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despite the worst kind of persecution. He knew that they would be in the
future as they were in the past.
Ben-Haim shook himself, like someone upon whom a chilling wind has blown. He
took the cold pipe from his mouth and stared at it as though he had just
become aware or its presence. Laying it carefully on the table he rose and
went slowly from the room, walking like an old man for the first time. Dvora
watched him go, then turned to Jan and held him tightly, her face pressed
against his chest, as though finding some security there to ward off the dark
future hurrying toward them.
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"I wonder where it will end," she said, in a voice so quiet he could barely
hear it.
"In peace for all mankind. You're the one who said it. The war to end all
wars. I
have been in this fight from the beginning. Now, like it or not, it looks like
your people are as well. I just wish I knew what Thurgood-Smythe was thinking.
Whether this is a plot to destroy us~~r to bring lasting peace. I just wish
that I knew."
It was late in the afternoon, almost dusk, when the helicopter arrived,
dropping out of the sky with a roar of engines and blades. Jan and Dvora were
in the garden when he was sent for.
"Look at this," Ben-Haim said, pointing to the sealed suitcase on the floor.
"Special delivery for you from the United Nations in Tel-Aviv. They brought it
to our supposedly secret office next door to them, the one that monitors their
communications. The manner of delivery identifies its sender. It is a message
for me that they know more about our operations than we think they do. And for
you-you will have to look and see."
"Hasn't it been opened?"
"Sealed shut. With a combination lock. Dare we guess that we know the correct
number by now? And no need to send Dvora to the bottom of the garden to open
this one. Our friend has bigger goals than blowing up an old man. May I?"
Without waiting for an answer Ben-Haim leaned forward and touched the buttons
in quick succession. The lock clicked as it unsealed itself. Jan picked up the
case and put it on the table, opened it.
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There was a black uniform inside, black boots and a matching cloth cap with a
starburst insignia on it.. Lying on top of the clothing was a transparent
plastic envelope. It contained an ID card in the name of John Halliday and a
thick technical manual with a computer disc inside the cover. Tucked into the
manual so it projected a bit was a brief note. It was addressed to Jan. He
took it up and read it aloud.
"John Halliday is a UNO technician working at the communications center in
Cairo. He is also in the Space Fbrces Reserve where he is a communications
technician. You will master this occupation very quickly, Jan, and the
enclosed manual should help.
You have two full days to learn the job and to get to Cairo. Your friends in
Israel will be able to arrange that without your being detected en route. Once
in the city
I suggest you wear this uniform and go directly to the airport. Your orders
will be waiting at the Security desk there. I wish you luck. We are all
depending on you."
Jan looked up. "That's all it says. It's unsigned"
It did not have to be. They all knew that ThurgoodSmythe's plans had moved
forward one more notch.
Fourteen
"You cut it pretty fine, soldier," the Security man said, looking Jan up and
down coldly as though trying to find an open button in his uniform. There were
none.
"I got here as soon as I heard," Jan said.
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"Just because you're over here enjoying the luxuries of life don't mean you're
exempt from your duties."
As he proceeded with the ritual chastisement, the Security officer slipped the
ID
into his terminal and nodded to Jan, who placed the fingertips of his right
hand on the identification plate. Almost as exact as a retinal print and much
faster to use for normal identification. The ID was ejected and handed back to
Jan, his identity accepted. Thurgood-Smythe must have access to identification
files at the topmost level-with no one to monitor his actions.
"Well, sir, it looks like they're giving you first class transportation." The
change in the Security man's attitude was very abrupt and Jan knew that his
new status was far higher than the man had expected. "There's a military jet
on the way for you now. If you would like to wait in the bar I'll have someone
come and get you when the plane arrives. Is that all right? I'll look after
your bag for you."
Jan nodded and headed for the bar, not as pleased with his new high-ranking
status as Security was. He was by himself, completely alone. It is one thing
to consider that in theory, another to actually be subjected to it. The
shadowy form of
Thurgood-Smythe lurked behind him all of the time, but that just made him more
insecure. A pawn on a chessboard with Thurgood-Smythe manipulating all of the
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logy%20(UC).txt pieces. Not for the first time did he wonder just what the man
was planning.
The beer was tasteless but cold, and he limited himself to one bottle. This
was n6t a day to have a thick head. He was alone with the Egyptian bartender
who solemnly polished glass after glass in silence. There was apparently
little traffic through
Cairo airport. Nor was there any sign of the occupation troops that featured
so largely in President Mahant's speech. Had it all been a ruse? There was no
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way of telling. But his position was real enough and he was not looking
forward to the coming encounters with any great enthusiasm. Events were
rushing past him, get. ting ahead of him so that it was growing more and mor~
difficult to keep up with the accelerating changes. Th~ boring years he had
spent on Halvmo~rk seemed almos~
attractive by comparison. When he returned-if h~ returned-life would be quiet
and satisfactory. He would have a family there, his wife, a child on the way,
more children. The future of the plan'et to worry about. Alzbeta; she had [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]