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as Old Guy once again climbed aboard. Long Hair slapped the side of her head, making her ears ring and sending waves of fresh pain through her.
    Before she could recover she watched in horror as the leader pulled back his leg and swung it with full force into Hassan’s stomach. “No!” she screamed.
    Hassan rolled into the fetal position and wrapped his hands around his head. The leader kicked at Hassan’s head. He kept kicking, Hassan’s back, his head, his stomach, moving around the body.
    David struggled to get free but Blue Eyes shoved him face first into the sand and planted his gun on the back of David’s neck.
    As fiercely as Annie kicked, she couldn’t dislodge Long Hair. She would be forced to watch her oldest, dearest friend be beat to death.
    The leader grabbed a handful of Hassan’s curls and yanked his head back. “This is for Avrel.” He smashed a fist into Hassan’s swollen and bloodied face. He rolled a barely conscious Hassan onto his back and landed on his chest. He raised his fists and beat them into Hassan’s face and head. “We…will…not…allow… your…filth…to…pollute…our…land.”
    Hassan struggled for breath.
    Annie sobbed. “Stop it! Please. You’re killing him.”
    The leader paused and looked at Annie, the slow, malicious smile spreading across his face. “Exactly.”
    “He never hurt anyone! He’s innocent.”
    The leader’s smile vanished. He jumped off Hassan and strode toward Annie. “Innocent?” He pointed toward the bloodied heap on the desert floor. “You barely escaped his planned assassination. Avrel was not so lucky.”
    “Hassan had nothing to do with the bombing.” She didn’t know what to say but she had to keep this murderer away from Hassan. “Just because he’s Muslim doesn’t mean he’s evil.”
    “Of course it does,” the leader shouted. “Every Muslim is a sworn enemy of Israel.” He emphasized each word. “They Are All Evil.” He pointed again at Hassan.
    Hassan fought for breath.
    The leader’s face flashed with fury. “The Muslims don’t want you to find the cure for the cows. They know it will bring them closer to their destruction. They wanted you stopped. Killing Avrel was not a consideration for them.”
    Annie was stunned. What did this gun-toting Neanderthal know of their research? His words told her the bomb wasn’t a random attack on a kibbutz too far north. It hadn’t been an attack on the Jews at all. It had been an attempt to stop the BA 23 research.
    Annie’s blood ran cold. Why would they want to stop the research?
    A car engine roared, and the terrorists jerked their heads toward the road. Evening had turned to night without Annie realizing it. She squinted down the road, looking for headlights.
    Long Hair spoke in rapid Hebrew. Old Guy jumped from the bus, fear on his face. The leader quickly retrieved his gun from the ground.
    The guards spoke to each other, tension in their voices, their words fast and nervous.
    Annie strained her head to see David. They couldn’t lie here and let the terrorists destroy everything. She heard the click of the leader’s gun and knew Hassan had only seconds to live.
    David was looking toward her and their eyes met. As if they’d planned it, she and David attacked at the same time. Distracted by the approaching vehicle, Long Hair lost his balance when she bucked. He pitched forward and she scrambled away. She hoped David was as lucky.
    She was on her feet just as the startled leader turned away from Hassan, gun drawing up from its aim. With all her strength, she kicked a pointy-toed cowboy boot into Long Hair’s gut, trying to reach the gun he’d dropped when she’d bucked him off.
    A rattled of gunfire broke open the night and the dirt exploded next to Annie. She hit the ground and rolled.
    The leader shouted angry orders at Old Guy, who had fired.
    David had Blue Eyes’ gun and was pointing it at the leader. The two men stared at each other. The world stopped moving and