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    Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel

    by Larsen, Ward
    “Assassin’s Revenge—A David Slaton Novel” by Ward Larsen follows former assassin David Slaton as he is drawn back into a world of danger when a shadowy adversary targets his family. Forced to confront his past, Slaton employs his lethal skills to unravel a conspiracy that spans international borders. The novel explores themes of vengeance, loyalty, and the moral complexities of retribution, blending high-stakes action with intricate plotting. Larsen’s taut prose and relentless pacing make this a standout thriller, appealing to fans of espionage and suspense. The book underscores the enduring consequences of violence and the personal cost of redemption.
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    Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel

    Chapter 72: Seventy-Two

    by Larsen, Ward

    The chap­ter opens with Boutros and Rafiq aboard a boat near­ing Mid­way Atoll, observ­ing dis­tant thun­der­storms. Rafiq, vis­i­bly con­flict­ed, hands Boutros a let­ter reveal­ing his accep­tance into a PhD pro­gram in Oslo through a refugee ini­tia­tive. Despite his com­mit­ment to their jihadist mis­sion, Rafiq express­es a long­ing to pur­sue edu­ca­tion, propos­ing an escape using the boat’s launch. Boutros lis­tens but remains silent, weigh­ing the impli­ca­tions as Rafiq argues his con­tri­bu­tions to the mis­sion are com­plete and his sur­vival could enable future attacks.

    Ten­sions esca­late when Saleem inter­rupts, accus­ing Rafiq of cow­ardice and betray­al. He threat­ens Rafiq with a wrench, but Boutros inter­venes, demand­ing order. After a tense stand­off, Boutros appears to sym­pa­thize with Rafiq’s dilem­ma, acknowl­edg­ing his ser­vice. How­ev­er, in a sud­den act of vio­lence, Boutros strikes Rafiq with the wrench, killing him. With­out cer­e­mo­ny, Boutros and Saleem dis­card Rafiq’s body into the sea, under­scor­ing the bru­tal prag­ma­tism of their mis­sion.

    Mean­while, Sla­ton and Sorensen on Mid­way real­ize the attack is immi­nent due to a mis­cal­cu­la­tion involv­ing the inter­na­tion­al date line. With only 38 min­utes until the pre­sumed strike, they scram­ble to respond. Sla­ton spots a sus­pi­cious fish­ing boat on the hori­zon, like­ly the *Alba­tross*, and urgent­ly directs pilots to evac­u­ate as many peo­ple as pos­si­ble. Despite lim­it­ed time, Sla­ton acknowl­edges the impos­si­bil­i­ty of sav­ing every­one and rush­es to the mari­na, hint­ing at a last-ditch effort to mit­i­gate the threat.

    The chap­ter cul­mi­nates in a race against time, jux­ta­pos­ing the jihadists’ ruth­less dis­ci­pline with Sla­ton and Sorensen’s des­per­ate attempts to avert dis­as­ter. Sorensen, torn between evac­u­a­tion and aid­ing Sla­ton, watch­es help­less­ly as chaos unfolds. The abrupt end­ing leaves the out­come uncer­tain, empha­siz­ing the high stakes and moral dilem­mas faced by both sides in the unfold­ing cri­sis.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What internal conflict does Rafiq experience, and how does Boutros ultimately resolve it?

      Answer:
      Rafiq struggles between his commitment to the jihadist mission and his long-held dream of pursuing graduate studies in Oslo, Norway. He reveals he was accepted into a special refugee program but had initially abandoned the idea after facing rejections. Despite recognizing the mission’s importance, he proposes escaping via the boat’s launch to pursue his academic aspirations. Boutros initially appears sympathetic but ultimately resolves the conflict violently—striking Rafiq with a wrench and disposing of his body at sea. This brutal resolution underscores the group’s uncompromising stance on loyalty and martyrdom.

      2. How does the international date line oversight impact Slaton and Sorensen’s timeline for responding to the threat?

      Answer:
      Park’s miscalculation about the international date line—which caused him to think the attack would occur on Sunday instead of Saturday—forces Slaton and Sorensen to recalibrate their response with only 38 minutes remaining. The error compresses their timeline dramatically, leaving insufficient time to evacuate all island personnel or deploy military reinforcements. This highlights how logistical oversights can have dire consequences in crisis situations, as the delayed realization reduces their options for mitigating the impending nuclear threat.

      3. Analyze Boutros’s leadership style during the confrontation between Rafiq and Saleem. What does this reveal about his character?

      Answer:
      Boutros demonstrates a calculated and authoritarian leadership style. He initially de-escalates the situation by physically intervening between Saleem and Rafiq, demanding Saleem stand down. However, his apparent willingness to consider Rafiq’s request is revealed as a facade when he abruptly executes Rafiq for perceived treason. This duality—posing as a rational mediator while ruthlessly enforcing loyalty—reveals his pragmatic brutality. His final words (“May God have mercy on us all”) suggest a recognition of his actions’ gravity, yet he prioritizes mission success over individual lives.

      4. How does Slaton’s immediate response to spotting the Albatross reflect his operational priorities?

      Answer:
      Slaton prioritizes saving lives over all else. Upon identifying the suspicious boat, he immediately orders the evacuation of as many people as possible within a tight 10-minute window, demonstrating crisis management under extreme pressure. His decision to split from Sorensen—imploring her to board the jet while he heads to the marina—further shows his willingness to take personal risks to protect others. His actions emphasize efficiency, decisiveness, and self-sacrifice, even when faced with near-impossible odds.

      5. Evaluate the thematic significance of Rafiq’s academic aspirations in contrast to the group’s extremist ideology.

      Answer:
      Rafiq’s desire for education represents a latent yearning for personal growth and reintegration into civil society, starkly contrasting with the group’s rigid commitment to violent jihad. His hidden application to PhD programs symbolizes hope and individuality, which are ultimately crushed by the collective fanaticism embodied by Boutros and Saleem. This tension underscores the tragedy of radicalization: Rafiq’s intellectual potential is sacrificed for ideological purity, illustrating how extremist structures suppress personal dreams in service of destructive goals.

    Quotes

    • 1. “I’ve done everything God has asked of me. The weapon is ready. I am confident it will work, and our mission will be a success. Perhaps Sami could come with me and—”

      This quote captures Rafiq’s internal conflict as he pleads for a chance to pursue his academic dreams after fulfilling his jihadist duties. It highlights the tension between personal aspirations and ideological commitment.

      2. “He is a traitor, I tell you!”

      Saleem’s outburst represents the uncompromising extremist mindset, rejecting any deviation from their mission. This moment escalates the confrontation and sets up Boutros’ decisive intervention.

      3. “I understand your conflict. You have done your part ably, and every man should have his chance.”

      Boutros’ seemingly sympathetic words before violently striking Rafiq down demonstrate the brutal pragmatism of their mission. The contrast between his words and actions makes this particularly impactful.

      4. “I told them this island is about to get nuked. I gave them ten minutes to collect every soul they can find, put them on the Citation, and get the hell out.”

      Slaton’s urgent command encapsulates the sudden shift to crisis mode as the nuclear threat becomes imminent. This quote shows his decisive leadership in the face of catastrophe.

      5. “If I was you… I’d go get on that jet.”

      Slaton’s terse advice to Sorensen, followed by his own decision to stay and help, reveals both the gravity of the situation and his self-sacrificing character. This moment creates powerful tension as the chapter concludes.

    Quotes

    1. “I’ve done everything God has asked of me. The weapon is ready. I am confident it will work, and our mission will be a success. Perhaps Sami could come with me and—”

    This quote captures Rafiq’s internal conflict as he pleads for a chance to pursue his academic dreams after fulfilling his jihadist duties. It highlights the tension between personal aspirations and ideological commitment.

    2. “He is a traitor, I tell you!”

    Saleem’s outburst represents the uncompromising extremist mindset, rejecting any deviation from their mission. This moment escalates the confrontation and sets up Boutros’ decisive intervention.

    3. “I understand your conflict. You have done your part ably, and every man should have his chance.”

    Boutros’ seemingly sympathetic words before violently striking Rafiq down demonstrate the brutal pragmatism of their mission. The contrast between his words and actions makes this particularly impactful.

    4. “I told them this island is about to get nuked. I gave them ten minutes to collect every soul they can find, put them on the Citation, and get the hell out.”

    Slaton’s urgent command encapsulates the sudden shift to crisis mode as the nuclear threat becomes imminent. This quote shows his decisive leadership in the face of catastrophe.

    5. “If I was you… I’d go get on that jet.”

    Slaton’s terse advice to Sorensen, followed by his own decision to stay and help, reveals both the gravity of the situation and his self-sacrificing character. This moment creates powerful tension as the chapter concludes.

    FAQs

    1. What internal conflict does Rafiq experience, and how does Boutros ultimately resolve it?

    Answer:
    Rafiq struggles between his commitment to the jihadist mission and his long-held dream of pursuing graduate studies in Oslo, Norway. He reveals he was accepted into a special refugee program but had initially abandoned the idea after facing rejections. Despite recognizing the mission’s importance, he proposes escaping via the boat’s launch to pursue his academic aspirations. Boutros initially appears sympathetic but ultimately resolves the conflict violently—striking Rafiq with a wrench and disposing of his body at sea. This brutal resolution underscores the group’s uncompromising stance on loyalty and martyrdom.

    2. How does the international date line oversight impact Slaton and Sorensen’s timeline for responding to the threat?

    Answer:
    Park’s miscalculation about the international date line—which caused him to think the attack would occur on Sunday instead of Saturday—forces Slaton and Sorensen to recalibrate their response with only 38 minutes remaining. The error compresses their timeline dramatically, leaving insufficient time to evacuate all island personnel or deploy military reinforcements. This highlights how logistical oversights can have dire consequences in crisis situations, as the delayed realization reduces their options for mitigating the impending nuclear threat.

    3. Analyze Boutros’s leadership style during the confrontation between Rafiq and Saleem. What does this reveal about his character?

    Answer:
    Boutros demonstrates a calculated and authoritarian leadership style. He initially de-escalates the situation by physically intervening between Saleem and Rafiq, demanding Saleem stand down. However, his apparent willingness to consider Rafiq’s request is revealed as a facade when he abruptly executes Rafiq for perceived treason. This duality—posing as a rational mediator while ruthlessly enforcing loyalty—reveals his pragmatic brutality. His final words (“May God have mercy on us all”) suggest a recognition of his actions’ gravity, yet he prioritizes mission success over individual lives.

    4. How does Slaton’s immediate response to spotting the Albatross reflect his operational priorities?

    Answer:
    Slaton prioritizes saving lives over all else. Upon identifying the suspicious boat, he immediately orders the evacuation of as many people as possible within a tight 10-minute window, demonstrating crisis management under extreme pressure. His decision to split from Sorensen—imploring her to board the jet while he heads to the marina—further shows his willingness to take personal risks to protect others. His actions emphasize efficiency, decisiveness, and self-sacrifice, even when faced with near-impossible odds.

    5. Evaluate the thematic significance of Rafiq’s academic aspirations in contrast to the group’s extremist ideology.

    Answer:
    Rafiq’s desire for education represents a latent yearning for personal growth and reintegration into civil society, starkly contrasting with the group’s rigid commitment to violent jihad. His hidden application to PhD programs symbolizes hope and individuality, which are ultimately crushed by the collective fanaticism embodied by Boutros and Saleem. This tension underscores the tragedy of radicalization: Rafiq’s intellectual potential is sacrificed for ideological purity, illustrating how extremist structures suppress personal dreams in service of destructive goals.

    Note