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A Sneak Preview of My Espionage Novel
"Legacy" (© 1999 All Rights Reserved) is an action espionage novel set on the island of Guam during 1997's Super Typhoon Paka. Based on political events that have shaped political policy for the past twenty years, "Legacy" addresses the advent of biological terrorism, the instability of specific Asian and Middle East governments, and the vulnerability of the American public.
LEGACY
By Yocheved Golani
Shiraz, Iran, Tuesday, 28 OCT 97
"Does he have the package?" asked the intercom's crackling, disembodied voice. Hamas turned his face away from its upward gaze toward the intercom. He looked at his colleagues, a sea of khaki in a cramped room full of maps, redolent with the sweat of several men engaged in prolonged conversations, and inadequate ventilation. Hamas caught the eye of his lieutenant, then nodded toward a thin, sallow-faced man nearby. He in turn snapped to attention, and looked Mohammed Arash full in the eye.
"Mohammed, listen to me," his kaffiya-clad handler ordered. The skinny, peanut-colored man threw back his shoulders, facing the stocky man before him. Mohammed Arash's army uniform folded in flaccid wrinkles around the skinny man as he continued glaring at his commanders with intense concentration. This was Mohammed's finest moment, receiving an assignment that would take him around the world, and that would ultimately embarrass the Americans. Because of his actions, they would fall to their knees before Hussein's might. Of this he was confident. CNN would cast his image around the world. If all went well, he would dance with his twenty-one virgin brides one fine day. He fingered the bulge on his midriff, under the jacket. The glimmer in his eyes sparkled with anticipation. Hamas grunted with satisfaction, patting Mohammed Arash down as he fantasized.
Dressed in olive drab decorated with metallic and beribboned decorations, Mohammed’s army handlers presented bright contrasts to the flickering fluorescent lights of the underground briefing room. Hussein’s emissary, a lieutenant with multiple names and numerous identification documents explained to the daydreaming agent, "You will arrive in Dili by boat. Your package will stay on your person at all times, under your shirt, as we showed you."
Mohammed Arash fingered the square, metal box resting in a specially manufactured shoulder holster beneath his shirt, for reassurance. "No one will care about your presence, it is a dock with many busy people, too busy to look at you, think about you," the lieutenant persisted. "Persad will meet you on the dock, before you have a chance to get lost in the crowd. He is wearing this wire rim glasses, just like this pair I am showing you. Not many East Timorese have eyeglasses, and this kind is expensive, maybe one of a kind over there. Nobody else will have them. After you meet Persad, he will take you the same day to your transportation for New Zealand. Your package is padded with Styrofoam. Nothing can break. The seals inside are secure.
"The two of you will spend a day there, perhaps two, loading some small, snake-eating animals into wire transport cages, for your cover as importer of exotic animals. From New Zealand you will travel together to another part of the Pacific. You will depart your craft a quarter mile from shore on Persad's command, and enter a dinghy with the transport cages, to land on Guam. Persad thinks the whole trip will last two, maybe three days. You will get your orders upon arrival. Persad has a customer for the animals, a businessman. He knows nothing about us. Persad will find you a job with this man. Do not talk about Islam with him or with your co-workers. Never. Talk about what they like, what they do. Persad will introduce you to someone else, too. The Australian. For him, you are an East Timorese refugee, very anti-Indonesian. You will wear the clothes we provided for you, so you will blend in. Mohammed Aziz is going to have Western clothes all the time. Dungarees, t-shirts. Don't talk much with the Australian or with the Guam businessman who employs you. Just listen to them. If you talk too much, you will say too much. The Australian believes he is in charge of the mission. Keep your cover with him."
Mohammed Arash interrupted the lecture to ask, "Duncan, right? The Australian is named Duncan? And the Guamie person, I don’t know his name. I work, I pretend to work, for the Guamie person?"
"Yes," Hamas told him. "This will put you near the target. Duncan does not know that Persad works with us, so do not trust the strangers. Duncan has another agenda. It is not ours. Rely on Persad and work with the other men we send from here, also under cover. Do not break the seals before Persad tells you to do it. A month from now, you will be almost finished with this assignment."
*******
At 1745 hours local, Jack and the rest of the team finished their briefing. His team would move out the next day at 0100, or as early as a break in the weather permitted. Jack received his equipment with the rest of the team and returned to his quarters to retrieve some items in his locker. He stooped outside his home to pick up an empty cigarette carton, tucking the item in a pocket. He whistled for the bird to come home. Fitz had been waiting a long rime for an answer to his question about English Morse.
Contemplating his previous plan as he moved, Jack continued to realize, he could carry it out, with caution while participating with the stealth team. Tucking aspirin and decongestant into a pocket, he plotted his course of action for the rest of the day, mentally reviewing certain details to ensure success. At his private quarters, he examined the inside of his footlocker briefly and grunted in satisfaction. Resigning himself to the fact that ‘Grease” Atkins was also to be a part of the force, Jack resolved to use the man’s proclivity for textbook conduct. And to benefit from his expertise with defusing explosives. First order of business, we remove the camouflage from the Aircraft as soon as the weather allows, make it highly accessible to the wannabes, he resolved. Make a public show of fueling it. That'll be consistent with 'aiming the enemy at the weapon.'
Jack's awareness that General Colin Powell had discussed the importance of strong values and a solid work ethic in ensuring the success of the United States against cyberterrorists and terrorists of every kind on 26 June 96 left the Marine Corps officer wanting more. Powell was known for his strong desire to have Israelis live in freedom, security and peace.
Jack continued gathering his thoughts. Recalling that Israel is a bastion of fifty years' worth of democracy, albeit with a Middle Eastern flavor, in that volatile region of the world, Bowstring grimaced inwardly. Powell seemed to believe that US interests were best served if the citizens of the only Middle Eastern democracy, Israel’s Jews, could live unmolested. However, Powell he was known to be reluctant to commit troops to ensure that agenda, in the area. Powell prefers to have the opposing parties settle their own differences, eschewing America’s role as International Policeman. The general disapproved of liberating Kuwait, on the basis that US troops should only enter a conflict when success was a sure thing that was backed by a well-calculated mission, Jack knew. "War should be the politics of last resort," Powell had repeatedly and publicly declared in protest. Powell had been repeating this mantra since going on the speaker’s circuit after his 1993 retirement.
FEEDBACK ON MY FIRST NOVEL, LEGACY
(from people who've read the entire manuscript to readers of the excerpt)
INTRIGUING AND ORIGINAL - THIS NOVEL ENTERTAINS WHILE TOUCHING ON SERIOUS ISSUES ... readable ... exciting ...
Author and Critic Michael Medved 2/22/01
"... extremely well-written ... excellent and gripping."
Author Hallie Lerman (Crying for Imma, 1998)
Hi Yocheved!
I thought that your book sounded like a male author's book, too! Thinking about it in the car, today, it occurred to me that the opening sounds like a screenplay because of the shot to shot action. Perhaps the whole book is like that and we will not only see it published but also see a film made from it!
Sherry Chiasson, Kemp Mill, MD
Oh, wow. This is a good story.
John C. Jeppi, Jr. USN, Public Affairs Officer
Very exciting. I thought the dog was going to find a bomb or something--and it sets a mysterious tone. Good work!
Daniel Wills, Editor
www.efuse.com
Yocheved,
I enjoyed your site and believe you could have a winner in your novel.
David Eide, Editor, Oasis 2000
www.sunoasis.com
As I studied your manuscript with an editor's eye, I realized that you are a natural writer. This is good work.
Professor Richard Carter, MD
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