Page 89 of Tom Clancy Line of Sight

The little girl began pulling on his sleeve with both hands like a one-man tug-of-war, giggling hysterically.

He turned to Topal. “You want to join us?”

“I’m sorry, but my old knees won’t allow it.” He shook Jack’s hand again. “Enjoy your game. I still want you to come by my office sometime.”

“It might have to be the next trip. But thanks.”

Jack turned and sped away with the little girl, who shouted in Arabic to her cheering friends waiting for them on the field.

Topal watched Jack resume his play as the bus’s pneumatic brakes barked with a whoosh of air. He turned and whispered to Aida out of the side of his mouth.

“What is Jack Ryan doing here?”

“I told him to stay away.”

“And yet here he is.”

“He’s a good man. I’m not worried.”

“A good man? Yes, perhaps he is. Which surprises me. Your taste in men tends to run toward the opposite.” Topal removed his glasses and pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket to clean them.

“My taste in men is no concern of yours.”

“Everything about you concerns me these days.”

The bus door finally opened, and the first refugee stepped out, a bearded twenty-five-year-old Tunisian male in jeans and a T-shirt. He shaded his eyes from the sun with one strong hand. He was followed by others just like him.

“This is not a good time for distractions.”

“I’ll do as I please,” she said. “And Jack pleases me.”

Topal finished wiping his glasses and put them back on, along with an affected smile.

“Let’s go greet our new friends, shall we?”

45

When Aida finished processing the new refugees, she stopped by the kitchen, where Jack was helping prepare the evening meal.

“Time to get you back to your place, Jack. I’m sure you need to get packed for your flight.”

“I don’t have much to pack. I’m happy to stay longer if there’s anything more I can do.”

“Actually, I need to get you home so I can get back to my office. I have more paperwork to do tonight. Taxes are due.”

Jack tried to hide his disappointment. “Okay, sure. Let’s go.”

—

Aida pulled up to the curb at Jack’s building just as the sun was beginning to set. The call to prayer echoed outside from the nearby mosque, beautiful and hypnotic, even muffled through the Volkswagen’s glass.

“You did wonderful work today, Jack. I really appreciate it.”

“I wish I could have done more for you.”

“Perhaps when you get back to the States, you could spread the word. We can always use more donations.”

“You should come back with me. You’d sell it better than I could.”