فصل ۴

Chapter 4

Carl looked out of the plane window. It was very dark and rainy. It was a small airport with only one or two other planes. But there were three police cars near the airport building.

‘I don’t understand,’ said quietly in Harald’s ear. ‘Why are we here?’

Harald looked worried. ‘Don’t ask me,’ he whispered back. ‘Ask them.’

‘No thanks,’ Carl looked at the hijackers. The young air hostess was still standing at the front of the plane with her machine gun. One of the young men, also with machine gun, was standing at the back of the plane. The other hijacker was in the Captain’s cabin. All the passengers sat very quietly in their seats.

A bell rang and man’s voice spoke.

‘Ladies and Gentelmen, listen to me. This is the People’s Liberation Army. This plane is ours now, and are you our prisoners. We do not want to hurt you, but as you can see, we have our guns and we know how to shoot. So please, sit quietly in yours seats and do what we say. We will be here for one or two hours. The Government of this country has two of our brothers in a prison near this airport. We are asking the Government to bring our two brothers to this plane. When our brothers are free, you will be free. We think this will take one of two hours, but not very long. As you know, the Prime Minister of this country is only a woman. She will do what we say. So do not worry. Just sit very still and wait a little while. Goodnight.’ Carl looked at Harald. ‘Oh dear,’ he whispered. ‘I think we’re in trouble, my young friend. Big trouble.’

Harald agreed. ‘We certainly are. The Government won’t set two men free. They tried to put a bomb on a plane last year, didn’t they, sir? They’re in prison for thirty years!’ ‘I know,’ Carl whispered. ‘No one could set them free. So what about us?’

‘What about you, you mean,’ whispered Harald. ‘I’m not important. Look, sir, you’d better give your passport.’

‘What? Why?’

‘Ssh!’ Harald put his hand on the older man’s arm and stopped talking. Carl looked up and saw the young air hostess starting at them. Her machine gun was pointing at them too. He stopped talking and looked out of the window.

After a few minutes she stopped watching them. ‘Give me the passport, sir!’ Harald whispered, very quietly. Very slow and carefully, Carl took it our of this pocket and gave it to him.

There was still come coffee in Carl’s cup. Very carefully, Harald put the passport on his tray and poured the coffee onto it. When passport was very wet, he tore it slowly into little pieces. He was a strong young man and because the passport was wet, it did not make a sound. Then, one by one, he out the pieces of wet paper into his mouth and ate them. In ten minutes, the passport had disappered.

‘I don’t understand,’ whispered Carl. ‘Why did you do that?’

‘You’ll see,’ whispered Harald. ‘But when they ask questions, let me answer, sir. OK? You say nothing.’

‘OK.’ Carl looked away, out of the window. A large black car was just driving up to airport building.