In the sacristy the smell of urine quickly brought Paul back to reality. Joseph was waiting for him, and Paul motioned with his hand for Joseph to sit on the one bench that wasn't broken. Paul sat next to Joseph and looked closely at him. "Tell me what happened yesterday, after we left."

Joseph sat with his hands held gently in his lap. He paused for a moment, and then began to tell his story. "I ran back into the hotel and circled around to the lobby. I could see that our security people were being dragged outside to unmarked vans. Most of them had been beaten, but many continued to struggle. Several people were unconscious in the lobby, but I could hear people fighting in the meeting room and went back inside."

Joseph swallowed and licked his lips. Paul could see that his lip was split on the side where the bandage covered his ear and part of his cheek. He also noticed the cuts and bruises on Joseph's knuckles. He'd certainly held his own in the fight.

"Once I was in the room, I could see that the thugs had broken the back door in an effort to catch you. Because the Security Forces were out front with their unmarked vehicles, I decided it was best to try to get our people out the back. I figured once the thugs didn't catch up with the speakers, they'd leave. So I fought my way through the crowd and then directed as many of our men out the back door as I could."

"After our people began to escape, the thugs circled around the hotel to the front and then began to drift away. I tried to drag our wounded out the back door, but many of them were unconscious and as the room cleared, the Security Forces began to come in. At that point, I was afraid to stay." Paul could see that it hurt Joseph to admit he was afraid of being captured by the Security Forces.

"Joseph, you were right to leave before you were arrested. You couldn't help those who were injured once they were taken into custody. You gave it your best. It took a lot of courage to go back into the hotel. I was just glad to get out."

Joseph smiled, but then winced at the pain that smiling caused.

"Did you see Khalida Ali? Did she get hurt?"

"When I was about to leave, I saw her cowering in the back corner of the room. I motioned to her to follow me and led her out the back of the hotel."

"I suppose she wanted to interview you on the spot?" Paul asked, his voice filled with sarcasm.

"No," Joseph smiled ever so slightly. "She wanted to know where you'd gone. I think she wanted to talk with you."

That reminded Joseph that he'd heard his phone ring several times last night. He'd have to check his answering machine. "Do you know where the injured are?" he asked Joseph.

"They're at the Jinnah hospital, if they weren't arrested. Most of those with minor injuries were arrested. Those with more serious injuries were taken to the hospital."

Paul frowned. "Did the police or the Security Forces arrest those with minor injuries?"

"I can't be sure," Joseph said. "Certainly the Security Forces took some of the people away, but the police may have taken others."

Paul sighed. That will make it more difficult to find them, he thought. "Were David and Michael there?" he asked Joseph.

"No. We thought it wasn't worth the risk of their being arrested."

"Good. I want them with me today. You need to stay here with Martha and see that no harm comes to her." Paul could see that Joseph didn't like the idea of staying behind. "I also want you to cover the phone. I need to try to find out where the Security Forces and the police are holding the people they arrested."

Paul left Joseph in the sacristy while he went next door to the mission to check his answering machine. He was almost sorry it hadn't been broken, when he heard the first message. A menacing voice cursed him for being a blasphemer and threatened to kill him. Paul shuddered, as he waited for the second message. He was surprised but pleased to hear Khalida Ali's voice. She was staying in a hotel in Karachi and gave him the telephone number so he could call her. He scribbled the number down on the pad beside the phone and waited for the third message. It was Javed. He wanted Paul to call him at home. Paul already had the number. He was glad that Javed was all right.

Paul dialed Javed's number and heard the phone ring twice before the familiar bass voice said, "As-salàamu Alàykum." Paul smiled, Javed sounded as though nothing had happened yesterday. "Wa-làykum As-Salàam," Javed," he replied. "You sound like you're all right."

"Well, I still got a sore arm, but otherwise I'm fine."

"You've heard what happened yesterday, I presume."

"Yes, Paul. Hassan called me last night and filled me in. It's pretty ugly."

"Last night we were attacked here at the church. Martha and I hid, but they ransacked both the mission and the church. I didn't know until this morning what had happened to those who were caught at the hotel, but Joseph just told me that a number of people were in the hospital and others were taken away by Security Forces and the police."

"We know where those who were arrested by police are," Javed answered. "I've already sent someone from the Human Rights Commission to visit them and report back. But we don't know anything yet about what the Security Forces did with the people they hauled away. We don't know how many they took or where they took them. That's our biggest problem now."

Paul swore under his breath. The Security Forces operated by their own law. The government tolerated them and used them to crack down on people when it didn't want to be directly responsible for what happened. Lots of people simply disappeared when the Security Forces got to them.

"Khalida Ali phoned me last night and left a message, asking me to contact her," Paul said. "I'll try to call her now. Maybe she's got a lead on the involvement of the Security Forces in this."

"If she knows anything, I doubt that she'll tell you. But the violence yesterday must have been a shock to her. Perhaps it will make her sympathetic to what we're trying to do."

Paul hoped that was true. "Did you have any trouble last night, Javed?"

"A couple of thugs tried to get into my house, and they were carrying cans of kerosene. I think they were going to burn it down. But my security is pretty tight. We gave them a beating and sent them away."

"Why didn't you turn them over to the police?" Paul asked.

"I defend people in jail, Paul. I wouldn't turn my worst enemy over to the police. I know what happens to those who are arrested."

Paul thought again of the people taken away by the Security Forces. They were in even greater danger. "Joseph is staying here to cover the phone. I'm going to see Khalida Ali. I'll let you know, if I learn anything."

Quickly he hung up the phone. Then he rang the number Khalida Ali had given him. A hotel clerk answered the phone and rang her room, but there was no answer. Perhaps she's in the bathroom, Paul thought, or at breakfast. He got the address of the hotel from the clerk and left a message that he had called and would try to come by soon. Then he hung up, changed into street clothes, and went back to the church.

He sent Joseph out to find Michael and David, then sat and talked with several people who had stayed behind after the service. Philip was one of them. Paul was glad to see that Philip had come again to the Mass this morning and had stayed to help Martha clean up the sanctuary. If only Philip could fight off temptation a little longer, he might break free of his habit.

When Joseph returned with Michael and David, Paul explained his plan to them. He, David and Michael would go first to the hotel where Khalida Ali was staying. He'd call Joseph from there to check in. If he didn't have any way to follow up on the people the Security Forces had taken, he'd stop by at the hospital to visit the injured. Joseph agreed to look after the mission.

David and Michael had arranged for a taxi, and it took them quickly out of the colony toward downtown. Khalida Ali was staying at a modest hotel, but it was centrally located. As the taxi wound its way through the traffic, Paul tried to get his mind around what had happened. He, Samuel and Javed had all been targeted. Probably they had also tried to get Hassan also. Damn! He felt guilty that he had forgotten to ask Javed about Hassan. He'd try to call Hassan from the hotel. If the Security Forces and the police were involved, then someone in the government was behind what had happened. Apparently someone with connections had decided to crush their movement.

He glanced around as their taxi pulled up to the hotel. There didn't appear to be anyone waiting by the entrance. He couldn't be too careful now. David and Michael came with him into the lobby, but they waited there while he went up the elevator to the second floor and knocked on the door of room 212.

"Who is it?" He recognized her voice. "Fr. Paul," he replied. He was glad to see that she was in.

The door opened a crack to allow her to look out. Then the door shut momentarily, while she released the security lock, before opening the door again so he could enter.

Walking into the room, he was immediately aware of her perfume. It wasn't a scent that he smelled in the colonies. She'd probably had a warm bath last night after the attack and a leisurely breakfast this morning. Her hair was down and she was dressed causally. He wanted to be angry with her for being able to escape the danger he felt closing around him, but the scent of her perfume was overpowering. He smiled. "Good morning, Ms. Ali. I hope you rested well last night."

She looked straight at him but didn't return his smile. "I didn't sleep at all last night. I was worried about the people who were beaten and arrested yesterday." She pointed to a chair in the room. "Please, sit down. Would you like some tea?" she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Yes, thank you very much." Paul felt embarrassed that he had spoken to her as though nothing had happened yesterday. He tried to recover his composure. "Frankly, I didn't sleep much either. Our church was attacked, so I spent the night worrying about that as well." He didn't want to tell her that he had spent the night hiding to protect himself.

"Fr. Paul, I disagree with your petition against the blasphemy law. I think it is very ill-advised. But I am utterly opposed to the Security Forces and their violence. Moreover, I support the right of free speech. It is essential, if there is ever going to be democratic government in this country."

Paul nodded. He didn't want to argue with her about the blasphemy law and their strategy. He only wanted her help in locating the people who were taken away by the Security Forces yesterday.

There was a knock on the door. She rose, opened the door slightly, and then let a waiter from downstairs bring in a tray with a pot of tea and two cups. She signed a receipt for it and then closed the door after the waiter had left. This time she put the safety lock back on.

Paul watched her closely while she returned and sat on the bed. As she leaned forward and poured tea for each of them, she seemed much more relaxed.

"Milk and sugar?" she asked.

"Both, please." Her hands were very delicate, and she wore an emerald ring on her right ring finger. The jewel flashed, reflecting the light of the lamp overhead.

"Do you have any way of finding out where the Security Forces took the people they arrested?" he asked. "Javed has located those arrested by the police, but we don't know about the others."

"I've already learned that they are in East Karachi in a camp run by the Security Forces." She handed him a piece of paper. "Here's the address and a contact phone number."

"Any ideas about getting them released?" Paul knew the answer to his own question, but he wanted to see what she would say.

"I've had someone call to check on them, but the Security Forces won't admit that they've got them. Nonetheless, our sources are sure your people are there. I'm afraid the only way to free them is to pay a stiff bribe."

Paul nodded, as he swallowed a sip of tea. "What will you write about yesterday?"

"I've already submitted a story about the attack on your meeting. I can't be sure that my editor will print all of it, but I hope that he'll allow most of it. I mention the Security Forces as well as the gang of men who broke up your meeting. I indicate that several people were killed and many more injured."

Paul could see that her face had softened when she spoke about the dead and the injured. She was genuinely moved by what she had experienced yesterday.

"Ms. Ali, I'm not going to try to convince you that our petition against the blasphemy law is the right strategy. But we're also trying to create an open discussion in Pakistan about minority rights, not only to help the Christians, but also to help reinforce democracy in this country. We need your help in that struggle. We have another public seminar scheduled in a few days in Lahore. If we are able to go ahead, I hope you'll cover it."

"The government may not allow your seminar. But if they do, I'll be there." She was smiling now. "I can see, Fr. Paul, why you have a following. You're very persuasive."

Paul took another sip of his tea and relaxed a bit. "I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help. I won't tell anyone where I got the information you've just given me."

"I knew you would keep the information confidential, or I wouldn't have given it to you."

Paul watched her sipping her tea. It must be hard for a woman to try to have a career as a journalist, he thought. That's probably why she acts so tough. But inside, she's a sensitive and emotional woman. He sighed. It was so quiet and safe here. He just wanted to stay. But he had to do something about those who were arrested.

"May I use your phone?" he asked.

"Certainly."

Paul put his cup down, rose, and quickly dialed Javed. He gave him the information about the Ranger jail and then hung up. No need to call Joseph now, he thought. I'll go by the hospital to visit the wounded.

When he turned away from the phone Khalida Ali was standing. She was not tall, but she stood very straight and that gave her a certain authority. "Thank you for your help, and for the tea," he said warmly.

She was smiling now. "I hope it will help you free your friends. I'll do the best I can with my articles."

She extended her hand, and Paul took it in his. Her handshake was much stronger than he'd imagined. "I hope to see you in Lahore next week," he said.

"I hope to be there," she replied, before withdrawing her hand from his.