Desert Dark by Sonja Stone

Author:Sonja Stone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 2016-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

41

ALAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

At 2350, Alan stood in the shadow of the dojo, watching Jack and Nadia say goodnight. They kissed briefly and Jack started to leave. Nadia dumped the trash from her purse. Jack turned back toward her, probably to collect another kiss, but before he could, Nadia went inside. Alan narrowed his eyes as Jack reached into the trashcan. I really do have unfortunate timing.

For weeks Alan had followed Saba’s orders, made up excuses to spend time with Nadia. But lately, she spent more and more time with Jack. He could not compete with Jack. Not even Damon could compete with Jack. And Saba was not pleased. His latest reprimand had been delivered that afternoon.

Twelve hours earlier, Alan had driven to Tempe. He parked in front of a bookstore across from the metro station, where he found a semi-secluded pay phone.

“Shalom, my son. Tell me your progress.”

“I am not certain. I think I have become part of my team,” Alan answered in Hebrew. “But it is difficult to say.”

“What about the girl you mentioned?”

“It is not going as well as I would like.”

“Alan. I don’t understand the problem.”

“She is dating our team leader. He is a senior. I am not—”

“Do you know what women like?”

Alan rolled his eyes. “Not even a little.”

Saba chuckled. “Do something daring. Break the rules. A dramatic gesture to make her feel special.”

“Saba, I am not very good at breaking—”

“Enough. You were given choices, no? Tell me what they were.”

“I do not think—”

“What were they?”

Stop interrupting me! Alan sighed. “Train here, train in Tel Aviv, train nowhere.”

“And what did you choose?”

“Saba, I understand my choice.”

“No one forced this on you. I could have, but I did not. What was the only condition of your choice?”

Alan remained silent. Why would I answer? He will not let me finish my thought.

“If you had come here, I would tuck you under my wing. We could choose assignments tailored to your interests. You wanted to fly on your own. Now, you become a man.” His voice hardened. “You will stay the course. You will get close to this girl. You will become an agent of the CIA. And you will report everything back to Mossad.” The line went dead.

Alan’s hand shook as he replaced the receiver. His Saba had never hung up on him. He prayed it was a bad connection and not anger that ended the call.

Now, standing in the dark, Alan knew he must proceed with his mission. He pressed himself against the dojo wall as Jack jogged down the path.

Alan peeked into the girls’ lobby. Casey was not at her desk. He rushed down the hall to Nadia’s room, knocked softly and thrust his hands into his pockets. The folded note was pressed securely against his thigh. He only needed a minute alone in her room.

Nadia gasped when she saw him. She pulled him inside by his lapel. “Have you lost your mind? We’ll both be expelled.”

She was not exaggerating. The school allowed no unsupervised coed visits in the dorms.

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