apology. Warren struck that man; we’ve done more than trespass.’
‘I’m joking to an extent,’ Jack agreed. ‘But the man was sticking a gun
in our face. That’s at least an explanation. Besides, we can leave a
bunch of our French francs behind. Supposedly, that solves everything in
this country.’
‘It didn’t get us past the gate,’ Laurie reminded him.
‘All right, everything but get us in here,’ Jack said. ‘But I’ll be very
surprised if it doesn’t get us out.’
‘We’ve got to do something,’ Warren said. ‘The fire crew are already
waving for the people to come back in the building. We’re going to be
standing out here in this god-awful heat by ourselves.’
‘So they are,’ Jack said, squinting against the sunlight. He found his
sunglasses and put them on. ‘Let’s try crossing the square before the
soldiers return.’
Once again, they tried to walk calmly as if they were strolling. They
got almost to the grass, when they became aware of a commotion at the
door into the building. They all turned to see a number of the
black-suited Arabs push their way pass the lab techs who were entering.
The Arabs rushed out into the sundrenched parking lot with their
neckties flapping and their eyes squinting. Each brandished an automatic
pistol in his hand. Behind the Arabs came several soldiers. Out of
breath, they stood in the hot sun, panting while scanning the
neighborhood.
Warren froze, and the rest of the group did the same.
‘I don’t like this,’ Warren said. ‘The six of them have enough fire
power to rob the Chase Manhattan Bank.’
‘They kind of remind me of the Keystone Cops,’ Jack said.
‘I don’t find anything about this comical at all,’ Laurie said.
‘Strangely enough, I think we’re going to have to walk back inside,’
Warren said. ‘With these lab coats on they’re going to wonder why we’re
standing out here.’
Before anyone could respond to Warren’s suggestion Cameron came out the
door accompanied by two other men. One was dressed like Cameron: clearly
a member of the security force. The other was shorter with a limp right
arm. He, too, was dressed in khaki but without any of the martial
embellishments the other two sported.
‘Uh-oh,’ Jack said. ‘I have a feeling we’ll be forced to use the apology
approach after all.’
Cameron was holding a blood-spotted handkerchief to his nose, but it
didn’t obstruct his vision. He spotted the group immediately and
pointed. ‘That’s them!’ he yelled.
The Moroccans and the soldiers responded immediately by surrounding the
trespassers. Every gun was pointed at the group, who raised their hands
without being told.
‘I wonder if they’ll be impressed with my medical examiner badge?’ Jack
quipped.
‘Don’t do anything foolish!’ Laurie warned.
Cameron and his companions walked over immediately. Silently, the ring
around the Americans opened to allow them through. Siegfried stepped to
the forefront.
‘We’d like to apologize for any inconvenience,’ Jack began.
‘Shut up!’ Siegfried snapped. He walked around the group to eye them
from all directions. When he got back to where he started, he asked
Cameron if these were the people he’d encountered in the hospital.
‘No doubt in my mind,’ Cameron said while glaring directly into Warren’s
face. ‘I hope you will indulge me, sir.’
‘Of course,’ Siegfried said with a slight wave of dismissal.
Without warning, Cameron punched Warren in the side of the face with a
roundhouse blow. The sound was like a telephone directory falling to the
floor. A plaintive whine escaped from Cameron’s lips as he grabbed his
hand and gritted his teeth. Warren did not move a muscle. He may not
have blinked.
Cameron swore under his breath and stepped away.
‘Search them,’ Siegfried commanded.
‘We are sorry if we–‘ Jack began but Siegfried didn’t let him finish.
He slapped him with an open fist hard enough to turn Jack’s head in the
direction of the blow and raise a red welt on his cheek.
Cameron’s deputy quickly relieved Jack and the others of their
passports, wallets, money, and car keys. He gave them to Siegfried, who
slowly went through them. After he looked at Jack’s passport, he raised
his eyes and glowered at him.