Attrition of the Gods: Book 1 of the Mystery Thriller series Gods Toys. by P.G. Burns Page B

whatsoever of the enemy attacking him. “They won’t attack today,” he told Colonel Peter Quinn. He was always right and if the Colonel could have explained to his superiors about Shane’s insight into the enemy’s behaviour without sounding like a crackpot he would have. But what could he say?
    Truth was Shane educated himself on the origins of the local tribes. He learned that they derived from people known as the Pashtun. He read all he could about their culture and beliefs. He discovered that the creed of the Pashtun is called Pashtunwali and they abide by this code of conduct to the letter. This and knowledge of the Deobandi teachings that the Taliban follow gave Shane a unique insight into their formidable adversaries. No matter what the outside world thought of these people, Shane believed that they were an honourable people who never strayed from their creed. He may not have shared their ideals but he did admire the conviction with which these tribesmen honoured their code. It also made them predictable and on that hot day the Pashtun celebrated Sheshbeeyeh, a festival almost unique to the tribes in this region.
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    Leo concludes that Shane truly is an exceptional person and the reason Simeon had singled him out was not because of his physical abilities or his near-unique skill with weapons – it was because Shane is an autodidact with an unbelievable attention to detail.
    “What’s one of them?” asks Shane, when Leo tries to compliment him.
    “You told me you never went to school until you were eleven, yet you are obviously a clever man. You taught yourself to read Arabic. You beat me at chess, a game I am very good at. Your mind works differently from most peoples. An autodidact is self-taught, usually someone who sees things the collective doesn’t. The way you read people, situations, and even strategy in chess. No one is teaching you this, you are self-learning. I think this is why Simeon picked you.”
    “Who? Picked me? What are you on about?” Shane stares at Leo, feeling both suspicious and puzzled. He doesn’t know anybody called Simeon.
    “It is time to tell you the truth, Shane,” says Leo. “I hope you’ll forgive me.”

     

London – before Leo’s enlightenment
    “The best place to hide is in plain sight.”
     
    Life had been good for Leo Verdi : good family, good education and good job . He and his wife had recently returned from two weeks spent at their dream retirement destination in the beautiful Italian city of Rimini. At 62 years old Leo had planned to retire two years early but the opportunity to work for one of the world’s most powerful leaders in the most iconic city in the world was too much temptation. Leo was not employed directly by the Vatican; instead the work he was required to do was outsourced to his company: the Verdi Accountancy Firm. His wife, Regina, understood why he continued but she was hoping that they could soon pack their bags and finally move to the Adriatic coast for good.
    When the very modern and smartly dressed man called Simeon had first approached Leo at his office in London, Leo assumed he was some sort of music mogul or perhaps a film director with his mop of well-groomed hair and the stylish sunglasses he wore even when inside. He was surprised to hear that he was, in fact, an envoy from the Vatican and was offering him the opportunity to work for the Pope. Leo was very excited. He rarely went into anything before dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s but Leo shook Simeon’s hand there and then, committing to work exclusively for the Pontiff and preparing a report on world economic strategy. Apparently the Pope had been invited to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and wanted to brush up on his knowledge. Leo was curious why they didn’t use their own experts or at least a Catholic accountant. “His Holiness has his reasons,” was the only answer he received.
    The report was quite simple for a