The Pestilence (17 page)

Following the release of the CCTV footage showing Dr Fara in a romantic clinch with a co-worker both Samuel Srour and Dr Fara have remained apart, Samuel Srour in Jerusalem and Dr Fara at her mother's home here in Haran.

Hugh Feades: Rayaan, do we know what Dr Fara is doing in Haran. I understand that she normally works at the University of Jerusalem.

Rayaan Khan: She does Hugh. We believe that she travelled to Haran in the company of Dalia Srour, Samuel Srour's mother, a few days before these allegations hit the tabloid press. According to the university, Dr Fara has been on paid study leave since the beginning of the month. We believe that she is co-authoring a research paper with her colleague and alleged lover Dr Shimon Biram.

Hugh Feades: Has there been any comment from Dr Biram or the university?

Rayaan Khan: No there hasn't. However, according to the tabloid press I understand that Dr Biram has moved out of his family residence after what neighbours stated was a blazing row with his wife.

Hugh Feades: Does Mr Srour have time for these personal issues? There are hundreds of thousands of people waiting for him in Jerusalem, many travelling great distances in very ill health to be healed. Surely it's disrespectful to those travelling for Mr Srour to leave the city. After all, he did encourage them to come to him.

Rayaan Khan: The Healed website did state that Samuel Srour would be back in Jerusalem tomorrow. This has to be important enough to make him travel to Haran. Look, there's a car approaching. I can't make out who's in the back of the vehicle, but the car is being driven by a tall blonde woman and a Mediterranean looking man.

Hugh Feades: Those are Mr Srour's bodyguards; we have seen them with him many times before.

Rayaan Khan: Samuel Srour must be in the car with them. They are stopping outside the Fara residence. Yes, I see him. I see Samuel Srour. Samuel, Samuel, Rayaan Khan for the BBC, just a few questions: Why have you left Jerusalem? Why are you here?

Hugh Feades: It doesn't seem like he is speaking to the press today. How does he look Rayaan?

Rayaan Khan: This is the first time I've seen him live and I must say he looked relaxed and smiling. Surprisingly normal. He is walking towards the residence now. The house is owned by Dr Fara's family. Only Dr Fara and her mother now live there. Dr Fara's father died during the war. You can see behind me that Samuel Srour's impressive female bodyguard is taking up station at the gate while it looks like the man will go into the residence with Samuel. Samuel is knocking on the door; he has removed his sandals and left them on the porch. The door is opening, I can't see by who but they have now gone inside.

***

“WHY have you come? There are people who are dying, who are sick and need you back in Jerusalem. We agreed that the best way of healing the most people would be asking them to travel to you. Now you are here.” Mariam pushed her tongue into her cheek and shook her head. “Why?”

“I had to talk to you.”

“Couldn't you wait until I got back? I was thinking of coming back to campus, I just sent the first draft of my paper for internal peer review. If you had called me you would have known that. This is a pointless trip, you are wasting time here.”

Samuel shrugged. Stefano stood behind him looking at the floor, wishing he was anywhere but here. Mariam's mother had wisely and swiftly made her excuses and abandoned the hallway.

“I needed to speak to you about something,” Samuel said softly.

“What? You had to talk right now, this very instant? Upping sticks and running across the border, how do you think that would look?” Stefano noticed that Mariam's hands were fluttering as she spoke. She seemed jittery, tired even and her eyes lacked their usual inquisitive light.

“Let's go out, take some air. Perhaps take the dog for a walk?” There was soft steel in Samuel's voice.

“What about your fan club?” Mariam spat. Stefano didn't know if Mariam was referring to Dressler and himself or the press massed outside. Either way he hoped Mariam wouldn't want to go. A walk in the unprotected countryside was a bad idea. Samuel had insisted on leaving Jerusalem on a whim and there had been no time for any advance planning. Stefano felt very far away from the safety of the Teddy Stadium. With the press following Samuel intently his presence in Haran was widely reported. If the church was ready and waiting then the best time for them to strike would be now and there would be only him and Dressler standing in their way.

Gently, Samuel stepped forward reaching for Mariam's hand. He transgressed the almost visible barrier that had grown between them these past few days. “When was the last time you left the house?” he asked quietly.

Mariam said nothing, staring past him. Her hand was limp in his.

“A few days now, nearly a week,” called Mariam's mother from somewhere in the house. “For God's sake take her. She is wearing me down. Ruining her eyes staring all day at her computer. Go, go, I will have lunch ready when you get back.”

Samuel laughed. “Thanks, Umm Mariam but I doubt we will be back until the evening.”

Mariam huffed as she picked up her ruck-sack and slipped on her shoes. “It's not been a week, only a couple of days. Goodness. I did have a paper to write.”

***

Timeline: The Pestilence minus 4 days. Information source: BBC World News live broadcast.

Hugh Feades in the BBC World News studios in London: Only a few minutes ago we reported that Mr Srour had left Jerusalem and swept into Haran for what looked like make or break conversations with his long-time girlfriend Dr Mariam Fara. We are now going back to our Deputy Middle East correspondent, Rayaan Khan, reporting live from Haran. Rayaan, do you have any more news for us?

Rayaan Khan: Yes I do, Hugh. Moments ago Samuel Srour and Dr Fara left the Fara residence. They were together in the residence for less than ten minutes. They came past us with their dog and then trekked into the scrubland to the west of the village.

Hugh Feades: How did they look together Rayaan, what was the body language like between them? Could you detect signs of any tension?

Rayaan Khan: No, quite the opposite, Hugh. The body language was extremely positive, warm and loving. They were holding hands, leaning into each other and it looked like they shared a private joke as they passed. They looked simply like a couple deeply in love.

Hugh Feades: Do you think this is a case of forgive and forget?

Rayaan Khan: These past few days the media interest in Samuel Srour's relationship with Dr Fara has been incessant, perhaps even a distraction to what Mr Srour is trying to achieve through his healing mission but we are not, of course, party to their intimate conversations.

Hugh Feades: It can be levelled at Mr Srour that he is neglecting the sick and the dying just to see his girlfriend?

Rayaan Khan: Hugh, I believe that this trip is a statement from Samuel Srour. He has been healing almost non-stop since the Electrical Phenomenon, thousands of people from all over the world but now everything has been put briefly on hold. Why? The answer, I think, was just demonstrated to us. Samuel Srour has travelled to be with Mariam Fara. He is making a statement to the watching world that Mariam Fara is just as, if not more, important to him as his healing mission in Jerusalem. He is telling the world a story Hugh, a story that says Samuel Srour and Mariam Fara are still together as a unit and as a team.

Hugh Feades: Okay, very good. Where do you think they went, Rayaan?

Rayaan Khan: I believe they went up into the hills surrounding Haran. They both grew up around here so there must be a myriad of places where they can walk and talk. The journalists and news crews here in Haran following the story are packing up to leave. There doesn't seem to be much news in two lovers taking their dog for a walk.

Hugh Feades: Yes Rayaan, thanks. Err, what kind of dog did they have?

Rayaan Khan: A Canaan, it's a native breed to the region.

Hugh Feades: Okay, good, anything else Rayaan?

Rayaan Khan: No. That's all from me here.

Hugh Feades: Okay then, over to Sindy with the weather.

***

STEFANO and Dressler walked a respectful twenty metres or so behind Samuel and Mariam, who were deep in conversation. Out of sight of the cameras and the journalists they walked apart once more. They had cut through the scrub into the Western Hills. Haran lay behind them and to the right they could see the Healed camp. It was two or three times the size of the village. Stefano had reasonable visibility and the Canaan running off her leash would provide ample warning of any impending trouble. Stefano could run 100 metres in about fourteen seconds, so from a standing start he could close the twenty metre gap between him and Samuel in two point eight seconds. He knew Dressler would get there quicker.

Stefano kept his voice low. “I'm telling you Dress, she was busting his balls from the second we got in there.” He checked to see that Samuel or Mariam hadn't turned and mimed his ball-busting hammer action. “It was like she was slamming them in a car door. Bam, bam, bam; I had no clue what to do with myself, didn't know where to look. It took me back to Milano getting home late from a job and Mrs G standing in the doorway with a hammer.”

A rare smile crept across Dressler's face. “He deserved it. One week, no call. You do that to me and see what you get.”

Stefano completely missed the inference. “Come on, the boy is totally nonstop and anyway he doesn't have a cell phone; or proper shoes.”

“Bullshit excuse.” They walked on, matching one another stride for stride, each comfortable in the rhythm of the other. Sometimes voluntarily, often involuntarily their shoulders or hands would brush together.

“It's lovely here isn't it?” said Stefano as they descended into the creek. “Dealing with a stadium of desperate people every day is just too much. I like this peace.” Stefano reached up and picked a few seed kernels from a wild pistachio tree. They were far from ripe and would need de-husking and drying out in the sun before they could be eaten. He let them fall to the floor. Dressler stooped to splash some water into her hair. Stefano traced the curve of her back; power and elegance.

Samuel stripped down to his underwear and slipped into the stream. Mariam rested on the bank watching him swim, her legs dangling into the creek. Every so often she would flick water at him as he swam by. Stefano and Dressler sat a short distance away keeping half an eye on the path into the clearing.

“Smart the way they were for the cameras, no?” said Stefano.

“Ja, very smart; kills the story.”

“Our investigators dug really deep. They never found anything substantial. I don't think there ever was a story in the first place.”

Dressler turned and stared at Mariam for a long while. “Ja, there was.”

Stefano shook his head unconvinced.

Samuel dried off after his swim lying on the patchy grass beneath a pistachio tree. Mariam sat with one foot in the water, her Canaan dozing by her side. She was lazily running her fingers through the dog's white coat.

“We have talked about Deedee and the camp, my work, your exciting new job and as much as I love our meandering conversations I don't think you came all this way for small talk. So what is it, why are you here?”

Samuel regarded the majesty of the sky far above him; he thought on past the atmosphere into the vast reaches of the universe with its almost infinite number of stars and planets. The enormity of space made him feel humbled and small, an insignificant speck on an insignificant rock revolving around an insignificant star. “I'm getting stronger,” he said. Mariam reached across and squeezed his bicep. Samuel smiled. “With each person I heal the energy inside me becomes greater. I can see more. Being in Jerusalem is incredible. The city in some shape or form has been there for over 5,500 years. Millions upon millions of people have passed through its gates. Did you know that the city has been completely razed not once but twice to the ground?”

Mariam shook her head.

“Countless battles throughout written history have been fought inside and outside its gates. Much blood has been spilled over this city. And the residents, the invaders, all who have fallen or have passed I can see now that they do leave something behind. The dead haven't truly gone. Walking through the city is like walking through a field of auras. They erupt like wheat from the earth swaying in the breeze. I feel that irrespective of when they died or who they were I can just pull them from the ground, any one of them at any time I choose.” Samuel sat up and called out, “Hey Dressler, if you could bring back anybody in history, who would it be?”

“My mother.”

“Excluding family.”

Dressler thought for a moment. “Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. He was the Roman Emperor after Hadrian. He wrote the books of Meditations;
It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.
”

That was the most Mariam had ever heard Dressler say at any one time.

“And you Stefano?”

“Oh, that's easy, The King; Elvis.”

Samuel settled back down on the grass. “Not only in Jerusalem, there are auras everywhere.” Samuel looked over at the creek. “A little boy drowned in this river fifty years ago. I can see his aura by the bank.”

Mariam withdrew her feet from the water. “So you could raise him?”

Samuel nodded. “I just need to see his aura, his body should be restored.”

“How old would he be?”

“Technically fifty-seven but if I raise him he would be the age which he died at, seven.”

“Well, don't do it.” She smiled. “What are we going to do with a fifty-seven year old, seven-year old? We have only just got a dog. I'm not ready for kids.”

Samuel looked up at Mariam. “Can you be serious?”

“I don't know what to say. I don't know what we should do. Why would you pull long-dead people out of the grave?”

Samuel shrugged. “Because I can,” he offered.

“No,” Mariam said emphatically. “Just because you can doesn't mean you should. The little boy's family are probably long gone, who would look after him now? How could you possibly explain what happened to him?”

“I know, I know but what am I supposed to do? I wish someone would tell me.”

Mariam sighed. “I don't know, sweetheart. I have been asking myself the same questions and the answers are too scary to contemplate. I have been talking to a priest.” Mariam ran her hand along the top of Samuel's chest. “But I just don't know; kiss me.”

“Look at the kids,” whispered Dressler as Mariam pressed her lips into Samuel's.

Stefano grunted and looked away. “Probably just agreed to call the dog Snowy or something.”

Samuel broke first, the familiar taste of her still on his lips. “Forget the priest. There are no answers there. I was thinking about your father. His aura is at your house. I saw it when I called for you. I did it for Dina. I'm sure I can for you.”

Mariam looked out over the glistening water. “Dina was different. He has been gone a long time.” She was still for a moment. “I thought of him today. Some dick emailed me pretending to be him and said some horrible stuff. Not since he died have I been that upset. I asked Hazel to help track him down.” At the mention of Hazel, Samuel half opened his mouth intending to speak about the night in the apartment. He thought back to the car in Jericho and what Mariam had said; some things were private, even between them.

“The dog,” hissed Dressler. She was watching the Canaan. Its ears had pricked up and she had half lifted her head in the direction of the trail. “Someone is coming.” The Canaan was standing now looking directly at the path, a low growl emanating from deep within her throat. Stefano was up and running, he drew his Beretta and sprinted across the clearing. Dressler hustled for Samuel, pulling her 357 from its holster under her jacket. Samuel and Mariam looked up in bemusement as Dressler towered over them. She was a mountain of a woman easily shielding the two prone bodies.

The Canaan was roaring now and Mariam struggled to hold her back. Samuel reached across and grabbed the dog's collar. Mariam slipped her hand into her ruck-sack, removed and unsheathed the Tanto. The blade caught the afternoon light. Mariam stood side by side with Dressler, together a fierce impenetrable wall.

Whoever was coming had heard the Canaan and stopped. They were hovering just outside the clearing. Stefano called out, Beretta in his left hand, the gun steady at eye level. There was a rustle of foliage and a young man stepped into the clearing. Stefano instantly rushed him, grabbing the boy by the neck and forcing him to the floor, the Beretta pressed hard into his temple.