:an extract:
1990
Uhde stomps down the hallways until gets to a door that says, “Director”.
A secretary receives Uhde’s note, glances at it, shows surprise, then, without a word takes it through to the Director. A minute later the secretary emerges. He nods to Uhde without saying anything, indicating the Director’s door.
Uhde steps inside without knocking. The one high window in the office is bright with the late afternoon sunlit sky. A black sensor points from the ledge of the window toward the glass. A reflected sunbeam shafts down onto a soccer trophy on the edge of a busy desk.
Uhde, absently fingering his elbow bandage, sits himself stiffly into a leather chair opposite Efraim Spiegel, Director of Operations. The director’s silk, open-necked shirt and sharply pressed wool pants are nicely offset by his gold necklace, rings and expensive watch.
Looking up from Uhde’s note, the Director flattens it against his leather desktop. Spiegel shakes his head, smiling sadly like a father to his misbehaving son.
“David, David. You can’t just resign from Metsada, you know that. I don’t mean it merely because we need you. You know how much I depend on your unique insight. You have an exemplary record of accomplishments, despite being a dick-head.”
Uhde gives him a quick grin.
“We need people with your skill in the field, of course. But, with the sensitive nature of our work… David. You should network more. You should network, period. Have you ever gone out and had a drink with anyone — except for me, when I dragged you out that once?”
“I don’t drink – you know that. I don’t… Well, inane conversation about one’s skill with a female companion or a vase of flowers is not my idea of entertainment. I DO things. I MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Endlessly gossiping about people is not my style…”
Spiegel accepts that with a shrug of his face.
“Efraim, I am committed, you bloody-well know that. And of course my lips are forever sealed about what I know. It’s just… There are too many… too many damn EGOS in this department. I don’t mean you. I mean – some of the people I have to work with are insufferable. And I really am afraid that their attitude is going to very seriously affect an operation, one of these days…”
Spiegel grins wryly. “Fruma doesn’t have any say in the planning…” He cuts off Uhde’s objection. “Be that as it may… David. What am I going to do for you?…”
He leans forward to rub his forehead.
“David. Do me a favour and give me an hour.”
Uhde nods.
“One hour. Go have a coffee.”
Uhde shrugs/nods an affirmative. “Sure. Coffee. An hour. What’s the time, now, Efraim?”
“David, when are you going to get a watch?”
“Don’t need one. Have I ever been late for anything?”
“No. I don’t know how…” He looks at his watch. “Two-thirty.”
Uhde gets up and heads for the door. Spiegel watches him sadly as the door closes.
“He’ll be back in precisely fifty-five minutes.”
Spiegel punches a number on his phone and lifts up the handset.
“Devorah, is… Yes, thank you… Yosef, how are you this afternoon?… Yes, Anna and I will be there around seven… Of course… Listen, Yosef. I have a problem and I need your advice. One of my agents wants to retire… Retire, yes… Yes, of course, he knows what that means and certainly *I* know what that means… The protocol is specific and, as usual, impractical… In his case… David Uhde. Brilliant agent — well, you know him. In his case, I can understand his reasons…There are, shall we say, continuing PERSONAL conflicts with people he works with. What makes him so good in the field, hurts him in the office. He’s a lone wolf. And a bulldog for details and what he considers to be right. He has already gone through transfers – in fact, YOU sent him to me… No, I don’t agree. David has a difficult personality to deal with but it is not something that we can change, or want to change, for that matter… Yes, the Asperger’s thing again – you really should look into the medical… sorry, yes.”
Spiegel raises his eyebrows, nodding sideways. “Listen, Yosef. We have an agreement, David and I. He thinks I’m a dick-head and I know he’s a dick-head. This a point of mutual understanding. With that point having been established early on, he tells me much more of what he has seen than even he knows. We converse without the artificial barriers that polite civilization throws up… No, I don’t think you and I can have that kind of an uncivilized conversation, Yosef.” He adds wryly, “It would be too dangerous… Ok, ok. Listen. What can I do with him? I don’t have to tell you about the problem with rogue former agents. You worked with Gil, too… Protocol Omega?… Oh… Would he qualify?… I would have to ask him. Detroit, eh?… As reparations? That’s very convenient – for both of us… Thank you, yes. Please do. And I’ll do some lobbying from my side. I’m sure he would accept. I will be seeing him shortly… Very good… See you and Jacky later, then. We can discuss it further.”
Spiegel puts the phone down and leans on the table. He smiles slightly as he tents his fingers in front of his face.
“Reparations…”
Almost an hour later, Uhde enters the room, nodding to Spiegel. He goes over to the soccer trophy then picks it up. He pretends to give it a boot.
“David, please…”
Spiegel indicates the chair. Uhde puts the trophy back and sits in the leather chair.
Giving a fatherly smile, “David, I think I may have found a solution for you, and one that will satisfy procedures. We want you to be satisfied –- fully satisfied –- with the arrangements of a retirement.”
Uhde nods.
“I am working on something that will take, say, two days to confirm. Ok? If it is passed, you should be, ah, satisfied…” There is an uncomfortable pause.
“David. If this works out, would you be willing to relocate to the USA,” Uhde perks up, “…say, someplace like Detroit?”
“Sure. Detroit would be fine. Just like friggen Ramallah – Murder City.”
Spiegel slumps his head slightly sideways.
“Always with the sarcasm. And no, Detroit is no longer Murder City. They have the wealthiest suburb in the USA…”
“You’re right, Efraim. I’m sorry. No, that would be fine. As a start. When would you know?”
“Give me two days. I’ll call you. In the meantime, please spend some time on that assessment that I wanted last month, ok?”
Uhde nods firmly.