Free Under Siege by Keith Douglass Page A

stage was set. He’d bet by tomorrow morning the tanks would be rolling. How he wished he could be with them.
    Just after an early dinner, Mrs. Hardesty walked up to Badri and stared at him.
    “You are an intelligent man, Mr. Badri. Why are you doing this? Surely you know that your eight or ten men can’t hold out long against even the small army that New Namibia must have. When the Marines land, or the special forces, you won’t stand a ghost of a chance in a haunted house.”
    “Very good. Mrs. Hardesty, excellent. You grasp the situation precisely. If I can’t hold out, then what will I and you do?”
    “You’ll run, of course. This is not a spur of the moment action. I didn’t even know I was coming to New Namibia until a week ago. Your intelligence service must have been working overtime. You’re not a New Namibian. What’s your home country?”
    “Not important. The vital element is that I have you. I control you, and the president will jump through hoops to get you back. It’s all quite simple. How could a lowly soldier like me get twenty million dollars any easier than this?”
    “Twenty million? Is that all I’m worth on the open market? I’m embarrassed. I figured it would be at least a billion and a half or some such figure. Only twenty million?”
    “Actually, since your country won’t negotiate for hostages, I probably will never get the money.”
    “Then why don’t you radio the president that it’s all over and you’re leaving me here and fading into the woods and jungle and we won’t chase you? You know that’s a much better option than having the special forces chase you and fill you full of holes. Then how will you spend any of that money? You need to think through your options again, Mr. Badri. You haven’t considered them all, and I’m sure that when you do, you’ll realize that you’re in a no-win situation.”
    “Unless there is some other reason for your abduction that you don’t know about.”
    “Another reason? Money seems to be your reason.”
    “Good try, Mrs. Hardesty, but no prize. I have a mission to accomplish for my country, and it doesn’t include letting you go free.” He hesitated then motioned. “Come out here on the patio with me. I’m going to call your husband and tell him my ransom demands for you. You might find it interesting.”
    He had the SATCOM radio set up on a table with the fold-out antenna already in place. He picked up the handset, turned on a switch, and began.
    “Mr. President. This is Ahmed Badri calling.”
    The response was immediate. “Yes, Mr. Badri. This is the president’s chief of staff. Are you aware of what time it is?”
    “I will talk to no one but the president.”
    “He’s not here at the moment.”
    “Tell him he has five minutes to get on your SATCOM set or I’ll cut off one of the First Lady’s ears and send it to him by Air Express. You have five minutes.”
    “He’ll be here. Wait. Don’t do anything rash. Wait just a moment.”
    Mrs. Hardesty shook her head. “Mr. Badri, you know my husband will never negotiate with you.”
    “Of course not. I will make demands and he’ll meet them. No negotiations involved. It’s amazing how cooperative people can be when you make a proposition that they can’t refuse. Absolutely remarkable.”
    The SATCOM speaker sounded.
    “Mr. Badri. This is President Hardesty.”
    “How was your lunch?”
    “Nothing to write home about. How is Eleanor?”
    “Actually she’s in quite good spirits. Trying to argue with me and talk international politics. Amazing woman. You can have her back by meeting a few requirements.”
    “We don’t negotiate.”
    “No, this isn’t that. I simply tell you what to do, and you do it. No negotiations required. Understood?”
    “What are your conditions?”
    “First, send by wire twenty million dollars to my Swiss bank account. Do this within an hour after our talk. The number is SA-46297-BA. That’s all that’s needed for a deposit.