question
about Baadjies, it had bothered him. In the first place it was a matter of
honour to the Advocate; to be prepared and informed, to consider every angle and
perspective and understand, to give a well thought-out and even-handed opinion.
That was why Mentz had appointed him in the first place.
He knew why he had been caught napping with the Baadjies
affair - there was simply too much happening, too fast. But he didn't believe
in apologies and excuses. It was afternoon before he had a chance really to
think it through, after all the excitement of the recorded conversations and
the interception of email. He read the Report Squad document on organised crime
again, he looked at all the relevant transcriptions, he allowed himself to
speculate. In his mostly illegible handwriting he scribbled quick keywords in
the open spaces of this Friday's appointment book.
Using this process he systemically developed The Supposition.
That the Supreme Committee knew more about the inner working
of the Ravens than the Presidential Intelligence Agency.
That it was not the decision of Tweetybird de la Cruz to send
Terror Baadjies to negotiate with the Committee.
That it was all important, one way or the other. That he
would have to get to the bottom of it.
Janina Mentz and Rajhev Rajkumar would remember that day
because of the email Raj's team intercepted.
Masilo was in Mentz's office informing her of the Shabangu- Hendricks
conversation. The Indian steamed in holding a sheet of paper. 'You won't
believe this, you just won't believe this ...' At first Mentz was just vexed.
'What, Raj?'
'One of these apes made a mistake. He forwarded an
unencrypted mail with the date in it.'
'You're not serious,' said Masilo.
'Look at this,' Rajkumar slapped the email down between them.
'The original email came from the Supreme Committee, all secure and encrypted.
And then one of the recipients had a brain freeze ...'
Mentz slowly read through the very short email and looked up
at the excited man in front of her desk. 'It's a date?'
'Twenty-three Shawwal 1430 is the Muslim calendar date for 12
October 2009.'Then, as though she were incapable of working it out herself, he
added, 'That's less than a month away.' 'I know that, Raj. But what does it
mean?' 'It's when the thing is going to happen.' 'Which thing?'
'You know, the transaction. The weapons.'
'According to Ismail Mohammed, that's happening in
September.' 'Maybe they've changed ... Shit. You think it might be the day of
the attack? The act of terrorism?'
'We had
better find out, don't you think?'
19 September 2009. Saturday.
Advocate Tau Masilo was at the office from nine o'clock,
where it was Saturday-quiet. Only key personnel.
First he read the report from Reinhard Rohn, their man in
Namibia. Nothing new. He was worried.
Then he reread his notes about the Restless Ravens from the
previous day. He felt the same unease.
He looked at Rajkumar's report. Twenty-three Shawwal. 12 October
2009.
He pushed everything aside and moved his fingers over his
laptop keyboard. He opened his web browser. He typed: 12 October 2009, Cape Town
He scanned the list of possibilities. The sixth description
attracted his attention. He clicked on it. It was a story from a local daily,
and his heart went cold.
Cape Town. The American soccer team
taking part in the World Cup 2010 will pay a brief visit to the new Green Point
stadium in Cape Town.
Their arrival coincides with FIFA's
inspection of building progress on the 12 October, when Mr Sepp Blatter, boss
of FIFA, and a delegation of some sixty officials will supervise a sod-turning
ceremony.
'Jesus,' said Tau Masilo.
He stared at the screen for a long time. Then he printed out the
article. And phoned Janina Mentz.
BOOK 2: LEMMER
(The Black Swan)
September 2009
The art of tracking involves each and
every sign of animal
presence that can be found in nature,
including ground spoor,
vegetation spoor, scent, feeding
signs, urine, faeces,
about Baadjies, it had bothered him. In the first place it was a matter of
honour to the Advocate; to be prepared and informed, to consider every angle and
perspective and understand, to give a well thought-out and even-handed opinion.
That was why Mentz had appointed him in the first place.
He knew why he had been caught napping with the Baadjies
affair - there was simply too much happening, too fast. But he didn't believe
in apologies and excuses. It was afternoon before he had a chance really to
think it through, after all the excitement of the recorded conversations and
the interception of email. He read the Report Squad document on organised crime
again, he looked at all the relevant transcriptions, he allowed himself to
speculate. In his mostly illegible handwriting he scribbled quick keywords in
the open spaces of this Friday's appointment book.
Using this process he systemically developed The Supposition.
That the Supreme Committee knew more about the inner working
of the Ravens than the Presidential Intelligence Agency.
That it was not the decision of Tweetybird de la Cruz to send
Terror Baadjies to negotiate with the Committee.
That it was all important, one way or the other. That he
would have to get to the bottom of it.
Janina Mentz and Rajhev Rajkumar would remember that day
because of the email Raj's team intercepted.
Masilo was in Mentz's office informing her of the Shabangu- Hendricks
conversation. The Indian steamed in holding a sheet of paper. 'You won't
believe this, you just won't believe this ...' At first Mentz was just vexed.
'What, Raj?'
'One of these apes made a mistake. He forwarded an
unencrypted mail with the date in it.'
'You're not serious,' said Masilo.
'Look at this,' Rajkumar slapped the email down between them.
'The original email came from the Supreme Committee, all secure and encrypted.
And then one of the recipients had a brain freeze ...'
Mentz slowly read through the very short email and looked up
at the excited man in front of her desk. 'It's a date?'
'Twenty-three Shawwal 1430 is the Muslim calendar date for 12
October 2009.'Then, as though she were incapable of working it out herself, he
added, 'That's less than a month away.' 'I know that, Raj. But what does it
mean?' 'It's when the thing is going to happen.' 'Which thing?'
'You know, the transaction. The weapons.'
'According to Ismail Mohammed, that's happening in
September.' 'Maybe they've changed ... Shit. You think it might be the day of
the attack? The act of terrorism?'
'We had
better find out, don't you think?'
19 September 2009. Saturday.
Advocate Tau Masilo was at the office from nine o'clock,
where it was Saturday-quiet. Only key personnel.
First he read the report from Reinhard Rohn, their man in
Namibia. Nothing new. He was worried.
Then he reread his notes about the Restless Ravens from the
previous day. He felt the same unease.
He looked at Rajkumar's report. Twenty-three Shawwal. 12 October
2009.
He pushed everything aside and moved his fingers over his
laptop keyboard. He opened his web browser. He typed: 12 October 2009, Cape Town
He scanned the list of possibilities. The sixth description
attracted his attention. He clicked on it. It was a story from a local daily,
and his heart went cold.
Cape Town. The American soccer team
taking part in the World Cup 2010 will pay a brief visit to the new Green Point
stadium in Cape Town.
Their arrival coincides with FIFA's
inspection of building progress on the 12 October, when Mr Sepp Blatter, boss
of FIFA, and a delegation of some sixty officials will supervise a sod-turning
ceremony.
'Jesus,' said Tau Masilo.
He stared at the screen for a long time. Then he printed out the
article. And phoned Janina Mentz.
BOOK 2: LEMMER
(The Black Swan)
September 2009
The art of tracking involves each and
every sign of animal
presence that can be found in nature,
including ground spoor,
vegetation spoor, scent, feeding
signs, urine, faeces,
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