Chapter 45Mada’in SalehSchendler’s agent banged his fist on the car bonnet in
frustration. Turning off the main road, he had been confronted by a barrier
manned by two policemen.
“This road is closed,” declared the senior officer.
“You cannot pass beyond this point. Landmines have been reported in this
area. It will take several hours to investigate.”
He stood, arms crossed, in front of the wooden pole
across two posts, authoritative and inflexible. The beret, perched centrally
on his head, flapped as he shook his head from side to side. As the agent
moved towards him, his hand dropped to the holster on his right hip.
“You wish to question my order?”
“No… No, of course not, officer. It’s just that
colleagues of ours took this route a little earlier.”
The other policeman moved
