Ahmed returned to the other three controllers and they debated for some time what should be done. Time dragged on. 12:05, 12:15, 12:30. The time kept ticking by, as they decided what to do.
A call was made to Lebanon and the West Bank. One border-crossing was no sign of any real change. The Palestinian fighters on the Lebanese – Israeli border were reluctant to move forward. The dead-man alley was exactly that. Anyone who stepped into it, died immediately. The Israeli snipers did not shoot warning shots. After some discussion, a young fighter said he would go. He, like Ahmed in the south, walked carefully and cautiously forward, fearful of the bullet that would end his life. It never came. He reached the gates that blocked the road, and like Ahmed, he pushed on them only to find that they fell open. The crossing was deserted. Everything was gone.
The debate still raged. It could all be a trick. The call to the West Bank proved less fruitful. Jerusalem was a hive of activity, nothing appeared to have changed. The reluctant Palestinian who ventured towards the border crossing returned quickly. The border was guarded. He could see men moving around. Ahmed pushed for the man to go further.
As the man ventured further, the three controllers had reached a decision. The Israelis had tried to trick them for the last time. As they were preparing to fire, the phone rang. It was the West Bank Palestinians. Their man had ventured closer. It was not Israelis that were guarding the crossing.
Chapter 93
The Sheikh had altered Zak’s ID to show his own photo and easily passed through the security perimeter. The President was due within the next hour. News had filtered out during the morning, that it was likely that the President would also announce his new Vice President, and if the rumors were true, it was going to be Henry Preston. The Sheikh had arranged everything he needed and was now, just awaiting the arrival of his targets.
The stage was arranged across the road, directly in front of the massive gates that were covered on either side by huge sheets. These were the covers that would unveil the memorials. Almost two hundred seats were laid in front of a stage which itself, held almost fifty seats. The audience, however, was expected to be closer to a million times that number, as the world’s press awaited the announcement of the new VP, and an explanation as to the goings on the previous evening.
The Sheikh smiled as the first of the attendees began to arrive. He made his way towards the young lady that was coordinating the event and while talking to her, he managed to check the sheet. Nothing had changed.
***
Rebecca woke Sam up. She had just had a call from Ben and they were to meet him in Driscoll, a small town near to where the ceremony was due to take place. He didn’t like it and wanted some assurances. Unfortunately, she did not have any to give.
Sam spoke at length to his brother and agreed that Clark would remain with his wife, while the rest would travel to Driscoll.
***
Although they had flown down with the President on Air Force One, Preston, Johnson, and Gates were part of the advance party, along with members of the Cabinet. The President liked his grand entrances, and everyone would be seated and in place, before he arrived.
Preston had shared a car with the others and the smile on his face, suggested he would not be sharing one back. It seemed to Johnson and Gates, that the rumors must have been true. However, Johnson was going to wipe the smile off Preston’s face soon enough. There was only going to be one Vice President announced that day, and it was going to be Allan Johnson, and he had the goods to make sure that it happened.
As the car pulled up to the stage, Johnson broke off from the group and made his call.
“Mr. President?”
“Yes, Allan?”
“I’m hearing some very disturbing rumors.”
The President knew exactly what the rumors were. “Yes, Allan, and I’m afraid they’re true. You’ve got to appreciate that it was Henry who…”
Allan’s tone changed. “Killed the President for you?!”
“Allan,” protested the President angrily.
“No, Andrew. I have the evidence that will put us both in the frame. I suggest you change your speech and quickly.” Johnson killed the call and headed back to the others with a spring in his step.
He joined them as the coordinator had singled the three of them out, and asked them to head over to a waiting minivan. It appeared that the President wanted to arrive with them at his side. They jumped into the van and were greeted by the Secretary of Defense.
***
The President’s motorcade pulled out of Corpus Christi and made its way towards Bishop. It swept along at sixty miles an hour and the President took the twenty minutes to put the final touches to his speech.
He had just had the call from Johnson when his phone rang again. He instantly answered, expecting it to be Johnson again.
“How dare you?!” he screamed.
“Mr. President?” enquired Ben.
“Ben, I’ll be with you shortly. I’ll talk to you then,” he needed to get off the phone and get a hold of Johnson.
“You need to meet with me now. I’m in Driscoll, in the diner on the far side of town.”
“I don’t have time.”
“Make the time, Andrew,” instructed Ben.
***
As they pulled out of Bishop, an unmarked car pulled out in front, to escort them towards the President’s motorcade.
“Where are we meeting?” asked Preston.
“Driscoll, Sir,” replied the driver.
Preston could see the sign. Driscoll was just three miles ahead. He wondered if the President would take him in The Beast with him, and really make a statement.
***
As they pulled into the diner, the Secret Service began to dismount and were about to sweep the place when the President saw Ben in the window. The man sitting next to him was not a man he wanted the Secret Service to see. Despite huge protestations, he walked into the diner alone and took the seat opposite Ben Meir and Senator Charles Baker.
“Ben, Charles,” he said as he sat down.
“Momentous day, Andrew,” replied Ben.
President Andrew Russell did not like how Ben had dropped the ‘Mr. President’.
“Andrew, let’s take a walk,” he said, getting up from his seat. Charles Baker remained seated as instructed.
Ben walked the President out into the parking area and as both men waved away their security, they talked. At least, Ben did a lot of talking. Particularly, after a minivan slowed down beside them, before picking up speed and disappearing into the distance.
***
Rebecca and Sam had been instructed to stay out of sight and in the car. They were to play no part. Ben had only allowed them to come because he knew Sam wouldn’t let his brother out of his sight. Ben had spent over an hour with Senator Baker before the President had arrived and as such, Rebecca and Sam were becoming increasingly restless and in Rebecca’s case, increasingly desperate to go to the bathroom.
After having held on as long as physically possible, she could wait no more and after securing a promise that he would not move unless the ground began to swallow him up, she jumped out of the car and ran to the restrooms at the side of the building. As she stepped back out of the restroom, feeling very refreshed, the President and Ben were arguing just a few yards in front of her. As she waved an apology for the interruption, her view was blocked by a minivan pulling in between her and them. Four men got up, as though about to disembark, only for the driver to turn and say something, after which they all sat down. Rebecca watched as the van pulled away and she could see a look of horror on the President’s face that mirrored hers, but for very different reasons.
As Rebecca walked back towards the car, she opened the door and slumped into her seat.
“What’s wrong?” asked Sam turning to her. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost!”
“I have!” she answered.
Chapter 94
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Presiden
t of the United States of America.”
President Andrew Russell took the stage and looked at his audience and the people at home.
“Citizens, countrymen, people of the world. We are not here today to mark the memorial of a great disaster. We are here today to be thankful for saving a people from another. We are here to welcome and offer our support to a people who have fought to protect themselves day in and day out. Hopefully, that fight is over. It will not be easy and many wounds are still to be healed, but we will be there for them and I’d ask you to be there for them, too.” The president paused as the audience began to digest what he had just said. The murmur died and he began again.
“Behind these gates, lay a land devastated by the worst man can do. As much as we can create, we can destroy. But the land has now been made safe. Scientists and engineers have eradicated every last drop of radiation. The land is safe, but we have no need for it. We discarded it so easily, that we should be ashamed of ourselves. People fight and die for land and we have so much of it, that we can just shut it off. Another people were threatened by a similar atrocity, but they did not have land to just shun and discard. They had no land they could go to and be safe. That is, until now.”
The gates swung open and a sea of tents could be seen stretching off into the distance. The President and the Prime Minister of Israel joined the President at the podium. He greeted them with a hug and a handshake, while hardly a whisper was raised from the audience.
“Over the last few days, Israel has evacuated its citizens. It has been the largest humanitarian operation ever undertaken.”
“Why the secrecy?” came a shout.
“The four nuclear weapons could have been triggered at any time. If the terrorists had caught wind of it, they may have detonated the bombs and killed millions of innocents.”
“What of the holy land?” came another shout as the impact of what was being said hit home.
“Jerusalem and a large area around it, has been handed to the UN. It is to become UN territory and will become the headquarters of the UN, replacing New York. It will be a neutral land from which to operate. Jerusalem and the cities around it are holy cities, not just for Judaism, but for Christianity and Islam also. More than half of the world’s population sees these cities, as some of their most holy.”
“Before you bombard me any further, please welcome our new neighbors.” A cheer was raised as the President dropped the tarpaulins covering the plaque to reveal the Israeli flags, with ‘New Israel’ written underneath.
***
Ahmed Hameed drove from one end of Palestine to the other, from Egypt to Lebanon. The area designated as the United Nations territory was substantial, but not so much, that they couldn’t see the victory in what they had achieved. They were at peace. His people were at peace. He never believed he would see the day.
Jerusalem was a free city. Anybody and everybody owned her. It was fitting for such a wonderful and holy place.
Ahmed Hameed said a prayer for Ben Meir as he accepted the thanks of his nation.
***
As the noise began to die down, the President called for some calm.
“I have one more announcement to make. I would like to introduce you to my new Vice President, Charles Baker.”
The surprise at this announcement almost exceeded that of the New Israel.
However, the audience was unaware of Ben’s demonstration only minutes earlier. The President had watched in horror as his four closest advisers, Johnson, Preston, Gates, and the new Secretary of Defense were paraded before him, stuck in the back of a minivan, being driven to a certain death. The message had been loud and clear, Ben was calling the shots, quite literally.
“And further, I wish to give him my support at the upcoming election to become the next, President of the United States of America.”
Another shock wave swept through the audience. That announcement came on the back of a promise that Sam Baker would not seek retribution. It really did help to have a scary brother.
***
With the announcement of the New Israel, Sam looked at Rebecca, who just shook her head in amazement. She had known nothing of any of it. She was also refusing to tell him what had spooked her earlier, but whatever it was, it had affected her badly.
“They can’t have,” she repeated quietly to herself with each announcement.
Sam looked at the field of tents and wondered how far it stretched. Five to six million people, even four to a tent, was a massive area and an unbelievable undertaking over the last few days. It was phenomenal, mused Sam, shaking his head.
“It will take them years to build a country from nothing,” offered Sam, grasping the scale of what lay ahead.
“Not if I know Ben Meir,” replied Rebecca, her tone far from happy. Which Sam could fully understand. She had spent her life fighting to save a country, that they had been chased out of. Israel had been defeated.
Sam took her in his arms and offered his support, but she remained uncharacteristically stiff.
“I’m sorry, I need to go.” She left and walked towards Ben. Without looking back, she walked through the gates and into New Israel.
Epilogue
It had been two months since Yom Kippur and Sam had buried his family properly. It had been a beautiful ceremony, attended by hundreds. The President had offered to come, and it had taken some power of persuasion by the Vice President, to stop Sam from trying to kill him for even having the audacity to consider going.
Charles had explained to Sam many times why the President was allowed to continue. They needed to maintain the government, to ensure that New Israel had time to build itself into a strong and independent nation again. Sam would bide his time and promised that he would not kill the President. However, he had made no such statement about not killing former President, Andrew Russell. His day would come, he’d thought.
He had bought a new house on the main island, having decided against rebuilding his old house. He had thrown himself back into his work as a PE teacher and was once again, racing his kids up to the top of the hill, although a far more welcome sight than normal awaited him at the top of the hill that morning. Rebecca Cohen, sat on the small mound of stones that marked the summit, a broad smile, welcoming Sam to the top.
“What took you so long?” she asked.
“I didn’t think I’d see you again!” he answered with a smile.
Rebecca didn’t say any more. She walked across and grabbed Sam in a breath crushing embrace, much to the delight of the kids.
That next morning, Rebecca took Sam to New York and they boarded an El Al flight to New Tel Aviv. Sam couldn’t believe the change. The security before check-in and boarding was no different than those for any other carrier. The flight was short and Sam had wondered what he would find when they arrived. It had only been two months and achieving the basics would still be a struggle, but he vowed to do whatever he could to help.
“First time?” asked a man, seated next to Sam.
“Yep!”
“I’m Saul, first week off in years,” he said, striking up a conversation. “Evacuated one day, back in a new dock the next day, unloading the same bloody stuff I loaded at the other end!” he moaned.
“New docks?” asked Sam surprised. He had never seen any docks in that old part of Texas.
“Yep, walked out the old port on Friday and walked into the new one on Sunday, not even a day off.”
Sam turned to Rebecca who was on his other side and who had heard the conversation. She just shook her head.
As the flight approached the airport, Sam braced himself for the chaos of the Arrivals gate. It never came. The airport was state of the art, brand new. Sam walked through the terminal and exited into what could have been any major city in the world.
“What the hell?”
Rebecca shook her head and pressed her finger to her lips and drove Sam to the nearby beach. Sam looked around. There was not a tent to be seen anywhere. But he had followed the ne
ws, and had watched the nightly reports of the refugees of New Israel as they struggled to cope with building their new nation.
“Sam, I believe you deserve to hear this, but I am Israeli and my heart will always be Israel’s first. I will deny it all.”
Sam just nodded his head as he walked along beside her.
“The day I left you, I saw a ghost. I was not joking, I did see a ghost. It was the ghost of my dead husband. A man I loved with all my heart. My son’s father.”
Sam nodded.
“But of course, there are no such things as ghosts. I saw my husband that day. He was driving a minivan that was taking the President’s advisers away.”
Sam instantly liked the guy, knowing exactly what she meant by ‘away’.
“Something had always bothered me. When I first discovered the nuclear weapon plot, I saw something I recognized in the terrorist called The Sheikh.”
Sam nodded for her to go on.
“I recognized his eyes. They were my husband’s eyes. My husband is The Sheikh.”
“Your husband’s a Palestinian terrorist, but wait…”
“Exactly, a Palestinian terrorist would not have killed people for Ben!” Rebecca could see the confusion in Sam’s face.
Sam looked around at the infrastructure. He thought back to New Tel Aviv, the talk of the man on the plane of the new port. What he could see was years of preparation and building. The Sheikh was an Israeli plant.
“But that means…”
“Yes, every bit of this has been planned, even down to the original nuclear explosion which was actually a neutron bomb, not a nuclear bomb. Neutron bombs let off a large amount of radiation, but it disappears almost immediately. Within forty-eight hours, the land was safe and construction was underway.”
ALL ACTION THRILLER BOXSET: THREE MURRAY MCDONALD STANDALONE THRILLERS Page 66