BOGUS

By Jill Ganger

A very young Amad was sent away from his home in Libya to "become a man" at a Jihadist camp in Afghanistan. BOGUS tells Amad's story as he slowly spirals into the depths of his insanity. His adventures, sexual episodes, and a winding plot show his mental regression. An undetectable additive, designed to kill, is placed inside of capsules of a generic prescription drug. As the circle tightens around him, he is caught, tried and imprisoned. Only then will we see how his mind perceives the world and especially the world that he has created.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: Feb 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781649695444

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Ken Johnson was a 39 year old male who lived in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and two children. His neck had bothered him for years and he finally had arthroscopic surgery. The doctor prescribed Valtrascin 100 mg for his ensuing neck pain after the surgery.

Trish Ebhardt was a single female living in Omaha, Nebraska. She was 24 years old and a sales manager for a large technology company. She had an active social life and participated in many sports. One day she fell reaching for a ball in a good game of tennis doubles. She landed with her body weight on her arm and broke her wrist in a severe torus fracture. While in a cast for six weeks she developed a nagging pain in her forearm. The doctor prescribed Valtrascin 100 mg to alleviate the pain at night so she could sleep.

Jason Morris was a single male living in San Mateo, California. He was 27 years old and worked for a computer company in the Silicon Valley. He had two room mates in order to afford the rent on a small apartment. He had a passion for skiing and saved his vacations to spend as much time as possible on the ski slopes. On an extended weekend ski trip, he caught the tip of his ski on a rock on an icy slope. He catapulted through the air, and his binding didn’t release quickly enough. The fall caused him to suffer a compound fracture of his right leg. He was taken down from the mountain by the ski patrol and rushed to the hospital where they performed surgery to repair his leg. When he was released from the hospital, the doctor prescribed Valtrascin 100mg for his lingering pain.

Yolanda Cervantes was a 34 year old married woman with three children living in Augusta, Georgia. She worked full time at a furniture factory, but was still on maternity leave due to the birth of her young son. Her lower back and hip were bothering her from carrying her new baby while dealing with her two other young children. She would have to go back to work soon. Her doctor prescribed Valtrascin 100 mg to manage the pain so she could handle her family without a lot of stress on her back.

CHAPTER 1

This time Amad came to the US with two and a half million dollars available to him. His last trip to the states was for four years of college and a graduate degree in chemical engineering, but his father had called him home after his education was completed. He returned to his native Libya to an arranged marriage and then some additional time of militia training in Afghanistan in order to refresh the skills gained in his youth. Only then could he return to the states to begin his first job as a chemical engineer.

It wasn’t long before he was a first class marksman again and updated his munitions skills. He trained in the art of survival under the worst of circumstances. He wasn’t satisfied. He was able to ingratiate himself with some of the religious zealots that he had trained with in his youth. By this time his goals had diverged from the goals his father had set for him. These religious zealots respected his father, and they assumed that the Amad had the same aspirations. It wasn’t as if he had any strong religious feelings as a lifelong Muslim, it was more the purpose he had for himself. He wanted to make a difference in the world – A difference in a very subtle way.  Sitting in a mountain cave in Afghanistan was no way to capitalize on his chemical engineering degree. There was no question in his mind that he was so much smarter than these men; his time could be far better spent planning how he would implement his ambitions. He was slowly developing a plan. He wanted to keep it to himself, but he needed their money to finance it. Devising a scheme to placate them, would have them begging him to take their fortunes in order to assure that Muslims would control the world. He didn’t care how he got the money as long as he could be the undisputed one at the helm.

The stupid Americans, he thought as he stood in the customs line at Kennedy International Airport in New York. I’m an Arab – racial profiling and all that – they will be so careful with me. I flew first class, arranged a date with the cute flight attendant and I dressed in expensive clothes that I bought in the Emirates before the flight. They wouldn’t dare offend a member of the wealthy Arab elite.

CHAPTER 2

Susan was dying. She was 53 years old and in great physical condition until today. She was in and out of consciousness barely recognizing her family as they sat in her hospital room. Her husband squeezed her hand to let her know that he was there. Her grown sons had arrived at the hospital this morning and they sat by their father without saying a word.

Dr. Bingham came into the room and beckoned Mr. Dryer, Susan’s husband. Her eldest son Donald took his father’s chair and held his mother’s hand. Can you tell me when she became ill, Mr. Dryer?It was very sudden, he said. Her neck had been bothering her for the last few days – but I thought that was just residual discomfort from an old injury. She didn’t complain about it or anything. I just noticed her movements and I know her. We’ve been married for 30 years. It really wasn’t obvious to anyone else, he said more to himself than to the doctor. This morning she was fine. We had coffee and breakfast, and then I kissed her goodbye and started to leave for work. As I bent down to pick up my attaché case, I heard a crash in the kitchen. I dropped my bag and ran back into the kitchen and Susan was on the floor. Her coffee cup had landed nearby and had broken into pieces. I didn’t stop to look at her. I picked up the phone and called 9-1-1.

Did you notice how she looked on the floor immediately after she went down? Was she pale; was she convulsing – anything odd that you noticed?

I only noticed my wife on the floor – not moving. Mr. Dryer responded. I was in shock. The paramedics arrived quickly. They should be able to tell you. I just don’t know! She looks awful, doctor! What is wrong – can’t you help her?

We just don’t know yet. Her body is shutting down. I’m sorry to tell you that, and unless we figure out what caused this episode quickly – we’ll lose her! Go back to your wife, Mr. Dryer and we will continue to run tests so that we can figure out what can be done.

Mr. Dryer went back into the room, sat in the chair vacated by his son, and put his head in his hands.

Dr. Bingham sent an intern into the room along with the shift nurse to continue monitoring Susan Dryer. As he looked at the chart Dr. Bingham had an idea. He went back into the room and spoke to Mr. Dryer. Go back to your house and check the kitchen and bathroom for pills of any kind that Susan might have used this morning. Perhaps it’s an allergic reaction to something. I know that you don’t want to leave your wife, but can you do that or would you like me to send someone?

Mr. Dryer barely heard the doctor as he watched his wife struggling to live. The doctor touched his arm and repeated the request and Mr. Dryer left the room. But she was fine this morning, Mr. Dryer told himself.

As he left the room and walked down the hall to the elevator, he thought of their life together. He remembered how he had asked her to marry him.

They were in a canoe at the lake. It was a beautiful spring day, and they decided on a picnic. She made a wonderful lunch, and he brought the wine. They threw the food into the boat and then he jumped in. He took her hand and helped her climb into the small boat. He rowed across the lake slowly; she wanted to help with the oars but he wanted to be macho and do it himself. She shook her head in frustration. You can row on the way back, he told her laughing. By then I’ll be too full after all that food! When they got to the other side of the lake, they tied up the canoe and waded to shore. Susan spread out the blanket and took the food from the basket. He uncorked the wine and poured two glasses. He put his hand in his pocket to feel if the ring was still there. He took a deep breath and blurted it out before he could change his mind. He stuttered for the first time in his life as the words came out, Susan I love you. Will you marry me? He could see in her eyes that she was totally surprised and delighted. She smiled and put her arms around him. I love you too! We will be together forever!

The elevator door opened and he got inside. Continuing to reminisce he thought about when she told him that she was pregnant with Donald. They were so happy – now they would be a real family. I’ll be a good mother won’t I? she worried. You’ll be a wonderful mother – you have so much love to give, he told her as he squeezed her hand and kissed her on the forehead. Then two years later, Alan had arrived and now they were a family of four.

The elevator door opened and he stepped into the lobby. As he walked to the car he thought about all the good times that they had promised each other when the boys were grown. Donald was working in the city, and Alan was still in school. They still dreamed about the time that they would have together when the boys were totally on their own. Another year and Alan would be finished with school. Then it would be time for them.

He unlocked the car door, sat down in the driver’s seat, and began to cry.

CHAPTER 3

Amad’s father had decided that his son would go to the United States to study. That decision was made when Amad was still a toddler. The family lived in an affluent neighborhood on the outskirts of Tripoli. Amad’s mother was a beautiful woman and fortunately for him he had inherited his mother’s delicate beauty rather than his father’s rough uneven features. His mother had bronzed silken skin and a warm smile. Her smile was a mask for the deep feelings of hatred for her husband, but she loved her son dearly.

Amad’s father had a basic plan for his son’s education that he augmented and revised each year. He hired a Spanish tutor and an English tutor to work with Amad from the age of 4. A very intelligent boy, he had a knack for languages and his fluency in both languages increased rapidly. He had tutors in science and mathematics as well. For his son to attend the best school in Tripoli, was not good enough for Amad’s father.

Amad learned from his mother as well. He learned to hide his feelings and he learned to smile. He also learned to hate his father. His father always wanted more of him and was never satisfied. It hadn’t taken long for Amad to learn to hide any feelings from his father. The many beatings that he had received at his father’s hand had taught him that. Amad did have a love of learning, but because of his father’s control over him there was little else in his life.

His father called him into the study one evening. Son, his father said. It is time for you to begin training for your destiny. You are twelve years old now – almost a man. I have raised you to be a faithful Muslim and a proud Libyan – isn’t that so? Yes, Papa, Amad responded wondering what his father had in store for him this time. I’ve arranged for you to be taken on a long journey, my son. You will leave in about a week. Hassan will pick you up before daylight on the day that your journey begins. You will bring a bag that will have been packed for you. It will already be in Hassan’s truck. You will be gone for a year, but you will come home a man. I promise you that! I will pack your lessons as well, although I suspect you will not have much time to study. Make the most of your time, son, and learn and pray – Allah should protect you as you will be in training to protect him.

Amad did not want to leave his home, his school, and particularly his beloved mother, but he knew better than to argue with his father. He didn’t quite understand where he was going, but he was afraid to ask for fear his father would consider that insubordination and that a beating would be warranted.

Yes, Papa, he said again as he was dismissed by his father. As soon as he left the room, the tears began to flow as he searched the house for his mother. Mama, father is sending me away, he told her as he fell to his knees sobbing. I know – I know, she whispered as she stroked his head. I told Papa you were not ready, but he insisted. Surely Allah will protect you! 

Where am I going? Amad cried. It sounds frightening. Is it a bad place, Mama – is it?

You will return a man, she said. You will exercise. You will learn about our enemies and the enemies of Allah. You will learn to fight, and you will learn to be an expert marksman. You will learn from the best, but you must work hard to excel. Your father is depending on you!

Amad felt slightly better after talking with his mother. She wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him. He knew that she would protect him from his father if she could! He had always excelled in whatever he did.

At dawn on the day of his journey, Hassan came into his room to awaken him. Time to go was said only with a nod. Amad got out of bed preparing to leave his house for perhaps the last time. Hassan pushed him outside, and he reluctantly climbed into the truck. No one was there to say good-bye. Amad sat in the passenger seat feeling sad at leaving his home and his mama. He buried those feelings as he dozed in the truck as it pulled away into the desert. As the desert became more desolate the pebbles in the sand would jolt Amad awake and away from the dreams of mama, his days in school, his tutors, and his home. He’d awaken to terrible thoughts of his Papa. Hassan stopped the truck by the side of the road for them to rest for the night. They ate some food that had been prepared for the trip, went behind some rocks to relieve themselves, and then fell asleep in the back of the truck. The rising of the sun awakened them both. They had a small meal and the trip began again. The bouncing of the old truck made Amad sleepy and he must have dozed off again during the drive.

Wake up, Amad, wake up! We’ve driven along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea close to the Egyptian border. I leave you here. Ja’hil should be meeting us at the border and I will return to your father’s house.

Amad’s eyes grew large. He would be with a total stranger. At least he knew Hassan since he was a little boy – but now --. He was worried and afraid. It was dark and lonely out there! He thought about his friend, Aziz. Nobody knew about Aziz, not even his mother. Aziz had been in Amad’s room with him when he needed him. Aziz was always there. Aziz was there when Papa was angry, and he was there when Mama couldn’t be. He hoped that Aziz had come with him on this journey. He needed to have someone he knew.

Suddenly lights appeared in the distance. They got larger as the vehicle approached. In the flat marshy terrain, it was difficult to know how close it was. Hassan got out of the truck to get Amad’s bag so they would be ready when Ja’hil arrived. Where am I going, Amad whispered. You are going to a place to learn to be a man, Hassan repeated the words that Amad’s father had used.

They waited by the truck until Ja’hil stopped in front of it. The two men hugged, and Hassan handed Amad’s bag to Ja’hil. Then he introduced the boy to the man. Amad grunted hello and bravely got into Ja’hil’s truck. 

We are in Egypt now, Ja’hil told Amad. You are about to start your real journey. If you have studied your lessons well, you will understand the itinerary for your travels. You have a long trip ahead of you son. We are not going the fastest route since we do not want our destination to be obvious. The journey’s end is a training camp that is in a secret location. We will continue our drive along the Mediterranean Sea until we are just south of Alexandria. Then we will take a small road across the Egyptian desert and arrive in Cairo. Once in Cairo we will meet up with another of your father’s associates who will have a few other boys in his truck. You will travel from Cairo back up north to Port Said and board a merchant ship which will take you through the Suez Canal and will continue on to the Gulf of Aqaba, into Jordan. 

Amad interrupted –the Suez Canal – Wow —I’ve read about the Suez Canal and I’m really going to go through it! For the first time since leaving home, he became animated and almost excited about this adventure. And what will I do in Jordan? He asked Ja’hil. 

You will be taken to a large airport where another of your father’s friends will fly with you to Tehran.

I’ve never been in an airplane! Amad was very excited now. Where am I going? Why am I flying to Tehran? Amad asked. It was as if Amad had not spoken. Ja’hil continued, You will be picked up in Tehran by a small convoy of trucks. Other boys will be in this convoy. The trucks will then travel over the border of Iran into Afghanistan. You will travel to a cave in a hidden location in Afghanistan, and it is there that you will become a man.

Suddenly Amad lost his enthusiasm. A cave in Afghanistan didn’t sound like a good place to be, especially for a twelve year old boy. He quietly sat in the truck as they drove on, and he willed Aziz into existence for comfort. Amad realized that he would have to make the best of the situation. He knew that he couldn’t escape. Where would he go and besides he didn’t have any money. He felt so helpless, and even at the age of twelve he hated that feeling. He decided that he would keep a journal of the trip and a separate journal of his conversations with Aziz. These journals would help him to stay focused on the trip with grown men that he didn’t know. Ja’hil at least told him where he was going, but he said little else.

In the distance he could still see the green land bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The desert in Egypt didn’t look any different from the desert in Libya. It was hot and dry, but Ja’hil had brought lots of water in the truck for them to drink. Time passed slowly and Amad began to write to Aziz, who assured Amad that his father wouldn’t let harm come to him. It was a very long drive. They stopped by the side of the road for a meal, to relieve themselves, and for a short night’s sleep. Amad was awakened after only a few hours, because Ja’hil wanted an early start to their journey because of the desert heat.

Other than watching the sun rise, Amad observed nothing but an empty road. Finally they saw other vehicles on the road which became more frequent as they approached the city of Alexandria. They bypassed the city and turned south after crossing the Nile River. Soon they were actually in a long line of traffic ready to enter the city of Cairo. You will meet up with Mohamar soon, Ja’hil said suddenly as they took a turn off the major road. Ja’hil stopped on the side of the road about thirty minutes later, leaving Amad to wonder why as they sat in silence. A few minutes later a vehicle approached them from the rear and parked behind them. Ja’hil told Amad to get out of the truck as he unloaded Amad’s bag. The driver got out of the other vehicle, nodded to Ja’hil and shook hands with him. I am sure that you will have a safe journey, Ja’hil said to Amad as he handed Amad’s bag to Mohamar. Ja’hil got back in the truck and pulled away leaving Amad standing in the road looking up at Mohamar. Mohamar put his hand on Amad’s shoulder and guided him toward his truck as he threw the bag in the back and opened the door for Amad, who climbed inside suddenly realizing that there were four other boys in the truck. He nodded at them and sat down closest to the window. Mohamar got back in the truck and began to drive.

They drove in silence for a while and then Amad decided that soon he would introduce himself to the other boys. They were probably going to the same place, and they were probably just as frightened of the unknown as he was. Mohamar told them that soon they were all going to board a merchant ship that would proceed south through the Suez Canal and then northeast through the Gulf of Aqaba into Jordan. This statement caused a flurry of excited conversation among the boys. They drove almost due east to the Suez River and then north to Port Said. When they saw many ships in front of them their excitement rose. They all silently wondered which ship was the one on which they would make their journey. Mohamar continued driving and veered off the main road and into a large parking lot near the water. He told the boys to get out of the truck and retrieve their bags as he threw them out of the back of the truck and onto the ground. Get in line and stay in line behind me, he said. I don’t want to lose any of you. He walked to a small building at the water’s edge. He opened the door, and spoke to a man at a desk inside the building. Then all of them were ushered outside through a door on the far side of the building. In front of them was a ship smeared with years of weathering but a deep blue paint peered at them from underneath. A ramp stretched downward touching the dock and creating a walkway for them. The man, that had been at the desk inside the building, waved them aboard the ship.

All of the boys were very excited about being on the ship. They ran up the ramp ahead of Mohamar and went to the nearest railing looking out into the water from the side of the ship. Amad spoke to the boy who stood next to him at the railing. Hi — I’m Amad, he introduced himself. The boy nodded and spoke —I’m Abdullah, but call me Abby. They stayed in that spot talking nonstop, until the ship blew it’s horn indicating that it was leaving port. The sudden loud sound caused the boys to jump, stop chattering, and start laughing. They felt the ship lurch as it began to move. It hadn’t gone far when it slowly came to a stop. They saw that the ship was now in a line of ships that were waiting for the convoy to proceed through the canal. Finally the ship began to move again, and they watched the building fade away behind them as other buildings appeared at the water’s edge and beyond. These got larger and larger as they got closer, and then smaller and smaller as they disappeared behind them. The sun was getting lower in the sky as evening approached.

Finally Mohamar suggested that they go down to their bunk room to get settled before the evening meal. To get to their quarters, they had to climb down many narrow steps. They dropped their bags on their chosen bunks, and went to the bathroom on that level to relieve themselves and to clean up for the meal. Soon they were ready and Mohamar took them to the galley to eat. They stood in line with the ship’s crew picking up a platter of food and then bringing it to one of the large tables in the room. Each of the boys ate enthusiastically after hours of driving and hours on the ship waiting for the convoy to guide them through the canal. After their meal Mohamar wanted them back in the bunk room. You will have a long day on the ship tomorrow, he told them. Get a good night’s sleep! 

During the night we will exit the canal and pass the town of Suez, then we will be in the Red Sea. By morning we will begin to travel north in the Gulf of Aqaba. We will pass Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt on our way to the town of Haql in Saudi Arabia where we will disembark the ship.

Abby and Amad whispered to each other before they fell asleep, ignoring the other boys. Each of them felt comfort in the fact that they had become close friends in that instant when they introduced themselves at the ship railing. They both needed that!

Mohamar woke them early in the morning as he had suggested that he would. The boys took turns using the bathroom and then they all went to the galley together to have a small amount of food before they started their day. Mohamar explained, after they went upstairs to the deck, that the ship was still in the Gulf of Suez, but that they would be entering the Red Sea for a short time, and then the Gulf of Aqaba. Looking over the railing they noticed a housing settlement on the water’s edge with guard towers and jeeps patrolling the outskirts of the settlement. They saw a few small ferry boats crossing the water from one settlement to another on the other side of the Gulf of Suez. Suddenly the shoreline opened up in front of them as the Gulf of Suez flowed into the Red Sea. Mohamar explained that this was the Red Sea in front of them. Other ships were visible to them, and they could see the activity on the shore. Soon they felt the ship make a sharp turn. Mohamar had told them to expect this as they turned north into the Gulf of Aqaba where they would be passing the port of Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt and several hours later they would be arriving at their destination of Haql in Saudi Arabia. There they would be met by Qasim who would take them on a five hour road trip to the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. The boys were very excited to find out that they would be flying in an airplane, even though they did not know their destination at this time. They chattered among themselves as they watched the settlements along the shore as the ship sailed onward. Mohamar stayed with the boys, but occasionally he spoke with some of the crew members that he seemed to know deliberately whispering so the boys could not hear. There was so much enthusiasm for the trip that awaited them, that the boys did not notice or were not concerned.

On the left of the ship they saw what seemed like a large port that was growing in size as they approached it. Mohamar explained that this was the Port of Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. This meant that Haql would be only a few hours away and that they would be off the ship before the sun set. There were large cranes on the docks that were used to remove cargo from merchant ships like the one they were on. As they passed by they saw that several ships were being unloaded. Amad thought that maybe their ship would turn around and unload at Sharm El-Sheikh after the boys had disembarked in Haql. As the port disappeared behind them, Mohamar suggested that they go down to the galley to have a meal which would probably be their last meal on the ship.

They had a meal together at one of the large tables in the galley. The boys nibbled at their food as they excitedly discussed the upcoming trip and the airplane. When they were finished and had a bathroom break, they went back up on deck to watch the final leg of their journey on the water. After another two hours, Mohamar told them to go down to the bunk room, quickly gather their belongings, and meet back on the deck so they would be prepared to leave the ship when the boat docked. Within fifteen minutes, the boys had arrived back on deck. This time they saw a city on the right side of the ship that was quite a bit smaller than the port city that they had just left. The ship slowly approached the dock. The ramp was lowered as soon as the ship arrived so that the crew could get back on the water as quickly as possible. The boys hurried down the ramp to the dock when Mohamar announced that he would be reboarding the merchant ship. He was handing over responsibility for them to Qadim who was waiting for them dockside. The boys tentatively said goodbye to Mohamar and observed Qadim. He was the gruff looking burly man standing next to the ramp looking impatient. Mohamar waved to the boys and waved to Qadim as he walked back up the ramp and onto the deck of the ship. As soon as Mohamar disappeared from view, Qadim waved the boys forward to his waiting truck. He told them that they had about a five hour drive to the airport in Amman so they needed to quickly get on the road.

The boys threw their bags in the back of the truck and climbed in. Qadim turned on the engine and began to drive. Out of a feeling of necessity the boys had become friends during their short time on the merchant ship. Perhaps they felt that they needed one another for support in their still long journey. Finally Qadim asked if they could keep the noise down because