‘You’re upset, Jason, but be very careful. Some of the things Musaphia told us were true. This is not a game. It’s for real.’
‘You got me into this, Penny,’ I accused firmly, ‘you get me out! I don’t care for your 21st Century Crusaders… just get me out!’
I expected her to sulk at my rudeness but instead she took my hand and led me to the shore. We walked along the beach enjoying the cool breeze and then doubled back to return to Arlosoroff Road, As we reached one of the larger streets, we stood at the edge of the pavement ready to cross the road. It was then that I noticed a large black car moving in our direction from the middle distance, approaching at a steady rate, smoothly, easily, intently… like a great predatory cat cruising towards its prey. The car seemed to surge forward suddenly and within seconds it near-side wheels shot across the pavement to the point where we were standing. We leapt back in alarm as it missed us but the margin was very slim. Gathering our wits, we started to race across the road. However, the car turned around within a very short distance and made its way back relentlessly. I tried to determine the face of the driver but my effort was frustrated because the window of the vehicle was fitted with darkened glass. The decision to cross the road left us extremely exposed. I felt like an inadequate matador in a giant bull-ring. I place my arm firmly around Penny’s waist as the car moved again in our direction. Now that we were two-thirds the way across the road, the driver would assume that we would sprint for the pavement on the other side. It was the most logical thing to presume. But as the car approached at speed, I feinted as though intending to run to the pavement and then turned sharply the other way, taking Penny with me. The ploy worked admirably because the car raced past us without causing any harm. From then on, we reached safe ground and watched the vehicle cruise off into the distance.
‘Who would want to kill us here?’ I asked. ‘I mean no one knows who we are!’
‘Maybe it has something to do with Musaphia.’
‘Why should he want to kill us?’
‘I didn’t mean that. A man with a lot of contacts also has a lot of enemies. Someone may have been watching and they saw us with him. That’s the only thing I can think of.’
‘I think we ought to buy guns to protect ourselves,’ I suggested. ‘It’s time we fought back against these assassins!’
We continued on our way until arriving back at the house. As I fumbled for the key I noticed that the front door was slightly ajar. I pushed it open slowly but the shutters were closed causing the room to be shrouded in darkness. As we entered, I closed the door and switched on the light. To my astonishment I found myself staring into the face of an enormous Arab dressed in a wealth of dark rags which smelled abominably.
‘What in the name of… !’ I began, staring at the giant turning to find another man laying full-length on the bed-settee with his hands behind his head in a relaxed pose. ‘Primar!’ I exclaimed. ‘So you finally turned up.’
‘I’m always turning up, Jason,’ he laughed easily. ‘Often in the right places at the wrong time. But I’m very disappointed in you. You let m down once. I won’t let it happen again.’
‘Let you down!’ I exclaimed furiously. ‘What are you talking about? You were the one who let us down!’
‘No… no… no!’ he countered sharply. ‘Let’s get the story straight, Jason. I waited for you at Stansted Airport. You didn’t turn up!’
‘Come on, Primar!’ I snarled. ‘We were there early in the morning. Chedda picked us up.’
‘Chedda! Who the hell is Chedda?’
‘‘The pilot you sent to meet us!’
‘You’ve got it all wrong. I sent no pilot.’
‘Yes you did. He rushed us into a Kfir Junior aircraft and we took off right away.’
He shook his head sadly. ‘Are you mad? A Kfir Junior! Why would I use an Israeli aircraft?’
‘To take us to Israel as you planned.’
He sat up sharply. ‘Look… the last thing I want to do is to wave the Israeli flag all over the place to alert everyone. We need to keep a low profile… use discretion. Our plane is an ordinary Cessna.’
I calmed down a little at his explanation. ‘Chedda led us to believe he was working for you. He said you’d given him direct orders.’
‘Well he was lying. I may have been a little late but I was there waiting for you. As far as I was concerned, you never turned up.’
Penny moved forward to add to the conversation. ‘I think what Primar’s not telling you is that he planted the bomb on the Kfir Junior. I don’t know who he intended to kill but he thought it would be someone important. We took their place on the wrong plane and nearly paid the price.’
‘I don’t believe a word of it!’ I rattled curtly. ‘Chedda had our photographs in his hand. How do you explain that one?’
‘It makes no odds who’s right or wrong,’ returned Primar.
‘Doesn’t it?’ I told him fiercely. ‘I ought to take you apart!’
He laughed loudly. ‘What… for being on the wrong plane?’
I dropped the subject and started on a new tack. ‘What the hell are you doing here, Primar? This is private property. You’ve broken in and you’re trespassing!’
‘My dear old chap,’ he went on amiably. ‘I’ve come to welcome you. I couldn’t bear the thought of an old acquaintance arriving in Tel Aviv without a proper welcome.’
‘All right, Primar,’ I growled. ‘The time for playing games is over. I don’t know who you tried to kill on Chedda’s aircraft. The fact is you nearly killed us! You murdered Chedda. And where’s my wife? I’ve just been told that she was kidnapped!’
‘Easy… easy!’ he responded pushing the bed back so that it became a settee again. ‘You’re fraught with allegations. Who said I tried to kill you? How would I know if your wife was kidnapped? You read the letter she left you. If she was abducted, where’s the ransom note… the telephone calls demanding money… the threats to her life? You mustn’t listen to the prattle of old men in their dotage. Men pretending to be Gods, men who have nothing more to do in life than to play games with people from high-class hotels.’
I started to lose my temper and advanced towards him menacingly. The giant Arab moved at tremendous speed to cut off my approach, holding me tightly around the neck and forcing my right arm behind my back.
‘Oh, forgive me,’ continued Primar insincerely. ‘I forgot to introduce you to my very good friend Kemal. He’s taken an interest in my welfare and has volunteered to act as my protector.
You can’t be too careful in foreign parts, can you? Some people entertain evil thoughts and wicked intentions.’ He made a sign with his hands and Kemal released me.
‘How did you know where we were staying?’ enquired Penny, seeming unperturbed at my predicament.
Primar ignored the question as though she wasn’t there, still looking in my direction. ‘I want you to join me in a little venture, Jason. I’m setting up in the Middle East. There’s a place many miles distant from here… a group of mountains to be exact. My fortress. I intend to make it my headquarters for a while anyway. Modern methods of surveillance are such that one must always keep on the move.’
I turned to Penny and stared into her eyes. ‘Did you know about this… venture? She shook her head slowly. I looked at Primar again. ‘Why me? I’m not interested in politics or causes.’
‘How would fifty million pounds in sterling suit you?’ he replied. ‘You can have the equivalent amount in US dollars if you want. The figures don’t really matter.’
‘I’m not worth it,’ I riposted. ‘I could never be worth that kind of money to you or to anyone else.’
He laughed again. ‘Such innocence. Such modesty. I like it1 I’m willing to offer you a deal that will set you up for life.’