Part 22 (1/2)

”Jack s.h.i.+t...Jack s.h.i.+t. Yes, I like this saying.”

”And talking of s.h.i.+t, don't. Sorry. No food, just water, you can't afford to need a dump.” I explained the logistics. ”Make sure you take some empty bottles to p.i.s.s into. s.h.i.+tting is going to make too much noise, too much movement, and you won't be able to keep the trigger. And you can't just s.h.i.+t in your jeans, because you need to get out and join in the take.”

Hubba-Hubba couldn't resist. ”Have you ever had to s.h.i.+t during one of these triggers?”

”Twice. Once on purpose, because there was nothing I could do about it. I was just about to trigger someone and I couldn't hold it in any longer. It didn't matter, because I wasn't in the take, just the trigger, so I was going to be driven away.”

Another length of duct tape was ripped off the roll. ”And the other?”

”Let's just say it was lucky I had a long coat on.”

The blanket was now hanging from the roof and we were starting to tape down the sides. Even with half of it hanging down and the rest gathered on the floor, I could make out the picture I was faced with in the dull light. ”Where the f.u.c.k did you get this?” I pulled out the blanket from the bottom to expose the remainder of the furry dogs playing pool.

”They were all I could get in time...” He giggled as he realized how stupid it looked, and I couldn't help but join in.

I forced myself to get serious. ”Where's your spray paint?”

”In the pa.s.senger door compartment.”

”Okay. You need to seal off just a little more down your side.”

I climbed out of the van and walked around to the right-hand door, to the sound of ripping duct tape as he got to work. By the time I had gotten around to the back again, Hubba-Hubba was sitting on the side door sill.

”What we need to do now, mate, is sc.r.a.pe a small hole at the bottom of the right-hand window, in the left-hand corner. That way the aperture is roughly in the center of the rear, and you'll get a better perspective.”

I shook the paint can and the ball bearing mixer inside rattled about. ”Keep it in the back in case you need to make it smaller once you're in position.”

Less than five minutes later, and with the use of Hubba-Hubba's thumb nail, it was done: a nice little sc.r.a.pe, an inch long, ran along the bottom of the right-hand window.

”Once you've triggered the Romeos, just crawl under the blanket, check first it's clear, and climb out. You've got the Renault to think about, and we might as well keep the blanket in position seeing as it's so interesting.”

Hubba-Hubba stayed in the back as I got out and slid the side door shut, and the interior light died. I moved to the driver's seat and could hear him moving about inside.

I opened the glove compartment for some light. ”Okay, mate, have a go at getting out.”

He started to worm his way under the blanket, trying to keep low. When he was halfway, he stopped and fished down the front of his s.h.i.+rt, pulling out his charm. ”It keeps doing this.” He lay where he was, checking the clasp.

”H, can I ask you a question?”

He looked up, surprised, and nodded.

”I think I understand Lotfi, but,” I indicated his little beaded palm, ”where does this fit in? Are you religious-you know, a paid-up Muslim?”

He concentrated once more on his repairs. ”Of course, there is only one G.o.d. To be a true Muslim doesn't mean we all have to be like Lotfi. Salvation is attained not by faith but by works.” He took the charm to his teeth, biting down on the metal before fiddling with it some more.

”You see, when I die I will be able to say the Shahada with the same conviction as he will. Do you know what I am talking about?” He raised his head again. ”You heard the old guard say it in Algeria. 'La ilaha ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur rasul-ullah.' 'La ilaha ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur rasul-ullah.' For you, that means: 'There is no G.o.d but Allah, and Muhammad is the apostle of Allah.' That is the Shahada, the first and greatest teaching of Islam. I just said that to you with true sincerity, and that is what makes me just as good a Muslim as him.” He fastened the chain, and gave it an experimental tug. For you, that means: 'There is no G.o.d but Allah, and Muhammad is the apostle of Allah.' That is the Shahada, the first and greatest teaching of Islam. I just said that to you with true sincerity, and that is what makes me just as good a Muslim as him.” He fastened the chain, and gave it an experimental tug.

”When my book of destiny is weighed, it will show G.o.d that I was also a good man, and my reward will be the same as his, crossing the bridge to Paradise. Our Paradise is not like yours-a cloud to sit on, a harp to play-it is a perfumed garden of material and sensual delights, surrounded by rivers and fountains playing. Sounds good, yes?” He put the charm back around his neck. ”Lotfi would be able to tell you what Suras that is in. But before I get there, I have to live this life.” The charm was now securely back on and he lifted it up for me to see. ”And this gives me all the help I need.”

He replaced the chain around his neck before finis.h.i.+ng his crawl up into the pa.s.senger seat.

”What does Lotfi think of all that?” I was puzzled. ”How come you two are so different? I mean, you with the charm and him with the Qur'an?”

He smiled as he fought with the seat, jerking himself forward, trying to get the thing to move as he pressed down on the seat adjuster, so there was more room to crawl into the cab. As the seat finally gave in, I could see where he had hidden the cash from Gumaa. ”We were both at a Muslim school together-you know, sitting there cross-legged on the floor, learning to recite the Qur'an from memory. I would have been like him, if it wasn't for the fact that the words just fell out of my head as quickly as they tried to put them in. So I was thrown out of school and our mother taught me with my sister. Our father had died of TB, years before.” He looked directly into my eyes. ”You see, going to a religious school is not just about faith. For a family cursed by poverty, it is a way out-boys are fed and cared for. Our mother saw it as the only way for us to survive.”

”But how did you learn English? I mean, most people in your shoes are still-”

He laughed gently to himself. ”You know, the first pair of shoes I ever had were from Lotfi. They were given to him at school.” His smile turned to an expression of infinite sadness. ”Our mother died a few months after Khalisah was beaten. She never was the same after that-none of us were.”

He put his hand on my shoulder. ”But we stayed together, Nick. That is because the inheritance our mother left us was love for each other. We are a family first, no matter what disagreements we may have, no matter what pain we may suffer. Because we have love.”

I thought a bit about my inheritance, but decided to shut the f.u.c.k up.

He tapped his chest. ”He hates this. He says I will not go to Paradise, but to Gahenna, h.e.l.l, instead. But he is wrong, I think.” His eyes sparkled. ”I hope...”

He paused for a moment, but I kept silent. These boys were making a habit of saying stuff that came a bit too close for comfort.

”Lotfi is not right about everything, but neither am I. And it was Lotfi who gave up what he had to take us both to Cairo, to our aunt, and to school. That's why I speak English. We are a family, Nick. We learned long ago to meet in the middle, because otherwise the family is lost. And we had a promise to keep, that we made as children.”

He dug into his jeans pocket before pointing a clenched fist at me.

”What is it?”

”Ketamine, you needed some more, no?”

44.

T he square was near the bus station in the new part of Antibes. I sat in my car in a roadside parking s.p.a.ce with my hat and sungla.s.ses on and listened to the two of them as they put the Scudo in place, Hubba-Hubba giving Lotfi instructions as he maneuvered the wheel. ”Back, back, back, stop, stop.” I'd asked them to communicate in English so I knew what was happening. Finally everything was to Hubba-Hubba's satisfaction. ”H has the trigger. I can't see the target, but I will be able to give a stand-by as soon as they move along the quay, and can give direction at the archway. The Renault is still on the wall. It's dark blue. N, acknowledge.” he square was near the bus station in the new part of Antibes. I sat in my car in a roadside parking s.p.a.ce with my hat and sungla.s.ses on and listened to the two of them as they put the Scudo in place, Hubba-Hubba giving Lotfi instructions as he maneuvered the wheel. ”Back, back, back, stop, stop.” I'd asked them to communicate in English so I knew what was happening. Finally everything was to Hubba-Hubba's satisfaction. ”H has the trigger. I can't see the target, but I will be able to give a stand-by as soon as they move along the quay, and can give direction at the archway. The Renault is still on the wall. It's dark blue. N, acknowledge.”

I put my left hand down to my jeans belt and hit the pressle. ”Roger that, that's N foxtrot. L, be careful.”

”Roger that. That's L, foxtrot to check the obvious.” He was on his way to confirm the Ninth of May Ninth of May was still there. Just because the police were, it didn't automatically mean the boat was. The only way for him to do that was to go up on the wall where the van was, or hug the port side of the wall so he was in dead ground to the van along the quay. But that would take him in direct line of sight to the boat. He opted for the wall and bra.s.sing it out. He wouldn't be there for more than a minute, and it had to be done. was still there. Just because the police were, it didn't automatically mean the boat was. The only way for him to do that was to go up on the wall where the van was, or hug the port side of the wall so he was in dead ground to the van along the quay. But that would take him in direct line of sight to the boat. He opted for the wall and bra.s.sing it out. He wouldn't be there for more than a minute, and it had to be done.

I got out of the Megane and bought myself a twenty-four-hour parking ticket. The last thing I wanted was to come back here and find the car had been towed away. I had also learned a lesson yesterday when I should have prebought tickets in both directions in case the timings were tight for the Romeos when they caught the train, and there wasn't enough time to get a ticket without them seeing me. I wasn't making the same mistake today: both Lotfi and I had paid a visit to the station earlier this morning.

I left the parking ticket on the dashboard and glanced down at traser: seven-forty-seven. Dodging the dog s.h.i.+t, I headed across the square in search of a cafe. I was ready for some coffee and croissants. It was going to be a sunny day; the birds were singing in the morning's first light, traffic was moving, people were going to work, most with sungla.s.ses on, and a lot with small dogs in tow.

Several of the cafes were open, their canvas or plastic awnings out to shade the handful of customers who were already getting involved in the coffee and newspapers.

I walked over the square toward a large corner cafe that was all gla.s.s front, with huge patio doors and wicker chairs outside, and ordered a large creme creme along with a couple of croissants, paying for it there and then in case I got a stand-by. It was time just to sit and relax in the shade until Hubba-Hubba gave us the hurry-up. along with a couple of croissants, paying for it there and then in case I got a stand-by. It was time just to sit and relax in the shade until Hubba-Hubba gave us the hurry-up.

Lotfi came on the net just as the croissants were put on the table. He was walking: I could hear French conversation and the beep of a motor scooter in the background. ”This is L. The obvious is still static, blinds down, gangway up. H, N, acknowledge.”

I put my hand down on the Sony and waited to hear the double-click from H before I gave mine.