The Glory Boys

With the arrival of the Ambassador the men had withdrawn through the communicating door. The Ambassador, not attempting to disguise his fury, the security attache, Elkin, two more men from the embassy that Sokarev had not seen before but who carried hand radio sets. They closed the door after them, and the English policeman, unwanted and ignored, made his way into the corridor outside. Last to go had been the doctor. Just a specimen to them, thought Sokarev. Like a box of bullion, to be displayed when necessary, shifted when convenient.

Not to be consulted, not to be taken into confidence. In the last minutes before the pill took its action he heard the raised voices seeping through from the next room. Shouting, and Elkin's voice loud and demanding to be listened to, the security attache attempting to act as intermediary and being driven into irrelevance by the deep, clear-cut words of the Ambassador.

The point at issue was simple enough: the movements of Sokarev. Elkin insisted on an immediate return to Tel Aviv. The Ambassador with his superior diplomatic rank but without the specific responsibility for Sokarev's safety, required clearance from Jerusalem before the visit to New York could be cancelled. it is impossible to justify the continuance of his journey,' shouted Elkin.

It is a way of life in the Israeli community that title and position count for little when the question of security is at stake. He could browbeat a senior diplomat in a way unthought of throughout Europe. if they can attack here they can attack in the United States. One of our men has died already that this one speech could be made. How many more do we lose protecting him if we go to America? And for w h a t…? '

'He goes for precisely the reason that he came here in the first instance. The threat was known, but we do not bow to threats…'

'He was a scientist, not a target dummy.'

'… The decision was made at Cabinet level that he should come. We will not be cowed by these people.'

'Before, that was a reasonable risk. Not now. They did well tonight, those bastards. That they missed was our luck. No credit to us. Luck, and Mackowicz.'

'The decision must come from Jerusalem.' The Ambassador spoke with finality.

'The decision is easy, Excellency. Very simple, no doubt you can answer it for me. Which way is the Professor more important? A household name, famous, and dead; a martyr to the cause of the survival of our country. That is one option. Or more important in his office, in his anonymity, with his papers and his tables and his work. It is sad you cannot consult with Mackowicz, he would pick between the options.'

There was a purple, veined flush high on the Ambassador's cheeks. He turned to the door. 'As I have said, the decision must come from the Foreign Ministry. I will relay your comments, and they will have consideration.'

'And what of Sokarev? What of his ability to go on?

Will that have consideration?'

But the Ambassador and the security attache were gone.

Elkin looked at the two new men who were to share the room with him, then twisted away lest they should see the tears that now lapped at his eyelids. Like a brother to him, Mackowicz. An elder brother, protective, dominating. And now without his stomach, intestines splayed to the winds.

He crumpled himself full length on his bed. That Sokarev was alive and breathing heavily a few feet away was an inadequate consolation.

The Ambassador, an experienced diplomat, was well versed in the art of self-preservation. His request to Jerusalem for guidance contained no suggestion of his own, and added with prominence the concern of Sokarev's remaining bodyguard. The coded reply he awaited, a jumble of numbers, arrived in the embassy communications room within two hours. After it had been de-ciphered it was brought to him.

XXCLL4782. I9

FOREIGNMINISTRY JERUSALEM

OO 1 82.08 PERSONAL FOREIGN MINISTER TO AMBAS-SADORUK ITEM HIS

EYES ONLY ITEM AFTER URGENT

CONSIDERATIONS SOKAREV'S MOVEMENTS EYE

INFORMING SIMULTANEOUSLY AMBASSADORUSA TO

ANNOUNCE CANCELLATION OF ABOVE'S TRAVEL AND

SPEAKING ARRANGEMENTS IN NY AND OTHERS ITEM

SOKAREV SHOULD RETURN ISRAEL FIRST AVAILABLE

NON-STOP ELAL FLIGHT ITEM WE DEMAND FULLEST

SECURITY DURING REMAINING HOURS SOKAREV'S

PRESENCE UK PARTICULAR LONDON HEATHROW

DEPARTURE ITEM YOU WILL ISSUE STRONGEST PROTEST TO UK GOVERNMENT

AT LEVEL NOT BELOW

FOREIGN MINISTER PREFERABLY PRIME MINISTER

AT LAX UK SECURITY STRESSING FULL INFORMATION AND WARNING PROVIDED

BY OUR SECURITY

SERVICE PRIOR SOKAREV ARRIVAL ITEM WE REQUIRE

PUBLIC EXPRESSION REGRET ITEM COMMUNICATION

COMPLETE

XXDYY4782. I9

Alone in the flat in Beersheba the scientist's wife heard over the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation's final radio news bulletin of the attack on her husband. The information came without warning, as the news media transmitted the story faster than those Government authorities responsible for her husband's welfare could react.