Local time – 10:15am, Saturday 16th June, 2011.
Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Though each inevitably knew of the other’s progress in the world, it was the first time Douglas Johnson and Leo Freeman had seen each other since their Yale 10 year reunion. They shook hands eagerly in the grand entrance hall of Prague Castle. It was a satisfying moment for the men who first met as freshman roommates.
‘Bilderberg! It’s great to be here. I gather you were responsible for my invitation,’ Douglas said.
‘I may have mentioned something, but of course you were recommended by other members as well.’ Leo winked. It was the same wink Douglas used to get when Leo asked him to do his economics essays for him.
‘Doesn’t it seem like a lifetime ago we were students? All these years later I’m still at Yale. How’s your father? Still paying your way?’
‘Of course not Douglas, he finally let me
have the media arm of the company when stocks were almost worthless.’
‘I keep an eye on the market. Your company has made an incredible come-back.’
‘No one thought I could do it. Though people were only comparing me to my genius roommate and it’s hard to measure up to that. I see you’re tipped to be the next Chairman of the Fed. Well done my friend. Well done indeed.’ Leo slapped Douglas on the back and then directed the bellboys to carry their bags to their rooms.
‘We’re next to each other,’ Leo explained. ‘It’s the one downside of this conference – you can’t bring your staff. But it’s a small price to pay.’ Douglas nodded, wondering if Leo really thought Yale provided staff for their travelling professors.
‘I would have liked to bring Georgia. But I read the rules and they were very…’
‘Of course the rules have to be quite strict. No contact outside the conference, no mobile phones, no wives…’
‘I heard Spelman usually brings his wife.’ Douglas said.
‘Yes, well Spelman earns that benefit through his generous support of the conference. Isn’t the castle’s refurbishment splendid?’
‘Yes, it’s wonderful.’
‘Fancy a drink in the bar?’ Leo asked. Douglas agreed, and tried not to look shocked at the handful of notes Leo gave the bellboy as a tip. The halls were mostly empty, with just a few staff scuttling back and forth. Douglas assumed most of the members were already in the castle. Surprisingly, none of them was in the bar. It was a tasteful, simple space, with modern chrome and leather fittings that somehow managed not to look incongruous in the ancient building. The men took their seats and the barman served two whiskies, avoiding eye contact. He was well trained in discretion and Leo seemed comfortable talking openly.
‘Did you see the protestors in the square?’ Douglas shook his head.
‘I flew in this morning and I haven’t had a chance to look around.’
‘I should have stopped over in Connecticut yesterday and given you a lift in my jet, to make some time for sightseeing.’
‘I didn’t realise the public knew enough about this conference to protest.’
‘Quite the opposite. We’ve had real problems with them in previous years. It’s become a bit of a circus. And the journalists are an even bigger nuisance. Thankfully it won’t be a concern this year.’
‘Oh? Why’s that?’
‘They’ve already arrested anyone who looks like getting too close to the castle. And they’ve been told to deal with them. It’s a relief.’ Douglas nodded, not wanting to ask who “they” were and how they would “deal” with them. He had decided that if he was going to attend this conference he knew so little about, it was best to stand out because of his intelligence and contribution to discussions, not through wide eyed wonder at the lives and ethics of the mega rich members. A silence settled over them. Then Leo looked him straight in the eye.
‘This is the most important conference since 1999. That’s why I wanted friends like you here.’
‘Important how?’ Douglas could feel an excited apprehension in Leo’s mood.
Before Leo could answer, his attention was caught by a man crossing the bar to join them. From his smile, it was obvious this was a close friend.
‘Adam, why don’t you join us for a drink?’ Leo called out. The man continued towards them but Douglas could tell by his furrowed brow that he wasn’t there for a sociable chat. He was a short man, with sharp blue eyes, thick white hair and a military bearing. He came to a stop directly next to Leo’s bar stool.
‘Is everything OK? You look worried,’ asked Leo.
‘Hello Leo. Hello, I’m Adam Edelstein.’ The anxious man was supremely polite for someone completely distracted. He held out his hand to Douglas.
‘Douglas Johnson.’
Douglas stood up to shake the man’s hand and then offered him a stool to join them at the bar. The man sat down and smoothed his hands down the front of his pants. Having introduced himself to Douglas, he now appeared to forget he was there.
‘Leo, I need to have a quick word. We have to call an emergency meeting of the nuclear committee.’
‘Why? What’s happened?’ Leo’s relaxed mood instantly disappeared.
‘I’ve just had Thames House on the phone. It appears they haven’t been completely truthful with us.’
‘I’m assuming this has something to do with nuclear weapons?’
‘Yes. One particular weapon. A weapon we heard whisperings of, but never anything confirmed. Now it has been confirmed.’
‘Where is it?’
‘Pakistan’. Leo dropped his glass onto the bar. The crash made Douglas jump. Leo now spoke quietly, but with an intense anger.
‘How could this happen Adam? Why didn’t they tell you sooner?’
‘They did tell us sooner. They’ve known about this weapon for years. They’re the ones who found out it had been hidden by some anti-American fanatics within the Pakistan nuclear community. Apparently they made a pact with the ISI to leave it where it is. We’ve been working with them to make sure it was dealt with.’
‘Should we tell the others?’
‘That’s why I want to have a meeting of the committee. I think we keep them updated, but no one else. Unless it’s absolutely imperative that the others find out, there’s no point ruining everyone’s optimism. Pakistan was one of our hardest tasks and people have been so pleased to hear that we finally had agreement from them. Unless we fix it, this could destroy that agreement.’
‘Then we should keep this information within the small group as long as we can.’
‘I hope we can sort it out fairly quickly. The journalist hasn’t made it to Prague. But I’ve just found out that a female colleague has been sent in his place. We need to find out where the iPad is. Apparently it’s important but we don’t know why.’
‘I assume your men are looking for her now?’
‘Of course, I have my best Metsada operative working to contain the situation.’ Adam now looked past Leo to Douglas, as if he had been speaking to him all along.
‘Douglas, Leo tells me you are an old friend. You haven’t been assigned a committee yet. I would like to invite you to join the nuclear group. We need as many bright minds as we can get.’
Douglas nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed.
‘Of course, I would be honoured.’ He got up from his stool. ‘Who was that man?’ he asked, staring at Edelstein’s retreating back.
‘His title is General Edelstein. He’s a general in the Israeli army and he’s the head of Mossad. We better hope he’s up to this.’