The Pure

a long time. We’ve seen you stand up for your principles, particularly over the killing of Ram Shalev. The Mossad tried to break you, but you couldn’t be broken. You’re a good man, Uzi. A brave man. Like I said, we share the same principles. And,’ she shifted closer towards him on the bed, ‘we know about you and Avner. We know about Operation Desert Rain. We know about Operation Regime Change. And we are full of admiration.’
    Uzi stubbed his cigarette out, not knowing what to think, far less what to say, unable to look her in the eye.
    ‘I’ve wanted to say this for a long time,’ she went on. ‘You and Avner are heroes. Operation Regime Change is a courageous plan. You two are the only people in the entire Mossad actually concerned with peace. You’re even willing to sacrifice yourself for it. The entire MOIS is looking on in awe . . .’
    Uzi looked up. Their eyes met, and he knew – at least, he thought he did – that she was telling the truth. ‘Yeah,’ he said awkwardly, ‘thanks.’
    They finished their drinks and Uzi poured them each another. Neither spoke until they were settled again; this was the space where only small talk would fit, and this was no time for small talk.
    ‘I have the money,’ said Uzi at last. ‘Twenty million dollars. In my account right now. Tonight my testimony and documents go live on WikiLeaks. Then the shit will start.’
    ‘I know,’ said Leila, ‘but I have some intel for you.’
    ‘Intel?’
    ‘About Operation Regime Change.’
    ‘OK . . .’
    ‘It will never work.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Sure, it will damage the Mossad, it will compromise the government, it will probably lose them the election, but it will never stop Operation Desert Rain. It will never stop them bombing our yellowcake.’
    ‘Why not? When the world finds out that it’s a false target . . .’
    ‘It’s not a false target, Uzi.’
    A pause.
    ‘What?’
    ‘The Israelis are not planning the attack as a trumped-up PR exercise. No. Avner and his friends got it wrong. The Islamic Republic’s yellowcake is real. It exists.’
    ‘Real?’
    ‘That’s right. Our nuclear programme has been making good progress. We’ve reached the yellowcake stage. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.’
    Leila passed him her mobile phone, on which was a photograph of a line of white barrels, filled with a startlingly bright yellow powder. Yellowcake; it was unmistakably yellowcake. The barrels were in a warehouse with a distinctive pattern of interlocking girders across the roof. Uzi recognised it instantly from previous operations: the secret Iranian enrichment plant at Natanz.
    ‘That must be a doctored image,’ said Uzi, handing the phone back.
    ‘It isn’t. The Mossad’s intel was wrong. Our yellowcake is real.’
    ‘So Ram Shalev was wrong? There’s a genuine threat? Operation Desert Rain is not just a ploy to win the election?’
    ‘That’s right. Shalev was convinced the yellowcake was a paper tiger, and he was about to leak the details of Desert Rain. So he had to be killed. The yellowcake represents an existential threat to Israel. Destroying it is more important to your government than the life of one man.’
    ‘Fuck. This means I’m fucked too. When my testimony goes live, I’ll be fucked. Even more than I thought.’
    ‘You won’t be. You’ll be with me. Together we’ll be safe.’
    ‘If you knew all along, why didn’t you tell me?’
    ‘I couldn’t be sure you wouldn’t turn on me if I revealed my identity. Anyway, Operation Regime Change wasn’t a waste of time. It will still topple the government. With a different government in power, there will be a greater chance of peace. But it won’t stop them bombing the yellowcake. Nothing will. That’s why I need your help.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Only someone from inside the Mossad – someone like you – can protect our yellowcake from the Israeli air strikes. That’s been the reason for my whole operation. That’s why the MOIS has sent me to make contact with you. You’re a man of principle. We need your help.’
    ‘I see,’ said Uzi slowly. ‘Now it’s starting to make sense.’
    ‘Help us, and you’ll be guaranteed protection for life. I’m not going to explain the details now – this is not the place – but think about it,’ said Leila. ‘The Mossad will hunt you; we can protect you.’ She paused before continuing. ‘And don’t forget your Doctrine of the Status Quo. You said yourself that a