Free The Devil's Waters by David L. Robbins Page A

religion dictated it. Hijacking this one ship would keep them at bay from Qandala.
    “Let them come.” Suleiman did not flinch in his chair. “When did we ever run? We have men and guns. We can get more.”
    “I knew that would be your answer. That’s why I told you about the money first.” Yusuf pressed a hand on his cousin’s knee.
    “Listen to me. They’ll come here. They will. These groups work with al-Qaeda. They want control over both sides of the gulf. They’re in Yemen, andnow they’re making moves in Somalia. You and I don’t want them here—fair enough. So we’ll stay and fight, our clan with us. If we win, how many will die along the way? If we lose, even if you and I survive, we will run. And that will be like death. Let’s take the damn ship.”
    Suleiman scratched his beard. “Do you remember your mother’s story about the man who bargained with the shark?”
    Yusuf was touched by the recollection of his mother. She’d died in England soon after he’d returned to Somalia, proud that he’d come home. She believed he might right his life here among his people, fighting to restore some dignity to their homeland. She didn’t live long enough to know if he had.
    “The shark ate him last.”
    “That’s all you’ve agreed to with these Islamists. You know this.”
    “Yes.”
    “Maybe that’s the best we can do for now. It will give us time to prepare for when they break their bargain. But, cousin, think. This ship is not empty.”
    “I know.”
    “Robow is lying. Or he doesn’t know what’s on it. Neither pleases me.”
    Yusuf looked out a window at a serpentine and complex world. Secrets, power, treasure; what was so valuable, or dangerous, aboard this freighter that al-Shabaab came to pirates to grab it for them?
    In twenty days, the ship would sail through Somali waters. Yusuf, to protect his village, would hijack it.
    Suleiman asked, “This doesn’t worry you?”
    “I save my worries for when I have choice. I have neither in this case. Whatever’s on the ship, we’ll take it and we’ll ransom it along with the crew. Then we retire. You have my word.”
    “Tell me what little you do know about the ship.”
    Yusuf relatedSheikh Robow’s information. The freighter was French-owned and flagged, built in 2003. Fully loaded, she could handle 2,200 containers, with a crew of twenty-six. Two hundred twenty meters long, thirty meters wide. She had three cranes on deck that allowed her to load and unload herself.
    “This won’t be an easy one to take,” Suleiman said, glum again. “Aside from the guards, she’ll be fast and riding high if she’s really empty. The bulbous bow will be above the surface. The prop will be out of the water at the stern. Her wake will be rough. The captain will be good. They’ll be on the lookout.”
    “You’ll figure it out.” Yusuf smoothed his robe.
    Suleiman tapped the map on the table, already planning. “I know a trick the Malaccan pirates use when there are guards on board. One of the Indians on the
Bannon
told me he’d seen it. I don’t know how well it will work if the ship’s running empty.”
    “And if it doesn’t work?”
    “We’ll fight our way on. Like always.”
    “That’s for later. Let’s go back to the party. I don’t want a knife fight with Aziza this time.”
    Suleiman kept his seat. “One last question.”
    “Yes.”
    “Why does an al-Shabaab sheikh come ask you to hijack it? There are other pirates. Other villages they can threaten. Why visit Yusuf Raage?”
    Yusuf held his hands out from his sides to put himself on display. “He says I am known to be a bloody man.”
    Nothing Yusuf had said caused Suleiman to laugh, but this.

Chapter 6

    Camp Lemonnier
    Djibouti
    Jamie cradled the phone in both hands, one palm flattenedover the receiver to mute it.
    “Hey, hey, hey!” He waved the phone over his head. “Everybody, quiet! It’s the PRCC!”
    LB set down his Ping-Pong paddle. He was winning 10–3 over