CHAPTER 2
A knock on the door startled Theodor. Grimacing, his father strode past him to open it. A man and a woman framed the doorway, both wearing IDF officer’s uniforms. “Yes?” Amos asked.
“Forgive me.” The sandy-haired man gestured toward the woman, then tapped a plastic name tag on his chest. “My name is Andrew. You asked that someone be assigned to assist you in running this bunker.”
“Of course.” Smiling, General Agnon stepped back. “Come on in.”
The two stepped in; Amos shut the door. He looked at the woman quizzically. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“No, general, we haven’t.” The woman spoke with an Irish brogue; caring and compassion radiated from her expressive eyes. She held a clipboard against her chest with her left hand; diamond earrings swung from her ears. A name tag hung suspended over her own chest. “My name is Monica, and I’ve been sent here to handle prisoner exchanges, in the event that some of your soldiers are captured.” She extended her right hand, and the general shook it, his face softening.
Straightening his back, Agnon nodded toward his son. “This is Private Theodor Agnon, my only son.” Theodor raised his hand in greeting, a wan smile on his face. Agnon studied Monica’s expression for a long moment.
“You have kind eyes, Monica.” He paused, his usual stern expression creeping back into his own eyes. “Unfortunately, kind hearts have no place in the army—we’re in the business of killing.”
“You’re in the business of defending your country, general,” Monica reminded him. “It takes heart as well as courage and good judgment to do that effectively.” Before he could respond, another knock on the door caught his attention.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Agnon opened the door again. A black-haired young man in an IDF uniform stood there, at attention. “Are you a new recruit?” the general asked.
The soldier nodded. “Yes, general. I am Rafael.”
General Agnon frowned. “Forgive me, soldier, but you are not an Israeli.”
Rafael bit back an amused grin. “True, general. But I was sent by the EU to serve in your bunker until I’m needed elsewhere.”
With a sigh, Agnon waved in him. “Oh, well—you’re not the first.” He closed the door behind them. “The European Union has sent a number of foreign soldiers to serve under IDF command during the last few years. But you’re the first Hispanic soldier assigned to serve under me.” For a long moment, clasping his hands behind his back, he fixed his gaze upon the Hispanic angel. Rafael stood at attention, gazing past the general’s face.
“No doubt, you were assigned by the deputy set over us by Elijah Dayan,” Amos mused; Rafael nodded. To the others, Amos explained, “After our prime minister, Jacob Barak, escaped to Petra with the others, Dayan decided to take direct control of Israel. He’s in Rome right now, with Antonio Puccini, so he’s appointed a deputy to cover for him until he returns.” The angels nodded; the general turned back to Rafael. “At ease, soldier.” Rafael relaxed his stance.
Monica bit her lower lip. “It’s my understanding that Puccini sent a whole army after the fleeing Israelis, to kill them, the other day.”
Amos waved his hand toward her. “True, but an agreement is an agreement. Puccini is under a sworn agreement to protect our nation in the event of attack. He’ll send his soldiers to help us, surely, if we need it.”
The general turned his attention back to the Hispanic angel. “It used to be that only Israeli soldiers were assigned to my command,” General Agnon commented. “That was, of course, before Barak signed the treaty with Puccini, guaranteeing our right to exist as a nation and the right to rebuild our temple. I wish that were still the case—that’s the one thing I don’t like about the new arrangement.” He sighed. “Still, as an IDF soldier, I have to obey orders. You certainly appear to be brave and strong, and you would not be here if you didn’t know how to be a good soldier. I’ll take you.” He shrugged.
“You can bunk next to my son, Theodor.” He gestured toward his son, whose eyes shone at thought.
“Pleased to meet you, Rafael.” Theodor extended his hand in greeting; Rafael shook it.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Swearing under his breath, Agnon strode toward the door and yanked it open. A heavy-set black woman with salt-and-pepper-colored hair stood in the doorway.
“Yes?” he barked, irritation in his voice. “What do you want?”
The woman fixed her eyes on his. “General Agnon?”
“Yes, I am. Who are you?”
”My name is Tess, General Agnon, and I was sent here with some important news.” She clasped her hands together in front of her waist.
Softening his voice, the general stepped back. “Please come in.” He gestured toward the back of the room.
Tess entered the room and inclined her head toward the other angels, then smiled a greeting at Theodor. The young soldier raised his hand in response. The door clicked shut behind her.
Tess turned toward the general. “General Agnon, I have just learned from an intelligence source that the Arabs have decided to ignore the provisions of the treaty signed by Puccini and Barak. They are preparing to mount an attack on your nation. They want to drive your people into the sea and take over your country, especially Jerusalem and the temple mount. You need to prepare your men for battle right now.”
END OF CHAPTER 2