A Delicate Truth A Novel

don’t mind, and we’ll go on waiting till it does it, same as we’re waiting for Aladdin .’
    Is this an electronic silence or a human one?
    ‘It’s his weekly washing,’ Shorty suggested under his breath.
    ‘No, Elliot, we’re not doing that,’ said Jeb, his voice much sharper. ‘We emphatically are not going down to take a closer look inside that bag. We’re not going to interfere with that bag in any way, Elliot. That could be exactly what they’re waiting for us to do: they want to flush us out in case we’re on the premises. Well, we’re not on the premises, are we? Not for a teaser like that we’re not. Which is another good reason for leaving it put.’
    Another fade-out, a longer one.
    ‘We have an arrangement , Elliot,’ Jeb continued with superhuman patience. ‘Maybe you’ve forgotten that. Once the land team has fixed the target, and not before, we’ll come down the hill. And your sea team, you’ll come in from the sea, and together we’ll finish the job. That was the arrangement. You own the sea, we own the land. Well, the bag’s on the land, isn’t it? And we haven’t fixed the target, and I’m not about to see our respective teams going into a dark building from opposite sides,and nobody knowing who’s waiting there for us, or isn’t. Do I have to repeat that, Elliot?’
    ‘Paul?’
    ‘Yes, Nine.’
    ‘What’s your personal take on that bag? Advise me immediately. Do you buy Jeb’s arguments or not?’
    ‘Unless you have a better one, Nine, yes I do’ – firm but respectful, taking his tone from Jeb’s.
    ‘Could be a warning to Punter to do a runner. How about that, then? Has anyone thought of that your end?’
    ‘I’m sure they’ve thought about that very deeply, as I have. However, the bag could equally well be a signal to Aladdin to say it’s safe, so come on in. Or it could be a signal to stay away. It seems to me pure speculation at best. Too many possibilities altogether, in my view,’ he ended boldly, even adding: ‘In the circumstances, Jeb’s position strikes me as eminently reasonable, I have to say.’
    ‘Don’t lecture me. All wait till I return.’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘And no fucking of course !’
    The line goes stone dead. No shuffle of breath, no background atmospherics. Just a long silence over the cellphone pressed harder and harder to his ear.
     
    *
     
    ‘Jesus fuck !’ – Don, at full force.
    Again they are all five huddled at the arrow-slit as a high-sided car with full headlights shoots out of the tunnel and speeds towards the terraces. It’s Aladdin , in his people carrier, late for his appointment. It’s not. It’s the blue Toyota four-by-four without its CONFERENCE sign. Veering off the coast road, bumping on to the metalled service track and heading straight for the black bag.
    As it approaches, the side door slides back to reveal thebespectacled Hansi bowed at the wheel and a second figure, undefined but could be Kirsty, stooped in the open doorway, one hand clutching the grab handle for dear life and the other outstretched for the bag. The Toyota’s door bangs shut again. Regaining speed, the four-by-four continues north and out of sight. The plum-pudding bag has gone.
    First to speak is Jeb, calmer than ever.
    ‘Was that your people I saw just now, Elliot? Picking up the bag at all? Elliot, I need to speak to you, please. Elliot, I think you’re hearing me. I need an explanation, please. Elliot?’
    ‘Nine?’
    ‘Yes, Paul.’
    ‘It seems that Elliot’s people just picked up the bag’ – doing his best to sound as rational as Jeb – ‘Nine? Are you there?’
    Belatedly, Nine comes back, and he’s strident:
    ‘We took the executive decision, for fuck’s sake. Someone had to take it, right? Kindly inform Jeb. Now. The decision is set. Taken.’
    He is gone again. But Elliot is back at full strength, talking to an off-stage female voice with an Australian accent and triumphantly relating its message to the wider audience:
    ‘The bag contains provisions ? Thank you, Kirsty. The bag contains smoked fish – hear that, Jeb? Bread . Arab bread. Thank you, Kirsty. What else do we have in that bag? We have water . Sparkling water . Punter likes sparkling . We have chocolate . Milk chocolate . Hold it there, thank you, Kirsty. Did you happen to catch that, Jeb? The bastard’s been in there all the time, and his mates have been feeding him. We’re going in, Jeb. I have my orders here in front of me,