by David Khara
“I’ll get to that. But first, I’d like to give you this,” he said as he slid the file toward Lamont, who took it immediately and began flipping through the pages. “The company that developed these prosthetics for your Marines incorporated software. You see, each artificial limb has the capability to transfer a Marine’s health stats to his command unit in the same way that members of a Grand Prix team follow their driver’s heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure during a race.”
“That was all included in the project’s statement of scope,” Lamont said as he continued to leaf through the pages.
“Statement of scope? I find it very disturbing to hear you talk with such indifference about the lives of the young men and women who defend your country,” Simon sighed.
“Spare me your morality lesson. Neither of us has much credibility on that score. This situation has given me more shit in two weeks than I’ve had to deal with in a whole year. Anyway, why are you complaining? Your superagent was able to get out just fine, and the program’s creators were eliminated. And you’ve got your hands on the plans for those damned prosthetics.”
“Damned right, we have them. By the way, I need to thank you for that. I’m sure we’ll put them to good use. However, if you don’t mind, we won’t incorporate the software that allows for long-distance control.”
“What?”
“I’ll say it again so that you get the whole picture. H-Plus Dynamics inserted software that allows them to keep the prosthetics from working at any given time. Don’t you see? A war zone, gunfire, heated man-to-man combat... Your forces get the upper hand, then bam! Your troops are immobile. That’s all it takes to lose a battle. Maybe even a war. Funny, isn’t it?”
“Are you sure about what you’re claiming?”
“Experts who know much more about this than I have weighed in. It’s all there in the file. It’s up to you to investigate these bad people who are prepared to play a dirty trick on you.”
Attali watched Lamont with a mocking smile. The man crossed his legs and stuck the document between his knees.
“Why would you give me this?” he asked.
“I’ve already told you. It’s a token of goodwill.”
“What do you want in return?”
“I’m asking that you leave Jacqueline Walls and her husband, Jeremy Corbin, the hell alone. As of now, they’re out of the game.”
“That can most likely be arranged.”
“You’re not understanding me. If they’re involved in so much as a car accident, I will hold you personally responsible. I will make sure that the press, as well as a number of the friends you’ve acquired during your career find out the full extent of what’s written in that dossier.”
“Okay, okay,” Lamont said. “You have my word.”
“I don’t give a shit about your word. I’m not giving you a choice.”
“But you’re not asking me to stop looking for your agent, Eytan Morg—or Morgenstern?”
“He no longer belongs to my agency. In fact, he never belonged to anyone. This mission has cost him,” Attali said as he pushed back his chair. “Eytan Morg is off the grid. If I were you, I’d be happy about that. If a man like him knew your name and your involvement in this, you’d be sleeping with one eye open.”
Lamont didn’t respond.
“Well, I believe we’ve reached an agreement,” Attali said as he got up and put on his coat.
“Hold on. Can you at least tell me a bit more about this former agent of yours?” the White House envoy risked asking as he grabbed the Israeli’s sleeve.
“What for?” Attali spit back as he shook off the man’s hand. “You wouldn’t understand. Cold-blooded creatures never do.”
EPILOGUE
Boston, present day
With a lump in his throat, Jeremy watched a flock of sparrows swirl in the clear blue sky. A warm breeze brushed his face, bringing some comfort to his aching spirit. On the horizon, beyond the trees, the sun was finally setting on a day that had taken too long to die. Jeremy understood that his grief wouldn’t subside with the setting sun. His pain would ease eventually. But some kinds of pain hurt more intensely than others.
Jeremy had been gazing into the distance for several long minutes and putting off the inevitable. Actually, he was scared. Scared of coming face-to-face with the grave. Scared of reliving the hopeless battle against death that Avi and he had waged for the sake of their friend. But from the depths of his affection for Eli, Jeremy found the courage. At last, he lowered his head and brought his eyes to the coffin.
Rose intended to follow Jewish custom and wait a year before putting a tombstone on Eli’s grave, but she had given Jeremy the inscription that would be on it: “Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy.”
Jeremy tried to hold back the tears as he thought about those words.
The sound of tires on the cemetery’s gravel road brought him back to reality. He needed to stay strong in order to help the others deal with their own pain. Jeremy dried his cheeks and turned to Jackie, who was pushing the stroller. Annie was playing quietly with a toy car.
“I still can’t believe it,” Jackie said softly.
“Me either,” Jeremy said, clearing his throat to regain his composure.
“He didn’t say anything before he... “Her voice broke off before she could finish the question.
Jeremy recalled Eli’s face, the feel of Eli’s hand squeezing his. What he had mistaken as an expression of suffering or fear was actually his final request, his final wish.
“I think he wanted—wants—us to take care of Eytan.”
“How can we take of him now that he’s gone?”
“By living, sweetheart. By cherishing everything he’s given us. And most important, by being there for him,” Jeremy responded with conviction. “There will be a day when he’s ready, and he’ll come back.”
Jeremy stopped himself when he saw Avi walking toward them. The doctor put his cell phone back in the pocket of his raincoat.
“I was just talking to Simon Attali,” he said. “He says the case is closed for good. You won’t have to worry any longer.”
“Can you thank him for us?” Jackie asked.
“I won’t have the opportunity.”
“So you’re really leaving Mossad?” Jeremy asked.
Avi nodded. “I no longer have a taste for the job.”
“What will you do now? Start your own practice?”
“I’ve been offered a research position at the University of Chicago. Frank pulled a few strings for me. I’d like to work on Eytan’s serum. Frank’s coming today, by the way.”
“So you’ll be in the United States,” Jeremy said.
“As a matter of fact, I’m going to start house hunting tomorrow. I’m sure wherever he is, Eli would be happy. And Chicago is much closer to New Jersey than Tel Aviv. With the help of an expert bookseller, who also happens to be a fan of good music, I might learn a thing or two about men in tights. And a sheriff’s deputy friend can always come in handy.”
Jeremy and Jackie smiled at each other.
“Don’t get too excited,” Jackie replied. “My influence is limited to my county in New Jersey.”
“And you won’t win this bookseller over by referring to the heroes in the serious genre of graphic novels as men in tights,” Jeremy said.
“Okay okay, don’t gang up on me,” Avi said. “I’d happily exchange a cop and a bookshop owner for a couple of friends. But only if you promise to make me a strong pot of coffee when I visit.”
“In that case...” Jeremy began.
Jackie finishes his sentence. “You can count on us.”
~ ~ ~
On an island off the coast of Ireland
The rusty hinges of the old chest creaked as he lifted the top. Plumes of dust hovered in the air before settling on the earthen floor of the hiding place. He rummaged in the messy heap of papers, weapons, and uniforms that would have made a museum curator quiver with excitement.
Finally, he found the sought-after item.
Eytan left the dark and narrow room and walked away from the stone structure that was his place of refuge. He headed toward the rocky coastline on this island, isolated for centuries from the rages of humankind.
He closed his eyes and let the wind beat against his face.
The ghosts from his past were rising. His father, his mother, his brother, Roman. He could feel Vassili’s rugged hand on his shoulder and Janusz’s protective embrace. He could hear Karol’s voice reciting Stefan Zweig. And then he heard Eli’s laugh.
The giant opened his eyes again to face the ocean that crashed against the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. The smell of seaweed swept by sea spray filled his entire being.
He looked with disgust at the dagger and reread the inscription engraved in its blade.
“Meine ehre heisst treue. My honor is loyalty.”
“I’ve given a new meaning to these twisted words. Eli, please forgive me for taking so long. Today, I’m breaking my chains,” he said as he threw the weapon. The dagger swirled in the air before sinking into the waters that would swallow it forever.
Eytan Morgenstern sank his fists into the pockets of his black jeans and walked back home.
By the power of the word
I regain my life
I was born to know you
And to name you.
Liberty
—Paul Eluard, 1942
Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
—Winston Churchill
In memory of Edith and Valérie.
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About the Author
David Khara studied law, worked as a reporter for Agence France Press, was a top-level athlete, and ran his own business for a number of years. Now he is a full-time writer. Khara wrote his first novel—a vampire thriller—in 2010, before starting his Consortium thriller series. The first in the series, The Bleiberg Project, became an immediate bestseller in France, catapulting Khara into the ranks of the country’s top thriller writers.
About the Translator
Sophie Weiner is a freelance translator and book publishing assistant from Baltimore, Maryland. After earning degrees in French from Bucknell University and New York University, Sophie went on to complete a master’s in literary translation from the Sorbonne, where she focused her thesis on translating wordplay in works by Oulipo authors. Growing up with Babar, Madeline, and The Little Prince, Sophie was bitten by the Francophile bug at an early age, and is fortunate enough to have lived in Paris, Lille, and the Loire Valley.
About Le French Book
Le French Book is a New York-based publisher specializing in great reads from France. It was founded in December 2011 because, as founder Anne Trager says, “I couldn’t stand it anymore. There are just too many good books not reaching a broader audience. There is a very vibrant, creative culture in France, and we want to get them out to more readers.”
www.lefrenchbook.com
Discover more books from
Le French Book
www.lefrenchbook.com
~ ~ ~
Other Consortium thrillers by David Khara
www.theconsortiumthrillers.com
Shadow Ritual by E. Giacometti & J. Ravenne
www.shadowritual.com
The Paris Homicide series by Frédérique Molay
www.parishomicide.com
The Winemaker Detective series by J.-P. Alaux & N. Balen
www.winemakerdetective.com
The Paris Lawyer by Sylvie Granotier
www.theparislawyer.com
The Greenland Breach by Bernard Besson
www.thegreenlandbreach.com
Table of Contents
Cover
Praise
Title
Info
Quote
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Epilogue
End Quote
Thank you
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