Chapter Sixteen First Visit To Russia

Once they are on Pakistani soil, they follow their instructions, proceeding on foot alongside the road. Nearly one hundred meters from the border crossing, a vehicle flashes its lights, the signal they have been told to expect. Regardless, as they hurry in the direction of the lights, they are both anxious that they might yet be arrested by Pakistani border guards, police or security forces.

The vehicle, it turns out, is a beat-up twenty-year-old Nissan SUV. They already miss the luxury of the limousine; this next part of their journey will not be as comfortable as the first.

As soon as they enter the vehicle, the driver turns to them and starts speaking to them in Farsi. They sit and act dumbfounded, then both start speaking rapidly, talking over each other, in Urdu, as if that’s their native tongue.

“Good,” the driver replies, again in Farsi. “You never know who I might really be. Anyway, you are safe so far. On the floor around your feet, you will each find a carry-on bag to take with you on the plane. Those bags have your passports, your flight tickets, hotel reservations and other important papers and information – who you work for, your reason for entering Russia, those kinds of things. Check the passport photos and make sure you each get the right bag. In the trunk, we have luggage for each of you to check in. You want to appear to be on a prolonged business trip. Any questions?

Are you kidding, thinks Hussein. My only question is, is this mission important enough to qualify me as a hero of the Islamic revolution?

“We are headed for the airport at Karachi. As soon as it gets a little lighter, we’ll find a place to stop and have breakfast.” The driver has evidently made this trip before; he assures them he knows where they will get a good breakfast.

Publishing Part Five

You have your novel in your hand and you’re going to sit back and start collecting royalties. Maybe you’ll make some, but not a lot without your doing some hard work. Some writers think that all they have to do is create and the big three, Amazon, Barnes &Noble, plus Borders will make them a lot of money. We should be so lucky. With a regular publisher they will give you a short period of time to be a big splash in the market if you don’t hit their goals they won’t spend a great deal of money keeping your work on the front burner. With self publishing you can purchase some marketing packages however don’t rely just on their packages. You need to do presentations, interviews, find out who your novel’s market is and make sure they are aware of it in some way, shape or form. Yes, you must sell-sell-sell.
Are you willing to do the writing and then the real hard work? If so then I suggest you do as I did and take the plunge.

Chapter Fifteen One Week Later

“Natan, this is Ariel. It’s a go. When can you and Mark meet with us, Yosef and myself?”

“My, my,” says Schwartz, surprised that decisions on a project of this scale can be made so quickly within the government. But his mind gets on with business. “Ariel, we would definitely want to continue meeting here. We do not want to be seen walking into Mossad headquarters under any circumstances.”

“Certainly. That’s understandable,” says Wattenberg. “When can we meet in Haifa?”

“Next week. What day is good for you?”

Wattenberg checks his calendar. “Let’s make it Wednesday. At 1000 hours?”

“Wednesday, 1000 hours it is.”

Wattenberg and Bergman pull in and park in front of at Hidden Talents at 1000 hours precisely. Schwartz holds the door for them as they enter, and both Schwartz and Silberberg greet the two warmly as they escort them back into the conference room.

When they all are seated, Schwartz leans forward. “Ariel, I never realized the government could react this swiftly. We had assumed it would be weeks, maybe months before we heard back from you.”

“We can when we have to,” says Wattenberg dryly.

“They have accepted our proposal without any questions?” “Silberberg asks, still incredulous. He won’t believe what he’s been hearing without convincing.

“Well, let’s just say that your friend Yosef here put in a very good word for you,” Wattenberg answers. Bergman smiles, nodding.

Chapter Fourteen The Same Week

In the same manner that she handled yesterday’s conference call, Janet White waits until the admiral and both generals are on the line before notifying the president. She has observed over the two years she has been working as the president’s secretary, and always finds it amusing, that admirals and generals particularly dislike being put on hold while waiting for others. Even the president of the United States. She always finds this amazing.

Just before noon she calls into the president and advises him that all three parties are on the line waiting for him to pick up.

“Admiral, generals,” he greets them all, “it’s three weeks since we met last. I’m looking for an update on your strategy presentations.”

Admiral Smith speaks first. “Mr. President, we are looking at your order in two different, and very distinctly different, ways. We are looking at two sets of conditions: a pre-emptive strike and a retaliatory strike. We are also looking at surveillance possibilities which will enable you to reach your executive decision.”

My executive decision – what a smart-ass way of saying the buck stops on your end.

Publishing Part Four

The package I chose to purchase from Xlibris provides many services that save an author a great deal of time and money. For instance they will create a cover for you, they will edit your manuscript for you, provide your work with its ISBN number or numbers if you do both hard and soft covers. Book reviews are sent out, press releases are done, along with an e-mail marketing campaign. Your work is secured with U. S. copyright registration and with the Library of Congress. These are only some of the benefits of the package. I must tell you though that writing a military thriller I asked if whoever edited my work would they have military thriller experience. They very honestly told me that I could not be guaranteed that possibility. So I spent six months searching for my own editor. I also used the services of my own graphic artist to create the cover for the book since I believe that covers aid in selling a book. I feel it was a good choice based on how the cover looks. Writing a manuscript is only part of the work an author must do. The real work begins after your passion is completed. It is a lot of effort once you start working with an editor and then proofing your work to make sure it is correct. However, it is worth it to see the final copy in your hands.

Chapter Thirteen First Week of June

After a wait of a delicious ten minutes of stolen glances, a phone on the exquisite receptionist’s desk rings. She answers it, then turns to Wattenberg and Bergman. “The prime minister will see you now,” she says in a throaty contralto, then rises from her chair to escort the two men into the prime minister’s office. This time Wattenberg takes the lead, knowing he owes Bergman something for all his embarrassment: the receptionist’s hand laid gently on the shoulder of the last to enter, the grazing of a breast against an arm, and the full, luscious smile and slow wink that always accompany it. Yaakov Brumwell’s receptionist is nothing if not predictable.

Unfortunately, Bergman can barely appreciate the fleeting moment, the touch, the graze, the smile and the wink, as nervous as he is. He has never spoken directly with the prime minister before.

The prime minister rises and shakes both of their hands. “Have a seat,” he says graciously. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. Yosef, I’m hearing some very creative thinking coming out of your group.”

Bergman is floored that he’s the first to be addressed, and by first name. “Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister,” he says, somewhat disconcerted, but hits his stride quickly. “But let’s get it off the ground first, and see it to completion. Then you can tell me if it was such a great idea.” He smiles sheepishly.

The prime minister raises his eyebrows. “What? What kind of a confidence level is that?” Have I been misjudging what I’ve been hearing?

“The confidence of this being a good idea is there, sir,” Bergman says, making an effort to convey greater conviction. “In all honesty, however, I will feel better when we have our people back on Israeli soil and we have the data we require,” he adds.

“Good,” says Yaakov, nodding. “Over-confidence can lead to lousy planning and disasters.” Then he turns to Wattenberg. “So, tell me how your meeting went with our two scouts.”

Chapter Twelve End of May

On the fourteenth day of the promised two weeks, Schwartz calls Bergman.

As his palms begin to sweat, Bergman asks, “So, my friend, what have you and Mark decided?”

“We would like to schedule a second meeting. We think your plan might have merit. There are a number of issues we need to work out together, however. If we can come to a reasonable agreement on the overall operation and costs, then possibly we can come to terms.”

“And what are your terms?” Bergman asks reflexively, then kicks himself. He knows the answer before Schwartz can speak the words.

“Yosef, Yosef, this is not something that can be settled over the phone,” Schwartz scolds him, but his tone is good-natured. “Have Ariel come with you, if he’s the real decision-maker. If he’s not, then bring whomever is.”

Bergman hangs up and sits staring blankly at his office wall as if a video is playing on it. My God, maybe this is a good idea after all! If I could only tell Ariel, but he’s off in the Negev, out of contact till the day after tomorrow. Ariel will want to set up the meeting. I doubt he’d bring someone above him to play ‘decision-maker.’ Prime ministers don’t just bounce around the countryside whenever someone wants the top dog.

Bergman leaves word with Wattenberg’s secretary to have him call as soon as he returns. In the meantime, he has other concerns to address. If this mission is to succeed, I must consider how I can most effectively communicate with them. Data and operational messages need to be sent and received without any possibility of detection. This is becoming downright scary. This may be the most sensitive mission I’ve ever been involved in.

Publishing Part Three

Two days after I left my e-mail request on Xlibris’s website, I received a call from a customer service representative. We spent an hour on the phone in which she explained how Xlibris worked with authors to self publish their works and the various programs that are available through them. The programs ranged from very basic Advantage program at $299 to another six programs with a top figure of $12,999. Each program is designed to give the author just what they feel they need or are willing to invest into their work. I purchased the Premium program which gave me a full service package to bring a book to market and the necessary avenues and tools to contact my target markets. Premium package costs $2,999 at the time of this writing. There are currently only two levels higher than the Premium package.

After listening to this lady I was impressed there was no pressure to sign on just a willingness to work together. Something I didn’t receive from the two companies I was currently looking into. The decision to work with Xlibris, especially after getting the recommendation I did, was a no brainer.

Why would you want to self publish? First of all for me time was a factor in two ways. My current novel is dealing with a time frame of current events. If I went with the publishing house route it could be a year to eighteen months before the book hit the market if I was accepted by one. Secondly, I am sixty seven and I feel strongly this is a good book and wanted to see it published before the Good Lord decides its time to me to return to where ever my spirit will go to.

Self publishing gives you, at least with Xlibris, all the retention to the rights of your book. Be very careful here; make sure you receive this in writing no matter who you should deal with.

Chapter Eleven Following the Training

Atwan gets down to specifics. “Our current uranium enrichment manufacturing process cannot supply us with all we need. In order to have sufficient quantities on hand, we find we must obtain materials that are available only on the black market. As I said, this is not as easy as a stroll through the Grand Bazaar. This is a matter of finding the sources, identifying the real sellers, insuring the quality of the materials, shipping the goods and settling on a fair market price. Most important of all, Iran must not be traceable as either the buyer or end user of the ore.”

“Although generic in nature, our past two weeks have given us a good foundation in what we can expect and what we need to do,” Dakham says quietly.

“So, if you two were planning this mission, where would you start?” asks Atwan.

“I would start looking for those sources that have had past access to nuclear materials from within and around the former Soviet Union,” Hussein states coolly.

“Hamid, do you agree? Or do you think otherwise?”

“I agree. They are certainly known to be lax in the monitoring of their nuclear storage. And it is a well-known fact that most of their military commanders can be bought for a price.”

“What happens when those commanders are caught, or start feeling they have betrayed the motherland?”

Dakham pauses. “I sense you have a more definite proposal, Jibril. How would you approach the problem?” he asks prudently. No point in reinventing the wheel, or in this case, a plan for the procurement of uranium ore.

Chapter Ten Middle of May

The morning after he receives permission to set up a meeting with his so-called desert rats, Bergman calls Natan Schwartz. He leaves a message on Schwartz’s voice mail asking him for a return call.

Four hours later, Mossad’s receptionist calls Bergman, and tells him that a gentleman identifying himself only as ‘Natan’ is returning his call. “He’s on line three,” she tells Bergman.

Bergman punches the button and picks up his phone. “Natan,” he says. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” a deep voice replies with distrust, “but to whom am I speaking? Do I know you? I’m sorry, but I know a lot of Yosefs.”

“It’s not your imagination,” Bergman agrees. “We have never met personally. However your new business venture has been recommended to me and my boss. We would like to meet with you and your partner. Would it be possible for you to fit us in to your schedule, either this week or next?”

“Do you mind telling me what you have in mind?” asks Schwartz.

“I’d rather that my boss tells you and that both of you hear it from him together. If after hearing about it you have any interest in our project, we can proceed from there, or simply forget about it.” Bergman pauses, then adds, “All I’m authorized to tell you is that it would be a full-time project, involving anywhere from thirty to ninety days.”

“I will speak with my partner to see what his schedule looks like, and if he thinks we can consider that lengthy a project at this time. I will call you back, in two days time.”

Publishing Part Two

Following my wife’s client’s suggestion, I began to look into the world of self publishing. There are a number of companies out there that offer writers the ability to self publish their books. They offer various services at various prices. I started seriously looking at two of them.

As I was looking to self publish I also made the decision to find a professional editor. Now the task also became more interesting as you can find lots of people who say they editor at pricing from .01 per word to .02 per word. My biggest concern was to find an editor who understood military thrillers and military jargon. It took me six months to find the editor that I was satisfied with.

My biggest break through on finding a publisher came a year ago when I attended the annual NH Writer’s Day conference. I met a lady from Colebrook, NH who had used a company called Xlibris a division of Random House. She too investigated a number of companies and told me they put everything in writing for you so there is no miscommunication.

The following Monday, I e-mailed Xlibris advising them that I was in a search for someone to publish my book and would they contact me.

Chapter Nine Feedback

“Mr. President,” McDonald steps back in, “may I be so bold as to suggest that we deal with this issue jointly with Israel, the country which stands to lose so much – as much if not more than we do. I know it is highly irregular, but nobody’s written a text book covering this scenario.”

The president summarizes what he’s heard, then adds, “It’s my opinion that we don’t have to make a decision overnight. Maria, I’d like you to have our ambassador to the United Nations come back to Washington for a briefing after I meet with the military once more. McDonald and John, I want daily reports on what you both see happening with Iran. Admiral and both Generals, I’d like each of you to present me with specifics on how you see your forces handling a situation such as we believe we have here. May I suggest that you confer with each other and – create your plans for the worst case scenario. I want you all to take time. I’d like to see a strategy plan from our military leaders in six weeks.

“I will close with my own following thoughts,” the president continues after a pause. “I’ve studied Iran for many years. I don’t see them having the same economic problems the Soviet Union had. I also believe that Israel may have averted nuclear war over the last thirty years because of the action they took in 1981. That said, we still need to make careful, rational decisions for the future. Thank you all for coming.”

The president rises, nods to each in turn, then leaves the Situation Room.