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.