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‘All these reminiscences!’ he interrupted, his beard bristling as he raged with anger. ‘All these reminiscences! Will you young people never learn from history or the teachings of your elders?’ His face took on a menacing look. ‘You will listen to me and not interrupt or I’ll have you thrown out of this hotel! Why is it young people always want to sweep history under the carpet before falling into the same trap again? I’m trying to open your eyes but you insist on being blind.! The world is waiting for an accident to happen right now. It’s totally unprepared for the millions of

Muslims ready to unleash themselves from all quarters of the globe. Surely Yasood made you realise what’s going to happen… and the reasons why! Its’ no use turning round afterwards and saying you should have taken the advice. Hindsight’s a waste of time. The world is full of poor people and losers wailing in hindsight. Don’t make the same mistake!’ He paused for a moment and his manner altered swiftly as he searched for information. ‘To change the subject, I’m interested in any details you can give me about Primar.’ Do you know where I can contact him?’

I shrugged my shoulders. ‘I’d like to find him myself.’ I waved a hand towards Penny. ‘Miss Smith may be able to give you a pointer. After all, she started the British end of the organisation with him.’

Musaphia stared hard at Penny. ‘I don’t think that’s correct, my dear. Neither you nor Primar were charged with that task.’

I looked at my secretary waiting to find out how she was going to respond to the allegation but she countered quickly and effectively. ‘Who are you, Mr. Musaphia?’ she asked firmly. ‘Who are you really? I can’t imagine any organisation recruiting a man who’s eighty-four years’ old for any kind of reason. I’m highly suspicious of this meeting and of the questions you ask. If you want to throw us out of this hotel that’s your prerogative. Nothing will be lost from my point of view.’

Musaphia’s face creased into a smile. He paused for a moment to puff on his cigar, then he turned to me. ‘I like her’ he mused. ‘She has spirit and fire… and she’s full of life. If I were in your place, I’d never let her go.’

‘You never answered the question,’ I said to Penny. ‘Why did you say you formed the British end of the organisation if you didn’t?’

‘We’ll discuss that later,’ she retorted sharply, ostensibly nursing hurt feelings.

‘She’s right, you know,’ I told our host as I considered the argument. ‘You’re eighty-four. What interest could you possibly have on something that’s going to happen in the next fifty years. You’re never going to live to be a hundred-and-thirty-four.’

The three of us sat calmly on the terrace. Musaphia had a glazed look in his eyes as my words faded into the fragrance of flowers on the sea breeze. ‘Do you imagine that things happen slowly, Mr. Scott? It took Hitler seven years to become ready for war after he became the Chancellor of Germany. Only seven years to take a nation on its knees to become a power determined to capture Europe, Africa, India and eventually the world. I’m told that Islam has about two billion followers at present. How long will it take them to find a leader when adversity strikes? Someone to lead them to become a fighting nation because that’s all mankind understands… to fight and kill! How many years, Mr. Scott… you tell me!’

A small cog in the wheels of my mind suddenly clicked. ‘I’d like to go back on something you said earlier. ‘You said you knew the reason why I’m here. I’m going to insist on further information. In fact I’m not going to leave until you tell me something to my advantage.’

‘Do you really want to know? Well I’ll tell you. To find your wife of course. That’s why you’ve come.’

I was stunned at his answer unsure whether he was simply putting me off the scent. ‘To find my wife?’ I managed to say. ‘What do you know about her?’

‘I know that she was kidnapped a few days ago. I thought that was why you came out here… the reason why you’re willing to cooperate… even against your will… with the organisation. Am I wrong?’

I looked at Penny who shrugged her shoulders. ‘It’s all news to me,’ she related. ‘I was never told she was abducted. ‘ She turned to Musaphia. ‘Do you have any more details?’

Musaphia shook his head slowly. ‘‘I heard she was kidnapped. That’s why I invited you here. I’m always concerned when personal problems interfere with business. I have contacts everywhere. Everywhere.’

‘But I received a letter in her handwriting to say she had left me.’ I turned to my secretary for confirmation. ‘You saw the letter. Primar said that a woman answering Jan’s description came into the office and left the letter there.’ As I spoke the words, I realised how easily I had been duped. It was Primar and his deceitful methods to get me to fly to Israel.

‘Ah… Primar again,’ continued our host. ‘His name seems to turn up all over the place. Too many times for my liking. You realise now that the letter was false.’

‘It was in Jan’s handwriting. I’m certain of that.’

‘Of course. They made her write it.’

‘Then why didn’t they tell me she’d been kidnapped in the first place? If they wanted me to come out here why didn’t they say so?’

Musaphia bit harder on his cigar. ‘Because she may have been kidnapped for another reason. Who’s to know? Don’ imagine she was taken by the organisation. We’re not interested in tactics of that kind.’

‘No… of course not!’ I spat sarcastically, trying to keep my voice and my temper at reasonable levels. The bomb on the plane. The police in Crete. Commander Spring and our doubles. Tomar Duran. None of it is the fault of the organisation. Anyone with half a brain could see that!’

He nodded sagely. ‘Take it easy, Mr. Scott. We’re on your side… remember.’

‘Oh, yes… you’re on my side! Well you tell me who’s taken my wife and where she is at the moment. You tell me that!’

‘Please lower your voice,’ advised the old man firmly. ‘We don’t need to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves. I’ll try to find out some details for you. I can do no more than that. It’s my understanding that she was brought to Israel but the source is not reliable. Just leave it with me.’

‘How can you possibly know that she was brought here unless you were party to it?’

‘I told you. I have contacts everywhere.’ An expression of surprise appeared on his face as I got to my feet. ‘Why are you leaving?’ he asked puzzled. ‘What about your breakfast? They’re very sensitive about guests leaving their food here. It reflects on the cook and the reputation of the hotel.’

‘To hell with their reputation!’ I shouted angrily. ‘Look, Musaphia, I want my wife back! You find out where she is! You telephone me tomorrow and tell me exactly where she is!’

I noticed Penny’s face fall at my comment but she didn’t matter to me any more. She had lied to me, deceived me, and, if the truth were known, there were many more things to come out of the woodwork that she was hiding from me. After the outburst, I stormed out of the room leaving Penny to trail behind. She caught up with me on the pavement outside the hotel.

‘Hey!’ she chided. ‘You were a bit rough on the old man, weren’t you? He didn’t mean you any harm. In fact he could be quite useful.’

‘Oh, really,!’ I scorned. ‘He didn’t mean any harm! Then how come he knows that Jan was kidnapped? That she may have been forced to write that letter to me? Why didn’t anyone else mention such minor unimportant matters to me? Dammit! I am her husband! And you… you have a lot of questions to answer. Do you know, I’m getting fed up being pushed around! Now it’s going to be my turn to do the pushing!’