There was a knock on the door of the apartment just as the evening news was finishing. Claus Schultz looked at the security screen next to the door to see two men in suits, one was holding a clip-board, thinking it was some sort of survey he opened the door. As the door opened two other men dressed in paramilitary fatigues and masks, kicked the door fully open and forced their way into the hallway.
“How many of you live here,” asked the male with the clip-board.
“Vas ist dis,” shouted Claus.
“Answer the question!” demanded one of the paramilitaries, pointing an automatic pistol at Claus' head.
“Four, my wife and I and our two girls,” stammered Claus.
“Bring them into the main room,” the clip-board ordered. Claus, still under the sight of the pistol went to his daughter's bedroom and woke his two daughters. His wife had been watching the news with Claus so was already in the living room, when the men entered the room followed by Claus, their two daughters, and the gunman.
“You are foreigners?”
“Ja, we are German citizens,” answered Claus.
The man with the clip-board continued, “Why are you in Egypt,” he asked.
“I am an archaeologist, I work with your department of antiquities,” Claus told them.
“How long have you lived in this country,” the man asked.
“Five, years,” came the answer. “How old are your daughters?“ “Seven and four,” Claus told him.
“Are you intending to stay here,” the clip-board asked. “Yes, of course, this is a wonderful country and Egyptology is my specialism,” explained Claus.
“Are you Christians?”
“No, we have no faith,” answered Claus.
“Sit down,” clip-board told Claus, “you are no doubt aware that the Muslim Brotherhood has recently taken over the country, are you?”
“Ja,” agreed Claus.
“Then you will not be surprised when I tell you that we are making Egypt into a truly Muslim state, which means we are insisting that all residents of this very Egypt are Muslims.”
“I . . ,” started Claus.
“Please now, give me your names and resident registration numbers,” the man demanded.
“Can I see some form of identity or official authorisation, please,” asked Claus.
The question was answered by one of the gunmen, who again waved his pistol in Claus' face, “This is my authorisation, infidel.” The clip-board waved for the gunman to back off, and the gun was holstered. Claus took the hint and supplied the information required.
“Now I need to inform you that you have seventy-two hours to either embrace Islam or leave the country,” the man with the clip-board told the family. “After three days we will return to see if you are gone or have converted to Islam.”
“And if we haven't accepted Islam and are still here,” asked Clause.
“Then we will arrest you, that may mean that you will get the death sentence, your youngest daughter, as she was born in Egypt, will be taken into care and brought up as a Muslim, your eldest daughter may be extradited to Germany, maybe.”
The four men started to leave, and as they passed through the door the gunman turned and said, “We be back to see, in three days, I look forward to knowing your daughters.” He winked, and Clause knew he was grinning under the mask, as they disappeared from view.
Minister of Defence for Iraq, Hooshy Ar Karimi welcomed his two guests to his office in central Tehran, the low table was loaded with coffee and sweetmeats and the atmosphere was congenial. Opposite Karimi was General Uday Bani Lam, head of Iraqi military intelligence unit, and Dirar Abu Sitta Palestinian leader of the Hamas.
“How are your preparations going Dirar,” asked Karimi. “Well Sir, we are almost ready,” replied Sitta, “we have good intelligence on the Ark's location and your people have promised a device.”
“Good,” said Karimi, “when can we expect the operation to proceed?”
“Minister, may I make a suggestion that we mount the raid on December twenty-fifth,” continued Sitta, “it will be least expected at that time and Israel will be full of Christian tourists, another plus.”
“Wonderful,” Karimi exclaimed as he clapped his hands once, “what is that western saying, two birds with one rock.”
“Stone, Sir,” corrected Bani Lam.
“Rock, stone, it is all the same,” said the Minister, “but that is a master stroke Dirar, your reputation does you justice. However, what of Mr. Pickles?”
“On this we have not been so successful, we have not been able to get near him, he has increased security and wears his suppression device whenever he goes out in public,” explained Sitta, “It may be that we have to take out a large area to get him but his house has a device, as does his vehicles and he is surrounded by guards wherever he goes. But we will get him.”
“Well we have some good news for you,” announced the Minister, ”General will you fill us in please.”
“Let me tell you that the recruitment for the Great Jihad has just passed through the fifteen million, it is now the greatest army ever assembled, praise Allah,” announced General Bani Lam.
“Praises to his name indeed,” agreed Minister Karimi. “However,” continued Bani Lam, “we have a plan. Now we have a date for your operation, I can say that we will mobilise a million of our army who will assemble along the borders of Israel at the beginning of next month, it will mean a build up over several weeks. We will do nothing but to stay in readiness, this will also divert attention from your squad when the time comes. Depending on how successful your raid is we may invade or not, but we will be ready to move.”
“That will be useful,” agreed Sitta.
“Let us now deal with the details of this plan,” suggested Karimi, “then with Allah's will, we can rid the world of the Israeli curse once and for all.”