Читаем The 13th Tablet полностью

‘We have no idea how powerful Wheatley is,’ Jack said, ‘my guess is his area of influence is huge; politics, finance, police. We don’t know that he won’t try to get hold of you again. I couldn’t do anything about it while we were in Israel, but in London things are different. I met a contact last night, and he sorted out a few things for us including fake IDs and a car. I bought us two pay-as-you-go mobile phones and I found Moshe Shobai’s office address in St. John’s Wood. It’s a funny place to have an office, as it is mainly a residential area but there it is.’

Mina was trying to assimilate all the information, but was struggling, ‘Jack?’

‘Yes?’

‘I know you told me Oberon is a powerful guy. But with all your ‘connections,’ can’t we get some more help? Why can’t you contact the proper authorities and have Oberon arrested?’

‘Well…’

‘What?’

‘Back in Iraq, when you were in the hospital…’

‘Yes?’

‘I called it in.’

‘Can you be less cryptic?’

‘I talked to a friend, Stella, my former superior officer and discussed your situation.’

‘So? That’s good, isn’t it?’

‘Then in Israel, the day we left, I was contacted again but not by her.’

‘By whom?’ she asked.

‘Someone I didn’t know, from a different service. Intelligence. He asked me about you but I played dumb. I then tried contacting Stella but she was unreachable.’

‘I still don’t understand,’ Mina said, with growing anxiety.

‘You have to understand how these people in the intelligence business think. Their ears prick up at the smallest bit of information, especially in wartime Iraq. The little they know of your story is weird enough to interest them. They’re paranoid, ever-doubting and obsessed with secrecy. Maybe my conversation with Stella was intercepted, or maybe she spoke to someone she shouldn’t have. I don’t know. The important thing is that before you know it, Mina, you’d be locked away somewhere, for reasons of ‘National Security.’ The whole affair would be taken over by some agents and I’d never see you again.’

Mina was as pale as death. She was about to say something but Jack continued.

‘Let me finish. That’s one worry, but from the moment our business became known to more than one person, I realised it could be leaked to more people and eventually Wheatley could find out about our whereabouts too. I’m sorry, Mina.’

‘There’s nothing we can do about this, is there?’ Mina asked, depressed.

‘No.’

‘So, what now?’

‘We go all the way; we find the clay tablet, we may even discover the other three clay tablets, you unlock their potential and then…’

‘Then?’

‘Then we’ll be in a position of strength to bargain with them all,’ Jack said, trying to reassure her.

‘So, we’re on the run?’

‘Yes. But don’t worry about it. I’m on top of things.’

‘Yeah, sure.’ She felt like running out of the restaurant that very instant.

‘Mina, look at me,’ Jack said, firmly but kindly, ‘this is what I was trained for, all these years, doing all these special operations, enduring pain and anguish, for a time like this. I won’t let anyone harm you, or hinder us. Let them try.’

For a second she saw the hardness in his eyes and shivered slightly; she knew what Jack was capable of.

The waiter came back with their poached salmon, watercress, and sweet potato and carrot mash, and Jack tucked in immediately.

‘I’m famished,’ he said. ‘I haven’t eaten since last night.’

‘Go ahead,’ she said, pushing her plate towards him. ‘You’ve worked hard enough for two meals. Jack?’

‘Yes?’

‘Don’t do that again.’

‘Which part?’ asked Jack, sheepishly.

‘You know which part. I understand your reasons for taking my phone and all the rest, but just tell me about it before acting.’

‘I’m sorry. I won’t do that again next time.’

‘OK. So what should we focus on now?’ asked Mina.

‘Well, I think we should meet Dr Shobai as soon as possible.’

‘I want to meet him alone.’ she replied.

‘Mina, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Last time you met someone alone you almost ended up at the bottom of the sea.’

‘Wow, you’re paranoid Jack. You really need a reality check.’

‘I need a reality check?’ he said, raising his voice in frustration.

‘We’re talking about a really old man, a scholar, not a powerhungry billionaire or a military operative.’

‘All right, but I think you should surprise him at his office,’ said Jack.

‘I’d probably give him a heart attack barging in on him like that.’

‘His office is real, but there’s something weird about his foundation, The Key to Tradition.’

‘What do you mean?’ she asked impatiently.

‘I did a few background checks and it looks too clean.’

Mina was taken aback, but remained calm. ‘Jack, I know you’ve lived in a world of deceit and double agents and whatever else, but believe me, this is my world and whether the foundation has clean or unclean records, is irrelevant.’

‘Mina, let’s meet half way on this. You see him at his home and I’ll stay in the car. I’ll give you an earpiece, so that we can communicate.’

She thought about it for a minute, played with her food absent-mindedly and finally looked up at Jack, ‘Agreed.’