other-side-of-deception-victor-ostrovsky

IHF 0THt.K SIDE 0 6 DECtPlIOS / 105that was the risk one had to take in this business. I grimaced to myselfas I wondered whether I was still in the business or on the outsidebeing used.I stirred some drops of cream into the coffee and raised the cup ina gesture toward the mirror. I had no doubt that 1 made someonebehind it either smile or feel uncomfortable.When my friend came back, he had a series of questions."Is the coffee okay?" he asked, playing the gracious host."Surprisingly so.""Why surprising?""I would expect the tea to be good, but the coffee I find a verynice surprise.""Very well then." He sat down. "This shouldn't take too long."I lit a cigarette and offered him one."Thank you." He took the cigarette. "Americans never offer acigarette.""That's because they all have plenty if they want them."He nodded, smiling. "Well, what my friends would like to knowis, are you still in the employment of the ,Mossad or are you now onyour own?""I'm on my own in the employment of the Mossad. What do youmean, 'friends'? Is this in front of some bloody committee or something?"I was playing a part I knew well from contact with Mossadagents. No one wants his name or the fact that he is involved in a situationlike this made public, and a group of several people is regardedas public."No, no. It's as you say, a figure of speech. Just my boss and me."He looked at the mirror and said to me, "He says cheers to you too.""Okay, so I'm on probation. The bloody assholes think they areGod. I made one small mistake and they shafted me. Let me tell you,I'm going to show these bastards where the fish pisses from.""How long is your probation?""Six months. That way, I lose my rotation turn this year, so I'll haveto sit in headquarters for another three years before I'm rotated abroad.""So what are you doing in America?""Visiting my father and trying to get recruited by a foreign agency."This seemed to amuse him. "What do you expect to make doingthis?""What are you people willing to pay?""That will depend on what you bring in. If, of course, we decideto make a deal.""I'll be very frank with you. Your reputation is not very good as asource of income, hut it is said that you do take care of your own. Imean, I wouldn't want to work for somebody who would have nothingto trade if things went wrong.""That is a very valid point." He nodded at me and at the mirror. Itseemed that I was giving all the right answers. The conversation wenton for almost a whole hour, during which time I learned the real reasonthat the Americans would not offer the man cigarettes. He almostfinished mine without once offering me any of his, which were in hisshirt pocket and in plain view. He was one of the types we in the armyused to call the Yours Filter smokers."Okay, my friend," he said, "one last thing. We know that yourcompany puts everyone in its staff through a lie detector test every sixmonths or so."I nodded in approval. The man knew his stuff. Ephraim hadn'tbeen sure if this would come up. "Don't worry about that. I thoughtabout it before I set foot in this building.""Okay then, what's your solution?""What they ask is fairly routine. You have to be sure not to lie, sowhen they ask me if I have made contact with an enemy agent, I willsay yes.""And?" He frowned."After the questioning, they will want me to explain. I will tellthem about the brochures. It's a thing in the Mossad to bringbrochures. You bring as many and from as many places as you can.They end up in the library and help officers to build up their cover stories.I had placed your country's name on my list of promisedbrochures several weeks ago."The man was clearly amused by the solution. I, on the other hand,was very happy he bought it because I had no idea if the trick wouldhave worked. I knew, though, that they wouldn't much care if itdidn't; as long as I was satisfied and willing to take the risk, it was noskin off their backs."We will think this over and contact you at your hotel room. Howlong will you stay there?""Not long, I hope. Once I get your answer, I'm out of there. If youdon't call me in three days, I'll know there is no deal.""Here." He scribbled a number on a small piece of paper andharided it to me. "Before you leave, call me. We don't want to lose youjust because of a technical problem in communication.""Thanks." I took the paper and followed him down the steepstaircase. Before letting me out of the building, he handed me a pile ofbrochures. "Don't forget what you came for."