Dark Clouds Read Free

frequent. It seems that the gulf between us is widening, Rashid.’
    He has turned towards me and I can see tears trickling from his eyes.
    ‘It’s going to get worse, Rudi … the next step is nuclear.’
    ‘You’re sure about this?’
    He’s nodding, and I feel it’s best to just let him talk. All around us, Muslim League guests, politicians and their advisers are looking on the up side. They’re considering ways forward with ethnic minorities becoming more involved in the affairs of their adopted country. There would be special committees and legislation to embrace everyone and make them feel good about what England has to offer. It’s a noble scenario, but I’m thinking of radiation in London’s subway system and other worst case scenarios. What would happen if a nuclear device exploded and we had mini-mushroom clouds enveloping Times Square, the Champs Elysee and Oxford Circus?
    ‘I need your help,’ Rashid says.
    ‘Sure …’
    ‘I have become more involved than I ever intended to with activists … I want to get away from these people, Rudi. I must talk with someone … can you arrange a meeting with whoever it is I need to see?’
    He seems lost and I’m wary about being too accommodating. I have a few contacts who could assist him if he wants to cross over. But there are implications if one suddenly decides to disappear.
    ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ I ask and he nods.
    ‘As soon as possible …could we meet again on Thursday?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘But now I must go.’
    He’s squeezing my hand and I’m worried. It’s selfish, I know. I’m being neurotic. But what if one of these nice Muslim League guys is an activist? If I’m seen with a collaborator, I could be in trouble.
    ‘Rashid …’
    ‘We’ll speak in the morning, Rudi … I’ll call you.’
    I’ve got to go to Paris. I’ve already booked my ticket. My commissioning editors need colour pieces from the carnage in Montmartre. But the author of Our Abyss is scuttling away. As a Kashmiri, he fits in easily enough with the mainly Asian Muslim League guests. His blue blazer and minor public school tie may be a little out of place, but he’s gone, and Mairead Corrigan is returning. She’s waving at me, and she’s holding the elbow of an ass- licking ministerial assistant who wants to talk about my President’s position on nuclear threats to Isreal from Iran.
     

Chapter 2
     
    I’m still thinking about Rashid when I get to the French Embassy in Knightsbridge. ‘ It’s Armageddon time for the West, Rudi! We’re going to nuke you bastards, and you’ll rue the day you ever tried to tell us what to do .’
    The building is palatial, and the Ambassador is about to give a late press conference.
    ‘ We do not condone Islamic or any other form of terrorism , ’ he says from a raised dais in an elegant reception room. ‘ And we will deal firmly with anyone who poses a threat to ourselves or our allies . ’
    There’s a lot of stuff about France’s proud heritage and what an excellent relationship the metropolitan power has with its former colonies. No one wants to blame anyone at this stage, although the Ambassador is clearly unhappy with the English media people who want to question him about integration in France.
    ‘ You’ve got problems, sir – I believe, with your Muslim population at the moment ,’ a cheeky tabloid writer suggests. The ambassador puts him down quickly though when he says it’s not appropriate to talk about frustrated petrol bombers or the unruly situation in French ghettos. ‘ We are all one nation ,’ he insists with a patrician shrug, ‘ and our task now is to root out the assassins. We will deal with them, and we will not falter on this task …but we will work closely with our friends and allies who have experienced similar criminal acts in their cities … ’
    There is food and wine when his Excellency finally steps down. It’s a peace offering for all of us frustrated hacks who feel