is needed very badly right now. Most of the funds from our so-called Arab brethren in the oil rich countries have been cut off from those poor souls in Palestine and this money will be used to fund schools and hospitals and other social services that are almost nonexistent now.”

“Why invite him then. Would it not be better to just have him disappear for the evening?

“That would be the bullies way. That would be doing things the old way. I want this done the American way. If we are going to invest in America we will have to start thinking and acting like Americans. Besides, in case something goes wrong and we loose money, I do not want to have 'an I told you so' guy throwing it in my face. It will be fun to see if Richard can handle him. In any event I can always arrange to have him 'disappear' later.” He said with that understated smirk that Joseph knew meant that he was not really joking. For a few seconds he reminded the soldier of Marlon Brando playing the Godfather. Joseph sat drinking his coffee and wondered if he really was joking or not. He got the impression that Fazzi enjoyed seeing people tested and perhaps seeing them twist and squirm as he thrust them up on a big bar-be-cue spit. Maybe even burn a little as he threw another log on the fire as he turned the handle himself. They finished their dinner and made their plans for tomorrow and Friday.

A while later Joseph excused himself and said he wanted to finish his unpacking. He made his way to his room and put his things away. He was just finishing unpacking the last of his possessions and was looking for a place to store the pistol that Barns had issued him, when Fazzi knocked on the connecting door. “Do you mind if I come in?” Fazzi asked opening the door and peeking in.

Quickly slipping the gun back into his overnight case and closing the lid of his luggage he called out, “No come on in. Why do you knock and ask? I have nothing to hide from you. I told you I want us to be 'as one being'. We have to learn to trust each other.”

“Yussef, it has nothing to do with trust. It has to do with privacy; this is your private space. I want you to feel that this room is your sanctuary and you have the right to be alone if you want to be. I will never enter here without asking first.”

“That is one thing more that I will have to get used to. In the army there is no such thing as privacy. I will have to try to remember to knock when I enter your bedroom.” Joseph said. “However, you do realize that having to knock has just remove some of the love making scenarios I had fantasized about. I had planned on sneaking up on you in the shower and……”

Laughing almost to the point of having tears in his eyes, Fazzi said, “well, in that case, I have the perfect solution, let us declare the bathroom as neutral territory. Speaking of which I think I'm going to get ready for bed now. We have a big day tomorrow and I think a good night's sleep will do us both a world of good.

“Will you be wanting me to sleep alone in my room