In memory of the 2981 victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, among them three Albanians
[Disastrous September, by the Albanian-American author, Skifter Këlliçi, takes place on two different days: May 10 and September 11, 2001. The novel tells the story of a well-known CNN reporter named Steve Ferguson, engaged to Jacqueline Cramer, a flight attendant based at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition, the novel explores the lives of four Albanians. Besim Istrefi, Rrok Camaj, and Marko Muzaka worked as window washers in the Twin Towers. Sokol Kama, a journalist and writer, works in security at Logan International Airport. On September 11, 2001 just a few days before Steve and Jacqueline’s wedding, two planes, bound for Los Angeles, depart from Boston. Terrorists hijack them and crash them into the Twin Towers in New York. The author, who worked at Logan International Airport during the attacks, offers a gripping account of the tragedy and shows how it could have been avoided.]
By SKIFTER KELLICI
[Translated from the Albanian by Carrie Hooper]
Rashid thought about his brother, Nuredin, a member of al Qaeda, who fought in Afghanistan, and had sacrificed everything to join the Army. Because he was skinny, he found the intense training and fasting difficult. Bin Laden used to tell the soldiers how, from the beginning of time, western nations fought Islamic nations because they wanted to liberate Jerusalem from the Turks. He related an incident which occurred over a thousand years earlier, 1907 years to be exact. One morning in a small Arabian village, the men worked in the fields while most of the women, children, and elderly slept. Suddenly, people ran from their homes, screaming, as soldiers dressed in white overalls with large, black crosses on their chests raided the village, killed anyone who got in their way, and raped women and young girls in front of the children. They killed every single person in the village, except for an old man, who escaped to a nearby village and told everyone what had happened. The soldiers had come from Europe, supposedly to free Jerusalem from the Turks, but why did they have to kill and rape innocent people along the way, and why did they undertake so many crusades over a period of 200 years?
When Rashid heard this story, he remembered reading in school about what the Arabs taught the Europeans. The Arabs had occupied Sicily and Spain but had not killed or raped innocent people. The Koran didn’t teach that. They built roads, schools, parks, and other structures. They also taught the Europeans different methods of irrigation and brought them various plants, including rice. But most important, the Arabs let the Europeans practice their religion, Christianity.
“And how did they repay us?” Rashid thought. “By destroying everything we did, killing, and raping. That’s why we Muslims hate Christians.”
Rashid and his brother overheard two men in front of them talking about Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism. Rashid jumped to his feet and pretended to adjust his bag. He saw a copy of “The Boston Globe” and the headline, “Another victory for the American forces against bin Laden’s terrorists in Afghanistan.” A picture below the title showed American soldiers with Taliban prisoners. Rashid sat down again.
To them, death is a temporary state until they go to heaven. The other day, I read an article in the paper about bin Laden’s right hand man, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, who said there will be many more large scale attacks in the future, and a lot of Christians will die.
“Who knows when these Islamic fundamentalists will be captured or killed?” said one of the men. “Just when we think we’re making progress, other terrorists take revenge by blowing themselves up, taking innocent people with them.”
“It’s all bin Laden’s fault. He’s the one nourishing the hatred by telling his followers stories about the Crusades. He uses an event that happened centuries ago to justify his acts of evil. He and his followers are proud to be called fundamentalists. Moderate Muslims do not condone their actions. Bin Laden says Allah’s Law must rule from the deserts of Saudi Arabia to college campuses in America.”
“That’s absurd!” laughed the other man.
“There’s more,” said the first. “According to bin Laden, people should not be classified according to race or nationality, but according to their religion. He doesn’t believe in states or nations. Everybody should belong to a single Islamic state, like the ancient Arabian Khalifate.”
“I remember an Islamic fundamentalist, captured by American forces in Kenya, who said the Islamic fundamentalists consider Jihad, the holy war against the satanic West, the only solution with their main target the United States. That’s why new al Qaeda units emerge every day with members from different countries: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Chechnya. Even European Christians have joined the so-called Jihad. The Muslims have an advantage.”
“What do you mean?” asked his friend, surprised.
“To them, death is a temporary state until they go to heaven. The other day, I read an article in the paper about bin Laden’s right hand man, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, who said there will be many more large scale attacks in the future, and a lot of Christians will die.”
“You must give them credit, though. They are brave.”
“Imagine carrying a bomb around your waist just so you can kill yourself and other people! That’s not bravery, that’s sheer stupidity and a crime!”
Rashid was about to speak, but Vail stopped him. The two men talked for a few more minutes. Then, one of them asked his friend if he wanted a cigarette.
“No,” he said. “I had one just before we boarded. I smoke one every hour or so.”
“It’s not the end of the world if you smoke two cigarettes an hour. Besides, after today, smoking won’t be allowed on planes anymore.”
“I heard that,” he said, then went to join his friend. The two Arab brothers remained in their seats.
“Did you hear those stupid Americans?” asked Vail.
“I certainly did,” said Rashid. “Thank God you grabbed my arm. I almost grabbed them by their throats.”
“That would have been the dumbest thing ever,” said Vail. “Remember what Sheikh said, we have to be cautious. You almost lost it. Stay cool. We’re just moments away from our sacred mission.”
“Are you scared?” asked Rashid. “You’re shaking, just when Muhammad is about to give us the go ahead.”
I remember an Islamic fundamentalist, captured by American forces in Kenya, who said the Islamic fundamentalists consider Jihad, the holy war against the satanic West, the only solution with their main target the United States
“I’m not scared,” said Vail. “I would have slit the throats of those Americans, too. Remember when we caught that American couple a few years ago in that village in Lebanon? The wife was several months pregnant. I couldn’t wait until we contacted the American Embassy in Beirut to exchange prisoners. I killed that couple right away. Then, I felt bad because I thought of our mother, left alone.”
“I told you not to think about Mom, especially now,” said Rashid.
“I’ll forget her, but she won’t forget me,” said Vail. “Every time Marvan, Muhammad, Abdul, and I went to the camps, she would ask us where we were going and why we stayed away so long. Then, she prayed for our safe return to Qatar, embraced us, and sniffed us.”
“You know, Vail, you and Abdul should not have come on this mission. You’re not cut out for it. Even though you’re more educated than me, you rush into things.”
“I can’t help it. How will our mother cope with the news that both her sons are dead, that they did such a horrible thing? Her whole world will be shattered. Yesterday, Abdul told me he is leaving behind his only son. He never even met him.”
Rashid could hardly keep from screaming.
“At least one of us should have stayed home.”
“I wish I could kill you myself, you coward! I hope you rot in hell!” Rashid almost screamed.
Vail didn’t even hear his brother’s curse. He imagined his mother, waiting for her two boys, whom she raised with a lot of tears and sacrifice, since her husband’s death. Every time they came home, she begged them to get married and have children so she could take care of them with the same love she had shown her boys. When Rashid worked as a teacher, he sometimes held classes at home. The laughter of children had not filled the house for many years. Every time Rashid and Vail left, their mother prayed for their safe return. She even prayed for them when they slept and smelled their clothes if she couldn’t embrace them. (Continues)
Click here for Part-1, Part-2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12,
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About the Author
Skifter Këllici was born in Tirana, Albania and received a diploma in history and literature from the University of Tirana. He worked as a journalist, scholar, and sportscaster on radio and television. He is the author of several novels and nonfiction books, including the children’s books, “Memories of the Old Neighborhood” and “In the Footsteps” as well as the historical novels, “Assassination in Paris”, “The Murderer with the White Hands”, and “September Disaster.” He wrote the screenplay for “In the Footsteps” which won a special prize at the International Children’s Film Festival in Giffoni, Italy in 1979. He has lived in Boston, Massachusetts since 1999.
About the Translator
Carrie Hooper was born and raised in Elmira, New York. She has been blind since birth. She received a B.A. in vocal performance from Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania. She went on to receive an M.A. in German and an M.A. in vocal performance from the State University of New York at Buffalo. After completing her studies, she spent a year at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden as a Fulbright scholar. Carrie currently lives in Elmira, New York. She taught German, Italian, and Romanian at Elmira College. She has a passion for foreign languages and in addition to the languages mentioned above, she is also proficient in Swedish, Spanish, and Albanian. Music also plays an important role in Carrie’s life. She teaches voice and piano lessons, gives vocal concerts, plays the piano and organ at a church, and sings in a community chorus. Carrie not only loves music and languages, but also enjoys poetry. She has published three books: “Piktura në fjalë” (“Word Paintings”), a bilingual collection of poetry (Albanian-English), “My Life in My Words”, and “Away from Home.” She has also translated texts from Albanian and Romanian to English.
[The book ‘Disastrous September is being reproduced in episodes with the consent of the author]
