Forever Helpful

I wrote a much longer version of this story called Bang on Time but then I had to submit a story in 250 words or less for a competition.I edited it right down so it's  even short enough for Rain to read ;-)


Ahmed, the bomb maker, and his handler Azziz where to strike a blow for jihad; the death of a government minister no less and today was the day.

Aircol and Max Plc had developed a new fuel system for fighter planes and had built a new wing to accommodate it. Ahmed and his co worker old John were the maintenance engineers and had built the platform and installed the sound system for the minister’s opening speech.

Ten kilos of amatol and ten of ball bearings were hidden in Ahmed’s toolbox which he’d secreted under the platform after the security check. He told the company he had a dental appointment and could not attend with the two hundred other engineers.

‘You’re late’ snapped Azziz as he climbed into Ahmed’s car.

‘I was called to the office at the last minute just some routine matters; we still have four minutes.’ He continued ‘That old fool John will get his, always helpful, always doing me favours I hate the old idiot.’

The bombers watched from a deserted farm track overlooking the factory. ‘There they go Ahmed, lambs to the slaughter’ Azziz gloated. Waiting one minute he dialled the bomb. It detonated with devastating effect.

Ahmed’s phone went to voice mail ‘Hi Ahmed John here I left my spectacles on the platform mate. They’d dropped on the floor that’s when I saw you’d forgotten your toolbox. I couldn't find you. Your car was unlocked so I put it in your boot. Bye!