is ready.’
Lew nodded, ‘Well, we had better not keep the ladies waiting, besides I need to apologise to Elizabeth.’
Chapter 2
Doctor Heidi Schmidt concluded her lecture on the role of King Cyrus of Babylonia in the history of the Israeli nation and turned off the PowerPoint display that had been projected on the screen behind her.
She moved with the casual grace of a desert leopard, and her recent expedition in the far eastern regions of Turkey had bronzed her skin to a hue that most women would have spent a fortune in achieving by other means.
The young male students in the class ogled her lithe form and enjoyed the single dream of one day sharing her tent on some future expedition.
Heidi Schmidt was used to the stares and employed her looks to her advantage without ever holding out to her students the smallest hint that they would achieve their desires.
Even so, the questions now aimed at her from the class, were, she suspected, more to keep her cleavage in view than to clarify the current topic.
***
From her seat at the rear of the lecture hall Raya Khan was less than impressed with the woman.
A small twist of her lips betrayed her thoughts as she watched the way Heidi stood on the stage above them. Her legs were slightly apart and the trousers she wore were tight across her buttocks, while her blouse was unbuttoned immodestly.
Khan, too, could see the way the male students devoured the woman with their eyes.
Raya Khan conveniently forgot that she too had been taught to use her own luscious figure to distract men and achieve her own ends at their expense.
***
Finally, the lecture was ended, and the students began to gather up their computers and books and file out of the hall.
Even so a few remained and approached Heidi with still more questions.
She answered each of them in turn, and was finally able to collect her briefcase and make her way out toward the door.
As she did so Heidi noted that there was a dark and extremely athletic young woman in a fashionable business suit, still seated by the door.
She stood up as Heidi approached.
‘Dr Schmidt,’ she began, holding out her hand, ‘I was wondering if I might have a few minutes of your time.’
Accepting her greeting, Heidi was impressed with what she saw. The stranger was almost a head taller than her, with broad shoulders and thick curly black hair. As she shook the woman’s hand, she looked Heidi directly in the eye which seemed to disconcert the teacher for a moment.
‘My name is Raya Khan.’
‘The same Ms Raya Khan who has left numerous messages on my message bank?’
‘The same,’ nodded Khan.
Heidi smiled, ‘I must apologise most profusely Ms Khan for my laxness. You see I only returned from Turkey two days ago, and my priority was to my students. There were essays to mark and lectures to prepare. I had every intention of returning your calls this afternoon.’
Khan nodded, ‘Your dedication to your students is admirable. The mark of a true leader is their dedication to the people in their care. I have the honour of working for such a man.’
‘Thank you for your understanding. I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble.’
‘Trouble? No. A small delay perhaps,’ she shrugged, ‘However the matter I wish to discuss with you has been an ongoing investigation for several years now, and a delay of several days is inconsequential, provided the desired goal is obtained.’
Heidi smiled, ‘Well then Ms Khan, I think we should return to my office and you can explain what your goal is, and how I can be of assistance.’
***
Once she had her guest seated in the cluttered cubbyhole she called an office, Heidi insisted on making them both a mug of coffee before discussing business.
Khan pretended to sip at the hot mug but its contents were an insipid Western version of the real thing served in her own country in thimble sized cups.
‘I must apologise for the cramped conditions here,’ Heidi began, ‘But I have only recently obtained my Doctorate and must accept whatever they have available. Luxury only comes with tenure I’m afraid.’
‘In my country, this would be considered most agreeable for any academic,’ as she carefully placed the hot mug on a small patch of clear desk. Khan had no intention of picking it up again. ‘And that brings me to the reason for my call.’
‘My office?’
‘No. Your Doctorate, or more importantly your Doctoral Thesis.’
‘The Sword of Gilgamesh?’
‘Precisely. A most unusual subject if I might say so.’
‘You’ve read my thesis?’
‘My superiors came across the reference to your thesis on the internet and have obtained several copies. They wish to discuss the topic with you.’
‘You haven’t read it then?’
‘My sole interests lie in the security of my homeland.’
‘And what has my thesis to do with that? Where is your homeland?’
‘Libya.’
Heidi was taken aback by the answer. She was totally at a loss as to how an ancient sword from Iraq could have any possible connection with the security of modern Libya.
‘I don’t understand.’
‘And I cannot supply you with the explanation that you seek. My mission was to ask you to come to Tripoli and speak with my leader.’
‘Gaddafi?’
‘He may wish to speak to you himself, but I doubt it. You will speak with those who understand, and they will relay the information to our great leader.’
‘What if I don’t want to go? I have many important matters to attend to with my students. Perhaps a conference call to Tripoli would be sufficient?’
‘I have certain instructions Dr Schmidt. They wish to speak with you in person.’
‘As I told you before, I have only just returned from Turkey. I can’t possibly go away again this soon. The university board will never grant me further leave, and if I go without their permission I may well lose my position here. There are many others who would like to take my place. I’m afraid it can’t be done. If I lose my place here then I’ll also lose what little funding I have for further research, and without that my entire career is in doubt. I’ve already had to return from Turkey early because of a cutback in funds and it came just as I was about to make an important breakthrough.’
