The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

Ghosn strained to keep his voice level and unexcited.
'Is it that important?' Almost a moan.
'Yes.'
'Tell me about it.'
Ghosn just shook his head, tapping his ear as he did so. 'It's something
interesting. That Israeli bomb has some new fusing systems. It nearly killed me.
We need to warn our colleagues about it.'
'Bomb? I thought – ' Qati stopped himself. His face cleared for a moment and the
Commander's expression formed a question. 'Tonight, you say?'
'I'll drive you over myself.'
Qati's strength of character prevailed. 'Very well. Let me get my clothes on.'
Ghosn waited downstairs. 'The Commander and I have to go see about something.'
'Mohammed!' the chief guard called, but Ghosn cut him off.
'I'll take the Commander myself. There is no security problem in my shop.'
'But – '
'But you worry like an old woman! If the Israelis were that clever, you'd
already be dead, and the Commander with you!' It was too dark to see the
expression on the guard's face, but Ghosn could feel the rage that radiated
towards him from the man, an experienced front-line fighter.
'We'll see what the Commander says!'
'What's the problem now?' Qati emerged from the door, tucking his shirt in.
'I'll drive you myself, Commander. We don't need a security force for this.'
'As you say, Ibrahim.' Qati walked to the jeep and got in. Ghosn drove off past
some astonished security guards.
'What exactly is this all about?'
'It's a bomb after all, not an electronics pod,' the engineer replied.
'So? We've retrieved scores of the cursed things! What is this all about?'
'It is easier to show you.' The engineer drove rapidly, watching the road. 'If
you think I have wasted your time – when we are done, feel free to end my life.'
Qati's head turned at that. The thought had already occurred to him, but he was
too good a leader for that. Ghosn might not be the material of a fighter, but he
was an expert at what he did. His service to the organization was as valuable as
any man's. The Commander endured the rest of the ride in silence, wishing the
medicines he was taking allowed him to eat – no, to retain what he ate.
Fifteen minutes later, Ghosn parked his jeep fifty meters from the shop, and led
his Commander to the building by an indirect route. By this time Qati was
thoroughly confused and more than a little angry. When the lights went on, he
saw the bombcase.
'So, what about it?'
'Come here.' Ghosn led him to the corner. The engineer bent down and lifted the
tool box. 'Behold!'
'What is it?' It looked like a small cannonball, a sphere of metal. Ghosn was
enjoying this. Qati was angry, but that would soon change.
'It's plutonium.'
The commander's head snapped around as though driven by a steel spring. 'What?
What do – '
Ghosn held up his hand. He spoke softly, but positively. 'What I am sure of,