Joel Rosenberg [Jihad 01] The Last Jihad

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."So, Deek, you know, we're all really intrigued about how you pick softdrinks," said the man with the yo-yo."But what's the deal here, what's theverdict?"Blacktook another sip of the cold, bubbly soda, then turned to the others."Avi? How 'bout you?"AviZadokleaned back in his chair and took another puff on his cigar,savoring the taste and the moment.Finally, he broke the suspense."To tell you the truth, I believed him," declared the aging Mossad leader.Blackpicked up a half-eaten falafel sandwich sitting on a paper plate besidehis Diet Coke, and took a huge bite."Yossi?" he asked, his mouth full of pita and hummus."Honestly, Deek?"BenRamon replied, his accent just as thick as Zadok's, butbetraying his Sephardic Moroccan roots."I'm afraid I have to agree with Avi."Black looked him straight in the eye, andBenRamon finished his thought."He didn't know anything.""No, it was more than that," interjected Galit, the airport security chief,suddenly capturing everyone's attention."He was actually good.Very good.Hewas honest.""And loyal," addedBenRamon."Anyone else?"Black asked, eyebrows raised, scanning the room, thick againwith nervous tension.No one said a word.Especially not the man with theyo-yo.Blackpaced the room, thinking, chewing, assessing the turn of events.Hestepped over to the TV on Galit's desk, picked up the remote and rewound thetape-then played it again without the sound, just watching the face in thecenter of the screen.He slowly finished his sandwich, and his Diet Coke, thenwiped his mouth with a tiny, thin paper napkin and turned back to the rest ofthe group."I agree,"Black finally admitted."He didn't know."Page 80ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlEveryone looked down, quiet and smoking.Then Galit broke the silence."You Americans should have recruited him," he said, nervously lookingaround the room for agreement.ThenBlack smiled."We just did."The black phone marked "FBI" rang just before 10:30 A.M.Eastern.The National Security Advisor picked it up on the first digital ring."Kirkpatrick.""Prairie Ranch, standby for Black Ops.""Orange Grove?""Yes, ma'am.""Secure?""Yes, ma'am.""Put him through.""Thank you, ma'am.Hold one."Kirkpatrick grabbed a nearby yellow legal pad and a black Sharpie.Shepulled the cap off and prepared to take down the message."What's the word?""It's done.""And?" she asked.There was a pause.Then she nodded."Thanks.Now clean up and get back here now.Bring everything.You'll getinstructions in the air."Kirkpatrick hung up the phone and looked over at the vice president.Everyone else in the room was consumed with other activities.The VP waitedfor the answer.Kirkpatrick wrote one word on the last page of the yellowlegal pad and slid it over to him.He looked down, discreetly peeked at thelast page, and nodded his head."Clean," it read.He picked up the blue phone in the console before him, the one marked"NORAD.""Get me the president."Page 81ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlBlackplaced a secure phone call from Galit's office."Seventh floor, may I help you?""I need to talk toEsther.It's urgent.""One moment please."AsBlack waited, he asked one of the Israeli staffers to pack up everythinghe'd need for the trip back-includingBennett 's body."Ambassador's office.Esther speaking.""Esther, it's Deek.""Hey, Deek, you OK?""I need the DCM.""He's on a call.""Now,Esther.""All right.Hold on."Blackopened a new Diet Coke.On one TV, he watched the Sky News replays ofthe attack on the presidential motorcade, and the attacks inLondon andParisandSaudi Arabia.On another TV, he watched CNN replay excerpts from a pressconference with White House Press Secretary Chuck Murray at Peterson Air ForceBase inColorado."I needBennett 's cell phone and BlackBerry," he told Galit."And I needyour guys to crack the pass codes fast."Galit nodded.One of his men scrambled off to make it happen.Justthen,TomRamsey -the Deputy Chief ofMission at the U.S.Embassy in TelAviv-came on the line."Deek?""Hey,Tom , it's me.""You need the ambassador's plane.""How'd you know?""Checkmate just called.""What aboutPaine ? You need his clearance?" askedBlack."Are you kidding?""I'm just asking.""Deek, don't you know the facts of life yet, son?""I'm just saying.""I know what you're saying.And I'm saying that askingSecretaryPaine tosign off on a covert ops mission using a State Department plane would be likePage 82ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlaskingPatRobertson to sign off on a nudist convention on the700 Club.Itain't gonna happen."Blackchuckled."Get it?""Got it.""Good.How soon you leaving?""Soon as it's ready.""They're warming it up now-oh, and I just sentJane over with a littlesurprise.""Tom, I don't need any more surprises.""Don't worry.It's from the ambassador himself.Just take care ofyourself.""Thanks, but what did I do to deserve anything from you guys?""Nothing.""Right.""Be good.""I'll try."An hour later,YitzhakGalit 's security office was nearly empty.Zadok andBenRamon shut down the airport until further notice and rushedback to meet with the prime minister and the Security Cabinet.Most of Galit'smen were clearing the buildings above and setting up a heavily armed perimeteraroundIsrael 's only international airport.As he waited for his flight back to the U.S [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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