Trail of Blood

by Uzi Eilam

  “I’ll set up some meetings for you on the subject of geology immediately, Nimer, but the important, sensitive topic is their assistance in continuing to develop our nuclear weapons on their soil.”

  Nimer cast his eyes down silently as he tried to process what the general had just told him.

  I was involved in discussions of nuclear topics, stayed there while a test was conducted, and now Soleimani has also explained the risk of the test tunnels collapsing and why they are turning to me for advice. But what Soleimani’s asking for now is truly taking the bull by the horns. What if the North Koreans won’t cross their own line in the sand? How will I face the Revolutionary Guard, which has supported me this whole time?

  “Are you sure I have the ability to motivate the North Korean leader to cross the red line of actually assisting another country in developing nuclear weapons? There’s a big difference between helping to develop missiles, even long-range precision ones, and helping in nuclear weapon development…”

  “You’re the only one who can make them listen,” the general interjected. “It will be a lifetime achievement for you!”

  “I have no choice, General Soleimani, but to trust your judgement and try to convince the North Korean leader to take this step on our behalf. I understand that it will not be difficult for the Revolutionary Guard to grant appropriate financial compensation to the Leader himself and to the republic as a whole.”

  “Exactly so, Dr. Nimer. Get going, and may Allah bless you with a successful journey.”

  ***

  Gideon convened an urgent meeting with Nahari, bringing Dan and Noam with him. Binyamin, Nahari’s assistant, joined them as well.

  “We’re approaching the moment of truth,” Gideon began with no preliminaries. “We have not managed to intercept Nimer, and if we allow him to move about freely throughout the world, the damage he might cause may prove to be calamitous.”

  “What were you thinking of doing? How do you intend to get your hands on the master of traps?”

  “Nimer’s emotional vulnerability,” Noam stepped in, “concerns his son. We know Hezbollah has placed a security force around Nimer’s house at Shatila refugee camp. The son and his aunt Jamila are safe as long as they are home. The way to get to Hassan has to be when he is outside the house.”

  “We’ve collected a great deal of information about their routine,” Dan reported. “The way to a lecture hall that’s not far from the house might be the solution.”

  “Apparently, Gideon, you have taking on the planning of the kidnapping. What is the plan?”

  The discussion went on for quite a while, spurred along by burning questions raised by Nahari. Gideon would be sent to the University of Beirut, posing as a Canadian guest lecturer giving a short series of lectures. Another of the Canadian’s roles would be granting scholarships to exceptional students. Gideon would be the one to hand out the prizes, including a prize to Nimer’s son, who, according to the information intercepted by Dan, was among the most prominent students in his class. A swarm of micro-drones, the “wasps,” could be included in the IOT array built in preparation for the operation and deployed to Nimer’s house and to the lecture hall where the ceremony would be held.

  “I’m leaning toward approving the mission,” Nahari began to conclude the meeting, “but I insist on one necessary condition. A rescue force from our commando unit, which will be stationed in a safe house at the Shatila camp, must be present. In addition, we have a Naval Commando unit that has had much experience landing on the required beach. You’re free to continue your preparations, and Gideon, I’ll be waiting for your report that they’ve been completed in order to give you final authorization.”

  Feeling that something major and dangerous was just around the corner, Gideon, Dan and Noam set out for Gideon’s office. The next phase of the preparations consisted of outlining the plan and mapping out possible complications. Gideon thought back to the missions he had planned and led during his distant past in the Paratroopers Brigade. The tension was already making his mouth go dry, just as it had back then…

  Chapter 43

  The two days Nimer had remaining before he flew off to Pyongyang were busy ones. The crew manufacturing nets for the tunnels experienced several malfunctions that required his intervention. Tunnel specialists from Hezbollah and Hamas had to learn the installation method; any errors in the sequence of actions, Nimer knew, might sabotage the defenses preventing tunnel detection.

  The dean of the Faculty of Geology at Sharif University of Technology in Teheran cleared his schedule after being contacted by the Revolutionary Guard. A broad review of North Korea’s geological structure, focusing on the mountain region in the northern part of the country, opened a window for Nimer into a field about which he knew nearly nothing. The area, the dean said, was subject to the movement of tectonic plates, and thus the area was prone to earthquakes.

  “If they would have asked me, I would not have chosen a tectonically sensitive area like that to serve as a test site for subterranean nuclear explosions. The Pacific Plate runs under the Asia Plate,” he related in a professorial explanation, “which is an ongoing cause of earthquakes. If you want to keep using the existing test tunnels,” he posited, “you have to conduct comprehensive geological mapping to locate the cracks caused by the nuclear tests. For a new explosion tunnel, if the existing tunnels prove to be unusable,” the dean emphasized, “you will need to design an all-new test array that will be isolated from its underground surroundings.” In response to Nimer’s question, the professor replied that building a new test site structure that would be resilient to earthquakes would have serious financial implications.

  During the flight to Beijing and from there to Pyongyang, the two bodyguards accompanying Nimer were an unignorable presence. Nimer was pleased with the attention to his security demonstrated by Hezbollah leadership and the Revolutionary Guard. He vividly recalled how the shahid Imad Mughniyeh’s promised to station a security detail around his home in order to ensure the safety of his sister and son. He felt a wave of yearning for the boy, concern for his welfare and fear for his safety. Nimer tormented himself for allowing the pressure of his occupations to keep him from spending time with his son and how he missed watching him grow into a young man.

  The challenge of the upcoming meeting with Kim Jong-un diverted his thoughts to the visit that was about to begin. Nimer deliberated about how best to bring up such sensitive topics , which was always fraught with danger. General Lee Hong Jik, he decided, would be his best source of support in providing advice and accompanying him to the meeting with the Leader. The general was well familiar with Nimer’s contribution to the Republic’s defense system, and had a good relationship with the Supreme Leader. Having arrived at this conclusion Nimer felt his confidence strengthen and he allowed himself to nap for a bit, making up for the sleep he had given up during the hectic days in Teheran.

  A limousine was waiting by the plane, with another security vehicle parked next to it. The familiar hotel, the VIP floor in which a room was reserved for Nimer, and the presence of Dr. Soon Mei in an adjacent room all made Nimer feel at home. The fruit basket, the bottles of water and the coffee machine also enhanced his feeling of relaxation. He sat down at the table and began to browse the file that Dr. Soon Mei had prepared for him. Nimer was surprised to find out that a place had been reserved for him in the first row of the parade stand, along with other esteemed guests, mostly generals, not far from where Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un would be sitting.

  “How good to see you again!” General Lee Hong Jik thundered, almost shattering Nimer’s hand with his ferocious handshake. “Congratulations on being the guest of honor at our army’s important parade. This is a significant display of power, my friend; your important contributions to the resilience of our republic are being recognized. I would like to inform you, however, that we cannot display the new missile with the heavy warhead at t
his year’s parade…”

  “Why not? What happened?”

  “We were planning to impress the world with a successful launch when the new missile was featured in the parade. Unfortunately, the missile exploded on the launch pad immediately after activation, and many members of the development team perished. It’s a good thing you are here, and can help analyze the causes of the disaster.”

  “I’m sorry, General. Of course, I will join your men in analyzing this tragic malfunction.” Nimer felt a real sense of closeness to the general who was feared by all his subordinates. “I understand that after the parade, I’ve been scheduled to visit the nuclear test site in the north. Or is our highest current strategic priority the analysis of the malfunction in the new missile?”

  “We’ll do both, my friend. On your way north, you’ll visit the missile development center and take part in analysis and assessment of the required steps to be taken. Then you will continue on your way north to hear about the problem of layers of rock collapsing at the nuclear test site. Dr. Soon Mei will escort you and coordinate all the meetings.”

  “I truly appreciate Dr. Soon Mei’s work.” Nimer took care not to go overboard with his compliments. “She does a fine job. In the file she prepared for me, I saw that I’m scheduled to meet Leader Kim Jong-un?”

  “Yes, my friend, it has been scheduled at your request. Could you please tell me if there’s a topic you’d like to discuss, or is this just a standard courtesy meeting?”

  “Ahh… There is, General Lee Hong, certainly, and I’m glad you asked,” Nimer promptly replied. “This is a topic that’s come up many times in the past—continuing the development of the nuclear warheads, which cannot take place in Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader and the commander of the Revolutionary Guard asked me to request once again that you help us continue our development process in your country. As you know, General, our nuclear agreement with the six superpowers prohibits us from continuing the development process. I intend to bring up Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s request when I meet the Republic’s Leader Kim Jong-un. Your help is crucial, and I would be very grateful if you recommended to the Leader that he agree to the request.”

  “The Leader knows of your important contribution to the Republic’s security, and I will not have any difficulties reminding him that the topic has been presented to him in the past, and, of course, I will support the request. However, you must be prepared for the condition that you head the Iranian team that will come here, and for being tasked with the responsibility of ensuring confidentiality. Don’t be surprised, Dr. Nuri, when the Leader authorizes you to receive the ‘bomb in a suitcase’ we’ve mentioned before.”

  “That’s great news, General. I hope your scientists included an option of code-triggered remote operation of this ‘dirty bomb.’ They’ve updated me on the details of operating the device. I trust that you’ll find a way to convey this suitcase to me in Beirut in the near future.”

  “Don’t worry,” the general soothed. “And now it’s time for the celebrations and the parade.”

  It was a strange feeling to be sitting in the front row of the VIP spectators’ stage, with generals on either side of him. Each general’s chest displayed countless medals and badges of honor from wars in which they had supposedly taken part. Kim Jong-un waved to Nimer, and the jaws of the generals next to him dropped in amazement.

  The first to march by were infantry and Special Forces units, followed by artillery units and navy soldiers in their immaculate white uniforms. Nimer was particularly looking forward to the last and most impressive portion of the parade—the missile units. First came the KN-11 submarine-launched rockets, North Korea’s pride and joy, as they were solid-propellant rockets. Next, Nimer noticed a missile that resembled the Russian Scud missiles. The missile sat atop a mobile launcher, but in addition, Nimer spotted wingtip devices at its rear. Not many of the attending generals knew that this had been one of Nimer’s contributions. The wingtip devices were intended to assist in guiding the missile as it approached its target, turning it into an intimidating precision weapon. Next came the naval version of the submarine-launched rocket. It was called KN-15 and also used solid fuel, enabling quick preparation, unlike the long preparation process of liquid-fuel missiles. Nimer remembered what he had heard from General Lee Hong Jik about the disaster that had happened during the launch, and thus the new heavy-warhead missile would not be featured in the parade.

  The parade was accompanied by explanations and praise for each unit passing in front of the dignitaries’ stage, and Nimer’s ears were ringing from the generals’ thunderous applause. Each of them felt the importance of exhibiting his support for the army and all its units, and particularly for the Leader.

  ***

  The next day was dedicated to a visit to the nuclear test site. Nimer patiently heard the engineer’s laborious presentations regarding the cracks and the partial collapse of the walls of the test tunnels. The background given to Nimer by the dean of the Faculty of Geology in Teheran helped him ask good questions, but he did not feel as if he had an original contribution to make. The only logical advice was to move to a new site and build a new test array that would be designed in a way that was more resilient to earthquakes, both of the natural variety and those caused by the nuclear weapon tests. Nimer had already thought of the use the Iranian team could make of the new site. He emphasized the importance and urgency of establishing a new site, knowing that if the topic was granted priority, it would be carried out quickly.

  Nimer remembered the missile launch site in which he had spent several days during his previous visits. The launch pad in which the heavy-warhead missile had exploded was a collection of blackened metal bits. The surviving members of the development team had yet to recover from the shock of the disaster, and Nimer felt compassion and a desire to make things easier for them. The available data produced thus far from the databases of the system’s computers was incomplete, and Nimer knew it would be some time before the picture grew clear.

  I need to help them, he thought, and at the very least support them during the crisis that they are experiencing. But the most important thing for me is getting through the meeting with the Leader and gaining his approval for the request to host the Iranian nuclear development teams. He asked questions that might help focus the attempts to analyze the reason for the explosion, but his thoughts returned again and again to the upcoming meeting with the Leader.

  When the meetings ended, and he was once again in the car, accompanied by Dr. Soon Mei, the image of his late wife resurfaced in his mind once more. Something was bothering him, keeping him from preparing in an orderly manner for his impending meeting with the Leader.

  “Something is on your mind,” Soon Mei half-asked, half-stated. “Can I help? Is it related to the meeting with our Leader? He knows about everything you’ve done for us, and holds you in high esteem,” she tried to calm him down.

  “Thank you. I hope the meeting with the Leader will be a good one.”

  “But that’s not what’s troubling you,” Soon Mei determined.

  “No, but let’s let it go for now…” Nimer did not think this was the appropriate time to let his wise, attentive escort know about his frustration due to his inability to focus on a direct act of revenge honoring his wife and children. He did not, however, feel guilty for previously sharing his wishes and desires with the personable young woman, thus also revealing information he should not have exposed to strangers. Dr. Soon Mei was very skillful in carrying out her job, and her supervisors repeatedly tasked her with sensitive assignments.

  ***

  “The meeting with the Leader will take place in the palace in Ryongsong District,” Soon Mei updated him when they reached the suburbs of Pyongyang. “This is a residential palace whose construction, by the North Korean Army’s Engineering Corps, was completed in 1983. It was built while the Father of the Republic, Kim Il-sung, the current l
eader’s grandfather, was still alive and ruling the country.”

  “I’m curious to see what it looks like from the inside…”

  “Few foreigners have been privileged with entering the palace, and, as a personal guest of the Leader, you should understand how unique you are,” she complimented him. “General Lee Hong is already waiting for you at the palace,” Dr. Soon Mei answered his unasked question, “and I’m sure you’ll have a good meeting with the Leader.”

  The process of entering the palace, accompanied by a burly security team striding before and behind him, was prolonged and somewhat confusing. The entire massive area was protected by barbed-wire fences, minefields, and dozens of points where soldiers on high alert, with their fingers on the trigger, were stationed. There were seven security checkpoints before entering the luxurious foyer. On the way there, he spotted a horse racetrack, a basketball court, an Olympic swimming pool with a giant slide, and a massive garden with exotic trees and flowerbeds surrounding all the palace structures.

  “I have heard nothing but praise for your conduct at the nuclear test site and at the missile launch base,” General Lee Hong Jik greeted Nimer in the waiting lounge. “The people there reported that they benefited from your questions and were encouraged by the preliminary analysis of the malfunctions that you presented to them. Leader Kim Jong-un will be happy to hear of it.”

  “Thank you, General, it is good to know that that was their impression. They also showed me the ‘dirty bomb’ device and I was impressed by its dimensions, which really do allow it to be transported in a suitcase. I saw there was also an option of code-triggered remote operation. Your people have done a splendid job.”

  “The Leader will tell you what he has decided on that topic. I made a significant effort to persuade him to answer in the affirmative…”

  The meeting with the Supreme Leader took place in a conference hall that was as sprawling and opulent as the rest of the palace. The Leader’s handshake, surprising in its softness, and his relaxed manner of speaking projected stillness and self-confidence. The general opened the meeting by introducing the guest, lavishly praising the “Iranian” scientist’s contribution to the Republic’s security in recent months. Nimer thanked him for the opportunity to help an allied country to the best of his ability, saying how happy he had been for the opportunity to be a guest at the annual parade. A few missiles at the parade, he tried to joke, had actually looked quite familiar to him… Later, Nimer conveyed the salutations of Iran’s Supreme Leader and of Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard, noting that he had been asked to convey the request that North Korea assist Iran in the field of nuclear weapon development.