Juan Gómez-Jurado: Contract with God aka The Moses Expedition

To you, the reader, for making God’s Spy , my first novel, a success in thirty-nine countries. I truly thank you.

In New York, to James Graham, my ‘brother’. To Rory Hightower, Alice Nakagawa and Michael Dillman.

In Barcelona, Enrique Murillo, editor of this book, both untiring and tiring since he has one unusual virtue: he always told me the truth.

In Santiago de Compostela, Manuel Soutino, who lent his considerable understanding of engineering to descriptions of the Moses Expedition.

In Roma, Giorgio Selano for his knowledge of the catacombs.

In Milan, Patrizia Spinato, word tamer.

In Jordan, Samir Mufti, Bahjat al-Rimaui and Abdul Suheiman, who know the desert like nobody else and who taught me the gahwa ritual.

In Vienna, nothing would have been possible without Kurt Fischer, who provided me with information on the real butcher of Spiegelgrund, who died on 15 December of a heart attack.

And to my wife, Katuxa, and my children, Andrea and Javier, for being understanding about my trips and my schedule.

Dear reader, I don’t want to end the book without requesting a favour. Go back to the beginning of these pages and reread the poem by Samuel Keen. Do it until you memorise every word. Teach it to your children; send it to your friends. Please.

Blessed art thou, oh God, the Eternal, Universal Presence, who makes bread grow from the earth.

[1] Juan Gómez-Jurado Contract with God aka The Moses Expedition The second book in the Father Anthony Fowler series, 2009 The original Al Qaeda manual comprises 5,000 pages in several volumes, and contains detailed information concerning operations carried out in the past by the terrorist group, as well as the correct methods for recruiting new members; training; creating cells, preparing and using explosives against military and civilian targets; assassinations with all sorts of firearms, poisons and knives; espionage and counter-espionage; and resistance to interrogation and torture. In terrorist hideouts there is always a smaller version some 180 pages long. It is strictly forbidden to take the manual out of the house and the head of the cell has orders to destroy it at any sign of danger.

[2]Homosexual in Arabic.

[3]He’s awake,’ said the older

[4]Your mother committed adultery with a monkey.

[5]International Service Liaison, link between international espionage services.

[6]Gossipy woman in Yiddish.

[7]A neurotic housewife who is obsessive about cleanliness, what others might think, and good manners in the series Desperate Housewives .

[8]Oh, merciful God, who art in Heaven, permit the souls of our friends to rest in the wings of your divine presence; in the divine heights of your purity and holiness accept the bright spirit that approaches you.

[9]Jewish Law.

[10]Blessed art thou, oh God, the Eternal, Universal Presence, who makes bread grow from the earth.