Page 60 - Three Adventures

The Nazarene Foreskin

The clerk leaned forward to hiss: “No taxi cabs have arrived here
yet. Too early. Would monsieur like a map of the city? It is only
about two hours’ walk, and there is almost enough light to see the
craters.”
Reedle self-marinated. If he couldn’t get out of the hotel without
being a target for kidnap or casual sniping, wasn’t able to spend time
with the man in the street, never developed an idea of the local
culture, how was he ever going to tell when his leg was being pulled?
He hauled logic out of the depths and aired it out as last resort.
Manur was in trouble. Maybe Vi was in trouble. Probably she was
trouble. The photographer had a million places to hide, could
disappear until he thought it was safe. A blond American college girl
could not. Scoop looked at his watch. Almost seven a.m. The dining
room doors opened and a Filipino waiter in an ill-fitting mess jacket
trundled out the year’s specials on a stand. Scoop sighed and coaxed
his stomach into taking one more expense-account meal.
As he sawed on his fried egg a man entered the room, looked from
side to side and quickly approached Scoop’s table. He was short but
his safari suit was tailored to make him taller. Cuban heels and a
pompadour added yet more stature.
“Mister Reedle, I believe.” The voice exuded unction but not his
pores. Scoop suddenly realized his own skin could use some bathing.
“Yes, but you have the advantage of me, sir.”
The man bowed and pulled out the chair opposite the reporter as if
he had been invited. “Not for long, I can assure you. My card.”
Scoop read aloud: “Salim E. Ofidian. Fine Arts and Appraisals.”
“Yes. My profession frequently brings me to locales I would not
ordinarily care to visit. Beirut at present is one of them. You may
infer that my objective is worth the risk.”
“If you are willing to eat in this hotel it must be, Mr. Ofidian. Now,
I am a reporter, not a buyer of antiquities—regardless of
provenance.”
Ofidian or his mustache smiled. “I understand, Mr. Reedle, and am
not offended. I am myself here as a buyer. My client is willing to pay
quite handsomely for a certain artifact.”

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