The Moses Effect Ebook

TheMoses Effect JAMES S. YOUNG Copyright © 2017 Rodgers Publishing All rights reserved. ISBN: 9781521211687 2

FORWARDThis is definitely not War and Peace,but it is a Tall Story...No, it’s probably not a great literarymasterpiece and it was not written tohit you over the head with socialcomment or emotional guilt. However,it is I hope, a good story that you willenjoy.The events here described are basicallytrue, however, as the sixties policedetective series Dragnet stated, ‘Onlythe names have been changed to protectthe innocent.’In our story, ‘Only the facts have beenchanged to make it more interesting.’ James S. Young iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSI will always be grateful for the suggestionsand the encouragement I received from…What’s his name. All of which I have notconsidered and in fact have completelyignored.It must always be recognized and alwaysacknowledged that this book was onlypossible without his help.I’m still grateful anyway and will rememberThingy always. 3

INTRODUCTION1810 - Montana, USARunning Elk by name, was a brave of the Sioux nation.The Sioux are one of the great indigenous nations ofNorth America.Running Elk rested his pony on a ridge overlooking thevast plain below. A smile crossed his lips and his eyeswidened at the sight that greeted him. Below a greatswathe of trampled earth about half a mile wide,stretched as far as the eye could see.In the distance he observed a plume of dust resembling alarge cloud rising from the earth created by a large herdof Tatanka, or as we know them, Buffalo. In this singleherd, over one million of these magnificent creatures hadpassed, causing the earth to rumble and the ground totremble as their hooves trampled by.Running Elk raised his lance above his head and gave ashrill, loud cry, attracting the attention of the rest of thescouting party. They had been searching for this verysign, as the buffalo traversed the North Americancontinent during their yearly migration to fresh pastures.As the scouting party reacted to his cry and galloped tohis side, a feeling of well being and excitement settledupon him. Soon he and the other scouts, along with therest of the warriors, would return to this place and thenthe chase would begin. 4

JAMES YOUNGAs a result of the forthcoming hunt, the tribe would bewell equipped to face the cold harsh winter that layahead.Food and all that the Buffalo supplied included clothing,tent cloths, moccasins, sewing needles made from thebuffalo’s smaller bones. Nothing would be wasted.When European’s first began to colonize the NorthAmerican Continent there were estimated to be up toseventy five million buffalo wandering the plains of thisvast continent. Sadly the policy was introduced to starveout the indigenous Indian Nations and take over the landby killing all the Buffalo.The exploits of individuals like Buffalo Bill Cody andhunting expeditions where hunters would slaughter theBuffalo by shooting from the safety and comfort ofLocomotive Carriages.The plan was so successful that by the end of thenineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centurythere were estimated to be only three hundred, yes threehundred Buffalo left in the wild.No wonder the indigenous Indians got a little peeved!So much for European civilisation, sorry I mean greedand avarice for land.Spring 1513 BC - Red Sea, EgyptIt has been estimated that Moses lead out of Egypt three 6

THE MOSES EFFECTmillion children of Israel and others. This also includeddomestic animals, cattle, oxen, sheep and no doubt beingJews, chickens. Their transport? Wagons, donkeys orass’s would all combine to compile this vast exodus ofpeople.Ramses II was believed to be the Pharaoh ruling whenthe Israelites escaped the oppressive Egyptian clutches.At night, with the shore of the Red sea in front of themand the whole Egyptian army moving headlong towardthem from the rear intent on revenge, Israel nowappeared to be doomed.The bibles account indicates “The LORD said untoMoses… Lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine handover the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israelshall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea...And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and theLORD caused the sea to go back and made the sea dryland, and the waters were divided. And the children ofIsrael went into the midst of the sea upon the dry groundand the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand,and upon their left.”*Pharaoh had ordered his whole army, no doubt includinghis sons, to capture and return these easy pickings toEgyptian control and enforced labour.“And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them intothe midst of the sea, even all Pharaohs horses, hischariots, and his horsemen.” The bibles narrativecontinues and further states “And the LORD said unto 7

JAMES YOUNGMoses. Stretch out thine hand over the sea that thewaters may come again upon the Egyptians. And Mosesstretched forth his hand over the sea, and the seareturned… and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.”*Some state the reason why the Egyptian force drown,was because they had lost the Israelite’s trail. Israel wasallegedly able to cross the Reed Sea in shallow watersand the pursuing Egyptian hosts missed a trail made bythree million people and their associated caravan. Ablind man on a galloping horse seems to come to mind.Why did Egypt not commemorate such a monumentaldisaster?Probably the same reason London’s Trafalgar Square isnot in Paris, those who cocked it up do notcommemorate a Cock Up. The victor commemoratesvictories.11 April 1693 – The Straits of GibraltarSir Francis Wheler, or Wheeler as sometimes spelt,Commander in Chief of a large convoy of British ships,48 Warships and 165 Merchant vessels which safelyentered the Spanish port of Cadiz, entered the Strait ofGibraltar aboard his flagship HMS Sussex.The Sussex had been launched on 25 March 1693, barelyeleven months earlier. Sir Francis' orders were to makecontact with the Spanish. It was proposed that Spain join 8

THE MOSES EFFECTBritain and help in Britain’s war against France.HMS Sussex, an eighty gun ship of the line, wascarrying gold bullion in excess of five hundred millionpounds sterling at today’s value.When one, perhaps thinks of bullion, besides gold andsilver ingots, pieces of eight and doubloons come tomind.Pieces of Eight were Spanish silver dollars that could besnipped into eight smaller pieces, hence Pieces of Eight.The Doubloon was a gold coin produced in the Americasfor around two hundred years. The first Doubloon everminted was sold at auction for around five million USdollars.In addition to the Sussex, there were 165 merchant shipsand the goods that were being conveyed in them.This of course was not a bribe, just a littleencouragement and appreciation from the BritishGovernment for any assistance Spain could provide onbehalf of Britain against the French.After some success previously in the Mediterranean Sea,Sir Francis had been dispatched to the Caribbean andhad failed miserably. Subsequently, he’d beencommissioned to assail Quebec, another dismal failure.However, it was not all his fault. A failure to raiseenough recruits by the British Government was a majorfactor in these attacks. 9

JAMES YOUNGMaybe Sir Francis’ new assignment back in theMediterranean may bring better results following hisprevious success in the area, wrong. Just two dayssailing passed Gibraltar into the Mediterranean theconvoy encounter the Levant, a very strong storm wind.It was decided to tack the vessels and endeavour to gainshelter in the Lee of the Rock of Gibraltar. Sir Francishad retired to bed, when HMS Sussex began her tack,her demise was sudden, she hadn’t lasted a year. Thegun ports had been left open and she was quicklyoverwhelmed with sea water and sank.In that storm eight warships were lost. She now liesapproximately half a mile deep below the surface of theMediterranean Sea. There were only two sailors of the560 personnel that survived the sinking of HMS Sussex.Two days later Sir Francis’ body was washed up on theeastern shore of Gibraltar attired in his nightshirt, Iwonder if his last instructions were, “Don’t wake meunless it’s important.”That disaster was one of the greatest ever experienced, ifnot the greatest disaster ever to befall the British Navyand also one of the greatest bullion wrecks of that time,excluding the San Jose. Spain joined France and the warended in stalemate. Perhaps it could be said Sir Francishad been successful after all, in that the war ended. 10

THE MOSES EFFECT1990’s – Valley of the Kings, EgyptEgypt has long enthralled historians and archaeologists.Napoleon Bonaparte during his Egyptian Campaign, hadtaken along with him artists and historians to record andremove whatever valuable antiquities they could find. Itwas during this period of time that the Rosetta Stone, amajor key to unravelling the ancient Egyptian language,was discovered, that being long before the famous eventof 1922.The incident of 1922, which occurred in the Valley ofthe Kings, stimulated a renewed fascination with allthings Egyptian. Lord Canarvon asked EgyptologistHoward Carter, “Can you see anything?” Receiving thenow famous reply as Carter peered into the smallopening that had been made in the Boy KingTutankhamen’s newly excavated ancient tomb. “Yes.Wonderful things!!”In more recent times the market traders in Egypt’sValley of the Kings had long plied their trade upon anyunsuspecting tourist that had the misfortune to purchasea genuine amulet or trinkets of the APIS bull, only it wasnot.It had the antiquity of tomorrow’s News Paper. Havingonly been completed two hours ago by a nine year oldboy in a local sweatshop.Typically, a figurine could be in the form of one of theEgyptian gods or goddess. An example being that of theAPIS bull, as just mentioned. 11

JAMES YOUNGThe bull was viewed as the incarnation of the godOSIRIS. OSIRIS being the god of the Dead and theUnderworld.The APIS bull being so highly honoured that when thebull died, it was buried with the same reverence as thePharaoh or as a God itself. The bull being embalmed andplaced in its own sarcophagus.In the nineteen nineties one of these traders had beenrequested to move his stall a few yards from where hewas trading. As this request was made by what seemedto him to be a rich European, the request was met with astern resolve that only the smell of money could assuage.The trader reflected the highest moral calibre that is sostereotypical of such ones.The negotiations were a little fraught. Primarily becausethe archaeologist was not absolutely sure of the locationof the tomb he felt his evidence suggested was there.The archaeologist, not wishing to provide emolument toan individual he believed to be a charlatan, this inaddition to his own doubts regarding the location of thetomb. The other, wishing to extricate from this filthyrich, pig dog, which were here to rape his ancientheritage, as many shekels as possible.In addition, this person would have to pay handsomelyfor him to move from this prime position handed downfrom father to son for generations. Well, four monthsago, when in a game of chance he had cheated theprevious owner who had had the location handed downfrom father to son. 12

THE MOSES EFFECTIf he had himself realized where he was standing wouldhe not have excavated the site faster than a pregnantcamel with its humps on fire. Not withstanding, theanswer to his prayers for a large remuneration seemedabout to be fulfilled.At length the negotiations ended. The trader moved. Thiswas not as a result of reason, compromise or finenegotiable skills. Rather the arrival of the Director of theEgyptian Bureau of Antiquities, along with what seemsto be half the Egyptian army.Quick negotiations ensued. The afore mentionednegotiators, eight Egyptian soldiers, overturned andthrew the stall aside. If one could speak Egyptian onemay have heard some quite unusual words from the iratestall holder. These words were not the usual expressionsuttered by a trader, nor ones an Egyptologists wouldnormally expect to hear.After that, short but effective negotiation, the directorstated, “You may now proceed with your dig.”Grateful thanks were proffered.Soon a small army of academics arrived with enoughequipment to establish a comfortable temporary tentedvillage. They arrived, along with tents, picks, shovels,wheelbarrows, baskets, labourers, supplies, cooks andwho know what else.The small team of Archaeologists, Egyptologists and aPalaeontologist were able to recognize among thecrowds that now surrounded the proposed dig, 13

JAMES YOUNGindividuals, some for generations as a family trade, thathad worked enthusiastically and effectively on previousarchaeological sites. Some had previously beenForemen.This was helpful in being able to arrange the labourforce and negotiate terms of payment for their labour.Finally, all things were in their place, all knowing theirassignments, theoretically. One minor difficulty though,where was the tomb?After the débâcle with the market trader, it was felt thatthe location previously occupied by the traders stallshould be were the dig should begin.If the dig did not commence, the reaction of the crowdthat had witnessed the unceremonious eviction of theirfellow countryman would be quite frightening, and theconsequences unthinkable.Following the type of calculation used to discover theunderground tomb of Tutankhamen, plus the contours ofthe topography that the ancient tomb builders would use,seemed to indicate roughly where a previouslydiscovered tomb should be.Engaging in an earnest, monumental endeavour by theacademic and labourers, a square of about twenty squareyards was slowly cleared. Then began the carefulclearing, virtually a scraping of the surface thenbrushing. Two days of exertion passed.Then there appeared what had been hoped for, that being 14

THE MOSES EFFECTa flat stone slab marking the entrance to the ancienttomb. The excitement was palpable. There, before thema fifteen by ten foot tablet of stone. So finely chiselledand cut to fit the entrance, that it was almostundetectable.The slab was raised. There revealed, as expected, a stepat one end. Subsequent excavation revealed not a step,but many steps leading down into the tomb.Much of the entrance had been filled by falling rubble asa result of Flash Floods, masonry and some debrisdesigned to block any entry into the tomb by TombRaiders. Sadly, it had failed. Evidence indicated that thetomb had been robbed back in antiquity and would notcontain any treasures or artefacts similar to that ofTutankhamen’s tomb.After weeks of slow, methodical endeavour it becameapparent that although there was no treasure, this tombwas unusual.The more the tomb was cleared, the more there seemedto be. Weeks of exertion followed and it became veryapparent, it was not in a tomb. It was rather a largecorridor with perhaps as many as seventy chambers,some believed to be Tombs for the mummified bodies ofRameses II sons.This tomb would be given the number KV5. All thetombs discovered in the Valley of the Kings were giventheir own designated number, KV being Kings Valley.This tomb was Kings Valley tomb number five. 15

JAMES YOUNGAlthough the Tomb was originally discovered in 1825by James Burton, it didn't begin to be fully excavateduntil 1995 by Kent R. Weeks. After Burton’s cursoryinvestigation, the tomb was then resealed until the1990's.Why all these tombs? They were not the tombs of whatappeared to be affluent Egyptians. As indicated earlier,these tombs were tombs of Egyptian Princes. All alsoappeared to be for the sons of the famous Rameses II.Bewilderment befell that group of men of eminentacademia. Why? Because those entombed and buriedhere all seemed to have died at the same time or at leastvery soon after each other.Could they have all died at the same time, these sons ofRameses II? At what event?What could have caused their deaths? Famine, hardly.The royal house would generally not have suffered fromfamine. The people maybe starved, but not Pharaoh, northe sons of Pharaoh. Could it have been disease,assassination, drowning!Atlantic OceanThe Titanic, Lusitania, Bismarck and Graff Spay, greatvessel’s of history, all with one very interestingsimilarity, they all sank allegedly carrying largequantities of gold. 16

THE MOSES EFFECTThese vessels have now been discovered and exploredusing the most advanced submersibles and divingtechniques.The real incentive and motivation behind many of thesedeep-sea operations was the great Archaeological andHistorical interest that would be generated. Now, howlow was that pig that just flew overhead.The truth is, these deep sea operations were probablyreally motivated by greed, to discover the valuablesthese vessels had taken with them to the seabed.Bismarck and the Graff Spay all carried gold to purchaseneeded supplies from so called neutral countries. To payfor whatever the German High Command required.Those requirements being supplies, information and theobligatory bribes to keep prying eyes from becoming toinquisitive.Titanic and Lusitania carried the gold supplied bygovernments to purchase weapons, pay governmentaldebts. Within their strong rooms, vaults or safes werealso the diamonds, jewellery and bonds of their richpassengers.During the various deep-sea explorations since thediscovery of the Titanic on the morning of the 1stSeptember 1985, one by one the Titanic, Lusitania,Bismarck, The Graff Spay all with appropriate safes,vaults and strong rooms were discovered empty of theirbullion. Could they have removed all those valuables inthe panic to survive? 17

JAMES YOUNGWould they have considered or even carried the goldingots and other valuables away from the ship in the heatof battle or abandoning ship? With one exception, thecrew of the Graff Spay may have taken the valuables offthe warship before scuttling her at the mouth of theRiver Plat.This though was not very feasible as the crew andsuppliers were intricately watched day and night tomaintain strict laws of neutrality. Any attempt to removethe gold would have been detected. Ostensibly she wentto the bottom with the bullion Virgo Intacta.1994 – Tokyo University, JapanThe long glass tube, half filled with water lay stretchedout before them. The two physicists, Masakazu Iwasakaand Shogo Ueno now place at its centre two powerfulelectromagnetic coils to create a strong magnetic fieldaround the horizontal tube.The magnetic field, some 500,000 times stronger thanthat of the earth’s gravitational force, forced the water torush to the ends of the cylinder. The phenomenon whichthese scientists discovered, has now been duplicated byphysicists in Europe and the United States.New Scientist** reported “The phenomenon worksbecause water is weakly diamagnetic, repelled by amagnet. The established phenomenon of water movingfrom where a magnetic field is very high to where it islower.” 18

THE MOSES EFFECTNew Scientist noted: “Pushing water around is easy, ifyou have a big enough magnet. And if you do, thennearly anything is possible.” (Italics mine)This extraordinary accomplishment has been dubbed …“The Moses Effect.”*Exodus Ch 17 Vs 5 to 31** New Scientist May 1994 19

JAMES YOUNG CHAPTER ONEThey had told me that nights like this had ended back inthe nineteen fifties. This was the kind of night in whichthe mind still recalls the films shown in Cinemas. Thereis a memory of the dark, foggy, gas lit Whitechapel areaof the city of London. When in the Victorian era Jack theRipper once roamed the streets looking for his haplessvictims.Although we think of it as fog it was SMOG, a mixtureof smoke and fog, which had been a common occurrencethrough autumn and spring. In fact, really at any timewhen there was high air pressure, little or no airmovement and damp fog. Although primarily it occurredin late autumn, winter and early spring.The deadly mixture of smoke from the coal fires shouldhave been blown away by the movement of air. SMOGdeveloped by the smoke being pushed down by the airpressure and mixing with the fog. The smoke beingproduced by the multitudinous coal fires that burned inthe hearths of any great metropolis. This SMOG whichhad caused Bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses,resulting in premature death, particularly among the veryyoung and older members of the community.An additional difficulty was that in large cities, such asLondon, the SMOG brought the city to a virtualstandstill. The SMOG was so thick, traffic could notmove. The Police took their lives in their hands as theytried with torches to direct traffic. Direct traffic, onecouldn’t see the headlights of the cars never mind the 20

THE MOSES EFFECTroads.Some police officers even used a type of flare to bevisible. The flare burned rather like a Roman Candle. Italways seemed to me that these flares, that wereproducing smoke, were contributing to the problem.The situation had proved to be such a devastating healthand traffic problem, the then British Governmentintroduced in the nineteen fifties and sixties, a Clean AirPolicy. This required that only Smokeless Fuel should beused. I wonder what caused the government to act,health or commerce.Well, here we are in the twenty first century and it wasback! The first Toxic Air Pollution Alert in London wasissued back in 2017. 24th January, 2017 to be precise.Thick and seemingly impenetrable, blown from thecontinent of Europe. Keep it, we’ve got our own! In2015 the British Government complained to theEuropean Commission regarding the level of pollutioncoming from the European continent.I couldn’t very well call it SMOG, as there was nosmoke to mix with this night’s fog. The population wasvirtually totally reliant on gas and electricity, henceSmokeless.So great the reliance on fossil fuel, particularlyelectricity produced by an inefficient oil and coalburning Power Stations, if one could throw a metaphoricswitch and cut of all the electricity, the population wouldbe totally helpless. Civilisation would come to a 21

JAMES YOUNGgrinding halt. There would be no sanitation, water, gasnor travel by air, sea, rail or road, nothing even to lightthe home.Additionally, there would be no means of running theappliances for washing, cooking, telecommunication orany of the multitudinous conglomerations of gadgets soprevalent today. No television. The end of that infernaldin, loosely called music, whether punk, hip hop, heavymetal, garage or rap.Oh I thought, so there would be some benefit after all,where’s that switch?If it was not SMOG, what is it? Yet, there it was on thiswinter night, a bone chilling freezing fog. Due to theintake of cold foggy air I have a slight coughing bout.What am I breathing in? All this talk of Green Housegases, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Benzene,other ‘Zenes’, Oxides and Chemicals polluting theatmosphere. I know what I’ll call it CHOG, Chemicalsand Fog.After parking and leaving the car in the garage. I waswalking the short distance toward the house. I had notbeen placed by the British Secret Service in thisdomicile very long. The street lights causing thattriangular shaft of hazy white light that is so singularlyindicative of street light illumination during the stilleerie smog, sorry CHOG, of the night.In the street light there could be seen green garbagecontainers, big Wheelie Bins. So named because the 22

THE MOSES EFFECTgarbage containers were fitted with wheels for ease ofmovement, most just called them bins.They stood somewhat sentinel like at the curb side,illuminated by the street lamps. These objects, about twofeet square and four feet high with two afore mentionedwheels at the rear and complete with a flip over lid. Thelid embossed with “NO HOT ASH”. From what Ithought? Gas or Electric fires?These containers were the Municipal Authority’s meansof refuse collection. In these early hours of the morningwhile still dark in these winter months, the refusecollectors had been about their business and had emptiedthe Wheelie Bins.They had been emptied by the vernacularly termed BinMen. These doyens of refuse collection emptied thecontainers by placing them at the rear of a largecavernous vehicle which then lifted the wheelie bin withone continuous movement to the top rear of the vehicleand emptied the contents into its seemingly enormousrepository.The receptacles were then returned empty back to thelocation from which they were collected, ready forcollection by the householder. I always felt that as theBin Men collected the refuse from the householder’spremises, the bin should be returned to the place ofcollection. Not left where they now stood, somewheredown the street, perhaps I’m unreasonable.Through the cold swirling mist, the faint outline of the 23

JAMES YOUNGbuildings could be seen in dark grey outline. Nowelcoming, warm light could be seen coming throughthe street facing windows of the dwellings. All was quietand seemingly well, the occupants were asleep and atrelative peace with the world.As I walked and passed one of the street lights, I noticedthe shadow that I cast beginning to develop on thepavement in front of me. How had I ever let Max, that’sSir Maximilian Benjamin St. John-Smyth being his fulltitle, talk me into wearing this apparel?It would not have been out of place in the Edwardianera, but now? Well, I wonder what Sarah had thought?Actually, I really knew. She had walked back to herfather’s mansion, hand over her mouth and shouldersshacking trying to control her giggling, after bidding mea fond farewell.But let me tell you about Max. Now a widower, hisworld revolved around Sarah his daughter, my fiancée.He had come from a long line of St. John-Smyths. St.John always sounded like Sin Gin to my ear. Althoughnot actually aristocratic, he was still very, very, upper–class, if you know what I mean.The title Sir appeared more times in the family historythan could be heard by little prep school boys calling Sir,Sir, trying to attract the attention of their long sufferingschoolmasters, as they sought confirmation from theschoolmaster, of the possibility of being permitted extraallowances from their respective families. 24

THE MOSES EFFECTMax’s family had made their vast fortune in Real Estate,however, in recent years his portfolio contained anumber of nefarious activities involving Gold Bullion.Although very English, the family had madeexceptionally good connections in the United States.What are the words of the song? “New York. NewYork. So good they named it twice”. Well, it was whileNew York was named New Amsterdam, hence thenaming of it twice, that Benjamin Charles St. John-Smyth, the name Benjamin was always incorporatedamong the names of the eldest or only son as a familytradition, owned a rather large portion of what is nowknown as Manhattan, New York USA.A large number of Welsh nationals of the UnitedKingdom named Edward’s would prick up their ears atthat. There has been a long running and costly legalbattle by the extended Edwards family claiming theirownership of Manhattan. Well the St John-Smyths havea different view.I do not know how many Greats to put in front ofGrandfather to connect Benjamin with Max, but it isquite a number. The family is still extraordinarilyfinancially sound. Furthermore Max still retained thefamilies ability to make money.As an example, Max extracted a large amount of hisfortune that had been invested in the Stock Market, theFriday before the crash of Black Wednesday in thenineteen nineties. Reinvested it a few months later and 25

JAMES YOUNGmade an enormous profit. There was no evidence ofInsider Trading, all above board, allegedly. Sometimes,events have a strange way of working out. With Max itseems more often than not, it worked out well.The Big City Brokers were always watching andlistening to Sin Gin, as he was known. Trying always toguess what he was doing. “Sin Gin is selling”, “Sin Ginis buying” or “Keep an ear out for what Sin Gin isdoing”. It seemed to be the order of the day. They hadgood reason.On Monday 10th September 2001 Max had sold all hisshares in British Petroleum (BP), British Airways andreduced his stock in the BAA (British AirwaysAuthority), the mainly privately owned body thatcommercially runs certain aspects of the major BritishAirports.The last transaction just completed as the Trading Bellsounded for close of business on Wall Street, New York.Then came the catastrophic events of the Twin Towersin New York on Tuesday 11 September 2001.So here I was in the county of Buckinghamshire. Diningwith Max on his rather large and magnificent estate, witha particularly well-maintained and beautiful Elizabethanmansion. Little did I know that this night was to be thelast time that I had, what I had thought, was the privilegeof dining with Max in this most luxurious edifice. Irecalled previous occasions, but this was something Ihad not formerly experienced. It was a rather fraughtoccurrence. 26

THE MOSES EFFECTOn previous occasions, but not tonight, Max permittedhis sense of humour, which was a little puzzling at timesto get the better of him. For example, one ofMaximilians ways of perceiving whether an individualwas very you, or was a social dullard, was the PeaExperiment. Yes, that rather insignificant littleleguminous green vegetable.The inquisition followed the simple process of makingsure that the victim was supplied with an extra largeportion of the said vegetable. Max then watched the ill-fated victim, very unobtrusively of course. Would thevictim shovel the peas with his or her fork like ademented steamships stoker? No, I did not.In the best traditional etiquette, I held the handle of thedining fork in the palm of my left hand with my indexfinger resting along the spine, but not touching the tinesor prongs. Then over what seemed a very, very longperiod I proceeded delicately with the use of the dinnerknife, held in my right hand as a buffer, I was able tospear five or six of the errant articles at a time andconsume them. All very comm il faut. How does onedeal with slight embarrassment? With great difficulty.There was another little examination that Max would tryout. From the garden, did I say garden! More like asmall farm, Max would select some of the greens that hewould incorporate into the meal, particularly salads. Oneof his favourites was the humble celery. He would findthe stalks that seemed to have the right crispiness for hisartful contrivance. 27

JAMES YOUNGThe meal would be progressing, then salad arrived. Aknowing look passed around the dinner table as thecelery was noted. For all but the victim were aware ofthe stratagem. During the meal, the target would pick uphis or her celery stick with the other guests all appearingto be unassumingly engaged in conversation.All the time waiting, as soon as the celery was broughtup to the guinea pigs mouth, instant silence fell upon allthose present. The crunch could be heard with whatseemed like a deafening, reverberating, embarrassingechoing sound within the ancient oak lined dining room,in situations like this, my grandmother used to say “itsounds as though your chewin’ coals”.Looking round nervously, realizing all eyes were uponhim or her in what seemed an ominous cessation ofsound. Embarrassment beginning to well up as thesacrificial lamb tried to masticate as slowly and quietlyas possible, just prolonging the agony for a few moresoundless moments. Then Max threw up his arms andgave out an immense roar of laughter. I could neverwork out what it was about it that gave Max so muchamusement.Actually, that’s not quite true, Max had a ratherunpleasant aspect to his personality, he always tookpleasure in putting others down, or one-upmanship. I hadexperienced that as previously described. It’s as if hecouldn’t tolerate anyone appearing to be, in Max's view,superior to him. Max was satisfied that he was still theAlpha Male. A buoyant, pleasant evening could nowensue. Pleasant that is, except for a troubled short 28

THE MOSES EFFECTconversation on this particular evening.Grant the butler had just left the dining room, makingsome unintelligible mutterings relating to ourconversation. “Will you be quiet and bring the Brandy”Max had insisted. With a shake of the head, he departed.“Why do you countenanth hith conduct?” So asked oneof the less frequent guests.”An older, rather short, weedy looking man, eyes so blackthat one could not detect the pupils of his eyes. He waswearing a well made, if ill fitting dinner suit. I can onlyimagine his tailor did not like him, or he had not paid hislast tailor’s bill.He was blessed with crooked old ivory coloured teeth.His black hair was balding, yet no hint of grey at thetemples. When he spoke it was as if his goal in life wasnot to move his lips. The concluding part of the old jokeabout the wide mouthed frog was being enacted beforeour eyes.For those not familiar with the yarn, and with apologiesto those who have. It goes as follows. One must alsonote that the one telling the story had to enact the events.Deep in the jungle there lived a wide mouthed frog. Hehad an irritating manner of greeting everyone he met, byopening wide his mouth and shouting “I AM A WIDEMOUTHED FROG AND NO ONE EATS ME.” Being aparticularly repulsively tasting morsel it wasn’tsurprising that it was never eaten, in fact avoided. 29

JAMES YOUNGHowever, one day he chanced upon a large snake.Making his usual greeting “I am a Wide Mouthed Frogand no one eats me” with his mouth as wide open as hecould make it. The snake nonetheless replied. “I love toeat wide mouthed frogs”. Instantly the frog sucked in itsmouth, making it as small as possible and said “Thankgoodneth thereth not vewy many about”.There it is over. The story is better in the acting than thetelling, so what does that say?Replying. Max said, “His families been on the staff forgenerations. I think he believes we belong to him”.Our conversation had been reviewing some of Max’sfinancial dealings. “Come on Max” I said. “How didyou know? How did you, all those years ago, know justwhen to sell your shares in BP, BA and BAA? You musthave had some information.” “Yeth do tell” echoed ourlittle mouthed frog companion.Max leans forwards, slightly bending and stretching outboth his hands toward me. “Lily white. Lily white myboy.” Because of reaching forward, to maintain eyecontact he slightly raised his head, having to raise hiseyebrows to facilitate the aforesaid eye contact. Theraising of the eyebrows released his pride and joy, hismonocle. Yes monocle. Straight into the soup! I gave analmost imperceptible shake of the head anddemonstrated the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa. Theman was fallible after all!“Damnation.” This word spoken by Max was the kind of 30

THE MOSES EFFECTexpression that was so inconsistent with his ability toexpress himself. Being verbalised in an almost pleading,whimpering tone that followed years of having toextricate that instrument from a varied and diverse set ofcircumstances. All of which would have seemedincongruous if they had not been true.His heroic efforts could be compared to observing theepic yarn of Jason and the Golden Fleece, only withoutsuccess. He could never master the dexterity of facialcontrol to keep the infernal offending object in its place.Taking these factors into consideration, it was almostshockingly offensive to hear his plaintive outburst.The most infamous occasion with the monocle, tookplace when Maximilian was being presented to thePrince of Wales, Prince William, following his recentinvestiture. This occurred shortly after his father, nowKing Charles III of England, had been enthroned asKing.“Sir. One does not wish to wear the Monocle today doesone!’ This being the morning of such an augustoccasion. Grant was his first name not his last, the Butlerwas not asking a question, but making a statement.When Grant used the designation Sir, Max always knewthere was censure in the remark.The relationship between the two men was not anarchaic “Lord and Vassal”, they were friends of longstanding. Grant’s father had been the family retainerfrom when he and Max were boys. 31

JAMES YOUNGIt wasn’t a “do not mix with the servants” household.Max and Grant played together as boys on the family’sestate, an almost Swallows and Amazon, Famous Fiveidyllic childhood.There had been a short period when Grant had spent afew years in the Armed Forces, I suppose he wanted towiden his experience from what may have seemed to bea tame existence at home, before returning to the StJohn-Smyths fold. In the Armed Forces he had becomean excellent marksman.Some evenings, they both would sit in the WithdrawingRoom enjoying some quiet time, as Max called it, andwould follow this example of informality.“Another brandy Grant?” Max asked as he was pouringhimself a refresher to his glass from the cut crystal ShipsDecanter that stood on the elegant polished sideboard.Not so polished that someone from the antique tradewould say it had lost its providence and patternation,history or ageing.“No thanks. If there’s nothing more you require I’ll seethat everything is secure and then retire.”“That’s fine. Don’t bother about clearing away tonight.”“I wasn’t going to.”Max chuckled and gave in. He knew that everythingwould be, as it should the following day. Then Maxsaid, “See you in the morning, love to Kathy.” Grant andKathy had been married for ten years and Max had been 32

THE MOSES EFFECTthe Best Man, incredulous to some, but not to them.As Grant was departing, he halted, paused and stared.“Big day in the morning, what time would you like torise Max?”“I thought about six AM.”“OK. I’ll tell Kathy.”It was informal when no guests or visitors were around.They were not good at the charade. You cannot hidefriendship. Nevertheless, the one who pays the piper stillcalls the tune, and Max paid the piper, or butler in thissituation. Grant in the end always had to acquiesce.Although not without adding his two penny-worth.The next morning Max looked hurt after Grant’scomment of censure. “You know that you invariablycause pandemonium when you wear that thing!”“Thing! Thing!” Max, red in the face. Feelinglambasted and flummoxed, as Grant once again providedhis uncalled for observation. “Are you not aware of thegreat regard with which the Monocle is held around theworld. Why even in Sri Lanka one variety of cobras iscalled the Monocled Cobra because of the ring aroundone of its eyes.”As Grant obtaining the offending object mumbled tohimself. “The cobra has no choice. And we’re not in SriLanka. Where This!!”, almost spitting the word out,“should be.” 33

JAMES YOUNG“Do you want” to cut off my right arm too?” trumpetedMaximilian. Grant passed the monocle to Max.“Remember the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson” 1809 –1892 Max said, “Yours is not to reason why!”Grant replied, “There is one thing certain that I’m notgoing to do, that’s Do or Die! Also, there is only one ofme. There were six hundred of them.” Max and Grantwere of course referring the epic poem by Alfred LordTennyson The Charge of the Light Brigade, whichcommemorated the ill fated attack by the British LightBrigade against the Russian artillery in the Crimean war.“Get the car will you!” Max said irritably.“Are you going to drive?” enquired Grant.“YES!”“Will that be with both eyes open or just with onepeering through the monocle?”“Just get the car!”Later, the inevitable. As Max gave a quick inclinationwith his head and slightly bowed toward the Prince, bothextending their hand to greet each other. Yes, Max'seyebrows took their wayward course and the monocleslipped from his eye and flew in an arc.The monocle being attached to the lapel buttonhole ofthe suit he was wearing, by a gold chain. In whatseemed like slow motion, the monocle arced toward thePrince. Fastened itself around the Princes jacket button. 34

THE MOSES EFFECTAffixed together before all the world, Max and thePrince of Wales. The Tabloid press had a field day.The next morning “FUTURE MONARCHMANACLED BY MONOCLE” was a typicalnewspaper headline, accompanied by a photograph ofthe unfortunate event. It was also the paper Max wasreading.“Have you seen this headline?” In disbelief Max waswaving the offending tabloid. “Manacled refers to beinghandcuffed or shackled.”“Max, it’s a Tabloid” said Grant, that seemed to pacifyMax. Grant permitted himself a silent chuckle.It would seem unbelievable that there would ever be asituation that would break the bond between these twomen and cause a murderous conflagration, but there was. 35

JAMES YOUNG CHAPTER TWOReferring to the aforementioned evening. Maximilianhad come into the elegant dining room after havingtaken a confidential telephone call in the library. Hisface was like thunder. He walked to the Carver at thehead of the table all the while looking at me with a fixedstare. What’s that all about? I thought.The Frog had not noticed Max’s expression nor his gazeand made the request “Path the thalt pleath.” I obligedby passing the requested condiment. While doing so Itried to soften Max’s demeanour by asking “Are yougoing to give us the inside story Max?” I asked. “Justhow did you achieve that master stroke of selling yourshares before the financial crash?”Max seemed to relax and replied “There is nothing to tellreally,” leaning back and resting his arms on the arms ofthe carver.“You cannot expect us to accept that Max” I said.“Surely there must be…”Max’s expression darkened, “I said! There is nothing totell!! Which part of the sentence did you notunderstand?” Silence descended on us all. This was mostunlike Max. Something was not sitting quite right onMax’s shoulders and causing him some emotionaldiscomfort.Grant entered the dining room after answering thetelephone that rang in the entrance hall just as Max madehis vehement confrontational comment. 36

THE MOSES EFFECT“Migraine playing sir up again?” interjected Grant.Migraine??? I have never known Max ever mention sucha disorder in all the time I have known him. Grantcontinued “Would you like me get something for yourmigraine?”“No thanks. I’ll be fine,” replied Max.Max’s expression once again darkened as he looked atme “It’ll be gone… soon.” After a few moments Maxregained his composure.Then apologetically Grant looked at me, “Sorry sir, Iwas distracted for a moment. There is a telephone callfor you, I believe from your mother. The connection issomewhat distorted.” My mother? Grant, Max and Sarahknew as well as I that my mother has been dead somefifteen years now.“You may take it in the hall sir, as there is no extensionnearby” said Grant with the expressionless face thatbutlers invariable develop through years of apparentlybeing invisible and inconspicuous. Well, most of them.As I knew Grant was more than that, he was a confidantof Max.Grant departed from the dining room and made his wayto the kitchen to speak with Kathy and returned almostimmediately to continue his duties.I made my apologies. Retired to the hall, passing Grantas he returned from the kitchen. There was always awelcoming feeling when first entering the hall from 37

JAMES YOUNGoutside. There was the central staircase at the far end ofthe hall. To the left of the staircase in the corner, facinginto the hall at an angle there was a most agreeable sighton a cold winters night, as this was, there appeared to mesomething like half a tree burning in a huge hearth.In the glow of the fire one could imagine a hale fellow,well met character from a Victorian novel. He wouldstride into the hall and be offered a flowing cup ofheated mulled wine to drive away the cold night chillwhich the traveller has endured during his or hertraversing from London or elsewhere by unheated coach,drawn by four majestic black horses.The telephone was on a polished mahogany table thatstood against the left hand side of the entrance hall.After taking the call I returned to the dinning room.Grant spoke. “Just thought I may mention sir, theweather is closing in quite badly. Looks like a freezingfog has set in.”While Grant was speaking, I had sat down once more.Sitting there as the lighted candelabra shone andsparkled. The huge log fire burning in a largeElizabethan hearth with its elegantly carved firesurround, which appeared to be made of sandstone.A pleasant feeling of satisfaction after enjoying Max’susual sumptuous repast wafted over me. The nauseatingrealisation that it would mean a long, cold drive back toLondon began to overwhelm me.I had arrived earlier driving my red 1935 MG PE Midget 38

THE MOSES EFFECTmanufactured by Morris Garages, part of the oncevibrant British motor industry. My MG is my pride andjoy.If I was truthful, it was rather lacking in a suitableheating system for the interior of the car, where is thatHail fellow, well met character with my rum punch orwhatever to warm me up for the forthcoming sojourn?Sarah and her father had greeted me as they steppedfrom the house onto the gravel drive as I alighted fromthe said vehicle on my arrival. “What on earth possessedyou to dive down in that contraption?” was Max’scheery greeting. “I’ll have you know that this is aclassic!” was my feeble reply. “Classic what…Wheelbarrow! Come on in before your spotted. I don’twish to be embarrassed by being associated with that!”Max beat a hasty retreat. Sarah walked with me towardthe house, linked my arm and kissed my cheek saying,“Pay no heed darling.”We entered the house through the large solid oak door.The door had that weathered grey brown colour thatcould only be produced through centuries of all that theBritish weather could throw at it.It only seemed five minutes since my arrival. Now thedrive back to London beckoned. What a night to travel.Max detected my reticence. “Stay the night.” AddressingGrant, “There is a room aired, is there not?” He awaitedGrants confirmation which readily came, “There isindeed!” Grant seemed positively gushing. 39

JAMES YOUNGI surmised he surreptitiously would try and extract fromme any information he could relating to my call frommother. No question was proffered by Max, Sarah orGrant because of the deference made to the other guestsenjoying Maximilians hospitality.I did notice out of the corner of my eye that Grantwhispered into Maximilian’s ear and showed him anobject cupped in his right hand. Max’s eyebrows bothraised, the monocle fell, as he glanced into Grantscupped hand. A short whisper passed between them.Grant then once again departed from the dining room.In the pleasant surrounding I could feel myself slowlyweakening. However, it has always been my desire toget the unpleasant or even pleasant circumstancecommenced as soon a possible. Get the unpleasantnessover and done with, or begin the more agreeablemoments with gusto. I declined the genuine offer fromSarah and her father. The telephone call had made mydeparture unavoidable.Returning, Grant interjected “I do hope Mother is well”as he returned from the kitchen where he had been toconvey Max’s directions to Kathy. We had both returnedtogether to the dining room and I replied to Grant, “Yes,everything is fine. She was only confirming that I wouldbe home this evening. Thank you for asking.”“You’ll freeze driving home in that contraption ofyours,\" said Max. I felt a tinge of hurt. Max continued,ignoring my pained expression. “I will arrange forsomething to keep you warm.” With that, he 40

THE MOSES EFFECTdisappeared from the room. I wished he had stayed awaywhen my eyes alighted upon the garments with which hereturned. “I am not wearing those!” I protested. Ignoringmy protestation, Max held out the offending garments.“Come along my boy, they will keep you warm.”I now knew how a condemned man felt. Particularlywhen I looked with pleading eyes to Sarah. An almostimperceptible smile appeared on her lips, she tilted herhead slightly to the left and she shrugged her shoulders. Ithought, Traitor, please do not inherit your father’s senseof humour.I was not going to look at Grant or any of the guests.Guests! Oh No! Guests. I could hear their muffled, lowconversations and knew I was the subject of discussion.The internal scream Max, why are you doing this to me,seemed to consume my very being.In one last desperate attempt to salvage some pride. Iraised myself to my full height. Resisting the temptationto stand on my tiptoes. “Maximilian! I arrived wearingscarf, gloves, overcoat and hat. I…” “Hat” interruptedMax. “Cap you mean and a scarf you call it. All youneed is a flying helmet and goggles and we’ll be callingyou Biggles, the imaginary World War 11 fictionalfighter pilot in nineteen fifties boys comic magazines.All that was missing were the ferrets,” cajoled Max andraising his eyebrows causing the monocle to fall. Myhumiliation complete I took the offending accoutrementsas Max hurriedly replaced his monocle. Sarah loweredher eyes and shook her head almost imperceptibly as the 41

JAMES YOUNGtwo men she loved engaging in this eccentric manner.Sadly, during the drive home, I had to admit that Maxhad been right. I did feel warm and I had to recant someof the tortures I had earlier wished to inflict onMaximilian Benjamin St. John–Smyth for theembarrassment caused to me by having to wear theoffending garments. So vile were my thoughts that eventhe Inquisitors of the Spanish Inquisition would havebeen shocked, now I felt remorse.Walking from the garaged car to my abode, the mistswirled about me. I mused, “Why didn’t the Edwardianmind not consider the future development of the auto-mobile. That would be novel because they hadn’t beeninvented then. They could have planned for garagesrather than stables. Incidentally, all the stables had nowbeen converted into the said garages and situated seventyyards from my home.”As I reached the lighted street lamps that extended myshadow, revealing the outline of a Deerstalker hat andcloak. What did I look like or whom did I look like. I didnot wait long for my answer. “Evening Therlock” camethe audible reply to my thoughts.So taken aback and startled, a cold shiver going downmy back and the hair pricked up on the back of my neck.I thought, “Who said that” and “where from?” Did hesay “Sherlock” or “Therlock?” The thought dissipated,as there through the haze appeared the reassuring sightof a British Bobby, a local police Constable. 42

THE MOSES EFFECTThe outline was unmistakable. The dark blue uniformand the typical Bobby’s helmet. Not as tall as I wouldhave thought, the six foot or so height restrictions to givethe police the needed air of superiority and intimidation,enabling them to enforce the law by their sheer presence,were not so stringently enforced these days. In part dueto the Politically Correct and Equal Opportunitiesbrigades, but maybe the mist and the light were playingtricks.As we passed directly beneath a street lamp, the policeofficer was to my left. As I neared the lamp standard Inoticed the police officer's shoes, brown suede is notexactly a police issue. That alerted me. In my peripheralvision I saw a flash of reflected light. Instinctively, Iducked, raising my left arm and elbow.Twisting my right shoulder down and to the left in aneffort to avoid the all to apparent onslaught. Themomentum of the attack and the speed of my lowcrouching, adrenaline can cause the body to react withgreat speed and strength, the momentum propelled myoverbalanced assailant across my back and against thelamppost.I heard what sounded like a hollow sound as his head hitthe upright lamppost, I had heard that sound previouslywhile walking along a main thoroughfare. Anunfortunate individual had fallen backwards as straightas a felled tree. His skull hit the ground and making areverberating sound of a bell.The brain within the skull has a small cavity between the 43

JAMES YOUNGbrain and the skull. I suppose that is why it sounded likea bell. The unfortunate man suffered from epilepsy,known as the falling sickness in ancient times. Happilythe epileptic recovered. Yet I can still recall that chillingsound.At the same time my attacker collided with the lamppostthere was an additional loud crack as his head wasforced back by his impetus, breaking his neck. He laystill on the ground and from his hand a Stiletto fell.The Stiletto was a small dagger with a narrow blade thatfilm directors always seemed to favour in the old backand white espionage films, especially if the assassin wasbeing depicted as a particularly nasty villain.Shaken and trying to control my involuntary shivering, Ilooked down and I could not believe my eyes, it… it wasthe Frog.Panic, bewilderment and confusion overcame me. Whywould he do this, attack me. What have I done? Who orwhat did he think I was? What was I now to do? Worsestill, what would have happened if I had not noticed theshoes?I then recalled Maximilian’s comment “It’ll be gonesoon.” He wasn’t referring to an alleged migraine thatwould soon be gone, it was me! Had Maximilian beeninformed about my involvement with the HMS Sussexfiasco and wanted to remove the main advocates? Thus,planning to remove any witnesses that might incriminatehim in any criminal activity. 44

THE MOSES EFFECTMy eyes alighted upon the wheelie bins. With the logicof a startled panic-stricken rabbit, wide eyed I grabbedthe nearest one and opened the lid. With the effect ofadrenaline induced strength I picked up the motionlessbody and unceremoniously heaved him into the emptybin and closing the lid.Thank Goodness they had been emptied earlier by theMunicipal Refuse Collectors. Crouching with one armover the top of the closed bin and another arm rappedaround it and making quick darting glances I looked likethe archetypical mad professor clutching his latestgrotesque creation.Seeing no movement through the CHOG and hearing nosound. I quickly and silently moved through the now stillcold night until I reached the steps leading up to thefront door of my Edwardian terrace house.Before ascending to the front door I rested my hands,one on the left hand iron railing which were a feature ofall the houses in the avenue, and the other hand on righthand side iron railings ready to launch myself up the stepand gain as quick an entry into the building as possible.Furtively I quickly looked around once again to confirmthat I had not been observed. Satisfied that I was alone Ihurled my body up the flight of steps, quickly unlockedthe door closing it as quietly as I could and securing itfirmly. That completed, I leaned back onto the door,switched on the light and attempted to gain some controlover my shaking body and bring some equilibrium to mydemented mind. 45

JAMES YOUNGAfter a few moments the feeling of security that onlybeing safe in familiar surroundings can bring, familiar? Ihad only been here a few weeks. I had arrived hereshortly after my return from Gibraltar, however beingindoors, did have a calming effect. The governmentdepartment for which I worked had temporally placedme here. Nevertheless, the anxiety I had felt diminishedslightly.The department for which I was employed was theequivalent of MI9.MI9 had been establish following the instructions of SirWinston Churchill the British Prim-Minister during thesecond World War. It’s role, to produce miniaturizedequipment that could be used in espionage, compasses,radio’s, cameras, pens and the like. Anything that couldbe used and could also conceal explosives or anythingthat could be useful, the Big Bang Theory takes a wholenew meaning.The department was disbanded after the war andincorporated into other departments such as MI5 andMI6 for use in espionage and counter espionage.My role, they told me, was to be exclusivelyadministration, pen pushing. They lied.I entered the lounge which was at the front of thebuilding, closed the curtains, switched on one of thestandard lamps this particular one being in the right handcorner of the room. I reached for the phone, which waslocated on a small round table next to a standard lamp 46

THE MOSES EFFECTwhich I had just switched on and rang Mother.The electronically distorted voice of Mother answered.After explaining the events, a further short conversationensued during which I was instructed to remain where Iwas and this mess would be cleared up.“I have not caused the mess” I protested.“Just stay where you are.” Mother curtly replied andreplaced the receiver. I was protesting to myself.Grant would have heard the distorted voice when heanswered the telephone, but it did not perturb him. Thatnow perturbed me!In what seemed like a few moments the sound of a largevehicle could be heard in the street outside. At this lateor early time, depending on your point of view, whatcould it be? I switched off the lamp. Cautiously I movedthe curtain just enough to peered through the closedcurtains of the front bay-window to observe theunfolding events. To my surprise, I saw that there wasone of those large refuse collection vehicles that wasnormally used for emptying the Wheelie Bins enteringthe street.I watched as the vehicle passed and I could just seethrough the dark eerie CHOG that the conveyancestopped at the bin where I had unceremoniouslydeposited my assailant. Immediately from the cab of thetransport two bin men, dressed in Boiler Suits with thelivery of the Municipal Authority emblazoned on theirbreast pocket, alighted from the truck and nonchalantly 47

JAMES YOUNGapproached the Wheelie Bin in which The Frog wascontained.They wheeled the aforementioned bin to the rear of thevehicle. The bin was dispatched by mechanical means tothe top rear of the vehicle where the contents of the binwere unceremoniously disencumbered into the openmouth of the dark dismal innards of the truck.Afterwards the Wheelie Bin was returned to its sentinelposition. The men climbed back on board the truck anddrove off. Everything was back as it was prior to myencounter with Claude Wilmslow, to give him hiscorrect name.Questions raced through my mind. Who were thesemen? How had they known exactly which bin to empty?Who had informed them? How could they arrive soquickly? Why were they so nonchalant while handlingsuch a hideous assignment?There was only one possible answer. I was beingwatched and they had expected to remove a body.Probably mine!I stepped back, allowing the curtain to close. After onceagain switching on the lamp, I slowly moved to themiddle of the room and stood facing an ornate Adamsfireplace. As if hallucinating, I looked into the Rococomirror above the mantle shelf, unsteadily I stared at myreflection. I mused at the image in the mirror, “Therewill be no sleep for you tonight!”I now reflected on the events that had lead up to this 48

THE MOSES EFFECTcurrent situation and what might be the subsequentdevelopments. I hadn’t the faintest idea where theseevents would lead, just as well the way things turned out. 49

JAMES YOUNG CHAPTER THREEAs I tried to comprehend the events that had justunfolded, there was a loud banging at the front door. Thedoor was at the left of the bay window from which I hadbeen observing the emptying of the Wheelie Bin fromthe right hand side and was oblivious to the approachingcaller or callers, if that’s how I can describe them. Theywere not trying to get the attention of anyone in thebuilding, but trying to force their way in.I was pleased that the curtains that were hung at thewindow were very thick and did not let any light fromthe inside escape. I quickly switched off the light andagain slightly opened the curtain this time on the left. Iwas hoping not to be observed, how wrong I was.As I attempted to unobtrusively observe who these late-night callers were. Looking out I saw the face of anindividual trying to peer through the very small gapbetween the curtain and the end of the bay window.Because I hadn’t taken off my apparel he pulled back, itmust have been a shock to see me, as no doubt hethought it was me that had been removed in the refusevehicle. Further more, it looked like Sherlock Holmeswas looking back at him.Immediately I ran for the back door. Pleased that I stillhad my hat and coat on and my car keys were still in mypocket. At the same time my callers, I’d noticed therewere two of them, were still attempting to burst throughthe front door. 50