Read Online A Cold Day In Mosul by Isaac Hooke - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Isaac Hooke
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organized into a series of cells, some of which operated out of Kurdistan. Ten of these cells, including The Mosul Brigade, had joined forces to form the Mosul Liberation Council. The individual factions were responsible for a rash of attacks against the Islamic State, including several IED and bomb blasts. They also randomly kidnapped mujahadeen from the streets—the mutilated bodies of the militants would be found floating in the Tigris a few days later. The biggest cell was the Free Officers Movement, with The Mosul Brigade coming in a close second.
Othunan regarded them appraisingly. Ethan saw intelligence in his eyes, and cunning. And something else he couldn't quite place. Contempt?
"You are the Amrika infidels?" The incredulity sounded thick in his voice. Othunan spoke in a heavy Iraqi dialect that Ethan found difficult to understand.
Doug nodded. "That would be us."
" What , infidels?" Othunan said. "Speak up!"
Doug repeated his answer, louder.
"For special operatives you look rather... ordinary," Othunan said. "Though I suppose that is the idea. Still, you let us surround you. What if this had been an Islamic State trap? You would be captured or dead. Not so special after all. I see now why the woman you seek was lost. If she displayed the same blatant lack of tradecraft as yourselves, it is entirely unsurprising."
"Look down," Doug said simply.
Puzzled, Othunan glanced between his feet. Some of the surrounding men gasped.
"At your chest," Doug clarified.
Finally Othunan saw the red dot that had drifted onto his body only moments before. His gaze shot upward, toward the nearby metal shelves, and his eyes widened. Ethan didn't need to look to know that William was perched there. The operative had likely entered via one of the gaps in the ceiling where a fallen tower had torn through the rooftop.
Othunan erupted in uproarious laughter. "Very good. For a moment I thought I would have to go home disappointed." Smiling widely, as if it were all some grand joke, Othunan made a put-down gesture with his hand. The masked individuals around Ethan lowered their AKs.
The red dot left Othunan's chest an instant later.
Ethan and Doug abandoned their postures of surrender and allowed their arms to hang loosely at their sides; Ethan casually rested his right hand close to the trigger of his A4.
Othunan stepped between the two of them. "Come, walk with me, and we shall commence business. Unless you have come to Iraq merely for the masgûf?"
"While we certainly have a taste for masgûf," Doug said. "I'm afraid we haven't come to your country for the fish."
Ethan and Doug walked on either side of Othunan. Two fighters followed at a discreet distance, while the remaining resistance members dispersed, some vanishing into the shadows, others assuming various guard positions throughout the warehouse and its entrance. Several watched William.
"This woman you seek, she is one of your agents?" Othunan asked.
"Something like that," Doug said.
Othunan tapped his lips. "And you want our help finding her."
"I always knew you were a clever man." There was only a hint of sarcasm in Doug's voice.
Othunan frowned. "My troops are ill-equipped. Before I can help you I need supplies. Arms."
"You will have them," Doug said.
"Modern weapons," Othunan said. "Not more AK-47s. I want M16s. With laser sights. And night vision scopes."
"Of course," Doug said.
"And plated armor. And grenades. Yes, rocket propelled grenades. Oh, and I also want target designators. To direct airstrikes."
Doug shook his head. "Can't give you designators. They're beyond the scope of this operation."
"But we need airstrikes," Othunan said stubbornly. "Think beyond your little operation... if we are to push the Islamic State from this city, we must bomb them to hell. Like Kobane and Sinjar."
"Kobane is in ruins now because of those airstrikes you covet so badly," Doug said. "And Sinjar is well on its way to the same fate."
Othunan threw up his arms. "The
Othunan regarded them appraisingly. Ethan saw intelligence in his eyes, and cunning. And something else he couldn't quite place. Contempt?
"You are the Amrika infidels?" The incredulity sounded thick in his voice. Othunan spoke in a heavy Iraqi dialect that Ethan found difficult to understand.
Doug nodded. "That would be us."
" What , infidels?" Othunan said. "Speak up!"
Doug repeated his answer, louder.
"For special operatives you look rather... ordinary," Othunan said. "Though I suppose that is the idea. Still, you let us surround you. What if this had been an Islamic State trap? You would be captured or dead. Not so special after all. I see now why the woman you seek was lost. If she displayed the same blatant lack of tradecraft as yourselves, it is entirely unsurprising."
"Look down," Doug said simply.
Puzzled, Othunan glanced between his feet. Some of the surrounding men gasped.
"At your chest," Doug clarified.
Finally Othunan saw the red dot that had drifted onto his body only moments before. His gaze shot upward, toward the nearby metal shelves, and his eyes widened. Ethan didn't need to look to know that William was perched there. The operative had likely entered via one of the gaps in the ceiling where a fallen tower had torn through the rooftop.
Othunan erupted in uproarious laughter. "Very good. For a moment I thought I would have to go home disappointed." Smiling widely, as if it were all some grand joke, Othunan made a put-down gesture with his hand. The masked individuals around Ethan lowered their AKs.
The red dot left Othunan's chest an instant later.
Ethan and Doug abandoned their postures of surrender and allowed their arms to hang loosely at their sides; Ethan casually rested his right hand close to the trigger of his A4.
Othunan stepped between the two of them. "Come, walk with me, and we shall commence business. Unless you have come to Iraq merely for the masgûf?"
"While we certainly have a taste for masgûf," Doug said. "I'm afraid we haven't come to your country for the fish."
Ethan and Doug walked on either side of Othunan. Two fighters followed at a discreet distance, while the remaining resistance members dispersed, some vanishing into the shadows, others assuming various guard positions throughout the warehouse and its entrance. Several watched William.
"This woman you seek, she is one of your agents?" Othunan asked.
"Something like that," Doug said.
Othunan tapped his lips. "And you want our help finding her."
"I always knew you were a clever man." There was only a hint of sarcasm in Doug's voice.
Othunan frowned. "My troops are ill-equipped. Before I can help you I need supplies. Arms."
"You will have them," Doug said.
"Modern weapons," Othunan said. "Not more AK-47s. I want M16s. With laser sights. And night vision scopes."
"Of course," Doug said.
"And plated armor. And grenades. Yes, rocket propelled grenades. Oh, and I also want target designators. To direct airstrikes."
Doug shook his head. "Can't give you designators. They're beyond the scope of this operation."
"But we need airstrikes," Othunan said stubbornly. "Think beyond your little operation... if we are to push the Islamic State from this city, we must bomb them to hell. Like Kobane and Sinjar."
"Kobane is in ruins now because of those airstrikes you covet so badly," Doug said. "And Sinjar is well on its way to the same fate."
Othunan threw up his arms. "The