The Savoy restaurant

The Death Sciences

An excerpt

Samir ordered some soup, a steak and French fried, and so did Karim. They were served after a short while. His host and Kassem turned their attention back to their loaded plates, and their lunch passed in considerable silence. Abu-naeef and Kassem had a second helping, thus conversation was not renewed, till desert and black coffee were served in tiny cups.

‘We all noticed the suspicious looks you've been casting around while eating.' his host remarked.  ‘It’s a very bad habit, and you'd better drop it. I've no intention to hurt your feelings, but there're still many things, which you have to learn and it’s too obvious. Well then, I expect that Karim will open your eyes in these matters, the sooner the better.’ Abu-naeef turned a searching look at Karim, and a short and unpleasant pause ensued.  

Samir was holding his coffee cup close to his lips, focused all his new companions' attention.

’Vigilance, alertness, caution and patience are some of the virtues in our profession!’ Abu-naeef went on. ‘It’s nobody's business of course, but it’s up to us to keep it secret. By the way,’ he turned suddenly to Karim ‘have you checked surveillance on your way here?’

 ‘Of course, we're clean!’ Karim hastened to answer him.                     

‘What's that suppose to be? Some kind of ‘who is the boss game’? That ‘fallach’ it seems lacks self confidence, or worse, suffers from an acute inferiority complex. Samir thought with wonder, making efforts to adjust himself to what seemed to him a bizarre atmosphere. He hardly had some time to muse and wonder, when the ‘faceless’ Kassem turned to him.

’We do know a few details about you, but…’                      

‘Oh yes, of course!’ Samir broke in interrupting Kassem in mid sentence; and fumbling in his jackets inner pocket, he brought out at last the thin envelope and handed it across the table to Abu-naeef.  

Silence reigned again over their table, while Abu-naeef was reading Samir's letter of introduction.    ‘Summon the waiter and pay the bill, we're leaving right away.’ He ordered Kassem, handing him the letter. 

‘What do you think of those...? I mean our people in Amsterdam?’ The boss turned to Samir again, as if he was taking advantage of the few seconds left, using the spare time although the issue itself wasn't of any great importance.

‘They're all right I suppose, I've just met them once, and I can't say I know them.’

‘They're a bunch of no good loafers in my opinion; in your case they acted as they were told to and promptly. Well you've reached your destination and you're welcome.’ He lied to Samir without any hesitation, without any warmth, while he was watching Samir's face with a grave look.                        

He didn't give me the tiniest crack of a chance, the b*****d! If I would have dared to suggest an opinion, a view, a hint of an opposing view, or a hint of an objection to his last sentence…  If I would have dared just to open my mouth now, when Abu-naeef made it very clear, that the meeting is over. I would have turned into this mighty man, my new boss, a hated enemy. That’s exactly the message, which I can easily read in his eyes. The thought flashed in Samir’s mind.

© Haim Kadman 1991 �" all rights reserved.

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