‘Habash assumed that Israel would have capitulated with Modi’in Illit, but that was always naïve,’ said Uri.
‘He may become irrational and start to act in a manner that we cannot imagine.’ Paul Montgomery had occasionally seen a flaw in Sam Haberman’s character when unable to exact the result from the experiment that he wanted, he had blown his cool, started banging the table and pacing around the room.
Distracting himself from his concerns, Montgomery focussed on the laboratory in Ramallah. Within four days as he had previously stated, his team had sterilised the site and removed the equipment. Satisfied with their results, they returned to the aircraft and prepared for take-off.
A substantial crowd had gathered, due to the frantic attempts of local road builders to extend the runway by another one hundred metres. The noise as the four Pratt and Whitney turbofans powered up to one hundred and twenty percent of their recommended operational limit, intense. The houses at the end of the runway were cleared by no more than fifty feet as the plane gathered height for the short flight back to Israel.
Habash, increasingly frustrated that his plan was not going as he had wished, decided that desperate measures were required. He could no longer afford to inflict fatalities on the very people he was attempting to support.
***
‘What are we going to do about Ismail Hafeez?’ Steve asked at the meeting in Mossad’s headquarters in Tel Aviv. Ed, as usual on the conference line.
‘We will do nothing for the present moment,’ Uri replied.
‘But why?’ Montgomery asked. ‘We know now that he was involved.’
‘Until we find Habash and the remaining viruses,’ replied Uri, ‘he will be the safest person on the planet. Hafeez is being watched day and night, his phone calls monitored, his visits to his mistress filmed. We will deal with him in due course.’
‘Will that also be Samir’s fate?’ Yanny asked.
‘Yes,’ Uri said bluntly. ‘What is the latest on the search for Habash?’
‘We are confident he has left the region,’ Harry said. ‘A private jet flew out of Amman headed for Asia with him on board. It appears to be chartered from the same company that flew him into Afghanistan before.’
‘Where did it land?’ Uri asked.
‘After a quick refuelling in Abu Dhabi, it took off and disappeared. Flight plans were in place to Delhi, India, but it never arrived.’
‘Ed, how’s your satellite surveillance?’ asked Steve. ‘Do you think it could find where the plane went?’
‘I would have thought possible,’ the CIA agent responded. ‘It may take some time. Send me all the details you have – plane registration, time of lift-off from Abu Dhabi, including any telemetry received.’
‘I’ll send it to you today.’
‘It seems imperative that our focus must be on Habash,’ said Uri. ‘We have no other persons of note, except the mysterious benefactor who appears to be paying for the private jets.’ Steve was feeling a little out of it at the present moment with Uri clearly in command.
Two days later and Ed Small was in Tel Aviv giving an update. ‘Military satellite surveillance over Afghanistan is reliable. The plane landed in Fayzabad.’
‘Isn’t that where the International Red Cross were when they went up into the Hindu Kush?’ Phil asked.
‘The same place,’ Ed said. ‘I met one of the doctors, a Bob Smith. I gave him rather an unpleasant grilling when he arrived in Atlanta with a sample of the virus some time ago. I’m sure he doesn’t remember me with any fond memories.’
‘Where is he now?’ Uri asked.
‘No idea. I’m sure we could find him without too much difficulty. He recognised the disease initially in the Hindu Kush. Unfortunately, the young female doctor with him didn’t ‒ she died soon after. It may be an idea to have someone who knows the area to be here with us.’
‘I know the area,’ Yanny said. ‘I went undercover there once. We were concerned that the local warlord was negotiating to sell arms from Tajikistan to the local Taliban commander.’
‘And was he?’ Uri asked.
‘Yes, I took him out. He got a shock when a local woman covered in a blue burka shot him through the head.’
‘I’ve also been there,’ said Steve. ‘We were conducting a field survey to see if we could set up a microwave link into Kunduz.’
‘Then you both need to get yourselves over into the region,’ Uri said.
‘Yanny, that may not be such a good idea. Habash will recognise you instantly.’ Steve said.
‘Even my own mother would not recognise me once I take the appearance of a local woman.’
‘What cover for you, Steve?’
‘I could be conducting technical surveys for a communications company. That should be okay although I’m not too keen to return. My last visit was not that pleasant.’
‘We’re all aware of what happened,’ replied Uri. ‘But it seems imperative that two people familiar with the area are on the ground as soon as possible. If Habash is there, it may be possible to ascertain what he’s up to, who he’s communicating with, how he is releasing his email ultimatums.’
‘Let’s get Bob Smith here,’ said Steve. ‘Any luck finding him, Ed?’
It had only been ten minutes but the collective resources of the CIA had located him with no difficulties. ‘We found him easy enough. He’s on a course at International Red Cross headquarters in Geneva. He was planning to take some leave, but I’ve just spoken to the head of the establishment, citing an international security directive. He is scheduled on a flight to Tel Aviv later tonight.’
‘Even Mossad could not operate at that speed,’ Uri said.
‘The CIA aims to please. Mind you, I’m told that he’s not too pleased. My name was used.’
***
Bob Smith was indeed annoyed that his leave had been cancelled. The name of the CIA agent did not calm his anger. ICRC’s unwillingness to remain much longer in Afghanistan was causing him concern, and he had planned to speak to someone of suitable seniority in Geneva, put forward a case for maintaining a presence. Now, all that was on hold as he headed to Israel.
He had seen the reports, listened to the media broadcasts. He knew the situation was critical, but he had no great desire to be thrown into the thick of combating the disease. He was a humble doctor performing a humble function amongst good if simple people in Afghanistan. He was not a high-flyer, and it suited him fine.
It was an agitated English doctor who arrived at Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv in the early hours of the morning. Even an upgrade to first class had not appeased him.
He immediately made his way to a meeting with the team.
‘Welcome, I’m Uri Weizman.’
‘I assume it’s to do with what I discovered in Afghanistan?’
‘It’s the same virus that you saw in the Hindu Kush,’ Steve said.
‘Tell me what you want and how I can help. I am basically a doctor old enough to have seen smallpox before it was eradicated. But, apart from that, I’m not sure how I can help you.’
‘We know where the perpetrator is,’ Uri said. ‘He’s back in the region, he’s in Fayzabad.’
‘What is he doing there? I would have thought he’d done enough damage there already. A colleague of mine died as a result of this man, you do realise that?’
‘Yes, we do, but the matter is more serious. The disease is uncontrollable. Whereas he was targeting Jewish settlements in the West Bank, it has quickly spilled over into the Palestinian communities. We must stop any more planned infections and, quite frankly, at this present moment we have no clue as to where he may strike next.’
‘So how can I help?’ Bob asked. ‘This sounds like a job for the intelligence services.’
‘It is, but you’ve been into Fayzabad, and so have Steve and Yanny. We are looking for any assistance in finding this individual. We need a comprehensive list of where all the virus materials are located.’
‘T
wo Westerners will stand out,’ Bob said. ‘How can you hope to go undercover there? Outsiders, especially Americans are regarded with suspicion.’
‘Steve will go in surveying for a communications company, Yanny as a local woman.’
‘Steve maybe, but Yanny… that’s not possible unless she has a local man accompany her.’ Bob turned to Yanny. ‘We’ve set up a clinic there. How do you feel about going in as a foreign nurse?’
‘That sounds fine to me.’
‘Agreed,’ said Uri. ‘Yanny and Steve will leave tomorrow for Afghanistan.’
‘You better make that three.’
‘Thanks, Bob, I’m sure it will help,’ Ed Small said over the conference line. He had kept quiet initially, not sure of how Bob Smith would react to hearing from him again.
***
To: The Israeli Government and the governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
Subject: Genetically Engineered Smallpox attacks in Israel.
It is apparent that the strategy to target Israel and to ensure compliance with our demands has not been realised. The unfortunate transmission of the virus to Palestinian communities in the south of Israel and the Gaza Strip was not foreseen and is greatly regretted. In time, they will forgive our actions.
Of the demands that were placed on Israel, none has been realised. Namely:
1. The Palestinian State and its right to exist are recognised and announced by the Israeli government on all media outlets, both in Israel and internationally.
2. The blockade by sea and land of Gaza is immediately removed.
3. All Palestinians will be ensured free, direct and unhindered movement between Gaza and the West Bank.
It is clear that Israel will not comply with our demands. Due to the risk to the Arab Muslim population, the target areas will now be focussed on countries that support and approve the Jewish subjugation of the Palestinian Muslim majority. There will be no further attacks on Israel due to the inability of the authorities to protect the Muslims in the region. The attack on Modi’in Illit, a community of ultra-orthodox Jews produced an immediate and competent response from the Israeli medical facilities. The subsequent and regretted outbreak in the south of the country centred on the Arab town of Rahat produced a limited response. There was clearly a minimal attempt to control the disease there, and it has now passed over into Gaza. Due to no medical support from the occupiers, it can only be concluded that the Zionist Israeli Government is now using the virus to allow genocide against the people of Palestine.
Our initial demands have now been modified and are non-negotiable:
Immediate and unequivocal removal of all Jewish people from the land of Palestine.
A period of sixty days to comply.
The initial attack in America had been aimed at a small and isolated tourist community. This demonstration of our ability to place the virus anywhere should have elicited a suitable response from that country’s government, and that pressure would have been applied to the Zionist occupiers to accede to our demands. No such response was received, and no such pressure was applied.
Ten days previous to this email, a release of the virus occurred in a small town of approximately fifty thousand people in the mid-west of the United States of America. The release was in various locations and was conducted by ten of our followers who have martyred their lives to ensure that maximum fatalities will occur. At least three to four thousand people have been infected over a two-hour period. This one release will account for the deaths of at least thirty to forty thousand persons.
This does not take into account that, in a mobile society, many of those initially infected will have travelled throughout the country and the world.
In two days, at the latest four, those initial thousands will be highly contagious. We do not need to state the implication of one of those people being contagious and on an intercontinental air flight.
In two days, if there are not clear statements on all media channels from the President of the United States of America, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Prime Minister of Israel agreeing to all our demands as outlined above, then we will release the virus in additional locations. These will be in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
Future locations will be communities with minimal Islamic populations. Israel will no longer be attacked. It is up to the world community to ensure that the Jewish conquerors have departed the land of their occupation within sixty days.
There is to be a new world where the followers of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the worshippers of Allah will be granted predominance. Failure to adhere to any component of our demands, any hesitancy, will ensure the non-believers and their countries are removed from the face of the planet.
Allahu Akbar – God is great.
***
It was a grim meeting in Tel Aviv at Mossad headquarters. Uri was in the chair. Ed Small was over from America. Yanny, Steve, and Bob were present, albeit for a few minutes. They were due to leave for Afghanistan when the ultimatum came through. Phil was waiting for further instructions, and Harry was heading over to the United Kingdom to meet up with Charles Proctor. Montgomery was down south attempting to help in the area, but the local communities were closing their entry points in a vain attempt to protect themselves.
‘Where do we stand now?’ Uri asked. He was as perplexed and confused as the rest of the people present. ‘Is this the same Samir Habash that you knew?’ he asked of Yanny.
‘If the author of that email was Samir, he sounds as if he has become extreme, fundamentalist.’
‘I am assured that the writing style clearly shows that Samir Habash wrote that email,’ said Uri.
‘Then I no longer know that man.’ A man she had loved was dead – not in a physical sense, but emotionally.
‘He could wipe out the planet,’ said Steve.
‘If he has followers releasing the virus now instead of relying on automatic air fresheners, they could continue without him. He may be superfluous,’ Ed said.
Montgomery joined them over the phone. ‘Clearly, he was idealistic. His frustration and the possible halving of the population in the Gaza Strip have driven his genius over the top.’
‘Explain what you mean?’ Uri asked.
‘Sam Haberman was a genius, not only in his research but in his intellect. He had an IQ close to one hundred and fifty. That put him within the top 0.1 per cent of the world’s population. People at that level have a tendency to behavioural extremes, the possibility to flip their beliefs, their views quickly and a tendency to go mad. This may well be the situation here.’
‘Are you saying that he has gone crazy?’ Yanny asked.
‘It’s possible, although he would not see it. He would be able to rationalise using his superior skills of deduction. He may well believe that a world where Muslims are predominant and the Christian infidels are eliminated is the only solution.’
‘But that’s illogical,’ said Uri. ‘The virus will go through the remote Muslim communities in Africa and Asia without hesitation.’
‘Of course,’ replied Montgomery. ‘I am afraid that the Sam Haberman I knew and the Samir Habash that Yanny was fond of in Amman are both dead. He must be dealt with as soon as possible.’
‘Thanks, Paul,’ said Uri. It had been the first time anyone had used Montgomery’s first name. It was an indication that, although the team could not forgive him totally for the events unfolding, they were at least willing to concede he was attempting to make amends. He was at the centre of the smallpox outbreaks in the south, trying to assist when many Jewish and Arab doctors had walked away.
Chapter 11
The President of the United States of America had been having a good year. He had been re-elected for a second term the previous year with an increased popularity rating.
‘What’s the response from Israel?’ the President asked at the emergency meeting of the Security Council at the White House.
‘The normal. We do not negotiate with terrorists,’ said Defense Secretary Bill Hagelman. A career politician, he was well-respected in the community, with an unfortunate fondness for a bottle of gin and the occasional woman of ill repute. As a loyal and competent associate of the President his indiscretions were overlooked.
‘How many dead are there now?’ the President asked.
‘Jewish, at least ten to fifteen thousand although, in the south of the country, mainly Muslim, the numbers are staggering. They currently stand at around forty-two thousand with a projection of three to four hundred thousand. At least twenty-five to thirty percent of the Palestinians in the Gaza are not going to survive, and then there is the overflow into Egypt. At least another two hundred thousand there.’
‘How’s Egypt controlling the virus? If it gets into Cairo, it could take kill millions.’
‘Some limited attempts are being made to isolate areas,’ replied Hagelman. ‘But it’s mainly a case of once an area shows any sign of the disease, the military closes it off and burns any building on the perimeters.’
‘It’s going to be a bloodbath,’ the President said.
‘Their military will probably account for fifty to eighty thousand deaths alone, but what else can they do?’
‘If we’re hit as badly as them, we’ll adopt similar tactics,’ the President conceded.
‘We will have no option,’ said General Brian Winston, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ‘We’ve recalled all troops back to their bases, and any that can be spared from overseas.’
He had been in a low-level flyover of a fundamentalist stronghold in Afghanistan. A lucky shot from a Taliban foot soldier on the ground to the north of Kandahar some years previously had sealed his active military career and had left him with a bullet close to the spine. Capable of advising the President, capable in an administrative position, although no longer fit for active duty. He was gruff, direct and not particularly personable. The President, an agreeable and tactile person, knew him as trustworthy, honest and straightforward.
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