Payback - John Hayes Series 06 (2020), стр. 25
“It’s not pretty.” He looked at each of the men in turn. “I think what you are doing is admirable, I would do the same if it was my daughter, but...” He shrugged. “It's bloody dangerous.”
“We’re expecting that.”
Craig studied John’s face. “Yes, I’m sure you are. Okay, let me put it this way. From the minute you cross that border, you will not know who you can trust. Who is a good guy, and who is a bad guy. They are all good guys, all bad guys. It depends on your luck.” He took another sip of his drink, warming to the subject. “You’ve got multiple anti-government factions in the area she’s in, all affiliated to Al Qaeda. Some of them genuinely feel they are fighting for freedom from Assad. Others are just Islamic extremists who dream of a caliphate.”
John decided he would need another drink and signaled for the waiter.
“You will also have the Turkish Army. They are easier to deal with, but my point is, you will be crossing checkpoints, not just around Idlib but every step of the way once you set foot in the country and have to justify your reason for being there.”
“Understood.”
Craig waited while John’s drink arrived before continuing.
“How will you communicate?”
John tipped his head toward Mansur. “Mansur speaks Arabic.”
“Good. Arabic and English will be sufficient for dealing with the Syrian Army, the Russians, and the Kurds. If you cross the front line, you will have the Turks and the rebels to deal with. Again, Arabic and English should get you by. You mentioned before you are going as Press?”
“That’s right. Doable?”
“You’ll need documentation. You can’t just wander around with a notebook.”
John reached into his pocket and removed a laminated plastic card in a leather holder and handed it over.
“I have this, letters of invitation, and everything else you said we’d need.”
Craig examined the card and nodded his approval.
“How did you get this? Adriana?”
John glanced at Steve, who gave a subtle shake of his head.
“It’s best you don’t know.”
Craig stared back at John, then grinned. “Okay.” He picked up his drink and knocked back the rest of the whiskey. “I’ll throw in some Press badges for the bulletproof vests before I bring them over. I’ve got some extra in the flat. You just Velcro them to the front and back.”
“Thank you.”
“Now remember, a vest will not be enough to protect you if it turns to shit, and it turns to shit really quickly. If bullets start flying, your instinct will be to run. Don’t! Nothing attracts attention more than someone running. Drop to the ground and find something substantial to hide behind. And I mean substantial. Rounds can cut through most things like paper. Stay down, stay hidden until you have an escape route.”
John glanced at Steve, who looked increasingly nervous.
“Take money but keep it hidden. Bribery can help at a checkpoint but only use it as a last resort. Remember, you are supposed to be legitimate journalists. Take notes, photos, look like you are supposed to be there, but be careful what you photograph. Try to avoid pointing your cameras at the fighters. Some love their photos being taken, but others can get really angry and will turn on you in seconds.”
Steve exhaled loudly. “I need another beer.”
Craig smiled in sympathy.
“Just keep your wits about you and always be calm and polite at the checkpoints. These guys want you to know who’s in charge. If you do all that, you should be okay.”
“Yeah.” Steve waved for the waiter.
“Do you have transport once you are across?”
“Ah... no.” John cleared his throat. “I assumed we might find a taxi, someone to drive us from the border.”
“Yes, there are plenty of guys who will do that for you. You will see them hanging around, depending on where Mehmet makes you cross. Pay them well and win their trust. They’re pretty good at getting you through checkpoints.”
“Good, thanks.”
“I...” Craig stopped, his eyes on something over John’s shoulder, his mouth hanging open.
John turned to see what he was looking at, and his frown turned into a grin as Adriana and Maadhavi, both dressed to kill, entered the bar. He turned back, noticing that most of the conversation in the bar had stopped.
“Craig, why don’t you join us for dinner?”
40
After a large breakfast, they all gathered in John and Adriana’s room. At exactly ten o’clock, John dialed the number Craig had given him. It rang twice before a gruff voice answered.
“Alo?”
“Mehmet? This is John.”
“Yes, John. Good morning. It is all organized. I want you to fly down to the town of Cizre. The nearest airport is Sirnak, and there’s a flight just after one. Book yourself into a hotel there and text me the hotel name. My associate, Hemin, will call you. He will take you across the border tonight.”
“He is reliable?”
“John,” Mehmet scoffed. “You doubt me? He is my best man. He makes the trip many times already.”
“Thank you, Mehmet.”
“Oh, and John. One of my men is waiting in the lobby. You pay him half now and the balance to Hemin once you are over the border.”
John pursed his lips. He didn’t like to part with the money before they had even left, but he didn’t have any other options.
“Okay.”
“Iyi şanslar.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Good luck.”
The phone went dead. John stared at the blank screen for a moment.
“All okay, mate?”
John looked up and smiled at Steve.
“Yes, all good. We have to get a flight down to Sirnak and book into a hotel there. One of his men will meet us and take us across the border tonight.”
“That’s good, then,” Steve replied. “Why the frown?”
“We have to pay half the fee now to his man in the lobby.”
“Hmmm.”
“What if he doesn’t go ahead with it?” Adriana asked.
John thought for a moment. “Well, then we are down three and a half grand. We have no-one else, so I say let’s do it, but Steve, it’s your call.”
“Yeah, okay. We’ll pay him. It could take us days