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]
One night, not long after their return from Afghanistan, Rashid and Vail’s mother approached their beds while they slept.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” asked Vail.
“Nothing, Son,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep and came to cover you up. Your blanket had fallen on the floor.”
But Vail knew his mother was watching him and Rashid and praying for them.
“I’m not a coward,” said Vail, “but I should have told Marvan you wouldn’t be part of this. At least you would have been alive and would have stayed home with Mom.”
“If only I had known you felt that way, I would have asked Marvan if you could stay home with our mother, but it’s too late.”
Rashid squeezed Vail’s hand so hard he almost screamed in pain. He was hallucinating and said, “For the love of Allah, go away, you ugly thoughts, and stop tormenting me. These Americans are the great grandchildren of the people who killed our ancestors and mocked our religion. They still do, and the time has come for you, Muhammad, and the rest of us to fulfill our obligation to bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Muhammad in the name of Allah the Almighty.”
“That’s the spirit,” said Rashid, putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder.
Abdul thought the same thing, not because he wanted to but because Muhammad told him such thoughts would strengthen their resolve to take revenge on western infidels. Abdul recalled his training in the forests of Kandahar.
“Both the British and Americans supported the right of non-practicing Jews to build on Palestinian land,” Marvan had said. “In 1967, the Americans began their occupation of Arab territory.”
Abdul had listened along with everyone else but had had second thoughts after meeting Muhammad, other Taliban fighters, and ordinary people. He and many other Muslims, did not approve of the fundamentalists’ so-called war against the Christians. He avoided buses and coffee shops for fear people might accuse him of being a terrorist and kill him.
Indeed, Abdul had become a murderer. Once, he had encountered a woman, her two children, and their grandfather.
“My son killed Taliban fighters. Kill me, but let this woman and her children go!” the old man pleaded.
Abdul killed them all. Still, he was suspicious of Marvan, other Taliban fighters, and bin Laden even though they were as ruthless as he was.
Satem recalled a night when, as he was about to go to sleep in a tent in Lebanon, Marvan gave a speech to the soldiers.
“We are proud to be called fundamentalists,” he said. “Allah’s law must extend from the Saudi Arabian desert to American university campuses. People should not be separated by race or nationality but by religion. We must form a single Islamic state like the ancient Khalifate.”
Satem also thought of bin Laden, who would often say, “The only way to achieve our goal is with a Jihad against the evil West. The mission, for which we are preparing, is part of our war. Soon we will attack America, Satan’s home. We will win the war. We are not afraid of death.”
Satem’s and Muhammad’s blood boiled. Muhammad thought of Sheikh Khalid who had said, “When you are about to embark on one of our missions against the western non-believers, think of Jihad. Our brothers who have killed many people will be rewarded with eternal life.”
Meanwhile, Satem entered the cockpit and took control of the plane. Vail and Rashid stabbed Emma in the throat. Jacqueline and two other flight attendants tried to intervene but backed away after Rashid threatened to cut their throats.
Suddenly, Abdul started coughing and could hardly breathe. Satem, afraid the Americans might become suspicious, whispered, “Brother Abdul, despite Muhammad’s encouragement, you’re still having second thoughts. One of my professors in law school said we had the right to condemn anyone who didn’t accept our religion, and we have people like that on this flight, do you understand?”
Satem looked at Abdul for a couple of minutes.
Greta, Jacqueline, and Emma, pushed carts with drinks.
“We are coming around with champagne and wine for a toast to Jacqueline,” said Emma.
As she filled the glasses, one could see a small cross hanging from her neck. It seemed to Vail that Emma’s cross grew larger and her hair grew longer. Only her cold, savage eyes remained visible. Vail thought a man stood in front of him, not holding a wine bottle, but a sword. Emma looked like one of the crusaders, described by Nuredin and Vail’s teacher, who plundered villages.
At that moment, Vail’s phone rang, Muhammad’s signal to attack. The men sprang to their feet and accosted Emma. Muhammad and Satem clutched small perfume bottles with poison gas. None of the other passengers knew what was happening.
“May I help you?” asked Emma, aware of two passengers standing in front of her.
Abdul grabbed her by the shoulders while Satem sprayed her in the face. She fainted in shock. After Satem disposed of the bottle, he pulled his knife out of his pocket. The other passengers, stunned by the scene, became speechless.
Satem told Emma if she moved, he would cut her throat. To prove he meant what he said, he closed her mouth and stabbed her in the throat. She flinched as she bled out, tried to speak, but couldn’t.
Meanwhile, Muhammad knocked on the cockpit door and shouted, “Help! One of the flight attendants is sick!”
Chris motioned to Patrick to open the door, and as soon as he did, Muhammad beat him with a bottle until he bled and fell to the floor. Then, he cut his throat. The terrified passengers watched their pilot bleed to death.
“Do you want to end up like him?” Muhammad threatened, wiping the blood from his face and hands.
Chris could not see because the cockpit door was ajar, but he knew from the commotion something was wrong so he left the controls to investigate the situation. When he came out of the cockpit, Muhammad sprayed him and attempted to stab him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Muhammad Ata. On behalf of al Qaeda, we have killed both pilots and are holding two flight attendants hostage. I suggest you not do anything stupid. Otherwise, we’ll blow up this plane. Don’t be afraid. We’re taking you back to Boston. You’re safe.”
Blinded by the spray, he tried to grab Muhammad’s hand. Muhammad stabbed him several more times in the throat. Chris tried to defend himself, but Muhammad stabbed him again. As Chris attempted to remove the knife from his throat, Muhammad picked up the metal bottle he had thrown on the floor and hit him several times on the head.
Meanwhile, Satem entered the cockpit and took control of the plane. Vail and Rashid stabbed Emma in the throat. Jacqueline and two other flight attendants tried to intervene but backed away after Rashid threatened to cut their throats.
“Nobody move!” Vail shouted. “If you keep quiet, nothing bad will happen.”
Muhammad joined Satem in the cabin and addressed the passengers in his heavily accented English:
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Muhammad Ata. On behalf of al Qaeda, we have killed both pilots and are holding two flight attendants hostage. I suggest you not do anything stupid. Otherwise, we’ll blow up this plane. Don’t be afraid. We’re taking you back to Boston. You’re safe.” (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, Part-13,
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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]
