Impossible Odds

out his heart to her, but there was the extremely sticky job at hand of confirming to these fearful drug-addled thugs that the NGO’s official communicator, Mohammed, was actually speaking for their side with Erik’s full support. This process would never get anywhere if the kidnappers didn’t believe in whoever they communicated with on their ransom calls. Erik had to confirm Mohammed’s validity, show no fear to the kidnappers, and also make it clear to them that from now on neither Erik nor anyone else on their side would speak, except Mohammed. The kidnappers could not be allowed to begin worming their communications into the family structure. It felt like working on a bomb squad. He was certain of nothing except that he couldn’t allow the bizarre nature of the conversation to get to him.
    The kidnappers’ phone was still in the speaker mode. Erik heard footsteps approach in the background and then the sounds of someone taking the phone.
    “Allo?” From the first word, Jabreel’s gruff voice was inflected with a thick version of the Somali accent Erik knew so well.
    “Yes, hello?” Erik prompted him, without introducing himself.
    “All of the others are—they are—the leader of the militia only wants to know you. This is the reason for calling you.”
    “Okay. Well, if he needs to hear it again, I can verify that Mohammed is our families’ communicator. He is the only one with information, the only one you will gain anything from.”
    “Okay. So now we, the militia, can verify the family, you arefamily, can communicate this one time, just for now, with Mohammed. So is okay now, we will be finish with negotiation.”
    “Okay. And if this is Jabreel, I hope that you are taking good care of Jessica and Poul. Because we’re doing everything that we can to get them back. So, we cannot do more on our side, and you now have to do all you can on your side.”
    “Okay, okay, I must tell you I am not one of them. Very difficult to reason with them. I must do as I am told. But if I have got the certification now, everything it will be soon. And they will come home to you as soon as possible.”
    “Okay, that is very good, Jabreel, and I’m happy to hear that, because we need for Jessica and Poul to come back. We need to have them back here at home with us. Do you understand me? They came to your country to help your people. So now you must use your manners in the Somali custom and treat them as guests. Be nice to them, Jabreel.”
    Through his foot-thick guttural accent and the crackling of a remote connection, Erik heard: “Yes I must be careful because I was just the NGO working that’s why they want me here helping. And anyway, to thank you for your calling, and to listen to all parties. Now everything it will be easy to come home to you for your wife.”
    “Okay, I’m very happy about that. And now, I think, Jabreel, [after this verification] you can again talk with Mohammed here.”
    Erik knew this was all he was supposed to say. Make the verification to them and get off the line before they can engage in any conversation. He found he couldn’t go along with the restriction.
    “And Jessica!” he called out. “If you’re hearing this, know that we’re praying for you and doing everything we can to get you and Poul back! And I’m . . . we’re all so happy to hear directly from both you and Poul today. But . . . but this . . . will be the last time, Jessica. Until you come out.”
    He couldn’t look at anyone while he spoke the words or his throat would have seized. He had to trust that she would understand that this hard stance was purely a negotiating tactic.
    He had already lied to her during this call by saying her family wasn’t around, when in truth they were all right there in Nairobi, waiting with their lives on hold. And of course they wanted Jessica to know they were there for her, after coming all that distance. They wanted very much to communicate any sense of strength to her they could. But if he told her that, he had to assume someone else would hear it. And those men had made it plain they would try to put her family in play if they could.
    Erik pitched his voice at a stronger level. “Mohammed will call you back in ten minutes! I’m now leaving the phone. I will not be on the phone again. So, Jabreel, please take care of my wife, and please take care of Poul.”
    “Okay, but I am very, very, important. I must be careful. I must be careful. For the importance