Ryan, Chris - Zero 22

He turned his attention to the letter. At the top, beneath a letterhead that depicted the Cinderella Castle showered in fireworks, was the word ‘Congratulations!’ in a big, cheery typeface.

It was just a piece of junk mail. On another day, Hamoud might have chucked it in the bin. But this morning he felt like reading. He’d loved to read as a child, but since Guantanamo he couldn’t hope to focus on something as long as a book. So he read on.

Congratulations!

You and your family have been chosen, in our special summertime bonanza, for an ALL EXPENSES PAID trip to Walt Disney World Florida!

He blinked, then glanced back at the brochure. A tiny flame of excitement ignited inside him. He snuffed it out quickly. There was obviously a catch. He read on.

As part of our special promotion, you will receive complimentary flights and $2000 spending money, to ensure your family has the trip of a lifetime! Just call this number to claim your prize!

There was a 1-800 number at the bottom of the page, and a pre-printed signature. Hamoud read the letter again and then, when he heard Rabia coming, stuffed the envelope and its contents under the cushions of the sofa. He didn’t quite know why he wanted to hide them. Perhaps it was because he didn’t want his family to get their hopes up. Perhaps it was because he felt embarrassed at the idea that his wife might think he believed this was anything but a scam.

‘Was there someone at the door?’ Rabia said as she entered. Her hair was tied back and she looked very beautiful. Hamoud shook his head. ‘I thought I heard it,’ she said.

The family always spoke English together, rather than their native Arabic. It helped Malick and Melissa to integrate and was a symbol of their intention to forgive the Americans for what they had done to Hamoud. Rabia walked over to him and put a hand on his cheek. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

He knew she was talking about the dream and nodded. ‘We should wake them,’ he said. ‘They’ll be late for school.’

Their morning routine was the same as ever. Sleepy children, reluctantly dressed. Bowls of Cheerios, slowly eaten. Hamoud made little jokes with the kids and gradually their sleepiness was replaced by smiles. They were so different from each other: Melissa boisterous and loud, Malick quiet and reserved like Hamoud. But both kind and sensitive. Occasionally Hamoud caught them glancing at him with concern, because they knew that sometimes their dad was sad even when he pretended to be happy. But they didn’t say anything and soon they were kissing their mum goodbye as she left for work. Hamoud urged them to pack their schoolbags and hurried them out of the apartment.

They lived in a poor area, here on the outskirts of Cincinnati. They weren’t the only brown-skinned people, but they still drew stares from some of the passers-by, many of them unfriendly. Hamoud and his family were used to it, or so they liked to pretend. The children were clingy at the school gates, holding on to their dad for a few seconds longer than most other kids, unwilling to say goodbye. Hamoud stayed at the gates, one hand raised in farewell, until they were out of sight. Then he returned home.

The apartment was so quiet without them. Ordinarily he hated this moment, facing a day enclosed by the walls and his thoughts. As usual, he locked himself inside. When you’d been a prisoner, some habits were hard to shake. Normally he would now sit in front of the TV and watch the shopping channel all day in an attempt to distract himself from his worries. But not today. Today he felt a tinge of anticipation.

He removed the letter from under the cushion and read it again. Then he pulled his cheap, scuffed, second-hand cell phone from his pocket. He keyed in the 1-800 number, but his finger hovered over the dial button for several minutes. Anxiety burned in his chest. He wasn’t good at making phone calls at the best of times. He put the phone to one side and scratched at his palms so hard he thought they might bleed. He breathed deeply. His gaze fell on the Walt Disney World brochure, and the smiling children on the front, and that gave him the courage to pick up the phone again and press call.

It rang four times.

Five.

Nobody was going to answer. He should just hang up . . .

‘ Hello, Walt Disney World, where all your dreams come true! ’

A cheerful female voice.

‘Uh . . . Hello?’ said Hamoud.

‘ How may I help you sir? ’

‘Well, you see . . . it’s probably nothing . . . I mean, it’s probably a hoax. But I received the letter about a special summertime offer . . . an all-expenses paid trip . . .’ It sounded ridiculous even as he said it.

‘ Of course, sir. May I take your name please? ’

‘Hamoud . . . Hamoud Al Asmar.’ He said it apologetically.

‘ And your address please, sir? ’

He gave his address.

‘ One moment please, sir. ’

There was a click. A swooning orchestra played ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’. It continued for perhaps a minute, then there was another click and the voice returned. ‘ Mr Al Asmar? ’

‘Uh . . . yes?’

‘ Congratulations! You and your family are going to Walt Disney World for five magical days and nights, starting Wednesday! . . . Mr Al Asmar? Mr Al Asmar, are you there? ’

‘I’m here, yes. I’m here. It’s just . . . I don’t understand. Why are you giving us this? Why . . . why us?’

‘ Your names have been chosen at random, sir. All we ask in return is the opportunity to take a few pictures of you and your beautiful family while you’re enjoying the magic of Walt Disney World. We’ll be FedExing your plane tickets today! ’

‘But, can’t we choose when to go? My wife has to work and the children are at school.’

‘ I’m afraid the dates are fixed, Mr Al Asmar. Your flights are booked for Wednesday and we have rooms booked for you until Sunday night. ’

‘Wednesday? But that’s tomorrow.’

‘ The dates are fixed Mr Al Asmar. But if you’re unable to take advantage of the offer, we do understand and will find another family who have more flexibility. ’

‘No,’ said Hamoud quickly. ‘No, we’ll go. Uh . . . my wife can ask for some time off.’

‘ That’s great to hear, sir. Everything you need will be with you first thing in the morning. You’ll be flying from Cincinatti to Orlando. Is there anything else I can help you with? ’

Hamoud shook his head even though there was nobody to see it. ‘No,’ he said. ‘No, thank you.’

‘ Then you have a great day, sir. Thank you for choosing Walt Disney World for your vacation. ’

The line went dead. Hamoud stared at the phone for a little while. I didn’t choose Walt Disney World, he wanted to say. Walt Disney World chose me. His hand was trembling. That was nothing new. But this time it was out of excitement rather than stress. He flicked through the Walt Disney World brochure and, instead of the happy American children screaming with joy on Space Mountain, he saw Malick and Melissa. It brought a smile to his face.

He dialled Rabia’s number to tell her the good news but hung up before the call could connect. Better to tell her tonight, when she was not distracted by her cleaning job.

The days passed slowly for Hamoud. He prepared himself for today to pass more slowly than most.

SIX

Danny Black was always ready to deploy. He kept a grab-bag in the squadron hangar and his personal weapons were waiting for him in the armoury. It took an hour to prepare himself, by which time the gear needed for his HALO drop into the Jordanian desert had been stowed in the back of the unmarked transit van waiting for him. He didn’t recognise the driver, nor did he want to speak to him. He took his seat in the back and sat silently.