dollars per day. Without the risks they take and the smuggling Gaza would die.”
Dennis brought the land rover to a halt by a large block of houses with armed guards with machine guns patrolling outside. A large dog ran up and started barking at Dennis as he got slowly out of the vehicle. The dog ran off in the opposite direction. Natalie and Jim joined him. The guards were watching the three. Dennis waved at one of them and the man put his hand up in reponse, his manner not unfriendly. Dennis took the briefcase containing the cash from Hutchinson.
“Stay close to me,” Dennis said to his companions. He could see that Natalie was nervous but she smiled at him and followed a few paces behind. Hutchinson couldn’t take his eyes off a boy of about eight years old who was running around playing a game with other boys while brandishing a handgun.
“Jesus,” Hutchinson said, “I hope that thing isn’t loaded.”
To his relief it wasn’t. He watched as the boy caught another about the same age and pinned him against the wall, levelled the gun at the other boys head and pulled the trigger. The gun was then lowered and handed to the other boy who now became the ’you’re it’ as the game of tag continued and the children ran off laughing.
Dennis greeted the armed men at the door, exchanging pleasantries with them before he was allowed in. The three of them were quickly patted down for concealed weapons while one man watched. Dennis opened the case briefly to show the guards what was inside and he was allowed to pass. Natalie and Hutchinson followed him in. The man who had watched leading the way.
The interior of the large house was plain, the walls whitewashed. They passed many rooms that had beds in them. They climbed a flight of stairs. There were two armed guards at the top and they moved out of the way, their faces stony. They turned a corner and entered a large lounge, the entire floor space of the first floor. There were huge French doors that led out onto a large balcony and patio area. Armed guards paced up and down the well furnished patio.
A large rug covered the centre of the lounge floor, on it a large coffee table. Three large sofas filled the room, large enough to seat five people each. There were only three sitting though. Two men sitting opposite each other were smoking cigarettes. On the sofa with its back to the French doors sat a huge man wearing a red beret and british army woodland camouflage. His eyes were concealed by a very expensive pair of ray ban sunglasses. The lower part of his face was concealed by a huge bushy black beard with flecks of grey in it. In front of this man, on the coffee table, was an AK-74M Kalashnikov assault rifle equipped with a GP30 40mm grenade launcher attached.
All conversation on the sofas stopped as the three visitors approached. The two men facing each didn’t move. They both wore ammunition belts around their waists and both had handguns within easy reach in holsters on the hips. One sat casually with his arm draped over the back of a sofa and he nodded at Dennis and grinned at Natalie exposing a mouth of gold teeth.
The big man in the camouflage suddenly jumped to his feet and strode around the table to greet Dennis.
Dennis spoke first, aware of the certain etiquette required.
“Salaam Alaykum,” he said using the Arabic greeting.
Khalil Al Massri towered over Dennis.
“Salaam,” the big man replied using the lesser greeting. Then he looked to Dennis’ companions and smiled at them both.
“This is Natalie Feltham and Jim Hutchinson,” Dennis said introducing them.
“Salaam,” Hutchinson greeted Al Massri.
“Salaam.”
Natalie not understanding the etiquette involved just said.
“Hi.”
Al Massri flashed her his strong white teeth. He was keen to find out what Dennis wanted but he put this aside to continue the Arab custom of welcoming someone into his home.
“Would you care for some mint tea?”
“Yes thank you,” Dennis answered for them all.
Al Massri spoke rapidly to a man lurking by the door who nodded and left to make the sweet tea that should never be refused when offered. The two men on the sofas were dismissed and they got up and moved to an opposite wall each and stood with arms folded and watched. Al massri had decided to wait for the tea to arrive before getting down to business. He