other pair shifted fire to them. The officer was hit in the legs, fell prone, and kept shooting. The corporal fired an ineffective burst at a fleeing shape and another fighter eluded him.
The fifth man had the weapon.
The lieutenant called on the team channel. “Moshe, are you there?”
Moments ticked past; the pain began rising above his knees. Finally the corporal responded, “He’s dead.”
“Levi, I’m hit. I can’t move. Can you find the package?”
“I’m moving.”
The corporal executed a tactical reload and scampered through the area, littered with empty brass and bleeding bodies. He searched for several minutes when he heard a high-pitched scream:
Turning in that direction, the commando closed the distance, his pulse accelerated with physical effort and impending dread. Gunfire erupted ahead of him, scything, searching fire. The Israeli recognized the situation: the surviving gunman would hold off any pursuers while the weaponeer activated the device.
The nocturnal hunter swung wide to his left, seeking an opening from the flank. It took longer than he wanted, but he was the only remaining chance.
The next thing he heard was an incredibly loud explosion emitting a blinding, searing light.
45
“There’s a nuclear event in southern Lebanon.”
Sandra Carmichael’s hands went to her cheeks. “Oh, dear God…”
Derringer’s voice came over the intercom. “It’s on Fox right now.”
Carmichael refused to have a television set in her work space but she knew where to find one. She threw off her high heels and sprinted to the briefing room. It was crowded when she arrived and getting more so.
The reporters were a serious-looking journalist in his mid-forties and a gorgeous newsreader in her early thirties. Carmichael was peeved when two visiting Pentagon types indulged in male bonding.
“I prefer Patti Ann Browne,” said Manpower. “She is just plain beautiful.”
“But Julie Banderas is hot,” replied Plans and Programs.
Carmichael exerted some command presence. One ice-laden gaze of her baby blues was enough to silence the kibitzers.
“The magnitude of the blast is still unknown,” said the journalist, “but Lebanese, Israeli, and United Nations authorities are examining the evidence. However, it’s feared that casualties will run in the hundreds if not thousands on both sides of the border.”
“Yes, Jarrod,” chirped the eye candy. “We have a report from Washington on emergency response teams, and here’s Claren DeWild with some details…”
While most of the SSI staff absorbed the usual routine of such events — repetition of what little was known — Marshall Wilmont silently beckoned from the door. He led Carmichael and Matt Finch to Derringer’s office and closed the door.
“We don’t know about our people yet,” Derringer began. “From what I’ve learned about the location, it’s well away from the Hasbaya area.”
“But, Admiral, our teams are undoubtedly along the border looking…”
“Yes, I know, Sandy. I know. We’re trying to call Chris Nissen right now.”
The intercom buzzed. “Admiral, Sergeant Nissen on the sat phone.”
Carmichael’s hands went to her cheeks. “Oh, thank God.”
“Thank you, Peggy.” Derringer punched the button. “Chris, do you read me?”
“Affirmative, sir.” Nissen’s baritone came through crisp and clear.
“Very well. What can you tell us?”
“Not much, Admiral. Everybody’s all right here in El-Arian but we still don’t know the full situation at Amasha. Apparently the Hezzies still own it. But as for the blast down along the border, we don’t know a thing.”
“No word from our people there?”
“There was a brief message from Langevin but it was garbled. I don’t think they’re in danger because he sounded cool. But I haven’t had a peep from Dr. Mohammed.”
“Chris, do you know where he was in relation to the detonation?”
“No, sir. I mean, we still don’t know exactly where it happened. Just somewhere north of the border. If I had to guess I’d say south of Al-Khiyam.”
Derringer scribbled a note with the obscure-sounding name. “Why’s that?”
“Mainly a hunch. It’s the biggest place near our search area and I think we’d know if the town had been nuked. The weapon we’re looking for has a limited radius.”
Carmichael leaned on the desk. “I thought there were two or maybe three nukes.”
Derringer nodded. “Chris, our information was two or more weapons. What’s your take?”
“Well, sir, I meant the type of weapon. But Dr. Bernie seems to think it was two max. Maybe the size of the explosion would tell how many backpacks went off, but I still think it’s one. After all, if I was running their op, I wouldn’t put all my eggs in one basket.”
Derringer looked around the room. “Anybody else have a question?” Carmichael, Wilmont, and Finch shook their heads.
“Chris, thanks for your help. I know you’ll keep us informed.”
“Count on it, Admiral.”
Finch unbuttoned his vest and began rolling up his sleeves. “It’s going to be a long wait.”
Carmichael nodded. “No lie, GI.”
Joyful pandemonium. Shouting, dancing, and gunfire in the air. Only one man stood apart from the celebration.
Imam Sadegh Elham watched on the sidelines; arms folded, face impassive. At length he turned to go to his quarters when Mohammad Azizi arrived.
“You heard?” Elham asked.
“Yes. Just now.” He looked at his watch. “It must have been about forty minutes ago.”
“What is happening at the villages?”
Azizi was surprised that the cleric would care about the diversions that made the nuclear surprise possible. “We control Amasha and keep watch on El-Arian. Whether we can hold Amasha, I do not know. The Lebanese Army is bound to respond sooner or later.”
A dismissive wave. “No matter for now. As long as the situation is stabilized in this area, I am satisfied.”
“But what about the special teams? Are both gone?”
“I believe that one was intercepted and followed orders. The other…”
Azizi blinked as if coming awake. “Followed orders? Imam, I did not know of any such orders. You mean, to detonate a weapon on Lebanese soil?”
The priest’s dark eyes bored into the other man’s face. “You did not need to know all the contingencies. But if you
“Ah, I see. Better an explosion anywhere than to allow a bomb to be recaptured.”
“Certainly. But there are other teams, brother. Ones that I did not mention. They also probe the Jews’ defenses and will draw some of the searchers away from our special operatives.”
Azizi regarded the priestly commissar with renewed respect. The operation was more sophisticated and
