Checkmate
The following takes place some time after Day 7. It is 12pm.
The Continental Hotel, Lahore, Pakistan, room 3057
A tall man, with a chiselled face and broad-shoulders, sat in the only chair in the room, perspiration dripping from his nose despite the cold blast from the air-conditioning. A neatly-packed suitcase lay open on the bed, a suit-jacket hung in one corner. The man drummed his fingers on the telephone table next to him. There was a knock at the door.
'Who is it?'
'It's me.'
The tall man opened the door to allow a shorter, slighter man to enter. When the door was closed they embraced.
'Ahalan!'
'Ahalan!'
'You're late. I was worried.'
'I had to make sure I wasn't being followed.'
'You have the component?'
Wordlessly, the shorter man took a package wrapped in brown paper from his briefcase, and handed it to his friend. He held the package, as if weighing it, but made no attempt to open it.
'You're sure this emits no radiation?'
'Absolutely. It is undetectable. It will do exactly as we discussed.'
The taller man put a hand on the shoulder of the shorter, and his tone softened. 'I wanted to thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Without you…' his voice faltered.
'Hassan, it was the least I could do.'
A heavy moment hung between them.
'Forgive me for saying this. Inchallah, you will be with your brother soon, Hassan. Please give him my best wishes.'
'My brother was an idiot and a fool. He only thought he was clever. He involved too many people. Women and children. Our plan is simple. It will not fail.'
The shorted man grinned, 'Soon the crusaders will regret their pride.'
12:07:34
12:07 35
12.07:36