Tess Awakening by Andres Mann Read Free Book Online Page A

but I
must find my daughter soon before he orders her killed.”
    “If we get out of here, we will try to find
her together,” Tess replied.
    “I would be grateful,” responded the woman.
“When we go outside, act modest and humble. Remember, they think so
little of women that we grow stronger under their eyes and someday
vengeance will be ours. But for now, you must wear the chador. They
will not suspect it is you. The garment will cover your hair and it
is dark enough that unless you look directly at someone they will
not be able to see your shining eyes.”
    The women worked together to fit the clothes
on Tess. When she looked in the mirror, she couldn’t believe her
eyes. No wonder women were so easily oppressed here. The clothing
itself took away anything that could have been an individual.
    “You are ready.” Kejal fought to stop the one
tear that escaped. “I am thankful to you. I thought that I could no
longer cry.” Anything else she wanted to say was lost. “We must
leave. I hear the guards going to eat now.”
    Tess reached Kejal in three strides and took
her hands. “Thank you, my friend. We will find you child, and the
world will know of your pain and your heroism.”
    Tess needed to eliminate the guard outside.
Impatience made the time stretch and Tess was about to crawl out of
her skin when Kejal began to moan loudly enough to be heard.
    The guard entered. Tess was not sure what he
said but was pretty certain they were not words suitable for mixed
company. As the guard raised his hand to hit the impudent woman,
Tess suddenly freed her hands from under the chador, and punched
the man in the stomach with as much strength as she could muster.
The blow sent him flying to the floor, allowing her to pounce on
his chest and to administer one good jab to crush his Adam’s apple.
The man jerked violently, staring at Tess, apparently incredulous
at being felled by a woman. He quickly suffocated.
    Tess eased to the door, taking Kejal’s hand,
and carefully scoped both directions as she headed down the
hallway. About halfway down she could see the exit that Kejal had
told her about. But she could also hear voices. She turned toward
the source as a hand reached out from a nook and closed on her
mouth. “Shhh, don’t say a word.” The words were in English, but
Tess feared she had been caught — again.
    The man pulled her into a room and turned her
to face him. One look at those eyes and he knew. One look at his
face and Tess knew too. “What the hell are you doing here Vickers?
I thought you were out playing your CIA games!” Tess’s tone was all
Jake needed to know that she was all right.
    “Apparently I am doing the same thing as you
are, trying to get the hell out of here. I landed a short distance
from here, caught the Iraqis off guard and sent them to Allah. By
the way, how did you get out? And who is this?” he inquired,
pointing at the other woman in tow.
    “She is okay,” Tess said. “She helped me
escape!”
    “Good enough for me,” Jake responded. Let’s
get the guys out. You stay back here and I’ll take care of
things.
    “Spoken like a real chauvinist,” Tess
commented. “Get real; you will need all the help you can get! And
don’t forget who is in command!”
    Jake smiled, “How are you going to command
with a tent over your head? Take it off!”
    Tess was about to do that when she realized
that wasn’t exactly wearing combat fatigues underneath. “Not now!”
she responded, irritably. “Let’s go get the guys out!”
    Jake couldn’t help but smile. He snatched a
glimpse of her creamy skin under the chador. When had he begun to
think of Tess as his? ‘Shake it off, Vickers and get with the
program,’ he thought.
    As they stealthily approached the prison
building, Jake, Tess and Kejal hid behind a large vehicle. “Tess, I
have to tell you. Dan Gardner died from his injuries.”
    Tess felt her world falling apart. “What do
you mean he died? Are you sure?” He could