Contract with God aka The Moses Expedition

77

AL MUDAWWARA DESERT, JORDAN

Thursday, 20 July 2006. 6:49 a.m.

Fowler looked carefully at his watch. Nine seconds ahead of the agreed time, the unexpected happened.

Albert was calling.

The priest had gone to the canyon entrance to make his call. There was a blind spot there that the soldier watching from the southern end of the cliff couldn’t see. The moment he turned on the phone, the call came. Fowler knew straight away that something was wrong.

‘Albert, what’s happened?’

On the other end of the line he heard a number of voices yelling. Fowler tried to understand what was going on.

‘Throw down the phone!’

‘Officer, I have to make this call!’ Albert’s voice sounded far away, as if he didn’t have the phone next to his ear. ‘It’s really important. It’s a question of national security.’

‘I told you to drop the fucking phone.’

‘I’m going to lower my arm slowly and talk. If you see me do something suspicious, then shoot me.’

‘This is my last warning. Drop it!’

‘Anthony,’ Albert’s voice was steady and clear. He’d finally put the earpiece in. ‘Can you hear me?’

‘Yes, Albert.’

‘Russell is Huqan. Confirmed. Be careful-’

The connection was cut off. Fowler felt a wave of shock wash over his body. He turned around to run towards the camp, then everything went black.