The Inside Passage (Ted Higuera Series Book 1) by Pendelton Wallace Page A

the little display and hurried off down the street. The whole episode
had only taken seconds. Meagan stood, watching him go in dumb silence.

Chapter 8
     
    On the Iranian border,
Afghanistan
    Ahmad told his
family the trip to Iran was to visit his grandparents. Being a native citizen
of Canada didn’t absolve him of his responsibility to, and love for, his
parents’ native country. This was his first chance to see the homeland.
    However, it wasn’t
just a trip to see his family. Instead of two weeks of rigorous religious
instruction in Tehran, Ahmad and Mohammed snuck across the Afghani border to
visit a Taliban training camp.
    “Please excuse our
poor Farsi,” Ahmad told his instructor.
    “It is not a
problem,” Jamal replied. “You were given to me because I speak English. You
will strike a blow for Allah regardless of what language you pray to him in.”
The six trainees in Ahmad’s group were all from English speaking countries.
    First came weapons
training. They drilled night and day until they could dismantle and reassemble
the Russian-made AK-47s in the dark. The feel of the weapon in his hand, the
smooth cold steel of the barrel, gave Ahmad a sense of power. Soon they’ll
be sorry. Soon they’ll pay for every slight, every insult.
    “You will learn to
rely upon your weapons,” Jamal told them. “Keep them as close to you as your
Qur’an. When you return home, you will be contacted and told how to obtain
them.”
    It was all new and
exciting for Ahmad. He experienced a sense of fellowship and belonging that he
had never felt before. These were his people. He was accepted
unconditionally. They were all working together for a great cause.
    After the weapons
training, there was a short course on explosive devices.
    “We don’t know
what your mission will be. You must be prepared for anything.”
    They learned to
make improvised bombs and use C-4 plastic explosives. Will we have to bomb
something? He was prepared to fight men, soldiers; but he would not stoop
to the levels of the suicide bombers attacking women and children.
    Their brief
indoctrination included physical training, even though both he and Mohammed
were in prime shape. They had made it their mission to run five miles daily and
regularly hiked and rock climbed in the wilds of Canada in preparation for this
mission.
    On their return
trip to Canada, there was nothing on their passports to indicate that they had
ever left Iran.
     
    ****
     
    Seattle
    Man, what’s got
his underwear in a knot? Ted stared open-mouthed as Chris stormed below. In
the four years they had lived together, Ted could count the number of arguments
they had had on one hand.
    He knew he had to
do something. He didn’t like the way Meagan controlled Chris’ life. He couldn’t
understand why Chris couldn’t see that she was just after his dad’s money.
Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all, her coming on the trip. This would
give Chris a chance to see what she was really made of.
    “Food’s here,”
Candace called from the dock.
    Ted looked up to
see Candace take a deep breath, paste a smile on her face and climb aboard. The
way she moved was mesmerizing, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  
     “Here’s a bacon
cheeseburger.” Candace handed a burger and a wax bag full of French fries to
Ted. She handled them as if they were toxic waste.
    “ Gracias,
senorita .” Ted wiped his hands on the seat of his jeans.
    “And I got one for
you too,” she said to Chris who came back up from the cabin.
    Chris unfolded the
teak cockpit table and Candace unwrapped her greasy vegetarian burger as if it
might bite her. She didn’t have any fries.
    They sat at the
table. Candace leaned back, shook her head and let the unusually warm June
sunshine flood her face. Ted couldn’t help but stare as she thrust out her
chest. She quickly sat back up and crossed her arms.
    As soon as the
food hit the table, a flock of seagulls circled the boat, calling for handouts.
Ted