Joel Narlock Joel Narlock Author Biography  
Joel Narlock  
  ORDER BOOKS>> Online By Mail AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY MEDIA & EVENTS HOME  
 
     

Excerpts

 
  Soft Target: The Air   Milwaukee, WI
Leonardo Sinani drove his black 2000 Toyota Camry into the parking lot of a tavern off Layton Avenue. He lowered the window and produced a small pair of binoculars. A stiff spring wind managed to water his eyes, but couldn't budge his curly black hair. A tear ran down his cheek. A rarity-he rarely cried for anyone or anything-he wiped it away. He despised cold weather. He wasn't born in it and vowed never to get used to it. Mitchell International Airport averaged 230 daily commercial flights. Runway 19-R(ight) was 9,690 feet long and 200 feet wide with no end identifier lights. He judged the departure point at 390 yards. Considerably farther than a stone's throw, but that didn't matter. The morning traffic on Layton Avenue was mild. It would even be less traveled at night. All in all this American Legion Post seemed like a relatively quiet location. The proximity was excellent.

Satisfied, he shut off the engine and unzipped a pocket inside his jacket. He drew out a small red book and rubbed his thumbs lovingly across the gold leaf lettering. He pulled on the end of a thin cloth ribbon and the Holy Qur'an split open. Transfixed, he read from the text aloud. His voice was filled with passion as if he were re-dedicating himself to some lover or deep cause. In essence, he was.

Surah 9. Repentance, Dispensation
  1. A declaration of immunity from Allah and His Messenger, to those of the Pagans with whom ye have contracted mutual alliances:
  2. Go ye, then, backwards and forwards, as ye will, throughout the land, but know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah by your falsehood but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject Him.
  3. And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger, to the people assembled on the day of the Great Pilgrimage, that Allah and His Messenger dissolve treaty obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject Faith.
  4. But the treaties are not dissolved with those Pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided any one against you. So fulfill your engagements with them to the end of their term: for Allah loveth the righteous.
  5. Then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war; but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.


  
  Target Acquired   Panic in the Ballpark
Sam made a final review of his calculations and program settings before bringing back the omniview. Double, even triple number and procedural checks were bursting from his head. He ran through one more mental checklist. Once started, the targeting program would run to completion. It had to be correct.
It was.
Sam took a deep breath and clicked "Go" on the menu.
The operation started with the UAV rising from the Bromo Tower to its designated height.
Tiger headed north---away from the stadium---to gain the 5.2 seconds necessary to reach 60 mph.
This was huge and sure to turn Camden Yards from wonder to zoo to war zone in seconds.
The auto-fire control menu clicked down...



 
  Joel Narlock   P.O. Box 160   Waterford, Wisconsin 53185