Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel
Chapter 24: Twenty-Four
by Larsen, WardIn Chapter Twenty-Four, Slaton and Mordechai drive through a snowy landscape, arriving in the town of Mistelbach, where they stop at a café for a late-night meal. Slaton remains vigilant, choosing a discreet corner table while Mordechai, still recovering from being restrained, orders food. The tension between them is palpable as Slaton questions Mordechai about the message he sent, which Slaton claims was altered to instruct him to kill Mordechai in exchange for the return of his family. Mordechai is shocked, realizing someone manipulated the communication to set up a deadly encounter.
Slaton reveals that despite the threat to his family, he refused to comply with the order, adhering to the principle of not negotiating with terrorists. He explains that he instead killed three armed men who arrived at the meeting spot, likely intending to kill him. Mordechai, now deeply unsettled, struggles to comprehend who would want him dead. Slaton presses him for answers, leading Mordechai to disclose his role as an auditor for the IAEA’s Department of Safeguards, where he oversees nuclear material inspections and identifies discrepancies in inventory records.
Mordechai recounts discovering a discrepancy in a shipment of highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Kazakhstan, where less material was recovered than initially projected. While the audit initially seemed routine, Mordechai’s deeper investigation revealed inconsistencies. He sought information from a Kazakh contact, a former colleague now in a high-ranking nuclear security position, hinting at potential corruption or theft. This revelation suggests Mordechai may have stumbled upon a dangerous secret, explaining why someone would target him.
The chapter ends with Mordechai’s story interrupted by the arrival of their food, leaving the implications of his findings unresolved. The tension builds as Slaton pieces together the connection between Mordechai’s audit and the attempted assassination, setting the stage for further revelations about the missing nuclear material and the shadowy forces behind the plot. The encounter underscores the high stakes of their situation, with both men now entangled in a conspiracy that threatens global security.
FAQs
1. What was the discrepancy Mordechai discovered in the IAEA’s nuclear material audit, and why was it significant?
Answer:
Mordechai found that while the original plan for a Kazakhstan site visit anticipated recovering 41 kg of highly enriched uranium (HEU), only 36 kg were actually secured. Though this alone wasn’t damning, it prompted deeper investigation. The significance lies in HEU’s weapons-grade potential (enriched to 92% U-235) and the strict protocols for tracking such material. Mordechai’s discovery suggested a possible diversion of 5 kg of HEU—enough for a nuclear device—which could indicate smuggling, corruption, or falsified records within the IAEA’s safeguards system.2. How does Slaton’s approach to Mordechai’s situation demonstrate his operational philosophy?
Answer:
Slaton’s refusal to kill Mordechai despite being ordered to do so (“you don’t negotiate with terrorists—it doesn’t work”) reflects his adherence to principled pragmatism. He prioritizes long-term strategy over short-term demands, recognizing that compliance with threats (e.g., promises to return his family) would only empower adversaries. His lethal response to the three attackers (“I didn’t see a lot of options”) further shows his situational flexibility—he uses violence decisively when necessary but avoids unnecessary collateral damage, as seen in sparing Mordechai for intelligence value.3. Analyze the narrative significance of the café scene in Mistelbach. How does it contrast with the earlier confrontation in Danube Park?
Answer:
The café scene provides a temporary lull in tension, allowing for exposition and character development. Unlike the violent, high-stakes park encounter (marked by Slaton’s combat and Mordechai’s near-execution), the patio conversation unfolds in a controlled, almost mundane setting—heated by space heaters and punctuated by food orders. This contrast highlights Slaton’s ability to shift between operational modes: from ruthless action to calculated interrogation. The café’s ordinariness also underscores the clandestine nature of their discussion, as Mordechai reveals nuclear secrets amid everyday Austrian life.4. Why did Mordechai reach out to a Kazakh scientist, and what risks did this entail?
Answer:
Mordechai contacted a Kazakh scientist (a former colleague now in nuclear security) to bypass official IAEA channels and verify the HEU discrepancy independently. This was risky because IAEA-host country relationships are often adversarial, and unofficial inquiries could be seen as espionage or breach of protocol. His action implies distrust of his own organization’s transparency and suggests higher-level corruption—a dangerous implication given the stakes of nuclear proliferation. Slaton’s quick deduction (“a Kazakh source?”) further hints that such backchannel inquiries are both unconventional and revealing.5. Evaluate Slaton and Mordechai’s dynamic during their conversation. How does their interaction advance the plot?
Answer:
Their dialogue reveals a shifting power balance: Slaton dominates physically (controlling Mordechai’s phone, choosing the table) but relies on Mordechai for critical information. Mordechai, though initially fearful, gains leverage by disclosing the HEU discrepancy—a revelation that reframes the conflict from a personal vendetta to a global security threat. This exchange advances the plot by introducing the central mystery (missing nuclear material) while deepening character motivations: Slaton’s pursuit of his family now intersects with preventing a potential nuclear crisis, raising the stakes exponentially.
Quotes
1. “For the same reason you don’t negotiate with terrorists—it doesn’t work.”
This quote captures Slaton’s hardened operational philosophy when Mordechai questions why he didn’t carry out the assassination order. It reflects both the moral clarity and pragmatic realism of a seasoned operative, serving as a key character insight and thematic anchor for the chapter’s ethical dilemmas.
2. “Our department is concerned almost exclusively with the two fissionable products that can be weaponized—plutonium and highly enriched uranium. This was HEU.”
Mordechai’s technical explanation introduces the high-stakes nuclear security context of the plot. This quote is significant as it defines the critical threat vector (weapons-grade uranium) that drives both the conspiracy and the protagonists’ investigation, establishing the chapter’s central tension.
3. “Every batch of HEU is unique, and once logged, its signature remains in our database forever.”
This procedural detail underscores the gravity of Mordechai’s discovery about the missing uranium. The quote exemplifies the author’s skillful integration of technical authenticity into the thriller narrative while highlighting the story’s core premise - that nuclear materials leave an indelible trail that can expose covert operations.
4. “I studied for a time in France, and was friendly with a Kazakh who later became a senior researcher at CERN… After the fall of the Soviet Union, the country was left with huge inventories of nuclear material, but little funding to maintain and track it all.”
This revelation about Mordechai’s unconventional information source provides crucial backstory about post-Soviet nuclear security vulnerabilities. The quote gains significance by connecting personal relationships to geopolitical threats, illustrating how Cold War legacies continue to shape present-day dangers.