Preparing himself for another leg of the journey, Qadar rested. From the day he accepted to involve himself with Pasha’s plan, he had almost quit drinking. From the drunkard he was, he reformed himself to a social drinker.

He was provided accommodation in some government quarters by the outskirts of the city. He had not met Ling after the lunch, but there always was someone to attend to him and apprise him of the situation. A man with strong heart, he didn’t bother himself with what was happening or where Ling was. He was planning for his future.

He asked for a computer with an internet connection. Within half an hour, it was provided to him. In communist establishments, discipline and quickness are in vogue, else one may not only lose his job, but one’s life as well. One male nurse and an attendant were available for Qadar in his temporary quarters, round the clock. He was reminded to have his food and medicines. One doctor visited daily in the evening, probably while he was returning home. Qadar Googled the internet for nearly two days, making notes continuously.

After two days of scribbling on a note pad, he reached for the phone. He checked the number twice before dialling. After few rings, he heard a lady’s voice asking him to identify himself. On identification, she cut the line saying he was calling a wrong number.

He searched his note and crossed one number and dialled another.

* * * * *

The house was not visible to the naked eye if viewed from a distance. In the vast expanse of snow, a small house of few hundred square feet was built with many tunnels in all directions for ventilation. As all tunnels opened at the bottom, their openings were not noticeable from any side. When the observer walks too close, all he could see is one giant football made of snow. Jules Borg is on a winter holiday. Holidaying means various things or events for various people. For Borg, it is simply doing nothing. He bought the small house long ago along with the five thousand acres ranch in Poland. He got a small but intelligent house constructed for him. Here, he doesn’t need security. Nobody in the nearby villages knew him. For them, the house belongs to some foreigner who never stays there. Borg visits discretely when the winter has already set in.

Apart from him, there is a couple whom he knew since he was a kid. They were relatives of a former SS operative and were hunted for their relation. The operative had escaped to Argentina, leaving his sister and her husband in Germany. Borg recognised them when they were trying to cross the border and rescued them. He introduced himself to the lady as the lad to whom she used to feed hot chocolate from the window between their houses. She felt happy. For the childless couple, he was more than a son. He shifted them to the house in the rural wild of Poland. They lived there with a local couple serving them. In winters, they feel like a family. The couple, both in their nineties, resemble the good German engineering and are rock solid in their health.

Borg often plays in snow, despite his age. When he was a kid, he craved to play in the snow like all other normal kids. But, like most of his generation, he could not. He plays in the snow as if he is avenging the lost years.

Borg returned after midnight. There was a mild storm and he was enjoying the snow by kicking big lumps and jumping on snow boulders. He was tired but wanted more. On returning, he went straight to the kitchen and drank a bottle of water. He was dehydrated. He pushed himself deep into the cushions of the sofa and slept.

The incessant ringing of the satellite phone disturbed him. Twitching his eyebrows, he reached for the phone. It was Suleiman. Yawning, he spoke into the phone, “What?”

“Jules, it seems there is some black sheep in our team. Our plan has leaked. It is on CNN and this bulletin is being repeated every three hours.”

“Umm... Leave it. I only sold the news. Else, who would foot the bill for the expenses to execute the plan? We need millions and I don’t invest in business ventures. Don’t worry and let me sleep,” he disconnected the call, leaving Suleiman more confused.

* * * * *