The Samson Effect Chapter 27

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"I HATE TO break this up, but shouldn't we be going?"

Michael and Delia ignored Thomas's plea and held their embrace, unable to kiss because of Delia's split lip. Thomas left the cell and pulled the two dead men inside. Once finished, he gripped his side and slid to a sitting position against the wall.

"Thomas, what happened to you?"

"He broke a rib or two. Couldn't stand me getting all the sympathy."

Delia looked with concern from one man to the other. Thomas reached into his pocket, pulled out three more pain pills and swallowed them dry. "Can we finish catching up after we get out of here? Delia, you can get us out of here, can't you?"

"Maybe. My brother's men are crawling all over the place. Fortunately, many left with him a few minutes ago. We'll never have a better opportunity to try."

They grabbed the rifles dropped by the dead men. "Uh, Thomas, maybe Delia and I should take these."

Thomas grudgingly gave up his rifle to Delia but made no argument.

They followed her up the stairs. She cracked the door and waited until the hallway was clear before sprinting out. They heard footsteps coming toward them from around the corner and ducked into a supply closet. They remained silent until they saw the shadow under the door pass by.

When he felt it was safe to whisper, Michael asked, "Where are we going?"

"Before she died, mother had a room at the end of the hall. If we make it there, we have a chance."

"I memorized the map of this compound," Michael said. "There's no room at the end of the hall."

One look from Delia silenced Michael. "As I was saying, if we make it there, we should be fine. The tough part will be slipping through the window and sprinting across the open courtyard without being spotted. If we make it to the back gate, we just slip through it and lose ourselves in the bazaar a block away."

"This may be a stupid question," Thomas said, "but doesn't your brother have guards to protect the rear of the compound?"

"He has two, but the one on duty right now is lying in the cell we just left."

"Let's hope he hadn't planned on being gone long enough to find someone to watch his post for him."

They followed Delia's plan without incident and in five minutes found themselves lost in a sea of merchants and shoppers. They made their way to the spot where Michael had left his car. "Praise be to Allah, it's still here," Delia said.

Michael gave his keys to Delia and jumped into the backseat. He stretched out, forcing Thomas to the front seat. Delia started the car and eased it down the alley and onto the road.

She drove around the busy streets and caught them up on her brother's insane plan. When she finished, Thomas felt ill.

"Where's the plant and the seeds?" Michael demanded.

"I don't know. I haven't seen them since we left the lab. If I know my brother at all, I'm sure he'll have them close to him until he arranges to have them planted."

"You said something about him going to a hangar."

"Probably the abandoned hangar outside Hebron. He uses it every so often. It's big and private."

"Well, let's go," Thomas said. "We have to stop him."

"You don't understand. This hangar is in the middle of a flat area of desert. He'll be able to see us coming from a mile away. There's no way to sneak in. It's why he often meets there."

"We can't just let him carry this out. If he does have the seeds on him, we have to find a way to get them back before he grows them in some hidden-away location.

This may be our only chance."

"I know that! But you didn't see him. He has the gift. It'd be suicide to approach him, and you two look half-dead already." Thomas noticed the knuckles gripping the steering wheel were white. She slowed her breathing. "Do you understand if he sees us alive again, his patience will be gone? He'll kill us on the spot."

"I believe Michael and I are very clear about his intentions for us."

"I want to stop him as much as you do. I'm out of options. I'm open for suggestions."

She was right, Thomas thought. It would be suicide to confront Azim tonight, or perhaps ever. Besides, after his performance on Michael's roof, he felt the least qualified to create a plan. "I wish I did have a suggestion for you. What do you think, Michael?"

He glanced in the backseat. Michael had his ear to the cell phone. He identified himself and launched into an abbreviated account of what had just happened to them and of Azim's plan. He never said another word except "Thank you" before ending the call.

"Who was that?" Delia asked.

"That was our ticket to see your brother tonight."

* * * *

The Council convened in a conference room at a Tel Aviv bank located a few miles from the airport. All ten members were present. The ambassador finished his call with Michael and reviewed with the Foreign Ministry official the plan he and Michael had just created. When they completed their conversation, they joined the others around the table.

A hush fell over the room as everyone waited for the ambassador to speak. "Let me begin by apologizing for my nephew's foolish and reckless behavior. Fortunately, he's come out of hiding. He's been able to successfully grow the seed."

Excited murmurs filled the room.

"Unfortunately, he lost the plant and the five seeds it had produced to Azim Ebadi."

The excited murmur turned to anger and fear. The ambassador stood and slammed his fist onto the tabletop. The sharp crack silenced everyone. "Let me finish!"

He had everyone's undivided attention. "Azim and two of his top men have ingested the plant." The ambassador swallowed. "They're as strong as Samson." By the time he had told them of Azim's master plan, everyone at the table looked like broken men.

"We must get the seeds," the general said.

"We have a plan to accomplish just that. Jonathon has an agent in the foreign ministry who has infiltrated the Palestinian leadership in Lebanon. He's been invited to attend Azim's 'coming out' party tonight. I've arranged for him to pick up Michael—"

"Hasn't your nephew done enough?"

Everyone stared in silent anticipation, no one yet hinting as to whether they agreed with the general or not.

"No one feels as badly as I do about what he's done, but lest you forget, no one has seen the seeds in over three thousand years, and they'd still be lost if it weren't for Michael."

The general glared at the ambassador but finally submitted with a nod. The ambassador took a deep breath and continued. "As I was saying, I've arranged for Jonathon's man to pick up Michael and take him to the hangar. That should get him close enough to find a way inside."

"This is your brilliant plan? It's a suicide mission," the general scoffed.

"I didn't say it was brilliant, it's just the only plan we could put together under the circumstances."

"There's no way he can do that without help. Listen to me. I've planned and participated in hundreds of covert operations in my career."

"I'd welcome any suggestions from you, General."

"Yarconi and his men are good. Call him. Give him the objectives and let him draw up the plan."

The ambassador nodded. "Thank you, General. I'll call him when we adjourn." Speaking to the entire Council, he said, "I'll contact each of you when we hear something. I'll be here for the evening, so anyone who wishes to stay, may. I'll also call the rabbi and have him join me here immediately. I don't want him in Hebron tonight. Any questions?"

The general parted his lips but looked around the table and eased back into the chair.

"Something on your mind, General?"

The general stared at him for a moment and then shook his head.

"If there's nothing else, we're adjourned."

he Council members rose from their chairs and the buzz of conversation filled the room. The ambassador had picked up the phone to call Colonel Yarconi when the general stepped up to him. He lowered the phone. "I take it you did have something to say."

"It's about Michael. I felt it best we talk in private."

The ambassador squeezed his lips and nodded. "I appreciate that. What is it?"

"When you contact Yarconi, make sure your nephew is not involved. He'll only be a liability."

"There's no way Michael's going to stand by and not do anything, even if I order him to."

"Find a way to keep him away from the hangar, even if you have to have him arrested."

* * * *

"Tobin, Aaron, I want you to leave at once and meet Ambassador Ben Hur at this address in Tel Aviv." He handed Aaron a sheet of paper. "Tell him I said it's my sworn duty to protect our secret, and I'm going to do what I have to do to carry out that duty. Stress to him that the Lord will take care of everything. Things are not as hopeless as they appear."

The two men looked at Judas, their eyes begging him to let them stay behind and face whatever challenges he was facing. However, they obeyed without question.

When they left, Judas thought of the altar room. Part of him was glad the key was gone. It might have proven to be too much of a temptation to take another dose of the mixture. He would face Azim as a mortal man and kill him this very night. He dropped to his knees in prayer, asking for the Lord's favor and praying that his rabbi was accurate when he delivered the oral knowledge of The Secret to him. He stayed in prayer until twilight and then rose, retrieved the dagger from his bedroom, and strapped it to the inside of his thigh.

Before he left, he changed into his rabbinic robe and tunic. He felt the dagger against his leg with each step. He continued his walk through the streets of Hebron until he arrived at Azim's compound. Without fear, he stepped up to the guard at the front door. He ignored the rifle barrels only inches from his chest.

"Tell Azim Ebadi the Protector of the Lord's Strength wishes to speak with him now."




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