Helen spoke clearly, slowly, and loudly. She filled her voice with all the anger she had in her body. ‘Listen, you murderer. I need just ten minutes to get your brothers to this airport. Then I will send them to the plane. But if you kill my husband, or anyone else, then I promise you that your brothers will die, on the tarmac in front of that plane. Is that what you want? Or will you wait ten minutes?
There was another, longer pause. Helen stared out into the night. She did not see anything.
‘All right. Ten more minutes.’
‘Thank you. Now there is one more thing. The passengers.’
‘What about them?’
‘You must set them free before I send your brothers to the plane.’
The voice on the radio laughed. ‘Because you are a woman, do you think all men are stupid, like your husband? –Send me our brothers, then refuel the plane, and then I will send you the passengers.’
‘No, answered Helen. She looked at Colonel Carter. ‘This is how we will do it. I will send you one of your brothers and then you must send me the passengers. When we have all the passengers, then we will refuel the plane and send you your other brother.’
