other-side-of-deception-victor-ostrovsky

THE OTHER i l D F O F I)F( kl'llOi\ / 93The phone rang. Ephraim was on the line. "So I see you arrivedearly," he said, not bothering with any niceties."Yes. When did you get here?""I just came in from the airport. Did you have company?""No, I'm fine. How about you?""I'm fine too. Why don't we have breakfast? I'm starving.""Sure, give me ten minutes or so. I'll meet you in the diningroom."He hung up. I jumped out of bed. At last things were starting tomove. The sooner I did what had to be done, the sooner it would beover and I could get on with my life, whatever was left of it. I wasn'texpecting to be out of the game just yet, but I wanted a secure basefrom which to operate, with my family by my side.I made my way directly to Ephraim's table, which was across thedining room in a corner, just by the door leading to the hotel bar.He greeted me with a big smile. He was alone with a cup of coffee.As I sat down, the waiter arrived with our breakfast."I took the liberty of ordering for you. I didn't want to wait; we'vegot things to do."I stared at my plate with the bacon and eggs over easy and raisedmy hand. "No problem. I see you ordered exactly what I wanted anyway."I found the place a bit dark for breakfast, but the aroma offresh coffee and country bacon brought on an appetite I didn't think Ihad."So, what are we going to do?""After breakfast, we'll go to my room and talk."I nodded and dug into my food.We took a couple of large Styrofoam cups of coffee with us so thatwe wouldn't have to call room service. His room was on the sixthfloor. In the corner, I saw a small carrying bag. "Where is your luggage?"I asked, curious, since I knew Ephraim was a dresser, and therewas no way he could get more than one day's worth of clothing intothat little bag."There." He pointed at the bag. "I'm not going to stay long. I'mhere to instruct you, and then once you're on your way, I'm out ofhere.""I'll have no backup?""You have me, and the training you got. What more do youneed?""How do I have you if you're back in Israel?""I'll get to that. Once you understand what your first assignmentis you'll-""Whoa, whoa," I interrupted. "First assignment? Did you say firstassignment?""Yes, what did you think it was going to be: Bang, and it's over?""Don't give me the lecture, okay? I need to know a timetable." Iknew I could walk away anytime I wanted, but Ephraim was bettingthat I wouldn't, that with the drive I had to get this done I couldn't,and he was right. I was like a junkie promising himself this was thelast fix."What difference would that make? You have a job to do, it willall be over when the job is done, and that will be whenever it will be.You weren't promised a rose garden when you joined.""I know, and I'm not asking for one now. When I joined theOffice, they put Bella through a grueling security check, and they gaveher a clearance just as high as mine. We were always told that the wifewas part of the team and that there were no secrets from her." As Ispoke, Ephraim was nodding at me over his glasses. "Now you saythat I can't even tell her I'm still working for the Mossad." I paused."Am I still working for the Mossad?""No, you're not working for the Office, you're working for me.And about Bella: You're one hundred percent right. But the rules havechanged; this is a different ball game." He leaned back and pushed hisglasses into place. "Does Bella know about Dina or Rachel or all theothers? Does my wife know everything I do? No, they don't. Do theyknow the risks we take out in the field? Do you come home from a joband tell Bella, 'You know, I was almost killed last night in Austria,' or'There is a good chance they will get me on my next trip to Spain?'No, you don't. When you're called out on patrol in the military andyou're given an assignment from which you might not come back, doyou call your wife and tell her about it? We make decisions every daythat affect their lives, and we do not consult them. We say to ourselves,'If something happens to us, they will understand we had to doit.' That's the way it works. Now can we put this aside and get downto business?""I need a timetable," I insisted."Three weeks and you're on your way," he finally snapped, clearlynot pleased at having to tell me that."On my way where?""What difference does that make? You will be with your wife andchildren, I promise you that."I felt a wave of optimism taking over, rejuvenating me. You never