"William W Johnstone - Ashes 32 - Destiny in the Ashes (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

spirits," he said as he paced around the small room. Whirling suddenly,
he backhanded the man, knocking him to the ground. Farrar straddled him
and ground the point of a stiletto against his throat. "Can you give me
one good reason not to cut out your throat and feed it to the jackals?"

With some difficulty the man rasped, "It will not happen again... I
promise."
The others in the room watched intently, afraid to avert their eyes and
draw Farrar's murderous attention to them. The man cringed, sweat
running from his face, as Farrar slipped the point of the stiletto under
his shirt. With an abrupt motion he sliced the shirt open, causing the
man to cry out in fear. Farrar gently stroked the razor-sharp stiletto
against his chest, leaving a thin line dripping blood.

"I shall spare your life but leave you with this mark of shame, lest you
forget and again partake of the infidels' poison. Now get out of my
sight before I decide to cut out your tongue which the alcohol loosens!"

The man scrambled to his feet, his face flaming in embarrassment, and
fled from the room. As the others also be-

15

gan to file out, Farrar said, "Mustafa, remain. We need to talk."

Mustafa Kareem, his second in command, inclined his head in obedience
and remained seated. Farrar poured them both fruit juice over ice, then
shook his head in resignation. "If we didn't need every man, I would
have gutted that camel dung and been done with him."

"You did right, my brother. All of the men have begun to be infected
with the infidels' ways. The lesson was sorely needed and adroitly
applied." Kareem inclined his head in admiration. "They will all think
twice before causing the mission danger in the future."

"We need action, Mustafa. The men grow soft with the waiting." Farrar
picked up a newspaper and waved it in the air. "I think this will give
the men something to do to alleviate their boredom." Throwing the paper
down on the table, he spat on it. The headline read: president claire oster-

MAN TO APPEAR AT SOCIALIST/DEMOCRATIC FUND-RAISER.

Kareem tilted his head to read the story. "I agree, but there will be
much security around such an important gathering. We will need to plan
carefully if we are to succeed."

"You're right as usual." Farrar took his stiletto from the table and
wiped the blood from the tip with the newspaper, then slipped it into a
scabbard behind his neck. "From now on, the men are not to leave the
house. Pick up some women and young boys and bring them to the house for