It was about 7:30, Roy looked at his breakfast, it was a western meal with toasts, Kaveh had left his mates to eat with Roy, because he thought he must not feel lonely. beside…

But with a look at his face, Roy realized that Kaveh hadn't used to western meals, he was curious to know what an Iranian food would taste.

' What do you Iranians usually eat? Frog?' Roy joked.

Kaveh looked up with a sudden surprise, seeing Roy smiling he understood his meaning, then said, ' is it how you order food over there?! Then you make me bring an Iranian food for your lunch'

' I would...' Roy was beginning to say something when his smile froze on his lips. Tears ran into his eyes and got up not to let Kaveh see this.

This sudden change worried Kaveh; he got up too and went towards Roy standing next to a little window, took his arm and pressed. It made Roy's tears fill his eyes again.

' What's it?' asked Kaveh. His tone was so brotherly that Roy couldn't react roughly; he needed a brother at the moment indeed! But he didn't answer.

' Sometimes you wish you could do something to relieve a friend but you are absolutely unable to!' Kaveh continued, ' sometimes you are standing beside him taking his arm, but you are miles away from him! Then you feel sick of yourself'

Roy breathed deeply, his arm was trembling, ' I must be home now, or tomorrow, toasting some bread for my wife' he said, ' I've been so cruel to them both, I will never see them again' he knelt and his tears dropped onto the floor, like a man lost a loved one.

' Err... perhaps...' Kaveh wanted to say something, but Roy cut it saying, ' even if you let me go, I'll be put to prison as soon as I'm back to the US, perhaps for ever, as a result of treason while the operation.' He couldn't go on because the sob was throttling him.

Kaveh felt miserable for he could do nothing to comfort Roy. Sat down beside him and looked around. Suddenly he remembered something; went out and brought a dollar bill that was Roy's, and showed him the sentence on it: "In God We Trust"! Then said, ' it seems we just need to believe what we already do know!'

Roy sat down silently deadly on the floor; Kaveh sat down next to him again and said,  ‘do I disturb you? Do you want to be alone?'

He didn't reply.

' Would you like I read you some verses from Bible, if it relieves you?' said Kaveh, ' or Quran?'

An annoying silence followed. A few minutes passed. Kaveh pulled a little book out of his pocket and leafed,* carefully with a low voice he read in Arabic, "In the name of God, the compassionate, the Merciful. Have we not caused thy(your) bosom to dilate, (1) And eased thee(you) of the burden (2) Which weighed down thy(your) back; (3) And exalted thy(your) fame? (4)"

 

Then he looked at Roy that was just listening and said, ' translate for you?'

Roy shook his head slowly, Kaveh was confused, ' do you understand you mean?' he said.

Roy nodded.

' Do you know Arabic?!' Kaveh asked very surprised.

Roy nodded again lifelessly.

Kaveh was so shocked for a moment that he forgot what he was doing, after a few seconds he looked at his book again. With his voice a little louder, he continued the verses, "But lo! With hardship goeth(goes) ease, (5) Lo! With hardship goeth(goes) ease; (6)" (Quran 94-Comfort (Al-Enshirah) listen,)

Roy put his head in his hand and tried to breath through his tear.

 

 

USA, New York

Same time in Iran, 11 PM in NY

 

Rose had laid her head against the edge of a window, it was raining, the drops of rain hit her face and mixed with her tears.

The TV was on and still keeping broadcasting analyses about her husband.

' Diplomats meet over Iranian seizure of American pilot' (43) it was saying.

The US foreign minister had arranged a meeting with heads of European Union; the members of Security Council had an urgent meeting and discussed the bases of a very serious widespread boycott against Iran.

The foreign minister had asked NATO to be alarmed if needed. On the other hand she had expressed concerns that Iran had not informed the Red Cross about the pilot.

The European Union had strongly warned Iran that the responsibility of any ruinous action from the west would be on Tehran.

Rose didn't listen to the news, just leaving TV on to scream out. She hated every one at the moment, she thought her husband had become a toy in hand of politicians just to go on their dirty games. Hated Iranians that arrested him perhaps to get the upper hand against the west, and her own government that was fueling the crisis to benefit its foreign policy instead of negotiating to find a solution.

 

Suddenly a wave of hope blew in her soul, ' perhaps I should go to Europe!' she thought, ' yeah, Iran has a better relationship with the Europe, I may be able to get in touch with him through Red Cross if I'm in Europe!'

She cheered up at once, jumped up and began preparing her suitcase.

 

The Iranian TV was speaking of completely different topics.

The Western Media; Propaganda Begins

Since the first seconds after the US aggression the hot widespread propaganda began in the west to justify the deed and misguide westerners about Iran's legitimate defense.

Then it began showing parts of western broadcasting about the event.

 

 

Iran, Esfahan

Same day, 8 am

 

In his way back to Roy's room, Kaveh was thinking about his own family and his little girl looking forward him at home, but as soon as he saw Roy in the room drawing a picture of a baby on the first page of Bible, he noticed he had to be patient.

' I would have both of loved pictures in this copy I thought' said Roy before giving any chance to Kaveh to begin, like ever.

' Today the west has made a lot of noise, filled the world with propaganda. Let the roar lull-down I'm sure we can find a way to let you get in touch with your family.' Said Kaveh, then he sat down and said, ' let's go to the next room to show you that you’re not the only one away from your loved ones.'

' I have no interest to see more captors!'

' Funny, the commander told me right now that she feels being jailed here as well'

' Forget that idea'

' Don't you need anything? Bring you some books to read, or paper or something? You've hardly asked for anything'

' Will you bring me whatever I want?'

' Well, provided that it’s a gun!' joked Kaveh, '... yes I will, if accessible'

' Bring me that Quran you put on the table in the corridor.' Roy said.

Kaveh looked at him very amazed, though Roy's tone was very seriously but he wasn't sure yet if he was not joking, 'it's...in Arabic' he said.

' No problem' said Roy, and then looked at Kaveh, ' you don't believe I know Arabic, huh?'

' Never thought westerners would learn it' answered Kaveh.

' The language of enemy must be the first after yours that you learn, it's my code' said Roy proudly.

' Oh! ... What enmity do you have with Arabs? Why do you people hate them?'

' I don't hate them, they do! Who rushes into streets shouting "down with the USA"? Who attacked us at September 11? Who attacks israeli innocent citizens continuously?'

Kaveh got up to bring Quran, and while leaving he said with a low voice, ' only an ill idea of a politician or Zionist says Arabs arranged 9-11'

He returned after a few seconds with the copy and said, ' it's commandeers'

' Selahshur's?' smiled Roy, 'I don't know if we will ever win tolerating each other?'

' Seems you hate everyone not only Arabs' Kaveh grumbled.

' No I don't hate her; I just remarked that we are too much alike! You didn't tell me what's happened last night! You can't hide it from me; it's tied with my fate.'

' Well, the Security Council's had an urgent meeting last night, a wide boycott is discussed on Iran, the United States has had a lot of activities to collect the votes of members. Indeed they are going to close all doors to Iran and fully isolate us economically, like when you're put in a tiny closed room where your oxygen will end up very soon.'

' Haven't passed any sanctions yet, right?'

' Yeah, not yet, but they are about to, perhaps within a few days,

‘See the tile of Fox: U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL IMPOSES NEW, TOUGHER SANCTIONS ON IRAN' (44 )

' This will be bad for me, won't it? They try to pretend they value me, but I'm the last thing they care about' Roy lied on his bed, but not to sleep, he lied to think about his misery.

Kaveh felt he could do nothing, neither for his country nor for his brother.

There was a heavy silence. Roy had closed his eyes; Kaveh kept looking outside through the small window. An atmosphere of fear and disappointment had filled the room and the base.

Home

Chapter 9: NOT the SHEEP

 

 

USA, New York

Mar. 22nd, 9 pm (local time)

 

Rose tried to forget about her visitor, a man from CIA, he'd ensured her that they were doing their best and would inform her of good news soon and told her the latest news.

But she didn't believe anything anymore.

She was depressed and continuously anxious.

Looked at the baby, Roy always called her Bee before she was born, he was impatient to see her, alas!

Rose argued Roy that she must be called Mary, but now she just loved to call her Bee again and again.

 

Iran, Esfahan, military base

Mar. 23rd, 6 am (local time)

 

' Can I come in Mr. Harding?'

Her voice surprised Roy, Kaveh had fallen asleep terribly tired on the other bed.

Raha entered the room and stood beside Roy's bed where he was sitting, he asked anxiously, ' what happened?'

Raha tried not to answer because she had no good news. The previous night was as bad as expected, but it wasn't time to speak about it now. With a low voice not to awaken Kaveh, she said, ' we've annoyed you within the short time you have been our guest. I'm sure you understand our situation and forgive us.'

It was exactly contrary of what Roy expected. He was looking forward a rough angry comment after all what had probably happened last night. But she simply continued, ' I'd got to be serious yesterday, but you are our respectful brother, I hope you don't feel alien with us'.

Roy looked at Raha. Found her as tired as yesterday and very uneasy. He didn't know what to answer, but he still saw himself a traitor and didn't want to mix up with the enemy.

' He must be very tired' she hinted Kaveh.

' He is almost unconscious' Roy answered then continued, 'I hate being watched!'

' Well, I can ensure you it's not our main option.' She said, and felt she needed to find a better topic, and keep speaking with Roy for a while to make him understand they weren't his enemy. She looked around and noticed Bible on a little table by his bed. She said, ' by the way! That night you wanted to show me something in Bible, remember? I had a look on your copy while it was with me and found one of those chapters I told you I forgot their addresses. Can I get the copy?'

 

He nodded. She took it and sat on the edge of the bed, then opened the Holy Book. He was looking forward to see what she had to show him from his book. She brought Jeremiah book and said, ' it's what I said I forgot, in other chapters also it is frequently said that as soon as children of Israel became sinful God would disperse them from the land (Deuteronomy 4:25-28), also says people who Israelis fought with, have been defiling their land worshipping idols (Leviticus 18). When Israelis began worshiping idols then there was no difference between them and those people, and they had no more right about the land which you call promised. They were even dispersed from the land in the same way other nations had been dispersed.'

' But each time they were back to the land again' Roy said, took the book and brought Ezra, showed her and said ' see, the time of Cyrus the Great, he lets them go back to Jerusalem, it's after Jeremiah. Time of Jesus also, see! There are Jews living in the holy land'

' Then interspersed again by Romans.' she said, ' hmm, this cycling will go nowhere!'

' Still they are chosen people, and here is the difference between them and others, Quran quotes from Moses "O my people! Enter the holy land which God has assigned unto you (Quran 5:21-the Feast(al-Ma'ida))! It's Quran advising Israelites that, "call to mind the special favor which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you to all others" (Quran 2:122)'

' Cool, happy to see you read Quran also, just a few people try to listen before judging about the truth.

' Yes it is, did you read two verses after as well? It says God told Abraham, when he asked God's honor for his descendants, that "my promise is not within the reach of cruel ones", but whereas you gave me your evidence from Quran, I'm bound to give you a verse of Bible. Here it is, Moses told Israelis, "Understand this, therefore: it is not because of your merits that the Lord, your God, is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people." (Deuteronomy 9:4 to 6, also Leviticus 18:24), somewhere else says, "Otherwise the land will vomit you out also for having defiled it, just as it vomited out the nations before you." (Leviticus18:28). These words are quoted from God by Moses, are clear enough that God doesn't discriminate Israelis toward other nations. Being chosen is a result of faith, everybody who becomes faithful to God, will be chosen.'

' Well suppose God chose them for their faith against the widespread infidelity and corruption of the world' remarked Roy, ' Anything the reason was, a land is promised, do you say God breaches his own promise? Do you say He has been wrong and miscarried that case?'

 

'Of course the promise as you say, or prediction as I believe, never was unconditional. When you overstep the limit, the promise will be invalid! How many times must Bible stress that the condition is to follow His order and fight only those who are defiled and corrupt the holy land by cruelty and dirty deeds? Where ever does Bible allow them to displace innocents who worship the same one God, creator of the world? (Look at Quran also: 3:155 to 157, 5:13)

' They were given the land to exile guilty criminals. Or if you believe Bible preaches racism by pouring out people for no reason and giving their land to people from a special race like Israel, then explain why it says "For the Lord, your God ... who has no favorites... and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him." (Deuteronomy 10:17 and 18)'

Here, Kaveh's tired voice cut her off, ' this discussion is invalid from the basis about today israel!'

' Oh' Raha was surprised, ' did we wake you up? I'm sorry!'

' Never mind, I just heard a few sentences of yours' said Kaveh still lying on his bed, then turned to Roy and said, 'If I convert to Judaism, can I then call israel my ancestral home?' (quoted from Malaysian in Guardian: comments of readers)

' I don't understand!'  Roy said.

' Bible mentions the holy land would go to descendants of Israel, but, only 10 to 40 percent of today's Jews are from his blood at the most! (42*) Most of the Jews that went to Palestine are not even Israelis to discuss if they have any promised land or not! On the other hand, many of children of Israel accepted Christianity when Jesus appeared. Some converted to Islam later. They're not called Jews today, are they?

' That way you go ahead; you are displacing Christians from blood of Israel to settle Jews with no relationship with Israel! Against Bible by all means.'

' Well that's ok major Hani' said Raha, ' but I insist that even about children of Israel, the famous idea is against Bible, by all means!'

' Why against Bible?' said Roy, ' at the most it can be not advised by it'

' Then you need to read the verses when Israelis attacked the same land without permission from God in time of Moses, they were defeated and cursed because God didn't allow them.'(Numbers 14:41 to 45, Deuteronomy 1:42 to 44)

Kaveh was falling asleep again; she lowered her voice and said, ' it's not only the time of Moses, also repeated later whenever Israelis fought without permission from God, and God does not permit to attack innocents by Bible, what happened about vineyard of Naboth when an Israeli king occupied it?' she found the text (1 Kings 21) and showed him

' Naboth was an Israeli himself' he reminded.

' What about the non-Israeli town (said to be) put to genocide by Israeli king Saul? (2 Samuel 21)

' See, Bible says the land’s the house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:3 to 8)

' speaking about strangers(non-Israelites) it says "Them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; Their holocausts and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."(Same)' she read from Bible after a short looking up.

Then she got up to put Bible in its place.

' Have you read new testaments also?' asked Roy, ' it says Jesus will appear in Jerusalem, "standing on Mount Zion", do you accept it?' (Revelation 14:1)

' Most hopefully yes' she said, ' I don't know how they've twisted the meaning of verses that made people think it means they must build a Jewish government in Jerusalem for him to come?!! What is the relation!! It even can mean contrary of that, for example it better means that Jesus will appear in that part of earth which the greatest cruelty is happening, to remove the foundation of cruelty and burn the root of oppression in the world first of all, in the end of days!'

She placed the holy book on the table and looked at Roy again, saw he was unhappy and didn't want to accept any of what she said. She hesitated and said, ' I don't see anything as shameful as garbling words of God to achieve some political and racial ambitions, to play with religious feelings of faithful people to gain dirty goals.'

' Is it a dirty goal to gather an oppressed nation and settle them in a land to experience peace after such a long stress and oppression?' said Roy, ' ever tried to understand only the pain they suffered within WWII? The difficulty of being alien among nations and being hurt and humiliated. Perhaps they've become righteous again after their pain and sorrow that God has let them in their land again'

For a moment Raha felt they were going round a circle, she thought she had exactly answered it before a few moments... but it was Kaveh's sleepy voice that added a new thing, ' who called these people righteous? Those who torture innocents and arrange genocide!'

' They've been brutal yes, but have they a better choice? Terrorists are attacking them day and night, no moment of peace is left for their civilians' Roy said firmly, ' all what they want is to have a Jewish state and live like other nations, but surrounded all around by enemies who hate your race, what would you do? Welcome them to pour you into the ocean?'

Roy's remark excited Kaveh, he almost jumped up in his bed to respond, but Raha said rapidly, ' it's another story, stop it for now! You both need to have breakfast and rest, leave the discussion for a better time'

Looking at Roy, Kaveh said, ' ok, but I will answer what you said before I go for noon prayer!'

'Looking forward impatiently' said Roy with a smart smile.

[5:43] and how they judge you, while they have the Torah, containing God's law, and they chose to disregard it? They are not the believers.

[5:44] We have sent down the Torah, containing guidance and light. Ruling in accordance with it were the Jewish prophets, as well as the rabbis and the priests, as dictated to them in God's scripture, and as witnessed by them. Therefore, do not reverence human beings; you shall reverence Me instead. And do not trade away My revelations for a cheap price. Those who do not rule in accordance with God's revelations are the disbelievers.

 

 

Chapter 8

 

Torah; light and guidance