Free Resolved by Robert K. Tanenbaum Page B

You see this small switch? This is the arming switch. Pushed down, like now, the bomb is harmless. Up? I will show you.” Rashid moved to the work bench, laid the bomb gently on it, and picked from one of the bins a J -shaped plastic tube, white, as thick as a ballpoint’s barrel. It had a squarish lump on one end from which two wires emerged and another pair coming from the belly of the J . He shook it; a tiny rattle.
    â€œThat is a ball bearing in there. When the device is on safe, this electromagnet holds the ball bearing in a little shallow cup. When the arming switch is thrown, the magnet shuts off and the firing circuit turns on. Any movement then knocks the ball out of its cup. It slides down the tube and comes to rest between these two contacts, which connect to the firing circuit. The ball closes the circuit and the bomb goes off. This is for cars, you understand, or lean it against a door where the target will come in. Or leave it in a bag at a shop. It can’t be moved, do you see?” He jiggled the little tube again.
    Felix saw, and struggled to keep his face neutral and interested. Rashid’s pedantic manner was getting on his nerves. He thought about hog-tying Rashid and ramming the bomb up his ass and flicking the switch. He played with the thought for a while as Rashid droned on about the other types of detonating devices he had at hand: radio-controlled, timers, spring detonators for package bombs. And the explosives: homemade RDX, ammonium nitrate, and acetone peroxide.
    â€œThe explosives are the hardest to get,” Rashid explained. “With the recent events, the authorities are being very cautious. We have enough for small demonstrations, but we are still assembling material for our larger project. Here you will come in.”
    â€œMe? How?”
    â€œFertilizer purchases. Small lots in garden and farm supply stores in the area, not enough at one time to be suspicious. Someone who looks like you, an American, would not be suspected. Despite that their own people bomb very often, the Americans are crazy looking for Arabs. It is very amusing, do you not think?”
    â€œYeah, I’m laughing my ass. What’s your larger project?”
    Rashid smiled in that annoying smug way he had. “Need to know, need to know. You will be told at the proper time. Now we are ordered to plant one device. The target is a judge. Evan Horowitz.”
    â€œWhat did he do?”
    â€œHe condemned our friend to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, on the testimony of a lying traitor. It is impossible in any case for someone like ibn-Salemeh, an Arab patriot, to get a fair trial in New York with the Jews in control, but I think this action will demonstrate that we are not sheep to be slaughtered at their wish. So, here is what you will do: Horowitz keeps his car in an open lot behind the courthouse. You walk through the lot with several newspapers under your arm. You drop one, you stoop to pick it up.”
    Rashid retrieved the black pipe bomb. “In another newspaper you have one like this. You slip it out and attach it, under the car. It will have a magnet on it so it will stay. You throw the little switch and walk away. Do you think you can do this?”
    â€œUh, let me see if I get it,” said Felix. “Do I throw the switch before or after I put it on the car?”
    â€œAfter! After! It is the trembler detonation I showed you. If you throw the switch before…”
    â€œCalm down, Rashid. I was joking, okay?”
    Rashid frowned. Was it possible he was being made fun of? “This is not time for joking, Felix. I mean it.”
    â€œSor-reee. So when do I blow the judge?”
    â€œTomorrow morning. I will give you further instructions then. Now, I have more work to do. You will leave now.”
    Felix made no move to follow this order, but wandered around the room poking into the various bins.
    â€œDo not touch those things, please! I