In memory of the 2981 victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, among them three Albanians

[Disastrous September, by the Albanian-American author, Skifter Këlliçi, takes place on two different days: May 10 and September 11, 2001. The novel tells the story of a well-known CNN reporter named Steve Ferguson, engaged to Jacqueline Cramer, a flight attendant based at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition, the novel explores the lives of four Albanians. Besim Istrefi, Rrok Camaj, and Marko Muzaka worked as window washers in the Twin Towers. Sokol Kama, a journalist and writer, works in security at Logan International Airport. On September 11, 2001 just a few days before Steve and Jacqueline’s wedding, two planes, bound for Los Angeles, depart from Boston. Terrorists hijack them and crash them into the Twin Towers in New York. The author, who worked at Logan International Airport during the attacks, offers a gripping account of the tragedy and shows how it could have been avoided.]

By SKIFTER KELLICI

[Translated from the Albanian by Carrie Hooper]

Jacqueline’s last words echoed within Steve.  He felt as if he were having a nightmare from which he would soon awaken with a sigh of relief.  When he told Jacqueline about it, she would throw herself into the shelter of his strong arms.  But this wasn’t a bad dream.

“I want to go to the tower,” Steve told Jim.

Jim felt numb and didn’t know what to say.

“I know you’re surprised, but who knows?  Maybe Jacqueline and her friends are alive.”

Jim could barely contain a deep sigh.

“She can’t be dead!  These days, brides can’t die a few days before their weddings.  Isn’t that right, Jim?”

Steve’s eyes lit up and his face sparkled like the sun at dawn.  Putting his hands on his friend’s shoulders, he chided him.

“Why don’t you answer me?”

Steve almost left the office and went to the tower, but the phone’s sharp ring brought him back to reality.  He heard the voice of CNN’s general director, filled with emotion, as if in a fog, who told him to go with some cameramen to Liberty Street to report on the event which had brought America to its knees.

Image courtesy: NY Daily News

“Please understand,” he said. “Since you’re busy with your documentary about immigrants from the East, I wanted to give this job to someone else, but this tragedy traumatized almost all of our journalists.

You, on the other hand, are more laid back and more experienced. I know you’re getting married on Sunday, and you’re thinking about Jacqueline. The things you’ll see and describe will break your heart, but afterwards, she will comfort you. Therefore, I beg you, please accept this assignment.”

Steve could barely contain a scream. He wanted to tell the director he was the only journalist who had the right not to be disturbed. He wanted to tell him Jacqueline could not console him because she had died on one of the planes that hit the Towers.  But he couldn’t.

“Do you hear me, Steve? Don’t wait.  Go there as soon as possible,” said the director.

Jim wanted to tell the general director what had happened, but Steve motioned for him to keep quiet.

“I’m on my way now,” he said, choking back a sob.

“You and Jim will do the report together,” said the director.

“He’s right here in the office,” said Steve.

“All right,” said the director.

In one of the worst terrorist attacks, American Airlines Flight 11, with 98 passengers, several flight attendants, and two pilots, had struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York like a giant missile.

Steve hung up the phone.  The light in his eyes had faded.  In a surprisingly calm voice, he said, “Let’s go, Jim.  Let’s do this for Jacqueline, her friends, and everyone else who died in this horrible attack.”

Jay and Floyd reflected on the day’s events. In one of the worst terrorist attacks, American Airlines Flight 11, with 98 passengers, several flight attendants, and two pilots, had struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York like a giant missile. The passengers and crew, along with hundreds of people in the building, perished.  The terrorists sacrificed their lives for their warped cause.  Only the murderous mind of bin Laden could have devised such a devilish plan.  But was this monstrous attack really caused by pocket knives?

Floyd felt uneasy as he hurried to his office where other FBI agents had started their investigation.  He asked a colleague for the list of passengers on American Airlines Flight 11.

“How could this have happened?” he wondered.

He sighed as he watched Steve’s report.  When he saw the second plane hit the South Tower at 9:03 AM, he froze, for he now understood the extent to which the terrorists had planned their attack.

The phone rang.  Jay called to say the FAA had just ordered the closure of every airport in America.

“How awful!” sighed Floyd, who was approaching seventy.  He had worked for the FBI for forty years and had risen in the ranks to become the department head at Logan Airport.  This was the first tragedy of its kind in the history of American aviation.  He became more and more convinced bin Laden had masterminded the attack.  Had he planned more?  The question gnawed at his soul.

Then came more shocking news. United Airlines Flight 93, flying from Logan International Airport to Washington, had crashed near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Perhaps it had been an accident, unrelated to the terrorist attacks.

He requested the list of passengers on the second plane. He looked at his watch. It was almost 9:43. He kept his eyes glued to the television. Steve’s report was interspersed with news updates from the CNN studio. Another American Airlines plane, Flight 77, which had taken off from New Jersey, crashed into the Pentagon. Floyd jumped as if bitten by a snake. Bin Laden’s terrorists had attacked the brain and pride of the American Army. The news commentator said the White House was evacuated within a matter of minutes. But where was President Bush? Floyd couldn’t remember until later that day when he saw him on TV, speaking in Florida. He didn’t look like the president, but like an image of him. He had ordered military forces, police officers, and FBI agents to guard Logan International Airport. In the terminals, soldiers drew their automatic weapons, and dogs stood, ready to attack anyone suspicious.

Courtesy: AP/CBS News

Time passed slowly. Later, the CNN commentator reported that all federal buildings in Washington were being evacuated. Meanwhile, Floyd’s assistant brought him the list of passengers from the plane which had crashed into the Pentagon. His eyes wandered over the names of hundreds of people, no longer among the living. He paused whenever he encountered names of Arabs and suspected every plane had several, but in the three lists, he didn’t find more than five such names. How had a small group subdued a large number of passengers? Why hadn’t the passengers been able to stop the terrorists? Were they working with terrorists from other countries? It was a mystery.

At 10:25, Floyd saw the South Tower fall, burning up hundreds of people, as if it were a large cardboard crematorium. Five minutes later, CNN reported the fal of sections of the Pentagon. A wail rose within Floyd.

Then came more shocking news. United Airlines Flight 93, flying from Logan International Airport to Washington, had crashed near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Perhaps it had been an accident, unrelated to the terrorist attacks. Floyd called the president of United Airlines. The news of the crash broke his heart. Floyd wondered why the plane hadn’t hit a building.

He requested the passenger list for the United flight and received it without delay. To his amazement, he discovered the names of four Arabs. Either they weren’t part of the terrorist plot or passengers had fought them.

Floyd left his office and hurried downstairs to the security checkpoint.