The Last Man by Deutermann P. T

Author:Deutermann, P. T. [Deutermann, P. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, Historical, Suspense, Adventure, Mystery
ISBN: 9781611063417
Amazon: 1611063418
Goodreads: 11457660
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: 2012-05-22T07:00:00+00:00

15

On Saturday morning David awoke back in his hotel room to the sounds of maid service carts rattling down the hallway. He opened one eye and looked at his watch. Well, maybe no longer morning. It was just noon. He got up and went over to the windows and pulled back the night curtain, revealing a bright, sunny day.

He frowned as he recalled the Friday morning ride back from Masada. Judith had treated him to a frosty silence for the entire trip, meeting his two weak attempts at conversation with curt, monosyllabic replies. When they arrived at the hotel she had turned in her seat. “I have called Professor Strauss with respect to your nocturnal excursions at Metsadá. Both of them, yes? The committee will meet on Sunday to discuss what actions they might take. They will also inform the Israel Antiquities Authority.”

“Beyond unauthorized walking about the site at night, what’s the charge, Officer?” he had asked, trying to keep it light.

“Charge? You misrepresented yourself and the true nature of your so-called project. The government made special accommodation for you, and you took advantage of them. Us. The IAA may not take that as lightly as you do, Mr. Hall.”

Her expression and tone of voice revealed that the “us” was just as angry with him as the government might be. Misrepresented myself, he had thought. Jesus. If they only knew.

“Well, again I apologize,” he said, “but I did no real harm up there. Hell, you let me wander around up there unattended all day on Thursday.”

“That was different. The security staff was in place. There were people about. If something had happened to you, there would have been help available. But to be wandering around out in the wadis at night, climbing that ramp, even walking the casemate walls in the dark—there are no railings, remember? Four hundred meters straight down? And that patrol: You were very, very lucky there.”

“So what’s next?” he replied, tiring of the harangue, trying hard to ignore the ass-kicking his conscience was all too ready to hand him.

“That will be up to the committee and the IAA. I suspect that if you want to play tourist next week, they will not object, as long as you are supervised by an approved tour operator. However, you are no longer welcome in official Israel, Mr. Hall.”

He had tried to think of some smart reply, couldn’t, and just nodded instead. He got out of the car and grabbed his gear from the backseat and put it down on the sidewalk. He stuck his head back into the car window.

“Well, so long, Mrs. Ressner. Despite the way it ended, it was still a pleasure to know you. Good luck with the rest of your life.”

He frowned now as he remembered the vexed expression that crossed her face when he made that last comment. Shit. Well, remember what you’re here for, he reminded himself, for the umpteenth time. Focus. Think about this: If they were pissed at your taking a walk at night, they’ll go positively ape-shit when they find out what you’re planning next.

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