He was wearing Western clothes today, khakis and a plain white T-shirt. She felt the intensity of his dark-eyed gaze as he looked at her. He was risking his life, again. Everything he did would be extreme, she thought. Having been a jihadi he was now a traitor to the jihadis, but he would never be anything in between.
‘You should have come yesterday,’ he said.
‘I couldn’t. Is this urgent?’
‘After the ambush at the refugee camp, our friends in Sudan are thirsty for revenge.’
It never ends, Tamara thought. Every act of vengeance has to be avenged. ‘What do they want?’
‘They know the ambush was the personal plan of the General. They want us to assassinate him.’
No surprise there, Tamara thought; but it would not be easy. The General’s security was tight. However, such things were never impossible. And if the attempt succeeded, Chad would be plunged into chaos. She had to sound the alarm about this.
She said: ‘How?’
‘I told you that the Afghan taught us how to make suicide bombs.’
Oh, Christ, she thought.
Two tourists came into the room, a middle-aged white couple in hats and sneakers, speaking French. Tamara and Haroun were speaking Arabic, which the visitors almost certainly could not understand. However, the newcomers strolled across to where Tamara and Haroun stood, by the cabinet containing the skull. Tamara smiled and nodded to them, then said quietly to Haroun: ‘Let’s move.’
The next room was empty. Tamara said: ‘Go on, please. How will this take place?’
‘We know what the General’s car looks like.’
Tamara nodded. Everyone knew. It was a stretched Citro?n like that used by the French president. There was only one in the country and, as if that were not enough, it had a small flagstaff on the fender flying a tricolour of blue, gold and red in vertical stripes, the banner of Chad.
Haroun went on: ‘They will wait in the street near the presidential palace, and when he drives out they will throw themselves at the car, detonate their explosives, and then, they believe, go straight to heaven.’
‘Shit.’ It could work, Tamara thought. The palace complex was heavily defended, but the General had to come out some time. His car might be bulletproof but it probably was not bombproof, especially if the suicide vests carried a large charge.
However, now that she had found out about the plot, the CIA could warn the General’s security people, who could take extra precautions. ‘When are they planning to do this?’
‘Today,’ said Haroun.
‘Fuck!’
‘That’s why you should have met me yesterday.’
She took out her phone. She paused for a moment. What other details did she need? ‘How many bombers?’
‘Three.’
‘Can you describe them?’
Haroun shook his head. ‘I wasn’t told who had been chosen – just that I had not.’
‘Men?’
‘One could be a woman.’
‘How would they be dressed?’
‘Traditionally, I expect. The robes hide the suicide vests. But I don’t know for sure.’
‘Anyone else involved, in any way, over and above the three?’
‘No. Extra people just create extra risk.’
‘What time will they go to the palace?’
‘They may be there now.’
Tamara called the CIA station in the embassy.
The call did not go through.
Haroun said: ‘The Afghan also taught us how to temporarily disable phone connectivity in the city.’
Tamara stared at him. ‘You mean ISGS turned off everybody’s phones?’
‘Until someone figures out how to fix them.’
‘I have to go.’ She hurried from the room.
Behind her, she heard Haroun say: ‘Good luck.’
She ran down the stairs and out to the car park. Her car was waiting, engine running. She jumped in and said: ‘Back to the embassy, fast, please.’
As the car pulled away she had second thoughts. At the embassy she could report personally to the CIA station, but what could they do with no phones? It would be better to go straight to the presidential palace; but she was not well enough known to be admitted without delay – and would the guards at the gate believe a girl who said the General’s life was in danger?
Then she thought of Karim. He would have immediate entry to the palace and could quickly get the ear of the General’s head of security. But where would she find Karim? It was not yet noon: he might still be at the Café de Cairo, which was near the museum. She could try there first, and failing that drive into the town centre and go to the Lamy Hotel.