One by one the commanders cleared the tent, none looking back, until besides him there was only Bin-Nun, Elezar and Salmon, whom Bin-Nun allowed to remain.
Deker cleared his throat and said, "I was with the granddaughter of the woman who gave you refuge in Canaan forty years ago. I gave her the necklace her grandmother gave you before she died."
Bin-Nun closed his eyes. Elezar stared.
"Her name, too, is Rahab, and as her grandmother did for you, so Rahab gave us refuge and helped us escape Jericho. In return, I promised that we would spare her life and those of her family."
Elezar said nothing but did not dispute it, including their promise to spare her.
"Through her window in the north wall of Jericho, Elezar and I can get back into the city and plant the explosives," Deker said.
"If she doesn't betray us," Elezar finally chimed in. "There could be a contingent of Reahn soldiers waiting for us. We can't trust a whore."
"She saved our lives," Deker cut in.
"By lying to her authorities," Elezar shot back. "She is neither truthful nor trustworthy."
Bin-Nun seemed to wrestle with it for a moment, but then shook his head.
"Elezar is right. It's too risky. I cannot afford to let you go back and get caught. Before, you knew little. Now you know much. If you are captured, Hamas would have you, your explosives and our plans."
"Rahab can be trusted," Deker insisted. "Thanks to her, I learned Hamas' secret plan to destroy you."
Bin-Nun looked dubious. "Everybody has a secret plan to destroy us. How do I know this plan is real?"
"The plan is as real as the secret bridge you've built," Deker said, fixing his gaze on Bin-Nun.
The haunted look that Deker had seen in the general's eyes before he blew the dolmen monument had returned as soon as Deker said secret bridge.
"Hamas knows you're going to cross the Jordan at flood stage and not wait," Deker explained. "He also knows that, even with the secret bridge you've built, it will take three days for all Israel to cross."
Elezar stared, speechless for once.
"Hamas intends to bait you for a day and then attack when Israel is only halfway across, General," Deker went on. "He's got the Moabites lined up to wipe out the rear here on the east bank."
Bin-Nun was quiet, all his plans flushed. Elezar was amazed, either because of the quality of the intel or because Deker hadn't played the card until now.
"But we can help you, General," Deker assured him. "You show me this bridge you've built, and I'll show you how I can get Israel across in one day. Then it will be too late for Hamas to attack you when you're at half strength, and the Jordan will fall behind you like a wall to protect your rear from the Moabites. Then you'll let me return to Jericho through Rahab's window and bring down its walls."