In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Author’s Note
“The Stories of the Revolution” is a total of about twenty in number, and children play the main role in all of them. These stories were sent to me or entrusted to me by children from different parts of Iran at the height of our sacred revolution. They were either given to me through my acquaintances or were handed to me during my journeys all around Iran. In the climax of the Islamic Revolution, these stories couldn’t be typeset. I arranged six of them and converted them from the simple report form to story form; I wrote them out with a pen and published them. These kinds of stories were called “white cover” back in those days because no one had the time to design and publish a nice cover. After publishing these six volumes, the serious post-revolution works began; I went to the Red Crescent Organization and worked day and night to start the “Red Crescent Volunteers Organization” Afterwards, the entanglements and pressures of life didn’t leave me time to turn those glorious, bittersweet adventures into “stories” I gradually arranged six more stories, but didn’t finish and publish them. The rest of the adventures and outlines were left unfinished.
This year – 1994 – the first five stories are being reprinted with the effort of “Hozeh Honari” in a beautiful format, along with illustrations. You are looking at it now. With hope in God, if I stay alive, I will publish the other six stories next year, on the anniversary of our great and glorious revolution. And if I remain alive for more, I might publish the other eight in the upcoming years.
These stories, which are about the nooks and corners of the biggest revolution in human history, are a dear memento; I want them to be left behind from me and the children who entrusted these notes and memories to me.
I had a faithful co-worker who helped me in the compilation of some of these stories and I would like to thank him. So, thank you, Mr. Shakour Lotfi.
And also, it wouldn’t be right to not thank the first publisher of this series; because back in those wonderful days, these kinds of works needed a lot of courage. So, with thanks to Farzin Publications.
Our revolution was such that even if hundreds of big books were written about it, it would still not suffice. These few small books are a dim star in the clear and unlit sky.
Thank you and goodbye
Nader Ebrahimi
November 6th, 1993
--
Ne’mat, Ne’mat. Ne’mat did most of the work. You must know, of course, that no one can do anything big from start to finish individually and do it right. Any big job needs a team; but you probably also know that each individual alone has some powers which he/she usually doesn’t use. Your physical abilities are much more than you can imagine. Your mental abilities are more too. But you have to use your physical power and intellect together – and alongside others – in order to provide yourself and others any service.
In fact, what Ne’mat did was that he threatened his life for the sake of one hundred and twenty-nine airmen; one hundred and twenty-nine good, young, revolutionary warriors. What Ne’mat did was that, for the first time, he used all of his power. He didn’t even think for a single second that. “It’s too hard,” “It’s impossible, “I can’t,” or “There are many dangers on my way.” No! Ne’mat only thought, “I must do this; at any price and in any way I can,” and he did it.
Ne’mat was the thirteen-year-old son of Salman, the head-cook at Shahrokhi Base Officers’ Club.
***
Think of Shahrokhi Base as a small city; a city with a big supermarket, an elementary school, a high school, a newspaper stand, and a public bathhouse, fenced all around with barbed wire; a city in which the number of military people is more than non-military ones; a city with a commander or ruler whom everyone must obey and everyone’s lives are in his hands.
Shahrokhi Base is a big military base where a group of non-military people also provide service. The airmen are neither military nor non-military; they’re something in between. They are skilled in works related to airplanes and helicopters.
After the revolution, this base was named the Horr Base.
***
That night, Ne’mat was helping the workers at the officers’ club. He would go this way and that way, set the tables, bring tea, take the cups, and clean the tables. He liked to be next to his father during the nights and speak a few words with him every now and then.
The officers of the base who were tired from the day’s work would come to get together and talk. They were worried and upset. They didn’t joke, laugh, or talk loudly. Something was going on. Something was definitely going on.
Sometimes, Ne’mat would stop for a second and listen. He wanted to know what was going on. He wanted to know where the revolution had gotten to.
An officer said, “Get back to your work, kid!”
And another officer said, “It’s ok. Leave him alone.”
Everyone knew that the airmen had made a covenant with the revolution. Everyone knew that the airmen liked the revolution and that they were aware of the oppression of the people; the airmen were distressed.
***
Everyone knew that the lives of the airmen are in danger. Military men aren’t used to complaining and disobeying. They were told, “You must follow orders blindly! Don’t ask! Don’t argue! Don’t talk! Whatever we say, say ‘Yes sir!.’ This is the way of serving in the military”
But the airmen weren’t military men and they didn’t have to follow orders without questioning. They thought and thinking made them realize many things. They were awake, and an awake person is a person who realizes many things and doesn’t accept illogical and incorrect words. Someone who is awake can talk and can shout and say that he won’t accept oppression and force.
The airmen wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters and fight; they wanted to make the big revolution of their nation’s people victorious.
The airmen didn’t have guns, didn’t shoot bullets at the people, and never raised their hand against anyone. The airmen weren’t prison guards and weren’t in charge of bothering and hurting the people. The airmen talked to the soldiers and sergeants and awakened them too.
Anyhow, the airmen were causing trouble and frustration for the commander of the base and the senior officers.
Out of all of the things the officers talked about, Ne’mat heard some things that made his hair stand on end.
***
Ne’mat was fond of the airmen and chatted with them most of the time and asked them some things about the revolution. Ne’mat’s father liked the airmen too and always said, “The airmen are a pillar of our revolution. Their voice encourages people. People notice that some things are going on inside the military too.”
Ne’mat heard some things that one couldn’t easily believe.
One quietly said, “Is its time known?”
Another said, “I think near dawn.”
Someone else said, “Who is going to carry out the sentence?”
The other said, “It’s not clear. They say that the soldiers aren’t willing to carry out the ‘firing squad.’ They say, ‘We will not kill our brothers..’”
One said, “They might bring a group of the Royal Guard’s soldiers from Tehran to carry out the firing squad.”
This was enough for Ne’mat to figure out that they were talking about the killing of the airmen.
A large number of the airmen were in the base prison. The agents had found the picture of Imam Khomeini in their homes. The airmen too had said, “We are with the people. We are part of the people. And we’re not afraid of death.”
***
There were twenty days left to the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the situation across Iran was turbulent. The people unitedly asked for the overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of a new government; a government that belongs to the people and works for the people; a government that is not a robber and murderer. People in the alleys and streets shouted “Down with the traitor Shah!” and were killed as they shouted. But killing people didn’t solve the Shah’s problem anymore. The more people the Shah killed, the more he increased the people’s anger and hate. And as the people’s anger and hate increased, the Shah and his servants became more frightened. They had to run away sooner or later.
Ne’mat knew all of these things and knew that no one had the right to kill the patriotic airmen for being revolutionary.
***
Ne’mat swiftly got himself to the kitchen and told his father about the airmen’s big trouble. The hot ladle fell from Salman’s hand onto his foot. Salman said, “God have mercy! Are you sure you heard them right, Ne’mat?”
Ne’mat replied, “Yes, father.”
Salman said under his breath, “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! (God is the greatest) How is it possible for them to want to kill these precious guys? How is it possible?”
Salman was staring at Ne’mat just like that. Then he asked, “Are you sure they said tomorrow near dawn?”
Ne’mat replied, “Actually, I didn’t hear them say ‘tomorrow’. They just said ‘at dawn’”
Salman said, “Ya Imam Husayn! What can we do?”
Ne’mat asked, “No one is going to help them?”
Salman said, “There’s no time left.”
Salman picked up the ladle from the floor and placed it on the table. He untied his apron and went to the lounge. He went to Captain Hosseini who was sitting alone and drinking tea.
Captain Hosseini was one of those very good military men; everyone said behind his back, “He’s a man. He’s a real man.”
Salman bent down and quietly asked, “Tomorrow morning?”
- “No. The morning after tomorrow.”
- “Can’t we do something?”
- “I don’t know. There’s nothing we can do, anyway.”
Salman went back to the kitchen and said, “We have one day left but what can we do?”
Ne’mat stood up and stared.
Salman said, “Why are you standing there just like that? Think!”
Ne’mat said, “I’m thinking.”
***
At night, a number of the non-military people of the base got together; the workers and shopkeepers who knew each other. After they talked and grieved for an hour or two, they concluded that they have to inform the people outside the base; the people of the city of “Kabutar Ahang” which was near the base, the people of Hamadan, and the people all over Iran.
Ne’mat said, “A few of my friends and I will go to Kabutar Ahang tomorrow and inform everyone. Then we’ll tell them to immediately send someone to Hamadan and another person to Tehran. Or maybe, they can make a phone call.”
Salman said, “Good idea; but I hope we won’t be late.”
***
Early in the morning, Ne’mat and six kids the same age as himself started off to carry out the mission they had undertaken.
However, the kids hadn’t thought out one thing; they had placed soldiers in front of the base’s gates, all around the base, and on top of the watchtowers so no one could leave the base.
The soldiers told the kids, “It’s prohibited to leave the base. No one has the right to leave this place!”
Ne’mat anxiously asked, “Why?”
One of the soldiers said, “Get away from here before we beat you up! Hurry!”
Ne’mat said, “The person who can beat me up hasn’t been born from his mother yet!” and quickly ran away. He went to Salman and said, “They have closed all the ways. The base is surrounded by soldiers holding machine guns.”
Salman said, “What a misery! What should we do now?”
Ne’mat said, “We will think again” And he left.
***
“From this morning until forty-eight hours, no one can leave the base with any excuse. If anyone uses force or wants to deceive us, he is responsible for his own death. The soldiers have the right to shoot anyone who wants to leave the base.”
The commander of the base informed all the people in the base of this news.
Ne’mat asked his six friends to go inform and bring as many kids as they can behind the officers’ club.
The kids came – of course the kids of the non-military people.
Ne’mat said, “You all must know by now that tomorrow morning, they are going to kill one hundred and twenty-nine airmen. You know, right?”
Everyone said, “Yes. We know”
Ne’mat said, “Alright. We can’t do anything until it’s light outside; but at night, I’ll go out of the base. I’ll run away from the middle of the barbed wires to inform the people of “Kabutar Ahang” and other places. You have to help me. Will you?”
Everyone said, “Yes. We’ll help.”
Ne’mat said, “Okay! Tonight, at exactly ten o’clock, leave your houses and go beside the barbed wires near the road to Hamadan. Start making some noise too. I mean, do something so that the soldiers realize you want to leave the base. Then start shouting and screaming and say that you must definitely go to Kabutar Ahang. Make so much noise that all the soldiers get distracted and gather around you. Just then, Akbar and I will both silently get out from the other side. Well, maybe we can run away. Then we have nothing else to do. God is Great!”
***
At 9:30 pm, Ne’mat went after Akbar; but Akbar had a stomach ache; a really bad stomach ache. He was dying of pain. He was shouting and crying all the time. In the middle of his cries, he turned to Ne’mat and said, “Can I come like this?
Ne’mat replied, “No. You rest. I’ll do whatever I can.”
***
At ten pm, a lot of noise could be heard from the south of the base. A bunch of kids, maybe a hundred more or less, wanted to pass over the barbed wires. The soldiers had noticed and had closed their way.
The soldiers actually gathered from all sides to block the children’s way. The captain of the guard and his subordinate got themselves next to the barbed wires. A few of the soldiers shot some bullets into the air too. Then they surrounded the kids and arrested them. They arrested each and every one of them. Two of the kids had even reached right beside the barbed wires!
The commander of the base took the kids to the sergeants’ cafeteria and said, “Speak up! Why did you want to leave the base, huh?”
The kids laughed, whistled, and booed.
The commander got hold of one of the kids who was next to him, pulled him up and yelled, “Why did you want to go out? Why?”
The boy said, “We were pretending to be rangers, General!”
The commander slapped the boy in the ear very hard. The rest stepped back and became silent.
The commander, who was trembling with anger and his teeth were clenched, said, “I’ll have all of you get whipped. I’ll order them to arrest your fathers and imprison them. Tell me where you wanted to go and why you wanted to go!”
One of the kids said, “We wanted to go to Kabutar Ahang and inform everyone that you want to kill one hundred and twenty-nine revolutionary airmen tomorrow morning!”
The commander’s face turned pale and he yelled, “Arrest the parents of all these rats and throw them in jail! Immediately! Straightaway!”
One of the kids from the end of the hall shouted, “Traitor!”
***
There was only desert, desert, and more desert. Empty farmlands, scarecrows, and single trees. The sound of dogs barking and bugs singing. There was the sound of the wind and darkness.
Ne’mat didn’t think of the wolves in the stories and the wolves that might have really been there. Neither did he think about the devils, monsters, and other lies that are told in stories to poor children to raise them as cowards and idiots. Ne’mat didn’t think that because it’s dark at night, everywhere must be full of weird and strange things and that any sound he hears from a corner means that there is a dangerous animal there.
No, Ne’mat ran and ran, just because he thought he must run, he must get there, and he must inform the people.
And at last, he saw the gleam of Kabutar Ahang’s lights; he cautiously passed among a pack of wandering, barking dogs that had surrounded him. He knocked on the door of the first and when a man with a sleepy voice asked from behind the door, “Who is it?” he replied, “Early in the morning, they are going to kill one hundred and twenty-nine revolutionary airmen. The people of the base are asking for your help. If you don’t hurry, they’ll kill all of them.”
The door of the house was opened on Ne’mat.
Ne’mat sat, hugged his knees, and cried. These tears were out of sorrow and joy.
And then, the doors of all the houses in Kabutar Ahang were opened and hundreds of lights were turned on.
And then, a voice echoed in Kabutar Ahang, “The people of the base have asked for help. If we hesitate, they’ll execute the airmen.”
And even the small children in Kabutar Ahang weren’t asleep anymore.
***
At midnight, two cars started off from Kabutar Ahang to Hamadan and reached Hamadan in an hour.
From midnight until dawn, one hundred and thirty-six people in Hamadan called Tehran.
From midnight until dawn, hundreds of people in Tehran called people in the other cities of Iran.
From midnight until dawn, the young revolutionary fighters of many cities silently came to the alleys and streets.
From midnight until dawn, Iran was awake to keep a group of its best offspring from being killed at the hands of the enemy.
And everyone asked themselves, “Is it not too late?”
The soldiers who were on watch all-around Shahrokhi Base and were looking out for everything suddenly saw something in the midnight darkness that was truly like a miracle.
***
Hundreds of people, and maybe more than a thousand people from Kabutar Ahang had started off with unlit torches and had quietly gotten themselves close to the base; there, they had suddenly lit all the torches at once.
What the soldiers saw and were bewildered was the sudden brightening of the night.
What the soldiers saw and fell back was a thousand fired torches in a long line that suddenly brightened the base like day.
What the soldiers heard and began to tremble was the sound of “Allahu Akbar” of a thousand people inside and outside the base.
Shahrokhi Base raised all at once. In the darkness of dawn, one hundred and twenty-nine young airmen stood up to prayer- even those who hadn’t prayed up until that time.
Shahrokhi Base became alive, became bright, became illuminated, and the sound of “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar” was trembling God’s earth and sky. The soldiers were so frightened that they didn’t dare to pull the trigger.
The commander of the base was walking up and down his room, frightened and bewildered, and didn’t know what to do. He thought that he would secretly execute one hundred and twenty-nine revolutionary airmen and in this way, he would put an end to the airmen’s revolution; but now he realized that when the people are united, awake, and in harmony, killing the fighters is not an easy job.
The deputy commander asked, “What should we do?”
The commander replied, “I don’t know”
The deputy commander said, “It’s time for execution”
The commander answered, “Hold on a bit. Send someone to talk with these crazy people who have gathered outside the base. Tell them that I’ll order the soldiers to open fire on all of them. Not one of them will stay alive”
The deputy commander said, “They have come here to get killed. They’re not afraid of death.”
The commander angrily said, “We must talk to these rebels, anyway”
The deputy commander quietly answered, “You must do this yourself!”
The commander nodded his head and said, “Alright. I’ll do it myself.”
Then, he left his room, got onto his car, came to the front of the base gates, got out, and went walking toward the torch-holders.
He knew that faithful people are not wild and will not hurt him.
When the commander reached near the torch-holders, he shouted with a shaky voice, “I am the commander of the base. What do you want here?”
One of the ones holding a torch replied, “Wo don’t want anything. We’re here to watch. We’re here to see how you want to kill one hundred and twenty-nine of our youths. We have brought these torches to brighten the execution ground. We thought your shots might miss the target in the dark.”
The commander said, “We are not going to execute anyone. Get back to your own work; don’t rebel!”
Someone said, “Not so simple! You said and we believed, huh?”
The commander said, “I… I... promise.”
Ne’mat shouted, “Don’t accept his promise. He is lying. He always lies.”
A person said, “We don’t believe your promise. The airmen must be freed. They have to come out from the base!”
The commander said, “I don’t have permission to free them. I have to get orders from the headquarters.”
Someone said, “Get orders, then! We will stay right here. But if you even hurt one hair on their head, we will put the base on fire.”
The commander said, “I will speak to Tehran. Right now.”
***
Ne’mat was one of the torch-holders; one of the many. He was just like everyone else now. He didn’t like to show himself and tell everyone, “I did this.” He didn’t like to brag. He knew how easily the other kids had endangered their lives for him to be able to pass through the barbed wires. He didn’t know whether anyone was injured and killed or not. He waved his torch in the air and shouted along with the others, “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!”
Ne’mat’s only wish was to see the freedom of the airmen.
***
Dawn passed, and the sun shone.
There was no news of the airmen’s execution yet.
When the people of Hamadan came to the streets in the morning, they saw that the walls of the city were full of new writings:
- The airmen at Shahrokhi Base will be executed this morning.
- People! Don’t let the airmen be executed!
- One hundred and twenty-nine airmen in Shahrokhi Base will be executed today.
***
When the people of Tehran and many other big and small cities of Iran came to the streets in the morning, they saw new writings on their city’s walls.
In Hamadan, thousands of people sat in the middle of the streets. The people of Tehran, Gorgan, Mashhad, and Tabriz were getting themselves ready for a big demonstration. Everyone said, “They must have executed them by now” And the news spread that “One hundred and twenty-nine young airmen were executed in Shahrokhi Base.”
When people are united, awake, and in harmony, killing the fighters is not an easy job.
***
- “From Tehran to Shahrokhi Base! From Tehran to Hamadan’s Shahrokhi Base! This is the General Command Headquarters of the Joint Forces! Abandon the execution of the airmen! Abandon the execution of the airmen!”
- “From base to headquarters! The people of the region want the freedom of the airmen. What should we do?”
- “Do whatever the hell you want; just silence the uproar. People are ready to rebel. Killing and more killing won’t solve our problem anymore.”
The radios announced that not even one airman has been, nor will be executed. The airmen of the Shahrokhi base have gone on strike because they were dissatisfied with the food there. The base commander is busy attending to their requests.
***
The airmen of Shahrokhi Base were released. They were allowed to go to Hamadan and show themselves to the people.
The gates of the base were opened and the people of Kabutar Ahang poured in to see the airmen and kiss them and raise them up on their hands.
Many of the simple soldiers were happy with the people’s victory. They waved their guns above their heads and laughed.
Salman was looking for his son in the middle of the crowd that was entering the base.
Ne’mat saw his father, opened his way among the crowd, and ran to him.
Salman hugged Ne’mat and both of them cried out loud. And these tears were only out of joy.
The victory of the airmen through the determination of the people is an important part of the victory of our great revolution.
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