The Last Dragon

Chapter Four

Benghazi, Libya

January 10th, 1998

Training camp 4

Aziz strapped the young Chinese male into the heavy chair. A young man of no importance, he had been acting as a go-between for the Iraqi government and the Chinese arms dealer. He would make an excellent center piece for todays meeting with Ambassador Toloff and the Chinese arms merchant. Visuals were always a part of Aziz's meetings.

Aziz had begun his life as a rock thrower.....a harrasser. He had proven himself by fighting countless street battles for the Iraqi regime, traveling where he was needed, and doing whatever needed to be done. His training and doctrination taught him that everyone was to be hated, and no deed was too small for the war effort. Terror was his life, he liked it, and his skills brought him many promotions and benefits. Now Aziz was somebody, he was the leader of training camp 4, he was a god!

The young man was finally secured in his chair.....his arms strapped securely to the arm rests ...his head bound by leather straps to the wooden upright. His legs were strapped together with heavy nylon tie wraps, and his torso lashed to the chairs back, a leather and cloth gag insured that the man would remain a quiet surprise for the guests. When Aziz was satisfied with the handiwork he moved to the next room to prepare to receive his dinner guests, securing the door behind him.

Aziz's men bustled about setting up the reception table, fine wines and finer foods, the fare well above that of an Iraqi citizen. One of the perks of power.

Toloff arrived at the compound and was escorted to the reception area. He was warmly greeted by Aziz, a big man who's arms easily crushed the Russian's chest uncomfortably in a bear hug. Toloff exchanged greetings with Aziz and inquired as to how the trading negotiations with the Chinese were progressing. Aziz explained that the negotiations would be wrapped up shortly, perhaps during dinner. Toloff grinned and said, "fine, fine, that's splendid, and the first warhead I can have when?". Aziz turned his back on Toloff and as he walked away said, "you'll have it when I have it". Aziz exited the room leaving Toloff with the food staff still busily setting up the table. Toloff was miffed at this treatment from a backward barbaric man like Aziz, but, the man always came through and that is what Toloff wanted. Toloff sat down at the table and poured himself a glass of Cognac....he could afford to wait for awhile under these conditions.

Che'n's motorcade pulled through the gates of camp 4 right on schedule. Aziz was waiting for him as the vehicles came to a stop in front of the mess hall. Che'n didn't expect a diplomatic greeting, this was business, and Aziz didn't offer one. Taking the arms merchant by the elbow and chatting about the weather, Aziz led Che'n into the reception area.

Ambassador Toloff had never met Che'n but he greeted him as though he were a long lost cousin. It's hard to say if it was the 3 Cognacs that he had consumed while waiting or the diplomatic training he had received. Che'n seemed impressed by the Russian, not because of the greeting but because he knew the Russian was the source of the money that was going to make his life a lot more comfortable very soon. Aziz suffered through the pleasantries and then asked his guests to be seated. Food and drink was placed in front of the guests, the subject of conversation during the meal was anything but business like. Aziz carefully avoided the business talk, instead talking about world events, women, and the future prosperity of all in attendance. He knew how to stroke his guests and to make them comfortable.

The food and drink was enjoyed and compliments were given to Aziz and his staff for the fine service. Cigars were brought in for settling the mind and setting the mood. "We'll move on to business once we have enjoyed a good smoke, not before", said Aziz. Let us relax after the meal.....then we can work.

Toloff was impressed with Aziz, his organization seemed to run with smooth precision. No one questioned Aziz they just complied. Without a word from Aziz, butlers hurriedly cleared the table, and brought in sets of documents and maps for each of the men. A folder titled "schedule for delivery" was placed in front of Toloff and Che'n, when opened it had but one page. Written on this page was:

"Two warheads to be delivered by the 20th of January, 1998.

Full payment to be made by the Soviets by January 15th, 1998"

Toloff laughed, "is this it, you want full payment before the delivery has been made?". Che'n was agitated, this was short notice, no one had indicated to him that he would have to supply the warheads that quickly. "I can't do this", he said, "Dragon Fire is a new technology, the warheads have to be secreted away you can't just buy them on the market!"

Aziz raised his hand, "that's enough, we have an agreed price, and we have an agreed quantity, there is no further need for discussion." "You now have a delivery and payment date." "Do not screw with my schedule". With that Aziz walked over and opened the doors to the adjoining room.

The young chinese man sat watching Aziz as he entered the room, his eyes showed fear, every muscle in his body quivered. Che'n jumped up when he recognised the man, "what is this all about", he demanded. Aziz ignored Che'n's question as he circled the young man. A uniformed man brought Aziz a hammer and a box of nails, Aziz thanked him and the man exited. "This is your man Che'n, he has done your job but he can't do anything more for me". Aziz pulled a nail from the package and dragged it's point along the young man's arm....."I need people that can do things for me"........Aziz continued to toy with the young chinese man......tracing his forearm with the tip of the nail while asking Che'n, "can you do things for me?". Aziz stopped his game with the tip of the nail above the young mans wrist and then with several blows drove the nail through the wrist and into the wooden arm rest of the chair. The young mans body went into spasms of pain, rocking the chair back and forth, Aziz stepped back to let the man settle down.

Toloff's mouth hung open, Che'n's face went white, neither man said anything. While the spectacle of agony danced on the floor in front of the men, Aziz took out another nail.....and circling the writhing figure once again asked, "can you do things for me Che'n?.....can you do things for me Toloff?". Both men snapped off a quick, "yes". Aziz approached the young man again.....dragging the tip of the second nail along his forearm.....the young man was spent.....his breathing heavy....perspiration saturated his clothing. Toying with the young mans arm.....tracing lines with the tip of the nail......Aziz explained, "I have learned that you build a house one nail at a time, you can't run out of nails and finish the job". "It's the same in war, you can't fight a war without tools, and you have to have a steady supply, a timely supply if you are going to keep to a schedule". Aziz stopped his game....resting the tip of the nail on the young mans arm just below the elbow. Taking the hammer, Aziz began to pound the nail through the young mans arm, the hammer bouncing as the flesh refused to give way, but the hammer prevailed. The young man was writhing once again with fresh pain as Aziz stepped back to watch. A guard entered the room and took the hammer and nails from Aziz.....handing him in their place a package. Aziz opened the package and proceeded to discuss his goals. "All of my plans are in motion, don't screw with my designs, I need the money, and the warheads on the scheduled dates". Aziz opened the package and took out a small surgical knife.....gesturing with the blade he explained that too much was at stake, too much effort had already been invested to back out now, and Toloff and Che'n had not given any indication of problems in delivering the money or the warheads in any past discussions. He certainly did not want them to be bringing up problems at this stage. Aziz looked at Toloff and Che'n and asked, "You can do things for me yes?".....both men sat quietly nodding their heads. Both men were in shock.

Aziz approached the young man.....placing the blade against the mans face and gently dragging it along the contours of the face.....he explained his theories. "There are many ways to kill a man, many ways, but to make a man pay you have to know what you are doing". Moving the blade down to the mans throat he said, "I could cut his throat and he would suffer a short while, maybe he would suffer a long while". "I could nick his jugular and he would bleed quickly....that would be certain death, but not much suffering". "To make your enemy fear you, to make him respect you, you have to know how to drag out the pain". Aziz moved the blade to the mans arm. Carefully Aziz made an incision at the mans wrist, about 2 inches long......."You have to be careful here", he said, "you don't want to cut a vein". Aziz then made an incision up the mans arm from each end of the earlier incision, and then connected the last two incisions with another.....forming a long rectangle on the mans arm. The young man had gone in to shock, so Aziz called for a guard. The guard brought in a chemical and revived the young man. Aziz dabbed at the mans arm to remove the blood that oozed from the incisions. He smiled at the young man and asked, "are you still with us?". The young man began rocking in his chair in response, so Aziz stepped back to allow him to expend his energy.

Picking up the package, Aziz removed a small set of pliers. He turned to Toloff and said, "You can do things for me?"......Toloff shook his head vigorously. "And you Che'n, you can do things for me?"......Che'n's head bobbed erratically as he tried to give an affirmative answer. Aziz approached the young man and with the pliers grabbed the flesh on his arm near the corner of the incisions. Very carefully and very slowly he pulled away the flesh, the young man sinking once again into shock. Aziz held up the sheet of human flesh in his pliers......"this is victory" he said. "Pain and suffering, this is victory". Aziz walked back in to the room where Che'n and Toloff sat and tossed the flesh on to the table. "Piece by piece I will take apart the Americans, don't let me down!". Aziz threw the pliers on the table and said, " I will be in touch, the arrangements will be sent to you". Aziz left the room, Toloff and Che'n stared in shock at the man in the chair, and the flesh on the table, neither speaking.

Uniformed guards entered the dining area and assisted the two men in gathering their things, and then escorted them out to their waiting vehicles. Outside Toloff looked around, the day was bright and it didn't give any acknowledgement to what had just happened inside. The world doesn't care, he thought. Why should I, and with that he stepped into his car and signalled the driver to leave. Che'n stood beneath the canopy wondering if he should ask if his man could go now. He had liked the young man, he was a hard worker and loyal. After a moment's thought, he felt comfortable in the thought that he could replace him easily enough. Che'n looked back towards the mess hall once more, and then stepped in to his car.