There was a flash of light, and Deker felt another blow to his head. He opened his eyes in time to see Ram pull back his iron-hard fist and then bludgeon him in the face again.
"The invasion plans, Deker," said another voice with a thick Aramaic accent. "That's your name, Hebrew, isn't it?"
Deker blinked to see that he was in some dank cell, and that a large figure was standing next to Ram. The figure bent over, and his smooth face with hooded eyes and long hair came into focus.
Hamas. I've been captured. Maybe Ram has taken the credit.
A hand reached out toward the silver Star of David hanging around Deker's neck and roughly dangled it before his eyes. The IDF insignia in the center came in and out of focus, and Deker felt a profound aura of deja vu settle over him.
"The Hebrew invasion plans," Hamas repeated. "Or Ram will have to kill you."
Deker spit in Ram's face, just to show Hamas they were on different sides and to let Ram know that he needn't fear exposure-yet. Everything depended on how this all played out.
"What invasion?" Deker asked as Ram wiped the spit from his face.
Hamas said, "Ram, show him."
Ram grabbed him by his hair and dragged him across the floor with his chains and propped him up by the window. Deker looked out to see a cloud of dust in the distance. There was the glint of the golden Ark, seven priests with their trumpets in front of it. Armed guards marched before the priests and behind the Ark. They formed the clasp of a great necklace of Israelite soldiers encircling the city, six men deep and more than five hundred cubits away beyond the range of the archers.
"That invasion," Hamas said as he stood behind him, and Deker could smell his foul breath. "Behold the dust kicked up by the vast host of Israelite troops. Bin-Nun has been circling the city for six days now. Did you really think you could frighten us into surrendering with tall tales of Yahweh's divine power?"
Deker tried to piece together how long he had been held in captivity here. Surely it couldn't have been six days. But his mind was a jumble of beatings and blackouts, and he had no clue. He turned to look the general in the eye. "Whether I live or die, Hamas, you already know that Bin-Nun is going to win no matter what."
Hamas smiled. "It's been six days, Deker. Without you, they have already failed. Including your comrade Elezar. He only lasted two days before he died."
Elezar dead? Deker didn't believe it. Dogs like Elezar never died; they always survived somehow. That the Israelites were circling the city, however, was no lie. He could see it with his own eyes.
The familiar feeling of dread that so often overwhelmed him returned with a bitter vengeance. Deker cursed himself for his failure and resolved that, whatever else happened, he wouldn't break.
"Your cause is lost, Hamas."
"It's Bin-Nun who looks lost to me, Deker," Hamas said. "Is he waiting for a signal from you? Is that why he circles without striking? Or are you the one waiting for a signal from him?"
Deker said nothing.
"Ram, give him a signal."
Deker turned in time to see Ram cock his giant clenched fist before it hit him like a sledgehammer in the face. His head slammed against the wall and he blacked out.