The Moses Legacy - Adam Palmer [84]
He found himself sitting in an office in front of a teak desk, opposite a dark-haired Israeli, not unlike himself and about the same age.
‘My name is Dov Shamir and I am going to ask you a few questions. I would be much obliged if you didn’t try to bullshit me, but just gave me some straight answers.’
Chapter 68
Na’if was struggling frantically for breath. He felt the bandaged man’s arm adjust its position and he sensed that something bad was about to happen, but tugging at the man’s hand did nothing; the grip was just too tight.
Desperate to escape, Na’if put both his hands on the giant’s forearm, intending to use his entire body weight to pull on the arm and break the attacker’s grip. But as soon as he put his left hand higher up on the man’s forearm, the big man let out a scream and released Na’if.
He didn’t know about the burns that Goliath had sustained, all he knew was that the man was in pain and that he had released him. That gave Na’if all the chance he needed. Dropping the bag in the hope that it was what the big man was really interested in, he lurched away, rolled on the ground to get clear and then sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him.
He heard a grunt and looked round to see the big man running after him. He wanted to scream so as to draw the attention of others to what was happening, but that was not a way for a man to act, so he decided against it. Instead he just ran and kept running, making sure to stay in the open as much as possible. He made his way on to a bus leaving the area, constantly looking out the window for any sign of the man who had attacked him. As long as the man didn’t get on to the bus, he was safe.
Chapter 69
Daniel wondered if he should ask for a lawyer, but he decided not to push his luck. It wasn’t clear if this Dov Shamir was a policeman, an immigration official or something else entirely. He suspected that ‘something else entirely’ was probably the most accurate guess. So instead he nodded meekly, giving Shamir the go ahead to start the interrogation.
‘We know that you were called in to assist Akil Mansoor of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority translate some stone fragments which he believes may be the original tablets of stone from the Bible that Moses smashed.’
Daniel considered correcting Shamir as to the name of the organization that Mansoor headed. However, it would be too pedantic and would not endear him to his interrogator.
‘I can confirm that.’
‘We also know that you were called in on the recommendation of Gabrielle Gusack, a student of Mansoor’s and whose uncle was your professor when you did your PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
‘Yes,’ said Daniel. ‘Or the School of Anti-Semitism as we sometimes call it.’
‘I know. I studied there too. But I presume you’re referring to certain sections of the student body, not the school itself.’
‘Absolutely.’
‘And after examining the stone fragments, you went on a tour with Mansoor, visiting various ancient sites in Egypt.’
‘Yes.’
‘Could you tell me which sites you visited?’
Daniel went through the sites, from memory, stumbling a couple of times.
‘Now tell me about the incident at the Tomb of Ay – the one in the western Valley of the Kings. And don’t just tell me about the incident itself, I want to know what happened after that – right up to you getting picked up by the patrol boat.’
Daniel recounted the story as best he could: from being locked in, the attempts to call for help, the escape, the shooting incident with the police, the message on Mansoor’s phone, the journeys to Cairo and Taba and the dramatic escape from Egypt by powerboat. The only thing he left out was what they had found in Mansoor’s office and his intention to visit the Samaritans.
Dov Shamir sat there in silence, looking at him. Daniel wasn’t sure what to make of this and wondered whether Shamir didn’t believe him. Perhaps he’s just trying to give