"Now just a moment!' The American interrupted. "The US Marines are"Gentlemen!" Helen's clear, hard voice stopped them. "There's no time to argue. Firstly, I didn't know about the SAS soldiers in the British Embassy, and I am very surprised about it. Very surprised indeed, Ambassador Secondly, l do not think it is a good idea to attack a plane with a hundred and seven passengers in it, and"take it apart" as you say. I want these people to live, not die. So l thank you for your ideas, but remember that this small country is ours, not yours. We will manage this problem in our own way, with our own people, thank you very much. Now you must excuse me, I am busy. At the door, the Scotsman turned back. "Prime Minister, I know you want to save lives,' he said. "I understand that. But these hijackers must not go free. My Govern- ment does not want that. No Government in the world wants that. I know that, Ambassador,' Helen answered quietly. "I know that very well.' As they went out, the phone rang. Michael picked it up. Helen sat down at the table and watched him. His face was very serious. He wrote on a piece of paper and then put the phone down. For a moment, he did not look at her"What is it, Michael? Tell me.' It was a radio message from the plane, Prime Minister. '
"Well? What did they say? Didn't they want to talk to"No, Prime Minister. Just the message. It says: "We ove our brothers. We hope the Prime Minister loves her husband. He is on the plane, just behind the door." For a long moment she stared at Michael, but she did not speak. A picture of the American passenger appeared in her head. She saw him jumping out of the door and the girl shooting him. Shooting him for ten, maybe fifteen long seconds. "I'm sorry, Prime Minister," said Michael softly. "What? Yes, so am 1.1 thought perhaps perhaps the hijackers didn't know Carl was my husband. But now they do know.' She ran her hand through her hair and then looked at her watch. But her hand was shaking so much that she could not tell the time. The phone rang again. Michael picked it up. "Colonel Carter is outside, Prime Minister." He watched her, waiting for an answer. Tll tell him to wait shall 1r She put her hands flat on the table and stood up. Yes. Yes, Michael. Tell him to wait two minutes, that's all. She walked to the window and stared out at the plane. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass and for two minutes she did not move. Then she turned round and smiled ar Michael. Let's just hope Colonel Carter's plan is a good one, shall we? Show him in.'
In the plane, Carl and Harald on the floor by the sat. door. They were handcuffed together with Harald's handcuffs. The girl hijacker stood watching them with her gun. The bearded man was in the captain's cabin, and the young man in the black shirt was watching the other passengers. Harald touched his head with his hand. There was blood in his hair. How do you feel, my young friend?' Carl asked. llt hurts," Harald answered. "And I can't see well." "This man needs a doctor," Carl said to the girl, angrily. She laughed. "That is your wife's problem, not mine, she said. "If our brothers come, he will get a doctor. If they don't come, he won't need one.' She pointed her gun at Harald's head and laughed again. She wasn't at all nervous now. Carl felt angry. He was angry with the hijackers and he was angry with himself because he had not moved fast enough to help Harald. It was good to be angry; when he was angry he did not feel so afraid. "How old are you?' he asked the girl. She did not answer il asked you a question!" he said. "How old are you? Eighteen, nineteen? You're not very old, really, are you? You're just a child!'