Traveller Probo
102. Turkey

Osborne felt exhausted. The day had challenged him in every way. Having to deal with the two deaths, discuss with Colonel Babacan how to present the news to the military and government and then brief his training team and the academics was trying, to say the least. Poor Professor Askar broke down when he viewed the collated footage of the violence that could only be described as horrific.

Yes, Osborne conceded as he flexed his weary, wounded arm, war could be a bitch.

It was the tension that got to him. On the ground, a soldier could act but here, all he could do was watch, like some kind of armchair general. Most frustrating was that his men were only a step away, a mere step through the enigmatic Transporter. He recalled the action Hami had experienced in New Zealand. Hami had recently retold a more complete story now more footage had been released. They had watched the battle in ancient New Zealand as Hami watched, stony faced. Then the squad leader, Pokere, hadn’t made it back. At least they had gone back to save him.

That wasn’t possible in this mission.

The theft of the Transporter also bothered him. The risks to their own project had been enormous.

What made the day’s events even worse was Chuck’s comment after the briefing. He had taken Osborne aside and whispered with a smile, “Looks like the Princess Prudence thing might be all sorted.”

“Why?” asked Osborne. He didn’t want his time with Captain Kartal to be misconstrued as having a conflict of interests.

“Well, looks as if our mate Hami has finally breached the icy walls,” he added as he looked around to make sure no one else was listening.

Osborne stood stock still a moment in barely concealed shock and nodded. “Good!” was his only reply.

Colonel Babacan later suggested he leave for the day. He was particularly empathetic to the pressures of command. McFee had things under control in Constantinople and Chuck and the lads were monitoring the situation. Osborne decided to head to the ranch and hopefully go for a ride. He told Chuck as much. They could contact him as needed.

He barely spoke to Captain Kartal when he charged through the pilot’s waiting area, simply jerking his head for them to move. The co-pilot had been engrossed in watching a local soccer game and Captain Kartal’s eyes narrowed at Osborne’s abrupt order. She stalked to the chopper, donned her flight helmet and looked furious, which pleased Osborne. The two timing little bitch! He was forced to concede she hadn’t really been two timing, after all, they hadn’t built a relationship. How could he compete with Hami? The guy was silky smooth, a lady-killer. Osborne couldn’t be angry at Hami. Women, especially Captain Kartal, were just too confusing.

If a woman had the choice between Hami and himself? Well, there was really no competition, was there?

He boarded the chopper and, after the clearance was given, there was a savage swoop as the craft took off. Osborne barely felt it. He was trying to make sense of his emotional state. He felt professionally detached with the tragic deaths of his men but felt more muddled and, if he had to admit it, hurt by the actions of Captain Kartal. He didn’t expect to make any real headway with the pretty Turkish pilot but he had enjoyed her company and naively believed she had enjoyed his.

Yes, it hurt. Add to that his exhaustion and the events of the day and he really needed to blow off some steam.

Osborne ignored the pilot as he sat in contemplation, evaluating the day. He had the team book three rooms because after his ride they would stay overnight. By the time they landed he had detached himself emotionally and thanked the pilots with a nod as he climbed from the chopper.

The ranch owners were excited at the arrival of their guests and refreshments were on hand. Osborne wasn’t in the mood but knew better than to refuse hospitality, so he had just picked up a glass of the excellent, locally produced red wine when the pilots entered reception. He hadn’t been much of a wine drinker until his Turkish duties. As Captain Kartal stalked in with Deniz, he made a point to smile graciously at the pretty receptionist and she giggled at his attention. Captain Kartal looked furious.

Good.

He turned away and went to walk to his room, a penthouse suite charged out to the project. Let someone complain. He deserved at least one night of comfort. He had ordered two other rooms but maybe, he thought ungraciously, they only needed one. Maybe Kartal was banging Deniz too.

As he turned to go, she called out, “Captain Osborne, may I have a word?”

He paused and grimaced to himself. He wanted her to stew but maybe she wasn’t stewing at all. She probably didn’t care and her request was purely operational. Osborne wanted to stalk off like a child, annoyed at how she had penetrated his armour and even more annoyed at his own petulance.

Deniz grabbed his kitbag and almost ran for his room while Osborne gestured Captain Kartal to a pair of lounge chairs in an alcove far from reception. Dimly lit by multi-coloured lamps, it was a place they could speak without interruption.

To have her near was surprisingly uncomfortable. She looked angry, so he expected a tirade. What did he mean to her anyway? Let’s get it over with.

As they eased into the comfortable leather chairs, she held a glass of white wine. Most Turkish women made a point of not drinking alcohol. Though essentially a Muslim nation, most Turkish men seemed not to let the limitations of their faith stop them enjoying a drink. “My family is Sufi,” she began as she swirled the wine in her glass. “They live in Konya. My father is a devout man and we were raised in the faith but I was too wilful and wanted to break out and fly. Thankfully, he loved his daughter as much as he did his sons and allowed me to be educated and then make my choices in life. I joined the military to break away from tradition. I wanted to fly, because I have always wanted to fly.”

Osborne only nodded.

At his lack of reaction, Captain Kartal looked unsure but, with a small frown, she continued.

“This is something else I have learned to like,” she explained as she raised the glass, “Being in the military can be trying, especially as a Turkish woman. You have to be tougher, better, braver, and more aloof than anyone else or the men can treat you like a whore. Times are changing. Having a drink of wine helps.”

Osborne grunted. He couldn’t even look at her but the whore label stung.

“I heard about your men,” Captain Kartal added. “Hami told me when we landed at Ilidag. He said you would be taken up in your duties for the day. I’m so sorry. They were good men and I liked them.”

“Why did Hami tell you I would be taken up in duties for the day?” asked Osborne. The conversation was beginning to irritate.

Captain Kartal blushed and took a small sip of wine. “I think it’s common knowledge that we’ve been on a few horse-riding … um … journeys. He told me why you were going to be busy for the day.”

“So you and Hami …?” asked Osborne, regretting the words as soon as they fled his lips.

Captain Kartal frowned and glared at Osborne with a fiery flash. “No, there is no me and Hami. Who could think this?”

Osborne frowned and then, with a glimmer of hope, he shook his head, confused. “I was told that you and Hami …”

“Who? Who would say this Tony? Why?” she reacted angrily. For the first time he looked into her big, brown eyes and she looked hurt.

She had called him Tony. He felt an almost magical lightness of being and reluctantly smiled. “No worries. Yeah, it’s been a bad day.”

Captain Kartal seemed to accept a change in Osborne’s mood and she murmured, “Again, I’m sorry.”

Osborne took a sip. “Thanks.” He shook his head, confused. No Hami? “It was the way they died. They were deceived and killed by the Varangian Guard. The other two lads sorted it and escaped unharmed but they’ll need to return soon. It was shocking stuff for the researchers, that’s for sure. Colonel Babacan is running it by the people he’s answerable to. It will be released to the media, after a fashion but it’s all on the quiet, as you can imagine.”

Captain Kartal merely nodded and watched him. Osborne looked up and had to fill the silence. “I have the lads looking after the situation. They can call me if needed, so if that call comes, we’ll have to head back.”

She looked down at her wine, her brown eyes hidden in the shadows. “Of course,” she smiled gently and nodded. Osborne caught his breath but he had to keep something in reserve. Just in case Hami did have a show at this.

Stuff it, he thought. He braced himself for rejection. “I was going to have a ride in the morning, early. It’s one of the best ways to clear my mind. Certainly preferable to the gym. Would you, um, like to come along?”

But Captain Kartal, it seemed, was full of surprises. She smiled broadly, as if in relief, then nodded with a flash of those amazing eyes and said only one word, “Yes!”