Definition: The term blue moon is currently used commonly to describe a second full moon in a single calendar month which happens every two or three years. (Only seven times in nineteen years) Because of the rarity of a blue moon, the term 'blue moon' is used to mean a rare event, 'once in a blue moon'.
Prologue
Eyal boarded the train and found his seat, knowing he may never see Annie again which left him a bit melancholy. Looking out the window as the train slowly pulled out of Amsterdam, Eyal question if he made the right choice to quit Mossad and what he was going to do with the rest of his life. He had quit over Rivka using the closeness he and Annie had developed for the greater good of whatever. Well no matter, what is done is done and he'll sort it all out later, now he only needs sleep.
Finding himself on a four-hour layover in Zürich, Switzerland because of transferring train connections, he decided to find a bar for drinks and food. Strange, Zürich is where it all started three years ago in an unsafe house, the beginning of a friendship that would cause him to make a major decision in his life.
An hour had pasted, a nice steak dinner and a few drinks later Eyal was feeling better about his future and looking forward to spending time in Athens. There was no sail boat but he had a friend with one and that would have only made a half lie to Annie.
"Ma kore?"
Eyal looking up to see Rivka Singer taking the seat across from him at the small table.
"Tov." Eyal answered wonder how Rivka found him - what the hell, she is Mossad.
"We need to talk and now is as good of time as any. You may have walked away for Mossad but you didn't walk away from your duty to Israel."
"I was used Rivka and by you. Of all people I should be able to trust."
"Yes I know and it has hurt me. Please believe me in my apology to you." Her expression was unchanged but then that was Rivka, years of showing no emotion had given her a mask of concealment.
"Why did you come to find me?" Eyal asked but half way knew why.
"You quit in the heat of distrust and I never informed personnel of you sudden resignation. You are still an agent for Mossad. I'm here to ask you to reconsider your decision."
"Rivka you of all people I need to trust is you." Eyal coldly looking into her eyes.
"You are right. Sometimes I forget we are also human beings with feelings. My promise to you for now forward shall be the truth at all times. No more deception."
Eyal order two more drinks, one for him and the other for Rivka. They spent the next hour in deep conversation before Eyal gave his answer. She had come in search of him and he was going to seize that opportunity, set down some guide lines but nothing out of the question. Rivka was in agreement and also offered a promotion.
"Ken." Eyal smiled with is answer knowing he could never be happy outside of Mossad. Being a master spy was his life, maybe Lady Fate has a part of Rivka making her best effort in bring Eyal back into the Mossad fold - after all, he is one of the best.
"Neefla." Rivka had gotten what she wanted, Eyal back and she was happy nor did she have to answer to the powers in being on how she lost a gifted master spy in Eyal Lavin. Mossad had too much time and money invested in him to sit still and let Eyal walk off into the sunset. Keeping him in the fold was her biggest chore and he could be such an inflexible and demanding child but she was up to the task.
Eyal has only seen Annie once since then when she reached out to him for help staging her death, an act he hated but would never turn down Annie and any request she would make of him.
Annie with the help of Calder Michaels has faked her death and is now operating in deep cover so called a spy in the cold. Her only contact with Langley is Calder and that is very rare, she is truly on her own with only her wit and spy craft to get her thru her mission. Henry Wilcox has been brought down but not the empire he had built - Lexington Global is still strong and evil.
Reading her last communiqué from Calder Michaels she just slouched down in the rag-tag chair, looking around a dingy, smelly room she was staying with total abhorrence. Her life had fallen from an all time high to the bottom of the pit. Her returning to Langley had been nix and she would be arrested for some crime, Calder had made sure she would stay in the field as a burned spy, to use her for his covert missions off book. It was the same as Arthur had turned Ben into a spy without a home and how he had used his own son, Teo. Now Jessica Matthews burned, now what - retreat to a new cover, a new identity and a new location. A new assignment from Calder along with the bad news, could it get any worse. Going dark had taken its toll with no hope of returning home. CIA doesn't take too kindly to spies going rogue on their own. Annie closed her eyes, after all this time, even after the death of Henry Wilcox they were still hunting her. Lexington Global on a vengeance hunt and wouldn't stop until she was also dead.
Those long lonely nights, those terrible nights of total isolation, not trusting anyone would bring back memories of that hellhole cell in the Russian prison sans the ear-piercing sound. The face, that joking, loveable face of one Israeli came back to her. Remembering Eyal brought some sense of comfort - he was always there for her. Eyal the strong, steadfast friend and completely understanding, the caring man with his charming smile, dark mystique eyes and his enchanting yet seductive personality. He had known what her sacrifice would cost. A spy from a competing agency and totally forbidden relationship even as a closed and trusted friend.
She twisted for a little more comfort but not, there is no comfort in her life style now - had she made the right choices? Leaving Amsterdam and running straight into Auggie's arms, the arms of a man she thought would give her the safety, security and her greatest wish - a normal life. Now knowing that was a mistake, their time together was rough and she tried to make it work. What were they calling it - a break, yet there still lingered a minuscule piece of hope he would be waiting for her to return. Then there was the betrayal by Auggie and his wife or ex-wife. That was the cutting knife to her heart, Auggie could not even wait a few months for her return. She had buried her pride and hurt to work with Auggie to bring an end to Henry Wilcox and what was her reward - isolation.
Grabbing a misty pillow and holding it tight, tears started forming and for the first time since going dark she cried. It was her way of finally grieving for the lost of Annie Walker and all that was. She felt rejected and betrayed by everyone she had once trusted but for one person. Why was he creeping back into her memory after all this time. Now her tears were for the hurt she felt for the lost of Eyal, her most trusted and dear friend. He had told her that he never left Mossad but she had later found out it was Rivka who when after him to return. Yes, her dear friend was that good and needed... needed, yes she needed him now for comfort.
Going to get a glass of wine, the one hangover of being with Eyal Lavin, his love for fine wine. Why after all these months of darkness is he creeping back into her thoughts? That night he had once more come at her request to help with the fake death, to come without hesitation or questions. He must have known what she getting into but honored her wishes and didn't try to talk her out of vanishing into the cold. He has always been strong and very supportive, the man who completely understood her even at times he had rebuked her for being naive or overly impulsive. She had learned to become a better spy from him, the master of spies but also in the process she had come to trust him with all her heart and soul. Oh what a fool she had been for turning away from his advances - all of that is now water under the bridge. Rereading her message from Calder she couldn't waste the night in memories, a new danger was at hand and she would have to act.
It felt strange for Eyal driving thru the streets of Tel Aviv, the first time he had been home in over a year, not since meeting with Rivka in Zürich. When she had told him he was needed in Europe she was right. He had stayed busy with only a quick side step to help Annie Walker to go off-grid. How he loathed the idea. Being in the dark would harden her, turn her once warm loving heart to cold ice. The empathy that once drove her to help others against all odds would become void, replaced with indifferences. He knew oh so well that void and the heartache that goes with it - the long nights of loneness without the closeness of love ones. Being her only true and trusted friend to help with her choice to take that walk in the dark he did against his better judgment - oh how he wished he hadn't lost track, to watch over her and protect her, but that couldn't be. He would often think about her and had heard chatter of the demise of Henry Wilcox in some alley in Hong Kong, knowing full well it was at Annie's hands.
Turning into the Mossad HQ compound he was hoping for some downtime to spend with his family. Entering Rivka's office he knew immediately that any lengthily downtime was out of the question but he would grab a day or two anyway.
"Happy to you could join us Eyal." Rivka with her force smile.
"I didn't know I had a choice."
Rivka not paying to attention to Eyal's remark continued. "This is Eliam Chodorow and we have new information about an American group now operating in Europe and Hong Kong that is targeting Israeli citizens and our government officials."
"Israeli citizens or Jews in general."
"Both as well as others, they don't seem to care who they take down as long as it is to their benefit - exceedingly power-hungry for political control. Eliam please enlighten Mr. Lavin with the intel you have."
"A few years ago a highly political and influential American man by the name Henry Wilcox started to build a network of skilled spies."
"I know who you are speaking of. Tight connections with the CIA." Eyal became very interest in where this was going.
"Yes. Although he has been, you might say eliminated, his organization is gaining in strength. This man, Joseph Neilson a young associate of Wilcox has taken over the operation of Lexington Global. Neilson is ambitious, intelligent and brutal in his dealings. He, like his mentor, is hungry for power and it appears global power-hungry. He has made an agreement with an Islamic terrorist group, Al-Shabab based in Somalia."
Rivka walking over the large screen and pointing to a picture of a bombed out resort, "Al-Shabab were responsible for the bombing of an Israeli owned Kenyan resort in Mombasa and the attempted attack on a chartered plane carrying Israeli tourists. Next screen please."
A picture of an Israeli cargo ship sinking in the Indian Ocean, "Their operation also extends to pirates targeting our shipping." Turning back to face Eyal, "Al-Shabab and al-Qaida in February 2014 announced their alliance, with al-Shabab leader Yahya Farid el-Hashem pledging allegiance to the global terror movement against all Zionist."
"What do we know about el-Hashem?"
"Yahya Farid el-Hashem is an al-Qaida trained from Yemen and one of Osama Bin Laden trusted lieutenants and now the leader of al-Shabab based in Somalia. Our military is combating them and we as Mossad need to find the source of funding and break that connection."
"Do we know what Joseph Neilson has to do with all of this?" Eyal picking up a file and reading the printed intel.
"Neilson of course has taken over Wilcox's network of wealthy and power people and we believe is helping with the funding in return for personal terrorist squads throughout the Middle-East and Europe."
"Are we working with the CIA on the Joseph Neilson connection?" Eyal not looking at Rivka but reading the intel before him.
"No. We have no idea how deep Henry Wilcox or Neilson has infiltrated and corrupted the CIA. We can collaborate with MI6 if the need arises. As usual, you are on your own to find the money sources and taken them out of the game."
"Understood." Eyal now with a multifaceted mission and eager to get started smiled at Rivka, "Don't expect to hear a lot from me."
"I never do. Be'hatslakha."
The afternoon was quite warm with a slight breeze keeping it pleasant. Eyal sitting on the front steps of his ex-wife's home talking to his thirteen year son Avi. They are deep in an astrological discussion of horoscopes and astronomy, not the normal father son chat about the birds and bees that Eyal had been call in to have. His ex-wife, Kazia wanted Eyal to be involved in their son's life now that Avi was no longer a little boy but growing into a teenager. The sex talk was embarrassing to her so call in enforcements.
"You know we are going to have to get around to having this father son talk about sex to make your mother happy."
"What do you want to know Abba?" Avi half laughing at his father.
"I'm the one that should be telling you."
"Let me tell what I know and if I miss something you can correct me."
"Sure, go with your version."
"The male produces the gamete called spermatozoa and the female produces the gamete, the ovum or egg. The male sperm with half the normal number of chromosomes are united with the gamete cell of the female, also with half of the normal number of chromosomes by the way of intercourse and the process of sexual reproduction takes place. The egg and sperm united cell is a zygote and develops into an embryo. The embryo attaches to and grows in the female's uterus. After about nine months labor starts they become parents after the female vows the male will never touch her again."
Fighting hard to keep his laugher under control, "You are dead right about it all right down to never touch her again." Eyal catching his breath, "Where did you learn the scientific wording?"
"Your medical books left at Grandmothers. Pictures and all."
"I'm proud of you for taking the interest to read those books. Did you understand what you read?"
"Had a little problem at first until I asked Haim. We read what you had and he painted a little more vivid picture." Avi was not embarrassed with talking to Eyal about his 18-year-old cousin and him talking about sex.
"I would think Haim also learned something."
"He did. For sure he doesn't want Edya to see your books and told Grandmother to hide them."
"Big brother looking for little sister." Eyal once again chuckling to himself. "That is up to my dear sister-in-law to tell her daughter about sex. If she wants to use the ob gyn books she is welcome to them."
"Since we have gotten that out of the way can we get back to something really important like the exploding stars?"
"Yeah. Where were we?" Eyal answered.
"The W26 star is about 1,500 times wider than our own sun making it the biggest known star in the universe. The bright supergiant star is nearing the end of its life and will eventually explode as a supernova in the Milky Way."
"Interesting. Do you have any idea when this will take place?"
"They are saying odds are nearly 100 percent the supernova will happen within the next fifty years. Researchers say some of the most massive stars have lifetime of less than a few million years before they exhaust their nuclear fuel and explode. At the very end of their life these stars become highly unstable."
"Do you have a way of viewing these stars? A telescope perhaps."
"There is a small not very powerful one at school. The Bareket Observatory near Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut has educational programs and a larger telescope. I want to go but Mom says she can't afford it and won't ask you."
"She tries to be proud. Avi I'm your father and you can ask me anytime for anything and if I can get for you I will. Get me the information and I'll have a talk with your mother."
"I have a booklet about the observatory and they have summer courses of six weeks long. Call it my extending education for a well-rounded person."
"So you have planned this speech before. Tell me, what got you interest in astronomy?"
"A friend of mine reads horoscopes. At first it was fun entertainment but then I found out the Babylonian astrology and ancient Greeks were the first organized system of astrology. It all started here in the Middle-East back during biblical times."
"I'm honestly impressed. Have you also learned to read someone's horoscope?"
"Not completely but I have looked your horoscope up, in general terms that is. You want to hear it?"
"Yeah."
"You were born the first week of February making you an Aquarius. That sign in general makes you unpredictable and almost impossible to define your personality type. You usually make wonderful first impressions, coming across as a most charming and well-mannered person. People find you to be very interesting company as your are active and adventurous by nature. Some negative traits include being stubborn, pigheaded with a quick temper. Your strengths are broad-minded, self-reliant, philanthropic and caring deeply for your sense of elevated values. Some weaknesses include uncomfortable with emotional situations, inflexible and at times moody and standoffish. There are physical charismatic marks as being highly attractive, striking eyes and slender figure. Your likes are championing good causes, intellectually stimulating conversations, with good listening skills and dislikes, restrictions and broken promises."
"I agree with most but the part of being pigheaded."
"That's the part that Grandmother agreed with the most."
"She would..." Eyal's phone buzzed at the most inopportune time. Looking at the caller ID, "I'm sorry Avi, I have to take this call." Getting up and walking to stand on the sideway between the houses.
"Shalom."
"Eyal I need your help."
"You can't die but once Neshema."
"Nothing that drastic. It has to do with the man that has taken over Henry Wilcox's global network."
"Joseph Neilson." Eyal remarked.
"Yeah. How did... Oh never mind you know many things that is why I need your help."
"Where are you?"
"Orleans, France."
"I'll meet up with you in three days if that is okay. Tell me where."
"Yeah fine, three days is good..."
She gave him an address, they had a few more friendly exchanges before disconnecting. Eyal smile, the only times she would call is when she need his assistance and he was happy to help. Now this time it also crosses his mission which is good.
Returning to Avi, "I'm so sorry, it was business."
"That's okay Abba. You want to go and get some ice cream?"