The 13th Tablet

When the young doctor had left, Mina sat up and tried to recall what had happened. Her head felt like a huge pumpedup football. And as if that wasn’t enough, she was beside herself with anger. Jack had lied to her. ‘A Major in the US army,’ she thought. Professor Almeini had said, there was more to Jack than met the eye. ‘You got that right,’ thought Mina, ‘he’s a lying bastard too.’

She thought of the magical evening they had spent on the rocks in the desert. She ran through every moment she had spent in his company in her mind, and every image left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Suddenly the events that led up to her waking up in the hospital came rushing back to her; she remembered those terrifying men were looking for the tablet. The only person she’d ever spoken to about the tablet with was Hassan. He must have told them. Had he been violently interrogated too? She had to speak to him. She threw off her covers, and jumped out of bed. Losing her balance for a second, she sat down on the bed again. She rummaged through her things, but could not find her phone. She was about to call out to the doctor, when Jack walked into the room.

‘Where’s my phone Jack?’ she yelled.

‘I’ve got it here,’ he said calmly, handing it to her.

She snatched it off him. ‘So you’re a Major are you?’ she asked, barely trying to conceal her anger.

‘Well, a Major on indefinite leave.’

‘You don’t seem ‘on leave’ around here.’

‘I left the army over three years ago. I’m not wearing a uniform, am I?’

He was trying to make her smile, but his efforts just infuriated her more.

‘You lied to me Jack. You fucking lied to me.’

‘I tried telling you that night in the desert.’

‘What? You didn’t try anything. What are you talking about?’

‘You asked me about my past and-’

‘And you avoided answering my questions.’

‘Well. Yes. You seemed to hate the military so much I didn’t know how to broach the subject.’

Mina changed the subject herself.

‘Why did you take my phone?’

‘I had to check a few things.’

She picked up her phone angrily, and tried calling Hassan.

‘No reply. What’s happened to him?’

Jack looked away.

‘Oh God, what’s happened to him? I’ll try calling his mother.’

She dialled another number, and was relieved when a woman’s voice answered.

‘Salam Aleikum. I’m Hassan’s teacher from the university. I’m trying to get hold of him. Is he at home?’

‘No Professor. He hasn’t been at home for two whole days. I’m very worried.’

‘Please don’t worry, I’m sure he will come home soon. Could you ask him to call me when he comes back? My name is Mina Osman.’

‘You’re Professor Osman?’

‘Yes,’ she answered.

‘He’s always talking about you.’ The woman’s voice cracked with emotion, He’s a good boy, Professor Osman.’

‘I know. He’s also one of our finest students. Please ask him to call back when he returns.’

Mina hung up, and burst into tears.

‘So, you can lie too,’ thought Jack to himself. He wanted to take Mina in his arms and comfort her, but he had a feeling it would only make matters worse. He observed her from a distance and all he saw was a woman in shock, blowing her nose and apparently trying to compose herself and retain some dignity under difficult circumstances.

‘Jack, or whoever you are, I can’t stay here. I’ve got to get back to my flat, talk to the police, the department.’

‘Mina, listen to me, I’ve talked to the Iraqi National Guard. I returned with them to your flat; the bodies were gone and so was all the evidence of the fight. To make matters worse, someone must have bribed an important police official because they’re dropping the case altogether claiming lack of evidence.’

‘My god. Who are these people? They weren’t even Iraqi.’

‘That’s the real question.’

‘I have to go back there. I have to change my clothes, pick up some things.’

‘Mina, you can’t go back to your flat! Don’t you understand? People are trying to kill you. Do you have any idea why?’

She didn’t reply immediately, ‘I don’t know, Jack.’

‘I heard them mention a tablet. C’mon Mina,’ he said, taking her hand in his.

She wrenched her hand from his and shot him a cold look that firmly reminded him where he stood with her.

‘Drop the sweet talk, Major Hillcliff. I’ll stay somewhere else. Anywhere. But not here. Please… just leave me alone.’

He stood up slowly, ‘Alright. You’re angry right now. Please call me if you want my help in any way. You know how to get hold of me if you need to.’

She did not answer and with a sigh he left the room.

Mina put her clothes back on and made a phone call.

‘Professor?’

‘Mina! I’ve been trying to get hold of you for over two days now. Where are you?’ he asked, frantically.

‘It’s a long story. I can’t talk right now. Can we meet at the university cafeteria in an hour from now?’

‘Of course Mina. I’ll be there.’

She bumped into the doctor in the corridor as she left the room.

‘Miss Osman? Where are you going? I think you should remain here for at least another day, until you feel well enough to leave the base.’

‘I’m fine doctor. Can I ask you a small favour?’

‘Of course. What is it?’