The Genesis Plague (2010)

heart.”’
    Karsaz chuckled. ‘Ah, cousin! Remember: I also told you, “Do not shoot the arrow which will return against you.”’ He reached across the table and clasped the side of Hazo’s neck with his meaty right hand. ‘Perhaps your cause is a noble one,’ he appeased. ‘Though being a Christian in Iraq, I wonder if I understand anything that goes on here.’
    They had a good laugh and Karsaz pulled back his hand.
    The waitress returned and set down a saucer and mug for each of them. Hazo immediately sipped the Turkish coffee, or qahwa , savouring the spicy cardamom.
    ‘I suppose no one can ever proclaim to understand our people,’ Karsaz warned. He fingered his mug and sipped some coffee. ‘So many conflicts. So many old scores yet to be settled. War is in our blood, is it not?’
    Hazo nodded.
    ‘We’ll never cooperate,’ Karsaz lamented. ‘Maybe it’s not so bad that you don’t have a family of your own. Less grief and worry.’
    The comment stung Hazo, but he managed a tight smile before moving on to business: ‘I don’t mean to rush, but I have little time,’ he eased in. ‘The reason I am here … I was hoping you might help me.’
    Tilting his head, Karsaz replied, ‘I do have a family, so I trust you won’t put me in harm’s way. You know what they do to informants?’ he said in a low voice.
    ‘I understand.’ From his pocket, Hazo pulled out the photos. ‘Please, if you could take a look at these pictures.’ He began with the headshot of the female scientist. ‘This woman was here a few years back. Perhaps with others. Do you recognize her?’ If he was really lucky, the woman - like most tourists - would have walked through Karsaz’s doors.
    ‘Many, many people walk through these doors …’ Karsaz replied with obvious scepticism. Retrieving a pair of bifocals from his suit jacket pocket, he put them on and gave the photo a cursory glance. A surprised look came over him. ‘Ah … yes.’ He held up an index finger and tapped it at the air. ‘Yes, I remember this one. Years ago. She wore shorts and a teeshirt. Ooh, what a sight, I’ll tell you,’ he confided. ‘The legs, the …’ Midway through the vision, he cupped a hand over his chest and gave the memory a cold shower. ‘Anyway, as you might imagine, the women were not pleased. The men weren’t kind, either. Dangerous for such a very pretty woman who has no shame. I actually mentioned these things to her, you know, to help her. It’s the way I am …’ he said, tapping his hands to his chest.
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘She did eat here a few times. Very friendly, polite. Always left generous tips. Those Americans and their tips. When will they learn?’ He shook his head.
    ‘Do you remember when she was here?’
    ‘Not long after the Texas cowboy blew up Baghdad.’
    ‘Was she alone?’
    ‘No, there were others too, I’m sure of it.’ He took a long moment to juice the memory. ‘The others were all men. Five, maybe six. Some military men, yes … and two wearing Levi jeans. I’d like a pair of those,’ he confessed. ‘I’d look like John Wayne … or maybe James Dean, no?’
    Hazo smiled. ‘Do you remember why they were here?’
    Karsaz shrugged. ‘Lots of soldiers back then. Reporters too. Nothing unusual.’
    ‘Do you remember any talk of them going up into the mountains, excavating perhaps?’
    This confused Karsaz. ‘I’m sure the only digging they did was for Saddam and Osama.’
    ‘I mean digging for artifacts.’
    A look of confusion preceded another shrug.
    Hazo moved on to pictures from inside the cave. ‘And these … Any idea what these images might mean?’
    ‘What is this?’ Karsaz said to himself, as he studied the haunting images. ‘Looks like something one might find over the mountains in Persepolis. Or maybe in the temple ruins of Babylon … or Ur, perhaps. You remember? Back in school we saw things like this on our trips, yes? Saddam was rebuilding the old empire in hopes of inciting the Jews and Christians to scream Armageddon. Thought he was the new Hitler. Brought a new Holocaust to our people. That evil man.’
    Hazo tried to keep him on track. ‘These etchings are different from anything I’ve ever seen in Babylon. See this woman?’ He tapped the picture. ‘This goddess figure is highly unusual.’
    ‘Maybe it is Ishtar?’ Karsaz guessed.
    The Assyrian goddess of sex and war? Hazo considered, contemplating the picture again. ‘It’s possible.’
    ‘What is