Jolo’s knuckles were white as the pinkie SAS desert Land Rover stormed north to Lalish. The three SAS-trained irregulars carrying M16s with grenade launchers in the back seat were tingling with fear for their people.
‘I am sorry for your head, Tobbiash, but we must do everything to save the people.’
‘You’ve radioed ahead. You’ve got guards at all the entry points. Patrols on the mountaintops. Men in the streets. At the shrines.’
‘You not understand, Tobbiash. There are thousands of Yezidis in the holy valley. Also on the hillsides. At the tomb of Sheykh Adi. At the shrines. At the sacred springs. There is dancing. There is singing. There are people selling. There are Muslims there who come to watch. The Baba Sheykh. Where do we begin? Will they bomb the shrines? Snipers against the prince? People have tried to kill him before.’
Suddenly, Ashe realised that the return of the Baba Sheykh and the presence of the prince – both vital for the Autumn Assembly – would almost certainly bring Princess Laila and Sinàn to the valley. He felt something of the panic that had enveloped Jolo Kheyri.
‘Look, they only have six agents.’
‘Six agents. Six bombs.’
‘I understand that. So, if you had a limited number of agents and you wanted to make the biggest impact, what would you do?’
Jolo looked bereft, shaking his head.
‘Think, man! Think!’
Jolo thought hard. ‘Tobbiash, today is the five day. Today sacrifice of bull.’
‘Perfect. Ansar al-Sunna must know this. Describe it!’
The men in the back pointed to the mountains in the north. ‘Mount Meshet!’
Mount Meshet bounded the holy valley to the south. The men urged Jolo to put his foot down. The pinkie could go no faster.
Jolo shouted to Ashe, ‘On day of sacrifice. Always in afternoon.’
‘What time?’
‘Every year is different. No special time. Head feqir and prince decide on day.’
Ashe looked at his watch. 13.10. His heart raced. He took three of the painkillers given him by Dr Hong. He felt dizzy. Jolo continued the description.
‘You know Market of Mystical Knowledge?’
‘The walled place in front of the Sanctuary of Sheykh Adi?’
Jolo nodded. ‘Men come with guns. They line up round walls. Even the holy men and the nobles in the sanctuary guesthouse. They stand to see.’
‘Who’s in the guesthouse?’
‘The nobles and holy men. They stay there. Sleep on mats on floors. It is fine pillars and good stone floor.’
‘Are they all there?’
‘Most, yes.’
‘That’s where they’ll strike! Alert your guards, Jolo! They must search the guesthouse!’
‘The nobles will not like this!’
‘Can you persuade them?’