The plane began to take off. Zulkarnaen Al-Ridah looked outside. A fateful flight, he thought. On his lap was a small black box. He hesitated. He had to open it soon. Fear was still in heart, although it had subsided.
He still remembered when he was about to enter the huge Manhattan airport. Fear really consumed him until he almost decided to turn back. No, he had thought, I cannot afford to; it is too late. So he trod heavily forward toward the check-in gate. His heart began to beat fast. Faster, and faster. Calm down, he said to himself. He took a deep breath and counted until fifteen, as his instructor told him. He did calm down somewhat. But he was still trembling.
His luggage was simple: only a small travelling bag. Still trying to soothe himself, he chuckled, Well, I don’t need much, after all I’m about to….his line of thought was interrupted. An old lady suddenly got in his way and gave him a sports bag, then continued walking as if nothing had happened. He was not surprised at all. They are always ingeniously well-prepared, he thought, an inconspicuous porter, how clever.
He walked through the metal detector. His heart skipped a beat. He was half-hoping for the alarm to go off, so he could turn back. But the alarm did not. He casually took his travelling bag and newly-acquired sports bag and walked to the check-in booth. As he gave his passport and his ticket to the attendant, he was trying to figure out how They were able to fool the detector to distract himself from the fear in his heart that started to grow again.
“Enjoy your flight, Mr. Al-Syaifah,” the attendant smiled.
Al-Syaifah alias Al-Ridah took his ticket and forged passport back without a word. He went to the waiting room., He sat, burying his head in his hands. Soon he was lost in thought. He was really frightened. He was enveloped with Fear and it seemed to seep to every corner of him, becoming a black hole and engulfed his existence. NO. Absolutely no turning back, he said once again to himself. There is no time for wavering.
He had agreed to undertake the mission. That time there was no fear. Neither was hesitation. Why now does he have doubts? Why now is he consumed with Fear? It was Faith that carried him thus far. What faith? He started to question. Is it really right? Or…?
“To all passengers of flight BA-245 to New York City, please…”
The announcement interrupted his thought.
He stood and got in his plane. He saw his comrades. He didn’t really know them, they were just briefed together a week ago; the mission was an absolute secrecy. As soon as he sat, he extracted the black box from the sports bag.
The plane took off.
…
“Attention all passengers, we will arrive in New York City in 20 minutes, please fasten your…”
Al-Ridah hesitated for a while, then he began to unlock the black box. What faith? He asked himself again as he looked at the bright dawning sky.
It was a lovely morning on 11 September 2001.
He still remembered when he was about to enter the huge Manhattan airport. Fear really consumed him until he almost decided to turn back. No, he had thought, I cannot afford to; it is too late. So he trod heavily forward toward the check-in gate. His heart began to beat fast. Faster, and faster. Calm down, he said to himself. He took a deep breath and counted until fifteen, as his instructor told him. He did calm down somewhat. But he was still trembling.
His luggage was simple: only a small travelling bag. Still trying to soothe himself, he chuckled, Well, I don’t need much, after all I’m about to….his line of thought was interrupted. An old lady suddenly got in his way and gave him a sports bag, then continued walking as if nothing had happened. He was not surprised at all. They are always ingeniously well-prepared, he thought, an inconspicuous porter, how clever.
He walked through the metal detector. His heart skipped a beat. He was half-hoping for the alarm to go off, so he could turn back. But the alarm did not. He casually took his travelling bag and newly-acquired sports bag and walked to the check-in booth. As he gave his passport and his ticket to the attendant, he was trying to figure out how They were able to fool the detector to distract himself from the fear in his heart that started to grow again.
“Enjoy your flight, Mr. Al-Syaifah,” the attendant smiled.
Al-Syaifah alias Al-Ridah took his ticket and forged passport back without a word. He went to the waiting room., He sat, burying his head in his hands. Soon he was lost in thought. He was really frightened. He was enveloped with Fear and it seemed to seep to every corner of him, becoming a black hole and engulfed his existence. NO. Absolutely no turning back, he said once again to himself. There is no time for wavering.
He had agreed to undertake the mission. That time there was no fear. Neither was hesitation. Why now does he have doubts? Why now is he consumed with Fear? It was Faith that carried him thus far. What faith? He started to question. Is it really right? Or…?
“To all passengers of flight BA-245 to New York City, please…”
The announcement interrupted his thought.
He stood and got in his plane. He saw his comrades. He didn’t really know them, they were just briefed together a week ago; the mission was an absolute secrecy. As soon as he sat, he extracted the black box from the sports bag.
The plane took off.
…
“Attention all passengers, we will arrive in New York City in 20 minutes, please fasten your…”
Al-Ridah hesitated for a while, then he began to unlock the black box. What faith? He asked himself again as he looked at the bright dawning sky.
It was a lovely morning on 11 September 2001.
1 comment:
I am aware of the factual inaccuracies...but I left is as it is.
Just for fun (or laziness perhaps...)
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