"This takes time, and it might not succeed," Ryan said.
"It's fine, as long as we apply pressure."
Lemont checked his watch, 11 p.m.
"Samir is not a fool; he knows the cost of confronting the Americans. When the pressure is great enough, he will make the 'right' choice."
Ryan started drafting the encrypted telegram.
Lemont went to the window, watching the searchlights outside the base cutting through the night sky.
The beams formed cones of light that illuminated the open ground outside the perimeter wall.
Too quiet, he thought again.
Mosul, even in the deep of night, should have some sounds.
For instance...
The barking of stray dogs, distant gunfire, the roar of generators.
But tonight, it was eerily silent.
"Increase alertness." He spoke into the radio, "All sentries to double shifts, snipers in position. Tell the pilots to keep the helicopters in a ready-to-launch state."
Orders were relayed.
