‘The Amytals and the Pentothals?’ asked Weingrass. ‘In the old days, scopolamine? Come on, my lovely girl, we’re not in the back streets of Marrakesh or the partisan mountains of Ashot Yaaqov. Who would use chemicals on us here?’
‘I’m sure that young prisoner Evan identified, the one who’s on his way to a clinic in Virginia, probably felt the same way. Within twenty-four hours his entire life will be on tape.’
‘Not applicable,’ insisted Weingrass.
‘Perhaps not, but something else is. Six hours ago we got a trace—a possible trace—that may take us higher up in this government than any of us wishes. If we’re wrong, Congressman Kendrick of Colorado can’t be a part of it; quite simply, he can’t know anything. He has total deniability. As a result, neither can you, Manny.’
That radio transmission on the plane,’ said Evan, looking hard at Khalehla. ‘There was no station chief in Cairo, was there?’ Khalehla shrugged, releasing his hand and reaching for her drink on the coffee table in front of the couch. ‘All right, no specifics,’ continued Kendrick, ‘but let’s talk about the truth—forget deniability, which I don’t give a damn about. What kind of truth are you after? Give me an overview—I’ve heard that word ad nauseam in Washington. What kind of people are doing what to whom? Whoever they are, they’ve killed my friends—our friends. I have a right to know.’
‘Yes, you do,’ said Khalehla slowly, sitting rigid on the couch, looking alternately at Evan and Emmanuel Weingrass, finally settling on Kendrick. ‘You said it yourself, questioned it yourself—part of the truth, anyway. Someone did let these killers in and made it possible for them to kill. Passports were provided without restrictions, and as I can easily picture their general appearances because I’m one of them, those false papers had to be terribly good to get past the anti-terrorist experts we and our allies have at every immigration point here and abroad, including the Soviet Union, I might add. Beyond those papers are the logistics, the lines of supply without which terrorists can’t operate. Weapons, ammunition, money, drivers’ licences and hired vehicles; locations where they can hide and prepare themselves, even down to the most up-to-date clothing made in this country in case they’re arrested and interrogated. Then there are such items as train and air reservations, all made in advance, the tickets delivered before they walk into a terminal, except when it’s on a platform or in a flight lounge at the last minute. You see, nothing is inconsequential to these people; everything is vital down to the last detail for the success of any given mission.’ Khalehla paused, shifting her gaze between both men. ‘Someone’s made all of these things available to them, and whoever it is, or whoever they are, they shouldn’t be where they are in this government or have the accesses they have. It’s more important than I can ever explain that they be found.’
‘You said that about those who stole the Oman file.’
‘And you believe they’re the same people.’
‘Aren’t they? It’s pretty obvious to me.’
‘Not to me.’
‘The set-up. It’s the explanation for a revenge kill. Me.’
‘Suppose they’re separate,’ insisted Khalehla. ‘One giving birth to the other? It’s been ten weeks, remember? The impetus for killing you in the heat of vengeance which is intrinsic to jaremat thaแr has passed.’
‘You just pointed out all the details that had to be put in place. That takes time.’
‘If they have the resources to do what they’ve done in ten weeks, they could do it in ten days, Evan.’
Emmanuel Weingrass held up his hand, palm forward; it was a command for quiet and he expected to be obeyed. ‘You are now telling us that instead of one enemy my son has two? The Arabs from the Baaka Valley and someone else over here who works with them or against them? Are you making sense, my lovely child?’
‘Two forces, both elusive, one a deadly enemy, certainly… the other I just don’t know. I only know what I sense, and I’m not being evasive. When MJ doesn’t have the answers, he keeps blaming it on what he calls “gaps”. I guess that’s what I’m falling back on. There are too many gaps.’
Weingrass grimaced again, a silent belch filling his gaunt cheeks. ‘I accept your perceptions,’ he said. ‘If Mitchell ever throws you out, I’ll find you reasonable employment with the Mossad, avoiding a certain accountant who would let you starve.’ The old architect suddenly breathed deeply and leaned back in his chair.
‘Manny, what is it?’ said Khalehla, her question causing Kendrick to turn his head, alarmed.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Evan.
‘I’m ready for the Olympics,’ replied Weingrass. ‘Except that one minute I’m cold, the next minute I’m hot. It was all that running around in the woods like a kid. Lyons told me my systolic was a little high, or maybe it was the other one, and that I had a few bruises where I shouldn’t have… I told him I’d been bullfighting. I’ve got to rest these bones, children.’ The old man got out of his chair. ‘Would you believe, Khalehla, that I’m not a kid?’
‘I think you’re not only very young, but also remarkable.’
‘Extraordinary is more appropriate, actually,’ offered Manny. ‘But right now I feel the effects of my virtuosity. I’m going to bed.’
‘I’ll get one of the nurses,’ said Kendrick, starting to rise.
‘For what? So she can take advantage of me, ravage me? I want rest, boy!… And—let them rest, Evan. They’ve been through a lot and they don’t even know what they’ve been through. I’m fine, just tired. Try running in the Olympics when you’re sixty.’
‘Sixty?’
‘Shut up, son. I can still give you a run for your money for that lovely girl.’
‘Could it have been something the doctor gave you?’ asked Khalehla, smiling warmly at the compliment.
‘So what did he give? Nothing. He just took a little blood for his mishegoss laboratory and offered me some pills which I told him I’d throw down the toilet. They were probably samples he got for nothing and then charges enough for a new wing on his fancy house… Ciao, young things.’
The two of them watched as the old man walked through the archway into the living room, each step firmly planted ahead of the other as if he were summoning strength he did not feel. ‘Do you think he’s okay?’ asked Evan when Weingrass was out of sight.
‘I think he’s exhausted,’ said Khalehla. ‘You try doing what he did tonight—forget sixty or eighty—try tomorrow.’
‘I’ll look in on him every now and then.’
‘We’ll take turns. That way we’ll both feel better without waking the nurses.’
‘Which is another way of saying they’ll stay put and away from the windows.’
‘I guess it is,’ admitted Rashad. ‘But we’d still feel better, even if it’s on both counts.’
‘Do you want another drink?’
‘No, thanks—’
‘I do.’ Kendrick got up from the couch.
‘I haven’t finished.’
‘What?’ Evan turned as Khalehla rose and stood in front of him.
‘I don’t want a drink… but I do want you.’
In silence, Kendrick looked down at her, his eyes roving over her face, finally settling, staring into her eyes. ‘Is this pity? Be merciful to the confused man in pain?’
‘You’ll get no pity from me, I told you that. I respect you too much, I told you that, too. As for the poor, confused man in pain, who’s pitying whom?’
‘I didn’t mean it that way—’
‘I know you didn’t. I’m just not sure how you meant it.’
‘I told you before. I’m not looking for any fast action, not with you. If it’s all I can have, I’ll take it, but it’s not what I’m looking for.’
‘You talk too goddamned much, Evan.’
‘You evade too much. You told Manny that you weren’t evasive, but you are. For at least six weeks I’ve tried to get near you, tried to get you to talk about us, tried to break down that glass wall you’ve erected, but “No dice,” says the bright lady.’
‘Because I’m scared, damn you!’
‘Of what?’
‘Of both of us!’
‘Now you’re the one who’s talking too much.’
‘Well, you certainly didn’t talk last night. You think I didn’t hear you? Pacing up and down like an ape in a cage outside my door?’
‘Why didn’t you open it?’
‘Why didn’t you break it down?’ They both laughed quietly, their arms encircling each other. ‘Do you want a drink?’
‘No… I want you.’
There was not the frenzy of Bahrain. There was urgency, of course, but it was the urgency of lovers, not of two desperate strangers grasping for release in a world gone crazy. Their world was not sane, they were all too aware of that, yet they had found a semblance of order between themselves, each for the other, and the discovery was splendid and warm and suddenly filled with promise, where before there was only a void filled with uncertainty… each for the other.