"Zionists," Raf announced. Briskly, but without haste, he retreated to hisarsenal on the kitchen floor. He slung an AK over his shoulder, propped a secondassault rifle within easy reach, then knelt around the corner of the kitchenwall, giving himself a clear line of fire at the front door.

Starlitz quickly weighed various possibilities. He decided to keep watching thewindow.

With swift and deadly purpose, the hit-team marched to the adioining duplex. Thedoor broke off its hinges as they kicked their way in. There were brief yelps ofindignant surprise, and a quiet multiple stuttering. A burst of Uzi slugspierced the adjoining wall and embedded themselves in the floor.

Raf rose to his feet, his plump face the picture of glee. He touched one fingerto his lips.

Footsteps clomped rapidly up and down the stairs in the next apartment. Doorsbanged, drawers opened. A bedside telephone jangled as it was knocked from itstable. In three minutes the hit-team was out the door.

Raf scurried to the window and knelt. He'd grabbed a small pocket Nikon from hissports bag. He clicked off a roll of snapshots as the hit squad retreated. "I'mso tempted to shoot them," he said, hitching the sling of his assault rifle,"but this is better. This is very funny."

"That was Mossad, right?"

"Yes. They thought I was the neighbor."

"They must have had a description of you and the girl. And they know you're herein Finland, man. That's not good news."

"Let's phone in a credit for their hit. The Helsinki police might catch them.That would be lovely. Where is that cellphone?"

"Look, we were extremely lucky just now. We'd better leave."

"I'm always lucky. We have plenty of time." Raf gazed at his arsenal and sighed."I hate to abandon these guns, but we have no car to carry. them. Let's carrythe guns next door, before we go! That should win us some nice press."