threat, Archer?"
116
TWENTY-TWO
MURPHY AND ISIS WERE SEATED at a window table in the Pierre, overlooking Central Park, awaiting Levi Abrams.
Murphy could not take his eyes off Isis. She was stunning. Her long red hair seemed to shimmer like spun gold. Being with such a beautiful woman almost took his breath away.
His heart raced as Isis looked across the table at him and smiled. Murphy glanced out the window, trying to rein in his emotions. He could see the pond, the Wollman Memorial Rink, magnificent trees, and the lights of the city twinkling on the other side of the park.
Isis spoke softly. "There's something lovely about New York in the evening, isn't there?"
"You're right. I think that since 9/11, when the World Trade Center was destroyed, everyone looks a little differently at the city now. It sort of brought everyone together."
117
Isis focused on Murphy for a moment, watching him gaze out the window. He had a handsome rugged quality about him. He was decisive and straightforward. No pretense at all. He was positive, full of life, and always seeking adventure. He was short on patience and strong on opinions, but she had grown to appreciate his candor and openness. It was infinitely better than some of the other men she had dated, who had no opinions or convictions about anything.
Murphy glanced up and caught Isis looking at him. Something in her eyes, in her whole being, unnerved him. He was trying to think of something to say when he heard a voice.
"So, what are you lovebirds up to?"
Murphy felt a twinge of embarrassment at Levi Abrams's words. He hadn't shared his growing feelings for Isis openly with her yet.
Murphy stood, and the men hugged and clapped each other on the back. Then Abrams bent down and kissed Isis on the cheek. "My, my, but you do look lovely tonight. Michael, I'm glad we could get together. This is a fine spot. It has been a couple of years since I have eaten here."
Fadil stood in the shadows shaking nervously as he watched the street. Nothing seemed strange or out of place. He looked over at the window of Aladdin's Magic Carpet and could see a few people sitting at tables eating dinner. He glanced at his watch, then cautiously crossed the street and entered.
The dim lights made it hard to see who was in the
118
restaurant. The scent of curry filled the air. Fadil made his way to the back and saw familiar faces. He nodded slightly to them and sat down.
Asim was the first to speak. "I'm glad you all could make it tonight. I have received a coded e-mail from Abdul Rachid Makar. He has instructed us to ready ourselves."
"You mean that we no longer have to be sleeping warriors?" Ibrahim asked, excited. "When does our leader want us to strike?"
"Soon, very soon! The infidel dogs will again face the terror of Allah! They thought 9/11 was bad. Won't they be surprised?"
Fadil's voice trembled when he spoke. "Will it be in the morning or in the night?"
Asim looked around and lowered his voice. "It will be in the morning, when the infidels are going to work. Will you be able to disrupt the power grid?"
Fadil nodded.
"Good. I have been informed that the devices are on the way," Asim said. "Most of their security is in the airports, train stations, and government buildings. We will catch them off guard and hurt them greatly."
Everyone lifted his glass. "To the death!"
"That was a wonderful meal, Michael. And to be in the company of such a beautiful lady too. I'm doubly blessed," Abrams said.
They all laughed.
119
"Michael, tell me about your crazy idea to go back to Babylon." Abrams turned serious now.
"I told you about my encounter with Methuselah and the ancient plaster."
"It was at least twenty-five hundred years old," Isis explained. "I ran a carbon dating test on it in the Parchments of Freedom laboratories."
"I think that Methuselah has found Nebuchadnezzar's Handwriting on the Wall and has given us clues to find it. Could you make arrangements to get us into Iraq?"
"I
116
TWENTY-TWO
MURPHY AND ISIS WERE SEATED at a window table in the Pierre, overlooking Central Park, awaiting Levi Abrams.
Murphy could not take his eyes off Isis. She was stunning. Her long red hair seemed to shimmer like spun gold. Being with such a beautiful woman almost took his breath away.
His heart raced as Isis looked across the table at him and smiled. Murphy glanced out the window, trying to rein in his emotions. He could see the pond, the Wollman Memorial Rink, magnificent trees, and the lights of the city twinkling on the other side of the park.
Isis spoke softly. "There's something lovely about New York in the evening, isn't there?"
"You're right. I think that since 9/11, when the World Trade Center was destroyed, everyone looks a little differently at the city now. It sort of brought everyone together."
117
Isis focused on Murphy for a moment, watching him gaze out the window. He had a handsome rugged quality about him. He was decisive and straightforward. No pretense at all. He was positive, full of life, and always seeking adventure. He was short on patience and strong on opinions, but she had grown to appreciate his candor and openness. It was infinitely better than some of the other men she had dated, who had no opinions or convictions about anything.
Murphy glanced up and caught Isis looking at him. Something in her eyes, in her whole being, unnerved him. He was trying to think of something to say when he heard a voice.
"So, what are you lovebirds up to?"
Murphy felt a twinge of embarrassment at Levi Abrams's words. He hadn't shared his growing feelings for Isis openly with her yet.
Murphy stood, and the men hugged and clapped each other on the back. Then Abrams bent down and kissed Isis on the cheek. "My, my, but you do look lovely tonight. Michael, I'm glad we could get together. This is a fine spot. It has been a couple of years since I have eaten here."
Fadil stood in the shadows shaking nervously as he watched the street. Nothing seemed strange or out of place. He looked over at the window of Aladdin's Magic Carpet and could see a few people sitting at tables eating dinner. He glanced at his watch, then cautiously crossed the street and entered.
The dim lights made it hard to see who was in the
118
restaurant. The scent of curry filled the air. Fadil made his way to the back and saw familiar faces. He nodded slightly to them and sat down.
Asim was the first to speak. "I'm glad you all could make it tonight. I have received a coded e-mail from Abdul Rachid Makar. He has instructed us to ready ourselves."
"You mean that we no longer have to be sleeping warriors?" Ibrahim asked, excited. "When does our leader want us to strike?"
"Soon, very soon! The infidel dogs will again face the terror of Allah! They thought 9/11 was bad. Won't they be surprised?"
Fadil's voice trembled when he spoke. "Will it be in the morning or in the night?"
Asim looked around and lowered his voice. "It will be in the morning, when the infidels are going to work. Will you be able to disrupt the power grid?"
Fadil nodded.
"Good. I have been informed that the devices are on the way," Asim said. "Most of their security is in the airports, train stations, and government buildings. We will catch them off guard and hurt them greatly."
Everyone lifted his glass. "To the death!"
"That was a wonderful meal, Michael. And to be in the company of such a beautiful lady too. I'm doubly blessed," Abrams said.
They all laughed.
119
"Michael, tell me about your crazy idea to go back to Babylon." Abrams turned serious now.
"I told you about my encounter with Methuselah and the ancient plaster."
"It was at least twenty-five hundred years old," Isis explained. "I ran a carbon dating test on it in the Parchments of Freedom laboratories."
"I think that Methuselah has found Nebuchadnezzar's Handwriting on the Wall and has given us clues to find it. Could you make arrangements to get us into Iraq?"
"I
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