70

ON THE BRIDGE OF the Egyptian frigate, a white flag can be seen rising to the top of the communications mast of the first freighter. One by one, the next five ships follow suit.

The executive officer lets hang his binoculars. From this distance, they are no longer necessary. “Begging your pardon, excellency.”

“Don’t even say it, Yussef.”

“But excellency, Law of the Sea—”

“Yussef, who will know?”

The exec points above, where the press helicopter has dropped to hover above the fast-closing Egyptian warships, video camera pointed out its window.

“Take it out,” the admiral orders.

“Excellency, I protest. The helicopter is clearly marked. It is a noncombatant. As are the six vessels. These are civilian vessels flying the white flag of surrender.”

“Yussef,” the admiral says with a mixture of kindness and authority. “Do you wish to spend your naval career scrubbing toilets in a brig in Alexandria harbor?”

The exec switches on the squawk box. “Bridge to fire control. Hold steady on target awaiting command to fire. Repeat, steady on, awaiting command.” He pauses. “Bridge to sea-to-air battery. Sea-to-air, come in.”

An affirmative noise responds.

“Sea-to-air, acquire spinner at two o’clock, range three hundred meters, altitude one hundred meters and holding.”

Another noise, this one longer, and clearly not affirmative.

The executive officer turns to the admiral. “Excellency, sea-to-air battery reports target is clearly marked Press.”

“A Jewish trick,” the admiral replies.

“Excellency?”

“Shoot it down. Then order gunners to take out all marine targets dead ahead starting with...” He raises his binoculars. “Star of something.”

“Star of Bethlehem, excellency.”

“Indeed, the star. What did I tell you, a Jewish trick.”

“Excellency?”

“Yussef, Yussef. Tell me, what is the symbol emblazoned on the Jewish flag?”

“With all respect, excellency. The ships fly the white flag.”

“Never mind. The Jewish flag, what is its well-known emblem? The cross? The crescent?”

The exec sees where this is going, but can do nothing other than give the required answer. “The star, excellency.”

“The star is correct, Yussef,” the admiral says. “The Jews’ star. Now do your job without further delay. We are in battle.”