Sad news?

An excerpt of my 20th thriller.

Sad news?

The Thrilling Adventure

An excerpt

Major Yaniv noticed his two team members' excited conversation and hastened to join their table. although he used to eat on a separate table up to this intriguing moment.

'What's going on, what happened?' He demanded to know, as he pulled a chair back and sat down.

'We've just heard that Zivit and Benny died in an accident on Monday night.' Daphnie answered him exhaling the air caught in his lungs, and kept clearing his throat several times, with an effort to calm down.

'Oh really and who's the source?'

'Oron called us about five minutes ago, just before we went down. He said he had a call from the embassy, a friend of his that heard Ron the accountant talking about it with Josh.'

'When did it happen and where, has he told you all the details of this tragic case?' Yaniv kept asking him, he could not believe that such unexpected chance has fallen into his hands.

'Oron says that it happened on Monday night, on their way to Gondar.'

'I see, well I've lost my appetite see you tomorrow at the camp.' Yaniv muttered excitedly. He left their company with haste, and rushed back to his room.

'What the matter with him?' Arnon wondered with a note of contempt.

'He behaves as if he's on a long term vacation.'

'I don't think that he lost his appetite, he simply ran to call the embassy I guess to learn some details. He believed that he was the one that should have been sent to Gondar, and not Degani, sorry I should have said the late Degani.'

'Does he have any chances now that Degani popped off?'

'I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised or sorry, if he'll get the job.' Daphnie added smiling with a sardonic note.

'Let's hope and pray that he'll get it, but if he'll keep on with his bizarre behavior and his absences, I wouldn't mind if he'll stay on as our team's head.'

 

The mention of the hated Oron's name did not bother Yaniv much this time, for this piece of unexpected news has revived his hopes to get the Gondar job.

He dialed zero and gave the hotel operator Roghel's home number, but there was no answer.

Where can he be? Yaniv wondered alarmed. Has he flown to Gondar, and where's Bilha or the house maid? Is he on leave back home? He should've let me know, yes me, his most loyal and reliable man…

With no other choice he decided to call Josh, and gave the operator the head of the delegation home number.

'Oh hello Oren how are you?' He heard Rina's voice.

'I'm fine Rina thanks; can I've a few words with Josh?'

He heard her calling her husband, and after a few seconds Josh was on the other side of the line?'

'What's your problem Yaniv?'

'I've heard with sadness and regret about the terrible accident...'

'Yes it's very tragic, what else Yaniv?'

'I guess this urgent job up there in Gondar is open now…' He added with hesitation, as Josh did not leave him the slightest break, to convey his hops indirectly.

'The original plan is delayed Yaniv up to a new notice, which means up to the time that a full team will be sent from home to take over this job.'

'Thank you Josh, would you please tell me when is Roghel supposed to return?'

'Next week Yaniv, bye now,' Josh added and hung off.

He's lying to me; I can't believe that such an urgent job is delayed just because the assigned candidate popped off. I'll call Erez when he'll return, and I hope that Josh won't send someone else to man that job. He thought perturbed and went down again, he was hungry. His two team members were not in the restaurant, when he crossed its threshold. He sat near one of the tables, and waited impatiently till one of the waiters will notice him. After several seconds he raised his arm and managed to attract one of the waiters' attention.

The latter rushed to Yaniv's table and stood before him ready to take his orders.

'Have the two young men that sat at the next table left the hotel premises?'

'I saw them enter the bar sir, they haven't left the bar yet sir.'

'Alright I want a sirloin steak plus French fried and a bottle of lager beer, and after you'll pass the order, go to the bar and tell them to wait for me, and not leave the bar till I'll get there.'

'Ishie ghetachio' (yes sir) the waiter muttered, and rushed to fulfill Yaniv's order.

Right after he drank the last drops of beer Yaniv left his seat, and went over to the hotel's bar. Just about half dozen men except his two team members were present there at that hour.

'Oh there you're guys,' he said and hoped that they will forget his earlier "see you tomorrow at the camp", or won't mention it at least.

'As I couldn't join you today and wasn't able to supervise your briefing Elad, I'd like a short report on the briefing and of tomorrow's training plan.'

Daphnie emptied his glass and looked at Yaniv with disbelief, but after a quick second thought obeyed him.

'The entire day tomorrow is dedicated to personal navigation principles study, just theoretically at this stage.'

'When are they supposed to practice navigation?'

'The day after tomorrow Oren. May I offer you a drink?'

'No thank you Elad, I've a meeting with one of the brigade senior officers; and as it's usually on a bottle of whisky, I'd better not drink anything yet. Okay do remember that I rely on you, and I expect you to do the best you can.' He added as he stood up and left the bar.

'He's out of his mind! He knows that we don't believe him, and despite it he keeps treating us as if we're a pair of blockheads.' Arnon the gentle and adaptable between the two of them protested vehemently.

© Haim Kadman 2016 �" all rights reserved.