other-side-of-deception-victor-ostrovsky

THE OTHER SIDE OF DECEPTIOS / 121Ilit a cigarette and sat on the end of the bed. There were several minusilence, except for the dripping sound of a bad faucet."Okay. Now for your next assignment," said Ephraim."What is it?""You'll make a short journey across town and offer our Britishfriends your services.""The British? They're allies. What the hell do you need fromthem?""Nothing in particular. It's just that we know they're suspiciousthat we might have had something to do with the attempt to put abomb on an El A1 flight.""The one that was foiled at Heathrow?""That's the one.""But didn't El Al security prevent that at the last moment?""Exactly. There is a rumor running around that we did it toembarrass their security and show off our own, and at the same timeto pin the terrorist tail on the Syrians.""Did we?""Quite possibly. I have no idea, but the rumor has to stop.""So you want me to go in there and tell them we didn't do it?" Iwas smiling; I found the whole thing amusing."No. You will tell them more or less what you have told the Soviets,except you'll tell them you're no longer working for us here." Hehanded me a manila envelope. "These are some papers you can givethem to prove that you worked for the Mossad.""Why don't we let them just ask their man in the Mossad to checkme out?" I was now laughing."This is a simple job." He was serious. "I need you to do it assoon as you can. I will be here while you do it and leave after you'redone.""You know, this job doesn't quite jibe with what you've beentelling me about the reason we're doing all this.""And what's that?""I thought we were out to put the Mossad in the shit and force achange in the command. Suddenly, we're protecting their reputation?""We're killing two birds with one stone. On the one hand, we'recleaning up the reputation of Israel when it comes to this sort of unacceptableact, as well as putting the lid on Syrian diplomatic relations inEngland. Then, at the same time, we're giving you a good in with theBritish. If you don't come on as just a man on a vendetta now, you'llhave more credibility with them later. We'll use that credibility toembarrass the Office and blow the London station out of the water.""Will I have to wait long for the next job? I'm losing my patience,killing so much time here. I want to see the end of the tunnel, or atleast a facsimile of it."He smiled. I could see it wasn't easy for him-smiling, that is. Hewas involved in a world that was changing every moment, and he hadto adapt. It was a lifestyle that took a big chunk out of a man's personality."Your next job is in the works as we speak. After it's done, you'llget back together with Bella and the kids.""What's it going to be?" I was anxious."Not yet, Victor. First we have this British thing to do."I wanted to press the point harder and see if I could get more outof him, but he leaned back in his seat. His rounded face seemedslightly amused, as though he were watching a Roadrunner cartoonfor the tenth time, knowing the fate of the coyote but still goingthrough the motions. His stare made me feel like the coyote, makinga futile effort to catch the stupid bird and knowing full well I'd soonbe taking the short way to the bottom of the canyon. I decided to letit go.It seemed that he felt this was a time for a pep talk, since he nowsaid: "You asked me once why don't we just leak things to the mediaand bring the Mossad down that way."I nodded."We can't tear down the organization from the outside-it has toomuch credibility in Israel. No matter what we say, we can't evenscratch its Teflon surface. It has to be shown for what it is: an incompetent,lazy, oversized, greedy monster. And that can only be done one