Deeley stared at Jack with anger and fury written across his face. When the moment of intense anger passed, Deeley sat down. When he spoke again his tone was calm, but his attitude had not been swayed one little bit.
“Jack, you don’t seem to appreciate just how much of a mess you have created here. When I got the call to come to Israel I was already following you. My orders were clear. You know what those orders were. You have seen it happen to many good men in the past who have fallen into the hands of the enemy.”
There was a moment of silence during which Jack attained complete clarity.
“I understand sir. You were sent to eliminate me. The great and the good in London don’t like it when black and white turns a little grey. I learned that one the hard way back in Ireland. But this is different. Surely you can see that? For god’s sake man, open your mind to the possibility that what we are telling you is the truth. If we don’t put our foot down here and now, if we don’t stand up to these people, then how long will it be before they try again? You know what a mess Russia is in; and as that chaos continues it will become even more likely that weapons of mass destruction will make it into the wrong hands, be they Islamic terrorists, or so called friendly states. If there was ever a moment for Britain to stand up and be relevant, then that moment is now. Please, don’t let them get away with it.”
Jack purposefully over egged the pudding in front of the Israelis. He wanted them to know that if they ever tried anything as sinister again then the outside world would learn all about it. But that threat only stood if Jack made it back home and Deeley looked as if he was not yet convinced about that.
“Jack, in spite of the fact that you have acted in an entirely outrageous fashion, over the last few days, and here and now in particular, our guests have agreed to allow me to take you back home under military guard. They do not want to press charges, though the service back home still has to make a judgement on that one. I would suggest that you say nothing more, except to thank the nice gentlemen here for their kindness. Then you and I can get on a plane and after a thorough debrief back in London we can decide on your future and whether or not that future involves Her Majesty’s secret services. So be a good chap, shut the fuck up, and let’s put this whole sorry mess behind us. What do you say?”
“I say that unless Alexa is going to be on that plane back to England, you can shove your offer up your arse.”
Deeley looked at the men sitting beside him and he shook his head. He then turned to Jack once again.
“You see Jack, it is crap like that which makes me think that you have been compromised. You know that’s not how the world works. You know that the very fact you are being allowed to go back home in the comfort of military transport, and not in a body bag in the hold of that plane, is a miracle. But believe me, if you insist on being a pain in the arse I will be left with no choice but to put a bullet in you.
The girl is going nowhere. But if it makes you feel any better she is in no danger. She will never work as a spy again but she will live a very happy, and hopefully a very long, life.”
“I don’t understand,” said Jack.
“Well, if you would get down off your high horse for a minute and stop busting my balls, I would be happy to explain.”
“I’m listening.”
“Good man. Those little explosions over the border are already making the news internationally. And your friend has been chosen as the poster child for that success. As we speak her face is being broadcast on every major news network. Her role in uncovering the link between this planned attack on Israel and the many states in the region that are out to destroy Israel has been generating quite a response. Strictly along traditional lines, but a response nonetheless. She is now the most famous spy in the world, and as far as you are concerned, she is strictly off limits. So you see, Alexa’s future is looking very good. A life giving talks to school children, and perhaps she might even want to try her hand at politics one day?”
“So they aren’t going to kill her, just her career?” Jack hissed. “Her
career is already dead, Jack, and we can all be grateful that she has a future, even if you cannot be a part of it. So you see, none of this has turned out in the way that any of us would have liked, but you have to agree, it has at least turned out in a way that we can all live with.”
“This is so much the lives of thousands thousands more, and she is ruined for her trouble. Complete bullshit.”
Deeley stood up.
“It is what it is, Jack. Now, say your goodbyes and we can be on our way. There are quite a few people back home who are simply dying to sit down with you over a nice cup of tea for a wee chat.”
As the anger welled inside him Jack knew one thing was true; it was over. He didn’t believe for one moment that he would never get to see her again, but he knew they could never have a proper life together, not as long as he remained an agent. The only way that they could live out their happy ever after was with Jack in retirement, and
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bullshit, Deeley. And you know it. She saves of people and stops mad men from destroying
that was the result Deeley wanted most, and the result Jack was not prepared to give to him. He would find another way.
Over the years Jack had become an expert actor. Playing the role of hardened terrorist or passionate, but kind, lover, all came naturally to him. But in those few precious moments with Alexa, before he was escorted to the airport, Jack played an altogether different part. He played himself. A man in love. A man in mourning for a life that could have been. They kissed, said their goodbyes, and parted. Never in his wildest nightmares would he have guessed at the number of years that would pass before he looked into her eyes again. Had he known that is what fate held in store for them he would have fought harder. He would have brought her home with him and to hell with his career.
As Jack and Deeley waited for their flight at the airport Alexa’s face was being displayed on televisions, alongside the aftermath of the attack. It was just as Deeley had said—she was a hero and she was broken because of it. Her old life was well and truly over. When a minister from the Jordanian government appeared on the screens giving a statement in English, Jack knew that the situation was intense. A press conference given in English was always a sure sign that they wanted America and Britain to come to their rescue. He spoke of his government’s concerns over Israel’s build of troops on the border. He also denied that his country knew anything about the planned attack on Israel. For once the minister was speaking the truth and it was clear that the man was not used to doing so. The truth left him looking shifty and lost. He was a man operating well outside his comfort zone. He was a man on the brink of meltdown.
As they left the departure lounge Jack stopped for a brief moment to watch an antique television. Images of Israeli troops crossing the border sent a shiver down his spine. Deeley had spoken of how no one had come out of this with what they wanted, but it was clear from the images on that screen that the mad men had got what they wanted, or at the very least they had made a very good start towards getting what they wanted. As Jack walked away from the television towards the plane he felt empty. He had given up everything and the region was just as unstable as it ever was—perhaps more so?
Deeley sat across from Jack during the flight. Jack was still fuming
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and he had no intention in engaging in small talk with Deeley. He may have had no part in what the Israelis were doing but he could have taken a stand against it. As long as Britain and America stood back and did nothing then innocent people would continue to die. Deeley was Britain as far as Israel was concerned and as long as he said nothing then things would never change—action followed by overreaction—state against state—neighbour against neighbour, until one day, and soon, someone would go too far. That day had just been averted, but for how long? Jack did not feel at all confident. The one ray of hope was Alexa. She was resourceful and she was determined. Perhaps she would seek
political office? Perhaps she would continue to fight for what was right, in a different arena, using unfamiliar weapons? Thethought brought a stupid smileto Jack’s face. Deeley noticed.
“I’m glad to see that you are in better spirits, Jack.” “A s you said, we are all alive,” Jack said.
“That’s more than will be said about the poor bastards living in the
border towns of Jordan, shortly.”
“We need to do something before it gets out of hand.”
“For Christ’s sake Jack, would you ever grow up? You know that
there is nothing that we can do about what is going on. You know that we will go back home to London and within a few days we will have turned our attention to something else. That is the way of the world. And besides....”
Deeley cut himself off. “Besides
what?” probed Jack. “Is it so
very wrong?”
“Is what wrong?”
“What Israel is doing? Is it so very wrong? Can we really blame
them? If we were in the same position, wouldn’t we do the very same thing? You have read some of the classified files from the Second World War. You know some of the diabolical things that our nation was forced to do to survive. Those things that will never be revealed to the public. So terrible that they would change the very nature of our hard won freedom forever. Israel is only doing what it has to do to survive and we would do the very same thing if we were in their shoes.”
“Some forms of freedom are not worth fighting for. If we have to cover up those things that we did to guarantee our own freedom then it was too high a price to pay. It takes away from who we are, and who we will be. Israel is on the verge and if we don’t do something now to stop her then she will be lost to the civilised world forever. I beg you commander, don’t let this happen.”
Deeley smiled at Jack’s words.
“What am I going to do with you? Ours is not a business for such sentimentality. We can only ever do our best. The rest... The rest is beyond our control and the sooner you accept that simple truth the sooner you will find contentment in what we do.”
“If I ever find contentment in what we do, please put me out of my misery.”
Deeley laughed.
“Jack, Jack, Jack. For the love of god, keep that kind of rubbish to yourself when we get back to London or you will be finished. And stop worrying about Jordan. America is already instructing Israel to pull back. Sure, a few towns and villages will burn in the retreat, but a bigger conflict will be averted. So you see Jack, everything has worked out for the best. No real harm done and everyone in the neighbourhood will think twice before taking on the biggest kid in the playground. Perhaps not peace in our time, but certainly peace for a time, even if that time is very short. Now relax. You and Alexa have done some real good. It would have been a hell of an inconvenience if I had to wear a radiation suit on my next visit to the pyramids.”
Jack didn’t respond. He turned and looked out of the window. In spite of his words, Jack felt that Deeley was more involved in the events of that day than he was letting on. Men like Deeley were the real masters of mankind and as much as Jack would liked to have done something about that he knew that it would be a never-ending battle. As soon as one was struck his place. During the entire flight thought about the grilling he was about to receive on his return home. All thoughts were of Jordan and of Alexa. Both now beyond his reach. More regret in a life where regret was fast outweighing contentment. down another would rise to take back to London Jack never once
19
Spreading Armageddon
With Barry and Alexa behind him, Jack had only one direction to concern himself with. If they encountered any trouble he would know about it and he would run to their rescue—at least that’s what he told himself. With his focus heightened in that one direction he was completely taken aback when Alexa brought her hand down on his shoulder. Jack spun round and pointed his gun in her face for a moment before lowering it just as quickly. Alexa brought her hands down to her waist as she adopted the pose of an angry housewife. Instinctively, Jack took up a defensive position.
“What is it?” Jack snarled, in a low tone of voice. “Tell him,” said Alexa.
She was looking at Jack when she spoke but her words were directed towards Barry, who was standing behind her. She stood to one side so that the two men were facing one another.
“Tell me what?” asked Jack, impatiently.
“Jack, I thought that you and Alexa were here to stop Deeley getting his hands on the weapons created as part of Project Coast,” Barry began.
“What the hell is Project Coast?” Jack asked, with genuine confusion.
“It is the secret chemical and biochemical weapons program that the South African government has been operating since the end of the Second World War. It has researched all of the normal forms of weapons and it has come up with a lot of new weapons.”
“What kind of weapons are you talking about?”
“Weaponised versions of drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine, as well as versions of anthrax that can be used against a specific population.” “I don’t understand; anthrax is a disease, so how can you train it to attack one group of people and leave another group alone?” Jack quizzed.
“Simple. An effective vaccine is given to those you want to protect and the others are left to go to hell when the bomb drops. White kids in South Africa have been given the vaccine secretly alongside other childhood vaccines for more than a decade now. And the adult white population, or at least the important whites, have also been vaccinated. If your GP calls you in for an essential medical jab, most people do what they are told. It is a very simple and very elegant plan. In the event of a large scale black uprising the weapons would be deployed. Aerosols containing the disease attached to missiles that could fly fast and low over large urban areas, and so on. The plan also involved keeping several thousand blacks alive.”
“Why?” asked Alexa.
Jack looked at her sympathetically.
“To bury the dead,” explained Barry. “And to act as human shields if the international community tried to intervene.”
“So why haven’t they used it?” Alexa asked.
“The white way of life as masters of this land always depended on the oppression of the blacks. If the blacks have gone, so has the lifestyle of the whites. As long as the few powerful white families have their way of life protected and maintained they don’t care who is running the country. That was the price that had to be paid to end whites only rule. The most profitable part of Project Coast was handed over to those few white families. It is the centre of the illegal drugs industry for most ofAfrica, as well as large parts of Asia, and they are even making inroads into Europe and North America. And no one will dare touch them. Not while they control the chemical and biological weap
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ons of the Project. How doyou think Deeley got away with organising this little get together? The black South African state inherited one of the best state security services in the world; there is nothing that goes on in this country that the government doesn’t know about. That the families allowed Deeley and the others to meet here can mean only one thing; the families are doing business with these people. And after that great speech from your Mr Deeley I have a funny feeling he intends to buy more than a few party drugs.”
“And are the families here?” Jack asked, but in a tone that suggested that they were not in a position to do anything about this new issue.
“Not bloody likely,” said Barry.
“Then what in the hell is it that you want me to do about all this?” asked Jack.
“We need to get to Deeley. We need to learn as much as we can about where the weapons are being sent. For Christ’s sake Jack, you should be doing this, not me,” Barry barked.
Jack thought for a moment.
“OK,” Jack said, eventually. “We will try to get to Deeley, but if it comes to it, I will put a bullet in his head even if it
means that we learn nothing about this network.”
“Stop!”
The aggressive South African voice came out of nowhere. As they looked in the direction of its source they saw a large guard in a suit standing with a machine gun pointed at them. Barry and Jack exchanged knowing looks. As Barry turned around to face the guard he threw his gun onto the ground in front of the large man. At the same time Barry positioned himself in front of Jack so that the guard could not see what Jack was doing. That action gave Jack enough time to raise his gun and put two rounds in the guard, centre mass. The guard hit the ground dead. A short burst of undirected weapons fire accompanied the fall.
“So much for the element of surprise,” Jack said.
“Just like old times, mate,” Barry replied. “Except this time you aren’t being a treacherous bastard.”
“Or so you hope, Barry,” Jack returned, with a grin.
Barry led the way as they continued down the corridor in the di
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rection that Jack had originally been following. As they took a perpendicular bend they ran into resistance in the form of four armed guards, and Deeley. Deeley was standing in the middle of the corridor and the guards were on either side of him. The guards didn’t wait for the order to fire. They immediately started to spray the corridor with bullets. One lucky shot grazed Jack’s upper left arm. It was painful but it was not serious. Alexa noticed that Jack was in pain.
Deadly States (Seaforth Files by Nicholas P Clark Book 2) Page 26