up the phone. Then she went back into the kitchen and started to put the kitchen phone on the receiver. She stopped and slowly lifted the phone to her ear so she could hear the conversation.
"Jane, you must pack your bags. Get the children ready. We may have to leave the country tonight."
"What's wrong?"
"The plan has failed, the Prime Minister's daughters and Mr. Wells have escaped. They're hiding out in the forest near Blanchisseuse Bay. The army is all over the area and will surely find them by morning. When they do, they will arrest me. I don't have to explain the consequences of that to you."
"Oh no, Ray! What are we going to do?"
"Malcolm has arranged political asylum for us in Cuba, but we must leave before daybreak."
"Oh, Ray! I don't want to live in Cuba. This is terrible."
"Don't argue, Jane. We have no choice. Do what I say and someone will pick you up at three, okay?"
"Damn it, Ray!"
"I'm sorry. I'd go without you, but I'm sure you'd be arrested too. You have no choice. We have to leave the country."
"All right, we'll be ready."
Jane and Cetawayo hung up the phone at the same time. Cetawayo quickly went about her business. Soon, Jane came into the kitchen and sat down.
"So, was that Ray?" Cetawayo asked.
"Yes."
"Is everything all right?"
"Of course, he's just not coming home tonight. He's got to go out of town on some business. He wants me and the kids to meet him in San Fernando early tomorrow morning. We'll have to leave early to get there in time. We'll try not to wake you when we leave."
"Can I help you pack?"
"Sure, I could use some help."
Later, when Jane had left to run an errand, Cetawayo picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Hello."
"Obatala, you must come home now. I've got some news, but I can't discuss it over the phone. Come quick, while Jane is out!"
"What kind of news?"
"I don't have time to explain, just come home."
"All right. I'm on my way."

Chapter 15


Kevin watched Deviane as she laid down and tried to go to sleep. The makeshift lean-to would do a credible job at keeping her dry, but he knew the bed of leaves would do little to insulate her from the cold, damp ground. The prospect of an NDC unit lurking about wouldn’t sooth her nerves much either. All in all, it would be difficult for any of them to relax enough to sleep. Deviane rolled over on one side, shifted around, then rolled back to her other side. Kevin wished he could do something to make her comfortable, but he could think of nothing. Finally, she sat up and gave him a frustrated look.
"Why don't you sleep now, Kevin? I'm not tired enough yet."
"I doubt if I'll be able to sleep at all tonight. Too much has happened today. I think I've had an overdose of adrenaline."
"Kiran seems to have fallen asleep."
"Good, we'll let her sleep until four. Then you and I can get a few hours sleep before daybreak."
"You want some more coconut juice?"
Kevin frowned. "No thanks, I've had my fill of it for awhile. We don't drink much coconut juice at home."
"It's good for your kidneys," Deviane laughed.
"Really, my kidneys are fine, thanks."
"Do you think the NDC will search for us in this weather?"
"They probably don't have any choice. I suspect this place will be crawling with your father's troops at daybreak."
"Maybe we should think about what to do if they find us."
"That makes sense. You have any ideas?"
"Well, if we could make it to the main road, our troops should be there."
"How far is to the main road, do you think?"
"I would guess about three miles."
"Do you know how to find it?"
"I think so, but it would be difficult in the dark."
"Well, if we hear anything, we'll follow you and keep our fingers crossed that you've got a good sense of direction."
"Don't worry, I do. I always manage to get where I'm going."
"So I noticed."
“At least so far.”
Their eyes locked. Kevin felt uncomfortable. He looked away. Despite his love for Kiran he was drawn to Deviane. Besides being attractive like her mother and sister, she was smart, confident and a lot of fun to be with. He turned away, trying to control his emotions.
"You know, Kevin. I wouldn't mind if you had both of us."
"What?" Kevin chuckled.”
"Why don't you marry both of us?"
Kevin shook his head in disbelief. "You may not mind, but I have a feeling Kiran might object."
"She wouldn't. We're sisters, we're used to sharing things."
"I think that would be slightly illegal."
"We could live in Utah."
Kevin started laughing but stopped when he realized Deviane was serious.
"Deviane, even if I did love you both it wouldn't be fair to you or Kiran if I did that."
Deviane crawled over next to Kevin and put her arms around him.
"You don't think you could satisfy both of us, is that it?"
"That's a distinct possibility, I think you need a man all to yourself."
"And you're that man," Deviane said as she gently kissed him. Kevin closed his eyes as he savored her sweet lips, unable to resist her. She broke away and smiled, enjoying his helplessness. Then she slipped her head down on his neck and gently bit him. Kevin moaned in joyful bliss until Kiran stirred. He drew back.
“Stop it!” he whispered. “What do you think you’re doing? I told you I love Kiran.”
“You don’t love her.”
Kevin shook his head. “How could you possibly know whether I love her or not?”
“I just do, trust me.”
Deviane suddenly jumped to her feet and peered into the dark jungle.
“What’s wrong?” Kevin said.
"I thought I heard something."
Kevin got on his feet and stood behind her. "What is it?"
"Be quiet."
A second later, they both heard the distinct sound of men walking in the mud. Deviane knelt down and shook Kiran.
"Kiran. Get up. We've got to go.”
Kiran let out a moan and rolled over.
“Wake up!” Deviane hissed.
Kiran sat up quickly and rubbed her eyes.
“What?” she said.
“Shhhhh,” Kevin grabbed her hand and pulled her up. "Come on, we've got to go. Someone is coming."
Deviane started hiking. The rain had stopped, but the ground was wet and slippery. Kevin heard the chilling sound of soldiers marching in the distance. He looked back at the moon-lit forest to see if he could get a glimpse of them. Deviane was on a direct path to the road, but it became obvious as the rhythm of the soldier's boots got louder and louder, that they weren't going to make it in time.
"We're going to have to run for it," Kevin said. "In a minute, they'll be close enough to shoot us."
"You’re right, let's get moving!" Deviane said as she began to run as fast as she could through the forest.
Kevin followed, pulling Kiran along as best he could. Before they had gone a hundred yards, Kiran stumbled and pulled Kevin down with her. He picked her up quickly and started to run again.
"Come on, Kiran. We're almost there."
She began to run, but stumbled again and screamed in pain as her ankle twisted beneath her.
"I can't run anymore, Kevin. I think it's broken."
Kevin gazed at Kiran lying helplessly in the mud. Suddenly he saw one of the soldiers come out of a clump of trees. He bent down, picked her up and began to run with her in his arms. The sound of gunshots pierced the silence of the night. Kevin heard the trail of the first bullet as it passed several feet from his right shoulder. Motivated by fear of imminent death, he ran as fast as he could with Kiran holding herself tightly against his chest. He vividly remembered the excruciating pain he had felt when Ray Mohammed's shot hit him in the back. He didn't relish the idea of experiencing that kind of pain again.
Hearing Deviane ahead screaming that she could see the road, he stopped briefly and turned to check the position of his pursuers. At that same moment, a bullet exploded from the barrel of an NDC rifle and hit Kiran directly in the chest.
"No! Nooo!" he cried out.
Kiran went limp in his arms. Blood poured from her wound. Kevin looked back and realized that if he didn't keep going, he was a dead man. He ran with all the speed he could muster, constantly aware of the eyes of his pursuers on him. His feet were bleeding from running through the rocks and thorny brush and his back was breaking from the dead weight of Kiran's body. At any moment another bullet might pierce through his back and bring him down. He could only hope that the silence ahead meant that Deviane had reached the road and was waiting for them. He pressed on, hearing another gunshot and hearing the bullet's trail barely miss him again. Finally he reached the road.
Deviane was carefully scanning the highway, but there was nothing visible in either direction.
Kevin stopped next to her. "Now what?"
"I don't know,” she whispered. “Where are the troops?"
"Shit! We'll be sitting ducks on this road. We'll have to go back into the forest and try to lose them."
Even in the moonlight, he saw the color drain from Deviane’s face as she saw her sister lying limp in his arms. "Is Kiran, okay?"
"I don't know. She's been hit. I can't tell if she's breathing."
As they pondered their next move, a bullet hit the pavement next to Deviane.
"Kevin! We're going to die!"
Just then, they saw headlights coming quickly down the road. Kevin and Deviane didn't move, seemingly paralyzed by the light.
"What if it's NDC men?" Deviane said.
"If it is, then it's all over for us."
Just as the speeding car got to them, it came to a screeching halt and the door flew open.
"Get in! Hurry up before they put a bullet in you."
"Who are you?"
"It's Obatala, don't you remember me?"
Deviane opened the front door, climbed in quickly and closed it behind her. She sunk down as low as she could, so she wouldn't be an easy target. Kevin jumped in the back seat and laid Kiran down, with her head in his lap. He found a rag on the floor of the back seat and pressed it against Kiran's wound, trying to stop the bleeding. She was in and out of consciousness, moaning and thrashing from the pain of the bullet wound. Just as Obatala started to accelerate, a bullet pierced the side window, shattering it into a million pieces. The old Toyota struggled to gain speed. The NDC unit reached the road and directed a barrage of gunfire toward the fleeing vehicle, but it was out of range.
"What are you doing here?" Kevin asked.
"Cetawayo overheard Ray telling his wife that they were searching for you up here. I figured you might need some help."
"You figured right. If you hadn't come along we'd be dead."
"How's Kiran?" Deviane asked.
"She's breathing, but she's lost a lot of blood. We need to get her to a hospital."
"The nearest hospital is behind us," Obatala noted. "If we turn around, we'll run right into the NDC death squads."
"Death squads?" Kevin said.
"Yes, Malcolm Mann has ordered that you be killed rather than allowed to escape."
"Shit! She'll die if we don't get her to a hospital."
"Maybe not. I know a midwife who lives about ten miles from here. She may be able to stabilize her until we can get help."
"A midwife? What would she know about treating a bullet wound?"
"She worked in the hospital for years and has a lot of medical training. She probably knows as much about medicine as many of the doctors who practice at the hospital. She retired from nursing and became a midwife so she could stay at home. I think she's our best bet."
"I guess we don't have much choice."
"No, you don't."
As Obatala's car sped along the winding mountain road, Kevin stroked Kiran's hair. Periodically, he put his head on her chest to be sure her heart was still beating. Deviane looked on anxiously, frequently wiping tears from her eyes.
"How did you get past the government troops, Obatala?" Kevin asked.
"Oh, I just made up a little story."
"It must have been a good one. What did you tell them?"
"I just said that twice a week I had to pick up an old woman who had kidney disease. I said she had to go into town for her dialysis treatment. If they didn't let me through, she would die."
"Hmm. That's pretty creative, but didn't they wonder why you would be taking her in the middle of the night?"
"As a matter of fact they did ask me that. I told them she was a pauper and could not pay for her treatment. The only time the hospital would let her use it for free, was in the middle of the night."
"That was quick thinking. I don't know how you could have thought of such a great story so quickly. I'm impressed."
"Actually, it's true. There is such a woman, but tonight's not the night I pick her up."
"How much longer will it be?" Deviane asked.
"Not far, another five minutes and we'll be there," Obatala replied as he gazed at Deviane's nearly naked body. "Are you cold? I brought some clothes."
"Yes, the rain gave me a chill. I'm freezing to death."
"Kevin, there's some jeans and a T-shirt in the back. I brought some sneakers too. I heard you were swimming when the attack occurred, so I assumed you would be short on clothing."
"You're a wonderful man, " Deviane said. "You saved our lives."
"You can call me Obatala."
"Why would you risk your life for us?"
"Did you tell them anything about me, Kevin?"
"Just that you saved my life when I first got here. This is getting to be a habit."
"You see, Deviane, I am ashamed to say it, but Ray Mohammed is my brother. He was always a good boy, but somehow he got in with Malcolm Mann and the NDC. They have poisoned his mind. I tried to get him to quit and stay away from those hoodlums, but he wouldn't listen to me. Since I can't save my brother, I thought perhaps I could save Trinidad."
"It's hard to believe that you and he could be brothers. You're so good and he's so evil."
"It's a strange world we live in. Okay, here is the road into Miss Victoria's house," Obatala said and then turned the car onto a dirt road. "We'll be there in just two or three minutes."
Obatala drove the cab up to the front door of Miss Victoria's house. It was three o'clock in the morning. He banged on the door until the porch light came on. A heavyset black lady peered out the window. Obatala waved at her to open the door. Finally recognizing him, she quickly unlatched the door and opened it.
"Obatala, my word, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
"It's the Prime Minister's daughter. She's been shot."
"Good Lord! Bring her in here and put her on the sofa."
Kevin carried Kiran into the house and laid her on the sofa as instructed.
"Oh, look at her, she's as pale as a ghost. I see she's lost a lot of blood. I'll get an IV running and then clean that wound."
Miss Victoria ran into the other room and quickly returned with an IV rack. She skillfully inserted a needle in Kiran's arm and started the IV.
"She's not breathing too well, get that oxygen bottle out of the closet."
Kevin ran over to the closet and pulled out one of several oxygen bottles and brought it to her.
“Here you go.”
"Okay, put this mask over her nose and attach that hose onto the oxygen bottle."
Kevin did as he was told. When he had finished she said, ”Okay, turn it on before she dies on us.”
Kevin turned it on. “Okay, it’s opened all the way.”
“Now, watch her a minute while I get some hot water and disinfectant."
She left for a moment and when she returned she began to clean Kiran's wound. Everyone watched her intently as she worked.
"She needs to get this bullet out of her soon."
"What about your cellular phone, Obatala?" Kevin
asked. "Can't you call the Prime Minister's office and tell
them where we are? They could have a chopper here in
ten minutes."
"I considered that, but the NDC will be searching for cellular transmissions. There's not much activity at this time in the morning. If we used the phone, I’m sure they'd pick up our call right away."
"We've got to get Kiran to a hospital immediately," Deviane pleaded.
"We'll have to risk it," Kevin said.
"All right, but I hope they get here fast."
"They will," Deviane promised.
"Okay, I'll go get the phone."
Obatala went outside and retrieved the phone from his car. He brought it in and handed it to Deviane.
"I'll call my father's private line, so we'll get straight to him."
She dialed the number and waited. It rang twice and then someone picked up.
"Yes," the Prime Minister said.
"Daddy, it's Deviane."
"Deviane, where are you? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, but the they've shot Kiran. We need to get her to a hospital immediately."
"Oh my God! Where are you? I'll send a helicopter right away."
"I don't know, I'll put Obatala on to tell you."
"Who?"
"Obatala, he's a cab driver,” she said and then handed the phone to Obatala. “Here, Obatala, speak to my father and tell him where we are."
Obatala took the phone.
"Hello, sir. We are eight kilometers north of Blanchisseuse Bay. There is a small dirt road that goes off to the right, just past the gas station. We're about a half-mile down that road. It's a small, white frame house with a green roof."
"Okay, someone will be there immediately."
The phone went dead. Obatala set it down on the kitchen table and took a deep breath.
"I hope they get here fast," Kevin said.
Deviane walked over to a small desk in the corner of the room. On the desk were a lamp, a bible and some rosary beads. She picked up the rosary beads and asked, “May I borrow these for a moment?"
"Of course, I think your sister could use a little divine intervention right now."
"Thank you," Deviane said and walked over and knelt next to Kiran.
Kevin watched Deviane pray a moment and then walked over and put his hands on her shoulders. After a second, she got up and embraced Kevin. They held each other and waited to be rescued. Miss Victoria took Kiran's pulse and checked her blood pressure. Then in a motherly gesture, she ran her hand through Kiran's fine black hair. Deviane began to weep.
"Come on, child. Just hang on a little while longer," she said.
It was less than fifteen minutes, but it seemed like an eternity before the sound of a helicopter could be heard in the distance. Kevin ran outside with Deviane right behind. He jumped up and down, waving frantically at the chopper, but in the darkness they couldn't see him. Finally, he went over to Obatala's car and turned the lights on and off. The chopper suddenly veered toward them and landed a hundred yards away. Kevin and Deviane ran over to the chopper and met the medics as they jumped out. They pointed to the house and yelled that Kiran was inside. The medics pulled out a stretcher and carried it across the field and into the house.
"What's her condition?" the paramedic asked.
"She has a bullet wound in the chest, her breathing is difficult and she needs blood," Victoria replied.
"How long has it been since she was hit?"
"Forty-five minutes," Kevin said.
The paramedics loaded Kiran on the stretcher and carried it back to the helicopter.
"There's another chopper, five minutes away, that will pick you up and take you back to the capitol. We're going to Port of Spain General Hospital. Good luck."
The chopper rose slowly into the air and then headed off over the forest. Kevin and Deviane watched it disappear and then waited in anticipation of their rescue.
Suddenly, two headlights appeared, moving up the dirt road leading to Miss Victoria's place. Kevin and Deviane ran back toward the house to warn Obatala, but before they got halfway there, another set of lights appeared, coming from the other direction. The two cars intercepted Kevin and Deviane. A half dozen soldiers jumped out and surrounded them. Obatala and Victoria looked out the window in horror as they watched Kevin and Deviane being bound and gagged and thrown into the back of a jeep. Obatala suddenly felt sick, his worst nightmare had become reality. Phase one of the NDC plan to seize control of the Trinidad government had been successfully carried out.

Chapter 16

It was raining heavily when the helicopter arrived at Port of Spain General Hospital. A special team of doctors had been assembled in anticipation of the arrival of the Prime Minister's daughter. Kiran was immediately rushed to the casualty department. When her condition had been stabilized, she was taken into surgery for the removal of the bullet. Ahmad and Anila waited anxiously in a private waiting room. Sharad and Anamica checked in periodically to see how they were doing, and to keep them apprized of any new developments.
"I can't believe my baby is having a bullet taken out of her chest. God, Ahmad, how could you let this happen?"
"What do you mean? I had them heavily guarded. I never suspected the sleazy cowards would launch an all out attack on my children! Jesus! I used to have a little respect for Malcolm Mann, but now I know he's nothing but a spineless cockroach!"
"Why don't you arrest him?"
"I'd like to, believe me. Unfortunately, at this moment I have no proof he's responsible. I guarantee, though, just as soon as we can tie him to the assassination attempt or this kidnaping, we'll put him behind bars, where he belongs."
"What if Kiran dies, Ahmad? She's so young."
"She won't die. She's a strong girl."
"I can't stand this, Ahmad! I can't stand just sitting here not knowing if she’s going to live or die."
"She'll be all right, relax!"
For nearly an hour, Ahmad and Anila waited impatiently for news. Finally the doctor walked into the room.
"Mr. Prime Minister?"
"Yes."
"Your daughter is out of surgery. We've removed the bullet and she's in the recovery room. She was a very lucky girl. The bullet narrowly missed her heart."
"Oh, thank God!" Anila sobbed. "So she's going to be okay?"
"Yes, it's fortunate they were able to get her to Miss Victoria when they did. She lost a lot of blood and may not have made it without her help."
"Who is Miss Victoria? I want to personally thank her," the Prime Minister said.
"She's a midwife who’s been practicing up in the north for as long as I can remember. A lot of folks still use her to avoid having to come to Port of Spain and pay for a hospital visit."
"Anamica, make a note for me to stop by and visit her one day."
"Yes, sir."
"Is she awake, doctor? Can we see her?"
"No, we better let her sleep awhile. Why don't you come back about noon tomorrow? She should be awake and feeling much better by then."
"Oh, I'm so relieved. Thank you, doctor," Anila said.
"I'm happy that I could be of service. I hope your other daughter is okay."
"Speaking of Deviane, has the other helicopter brought her back yet?"
"I'll call immediately and find out," Anamica replied and then started to leave the room.
As she was leaving, Sharad entered.
"Ahmad, you won't believe this."
"What?"
"When the second helicopter arrived, Deviane and Mr. Wells were gone. They've been kidnaped!"
"Oh no! No!" Anila screamed and began crying.
Anamica quickly came over and held her.
"Are you sure? How could that be? What happened?"
"Miss Victoria said the NDC arrived right after Kiran had been taken away. They bound and gagged them and threw them into a jeep. She and Obatala managed to slip out the back door and into the forest without being seen. She said the NDC jeep headed south, toward Arima."
"Oh, God!" Anila wailed.
"Are we in pursuit?"
"Yes, of course, and we've got a blockade on the road ten miles north of Arima."
"Good. I wonder how they knew where to find them?"
"It was the mobile phone, sir. They must have intercepted Deviane's call to you."
"Damn it!" the Prime Minister yelled.
Tears welled in his eyes. He struggled to keep from crying.
"I know, Ahmad. I know."
"I'm going to take Anila home. Call me if you hear anything."
"I will. What about the news conference?"
"Cancel it! Until we know Deviane and Kevin's fate, I don't want to talk to the press."
"Should we tell them about the kidnaping and that Kiran is safe?"
"No, tell them nothing. They'll have to wait."
"Some of what happened may have already leaked out. They'll be asking lots of questions."
"I know. They always ask lots of questions, but they'll just have to wait another day, until we can sort things out. I can't deal with them now, okay?"
"Yes, Ahmad. Of course."
****
The two jeeps raced along the narrow highway towards Arima, with Kevin and Deviane bound and gagged in the back seat. The sky was starting to lighten with the approaching dawn. Suddenly, the jeep veered off the main highway onto a dirt road. It stopped five minutes later. Kevin heard the door open and a hand reached in to pull him roughly from his seat.
Moments later, he was assaulted by the wind and the roar of helicopter blades as he was lifted into the chopper and thrown onto a seat. He heard Deviane's muffled screams as she was also forced aboard. The helicopter rose quickly and flew low to the ground, toward its destination.
Kevin was paralyzed with fear. He knew the kidnappers had orders to kill him. They would have reason to keep Deviane alive. She could provide them a good ransom, but he was only a liability. He was the one person who could bring down the NDC. He wondered why he was still alive.
It wasn't long before the helicopter made its descent. Once on the ground, the two hostages were led to an elevator and taken down several floors. They were led down a hallway and put in a room. When their blindfolds and gags were removed, and their hands untied, a half dozen young soldiers were surrounding them. Without a word, they were left alone in the small, concrete, windowless room. In the far corner there was an old mattress thrown on the ground. In another corner, a dirty toilet and a sink.
"Where are we?" Deviane asked in a quivering voice.
"Who knows? We could be anywhere. I think we flew back toward Port of Spain, but I'm not sure."
"I wonder how Kiran is doing? I hope she's okay. I can't believe she got away and we didn't."
"I guess using the mobile phone wasn't such a hot idea."
"At least it saved Kiran."
"I hope it did. She didn't look so good when we left her."
"She'll make it, won't she, Kevin?"
"I think so. Miss Victoria had her stabilized at least."
"I hope so. I am so scared."
"I know. So am I. Why don't you lie down? You must be exhausted."
"Actually, I am exhausted. That mattress is looking pretty good right now."
"I'd like to take a nap too, but I'm starving. I wonder if they plan to feed us?"
"I assume they will eventually."
Deviane walked over to the mattress and laid down. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep. Kevin watched her awhile, running the events of the last 24 hours through his mind over and over again. Finally he succumbed to his exhaustion, lay down beside her and fell asleep. Hours later he awoke and found her cuddled next to him with her head on his shoulder. He was afraid to move as he feared it might wake her up, but she was already awake.
"I've dreamed of sleeping with you,” she said. “But not like this.”
"You have?"
"Yes, ever since you were on Jay Leno. Kiran and I both have had a crush on you. I was so mad when my father let Kiran go visit you. I knew you'd fall in love with her and then I wouldn't have a chance."
“I’m sorry, I had no idea. . . . Where did you learn that vampire move anyway? I've never felt anything like that before."
"I read about the technique in a magazine, Twenty-four Ways to Drive Your Man Wild!"
"Twenty-four?"
"Yeah, that was number eleven."
"Jesus! What kind of magazines do you read?"
"All of them. Even Cosmopolitan and all the teenage slut magazines. I hate being naive or ignorant about anything.”
"Hmm. I don’t think you have to worry about that. You're already a lot smarter and more knowledgeable than most girls I've met."
"Does that bother you?"
"No, I like a smart girl."
"Even one who may be smarter than you?"
He laughed. "Well, I haven’t met that girl yet, but I wouldn't care either way."
Deviane chuckled. "Good. A lot of boys don't like me because I have a brain."
"Yeah, I can believe that. A lot of my friends are like that too. It's pretty stupid."
The two prisoners pondered their plight for several minutes in an uneasy silence. Deviane closed her eyes and clutched Kevin tightly. Kevin stared at the blank wall as if in a trance.
"I can't believe I'm going to die before I ever get married," Deviane said.
"We're not going to die, don't talk like that."
"How will we ever escape?"
"Your father will rescue us, I'm sure."
"If he can find us."
"If he doesn't find us, then we'll have to figure out a way to get out of here on our own."
"But, how?"
"People escape from prisons everyday. We'll just have to be observant and resourceful. We'll figure something out."
"What if we don't?"
Kevin took a deep breath. "Then at least we won't die alone."
Deviane lifted her head and looked Kevin in the eyes. After a moment of silence she smiled.
"You're right. Having you with me when the end comes will make it so much easier to bear."
Kevin took her hand and gave it a tender squeeze. She smiled and then wiped away a tear that had started to run down her cheek. Finally she laid back down and closed her eyes. Soon she was asleep.
Kevin watched her as she slept. His mind was whirling–pondering her apparent infatuation with him and trying desperately to come up with a plan, a strategy for their survival. Finally, he gave in to exhaustion and fell asleep.
He was in Texas now, living the assassination attempt once again. Feeling the sting of the bullet piercing his flesh. Reeling from the pain that finally drove him to unconsciousness. Then he was in front of his house.
He stepped out of his car. There were blue and white lights flashing on a patrol car. He could hear the police radio, then a crowd of reporters surrounded him. They were yelling questions at him, so many questions. The lights of the cameras flashed. He stuck his arm in front of him to shield his eyes from the bright lights. Then someone grabbed his arm. He pulled away and began to run. He ran inside nearly gagging from the stench. He hurried through a crowd of men in the living room. Then upstairs toward her room. Then he saw her. She was lying on her bed with a white sheet stretched from head to toe. Kevin pulled it down to look at her face. She looked so peaceful, like she was in a deep wonderful sleep. He began to cry. . . .