Excerpt
family’s legacy will be upheld by this young man to the highest levels. His other
relations in Iraq are not so much in Ibrahim’s favor. So everything hangs on this
young man who needs to be well prepared, educated and groomed into the
family affairs. Ibrahim also knows he can only get this far each time they meet, he
can only give so much of what he wants him to do.
On the other hand, Hakim starts understanding slowly where this is going
with his uncle’s affairs. Ibrahim foresees in Hakim a very aggressive, assertive,
analyzing young man, and he can see far as easily as his uncle and more clearly
than any other twenty- seven-year-old. He knows what Ibrahim expects of him
and he also knows he’ll never forget what happened during those bad days of the
war. He’ll never forgive the people responsible for that. A shudder goes through
his body as his mind dips into anger and when he realizes how powerful he’ll
soon become. His mind flies into the future and he sees himself on top of many
things. Somehow, he sees Talal there with him.
“I suppose, you like Talal, my uncle?”
Ibrahim turns and looks deep into Hakim’s eyes, searching for that special
light in the depths of his soul as if trying to see in what direction he will guide the
power he is about to inherit, but recognizes this young man will prove to be
worthy of every iota of responsibility he’ll lay on his shoulders.
“Yes, I like him a lot. He’s a very good-mannered man, he’s loyal, which is a
charisma you don’t find easily in people nowadays, he’s assertive, and he has the
characteristics of a leader. I like him very much. I’m very happy you are good friends.
I hope you remain so for a long time because I can see that he could be a very good
ally to have when times get tough. A man never knows how tough things can get
when the shit hits the fan, as they say here in the United States. Keep him around.
He’ll be a great asset to whatever you want to accomplish. Allot some responsibility
to him right now and you’ll see how well he’ll carry himself. That’s how we can judge
people, by trying them.”
Ibrahim gets up, a sign that he has to go, and Hakim speaks to him on their
way to the limo, “Talal and I are good friends, my uncle, and I see us staying that
way for a long time.”
“Very good, my dear boy, very good.” He looks into Hakim’s eyes one more
time and adds, “I’m very proud of you, my son. Very proud.”
They exchange the customary three kisses and get into the limo. A few
minutes later they are in front of Hakim’s apartment. Hakim is surprised that the
driver opened the door for him, but he smiles and thanks him.
He goes up to his apartment and his mind is in digestion mode. So many
things on his mind, yet one stands out the most, like a jutting rock in the middle
of the seashore: all the atrocities, all the killings, all the propaganda, all the death
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