"Vincent, clearance level 5, authorization code: XXXX-XX-XXX."
Vincent finally reported his surname, clearance level, and code, his voice steadied without a ripple, then hung up the red phone with a heavy hand.
Click!
The crisp sound was like the blade of a guillotine falling, echoing in the deathly silent office, lingering for a long time.
The verdict had been given.
He no longer looked at Simon.
Instead, he slowly leaned back into the wide high-backed chair, picked up the cup of coffee on the desk that was already completely cold, brought it to his lips, and took a shallow sip.
The cold liquid slid down his throat, bringing a peculiar tingle.
He had a strange feeling, as if there were insects hidden beneath his skin, felt but neither seen nor caught.
In the east of Siria, on the eastern slopes of the Gelbi Mountain range, at the peak.
