The Marsh Angel by Hagai Dagan (ebooks online reader .TXT) š
- Author: Hagai Dagan
Book online Ā«The Marsh Angel by Hagai Dagan (ebooks online reader .TXT) šĀ». Author Hagai Dagan
How, exactly? Oz wondered. He was sitting on the edge of the vermilion sofa in Tamirās apartment, seeming very out of place. He should only be sitting on dull office furniture, Tamir thought, eating crappy sandwiches with drab yellow cheese and soggy, sad lettuce, drinking black coffee from disposable paper cups.
After you blew the lid off the coded poems, we informed the prime minister and requested that he doesnāt share any sensitive information with his cabinet, Musa said. Problem is, the day before we informed him, they held a cabinet meeting in which some very sensitive information was disclosed. Itās an operation of ours in Iran, something pretty complexā¦ Itās not something that we can cancel at the drop of a hat. Itās been building for a very long time, and has reached its final stages now. Thatās why we absolutely canāt afford to have this information falling into Rajaiās hands.
And I guess tackling this at the levelā¦ Tamir paused. At the level of the minister of the interior and his wife, thatās off the table?
Integrity of the coalition, Oz replied flatly.
At least for now, Musa said, we have to work under these constrictions.
But still, Tamir said, the only way she can pass this intelligence on is by publishing a poem. At least, thatās how they did it so far. Only if Raspberry warns herā¦ He preferred calling her Raspberry, or the stint, when talking to Musa, but never Dallal. He felt that helped protect her, in some mysterious way.
Why would she warn her? Musa asked abruptly. Does she know anything? Do you know something I donāt?
No, she doesnāt know anything, Tamir quickly reassured. So, as long as Saāira doesnāt publish a poemā¦
She has, Musa said. Believe it or not, since you cracked this thing, weāve been sitting on every goddamn literary journal in the world, no matter how obscure. If someoneās publishing some shitty volume once a year on recycled paper at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, weāre on it. Yesterday, a poem by Flamingo Reed was published in a journal called Blue Diaspora, published in Edinburgh. Again, Acadians and Sumerians. It included a lot of details about the operation. We might not have even understood everything, be we understood enough. It looks bad. Very bad.
Shitā¦ Yaki said, downing a hefty portion of Scotch whiskey he had brought with him to Tamirās apartment.
This guy, Ben Amram, does he walk around with body guards? Oz hissed through clenched teeth.
Several hours after the poem was published, the Americans informed us that Rajai cleared his schedule for the following afternoon. My bet is heās going to meet her. Letās hope he leaves the embassy. We can track him from there. We might get lucky.
The wind outside picked up. Hail pounded on the windowpanes.
So, they are going to deliver sensitive intelligence during this meeting, Oz concluded.
We canāt allow that to happen, Musa said. From the moment he sets foot outside the embassy, we canāt lose him for even a second. As soon as he meets up with the stint, we need to get a clear view of them. Once we have a clear view of both of them, we take them out. If we canāt get a clear view, then we have to get in there and put an end to this.
So, both of them? Yaki repeated.
Both of them.
Do we have clearance?
Thatās a direct order from me. That should be enough for you.
Got it, Yaki said.
Prepare for anything with everything at your disposal. Cars, equipmentā¦ Go over every possible scenario. You know.
Yes.
t. Zwickel
Everyoneās up to speed, I just have to tie up the loose ends with you, Yaki said. Besides, I had to go out and get a drink. That Oz, heās no fun. Heās like a goddamn monk.
The waitress placed their beers on the table. She had bright purple hair and humorous eyes.
You know why they call it zwickel beer? Yaki asked, glancing at Tamirās opaque, golden beverage.
I can guessā¦ Zwicken means āto pinchā. Because it pinches your palate?
You shouldāve stayed some kind of analyst, Yaki said. Youād come here, and we could chase all sorts of mysterious terrorists, drink beers, have a ball. Instead, youāre stuck inā¦ Where are you stuck?
Shikma Stream College.
Sounds veryā¦
Pastoral?
No.
Southern?
No. Sounds like a shithole. Doesnāt sound like a place one can apply his analytical skills.
Yeah, Tamir sighed. Howās your beer?
You should try it. How do you say Hefeweizen in Hebrew?
Yeast beer? Wheat-yeast beer?
Something like that, Yaki said, his eyes locked on two women passing by their table. What can I say, he sighed, Austrian chicks are pretty mediocre. Good thing thereās a lot of immigrants in this city. You have Turks, Arabsā¦
Not very wise of you to a be involved with Turkish and Arab women.
Be involved withā¦ What are you, a Shin-Beit interrogator? Since when do I āget involvedā? A couple of shots, mix around a bitā¦ Come morning, I donāt even know her.
Yes, maybe I should learn that craft from you, Tamir muttered. The monotonous hum of unintelligible chatter and loud laughter pervaded the room. The pubā called Das Kauzchen, āThe Owlāā evoked a sense of warm, nocturnal gaiety. The young men and women toasting their drinks seemed almost happy.
Are you hungry? Yaki asked. The food here is terrible. We could grab a sausage in the stand by Hummel. Thereās a nice Turkish woman there who sells those sausages, kƤsekrainer, pork stuffed with cheese. Itās very nutritious.
Say, Yaki, were you per chance raised in a religious house?
Weāre sort of traditional, but itās different for Iraqis like us. Our Godā¦ he doesnāt interfere with our lives for the most part.
Youāre Iraqi?
Half Iraqi.
Whatās the other half?
Bulgarian.
Winning combo.
Iāll sayā¦
Yaki, what about Musaās instruction?
I donāt understand the question.
I think you do.
It doesnāt concern you. You know, Oz objected to having you out there in the field, but Iām the team leader, not him. If we can get eyes on that meeting, I want you thereā but in a rear position. Actually, youāll be with him.
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