November 6th, Muscat, Medinat Al Quaboos, Oman, No 40

"Well Sir”, Deutch hastened, “you know it was an extremely violent meteorogical event, and it even disrupted some of our equipment, especially some of our planes equipped with radar surveillance systems. It was like a EMP, an Electromagnetic Pulse, hit our systems, quite strange for a meteorological event to generate such a strong pulse! That's why, we have been told, back home there's a preliminary investigation into the effects of that storm currently under-way. You might help us out if you could tell us precisely what you observed and where you were when you got into trouble? I'm sure any detailed information from a person who was on the ground would be precious for our technical people".

"Sure", answered Zeno, becoming curious about why they were so interested in hearing his story, and why they needed to know precisely his position at that time, given the phenomena was apparently of such a large scale to impact the US Air Force in the Indian Ocean.
He shrugged.
Americans could be so intense, and he couldn't see any reason not to be explicit about his experience.
He continued with his story.
"I wasn't far from Qurum, when all of the sudden my G.P.S. went crazy. At first it started oscillating, but then I got consistently wrong information on my screen."
"Well, Dr. Santucci, how do you know that it was wrong, did you get lost?"
"No, luckily, with the help of a local Bedouin, my driver and I eventually found our track out of the wadi where we were almost engulfed by a flash flood. But the reason why I know that the G.P.S. was actually giving wrong information is that I have a special model that allows me to compare the G.P.S. data with a satellite image, on the same screen".
Zeno caught Deutch and Cooper glance at each other a fraction of a second too long. He interpreted their eye movement as a signal that he had either really impressed them with the capabilities of his brother's "toy" or that he'd said something they weren't expecting.
Almost to confirm Zeno's thoughts, Cooper asked quietly:
"Is this G.P.S. An American product?"
"Oh no, it's an Italian prototype, soon to be put into commercial production by a company called TRSI, in Turin, Italy, my brother's company"
"Hmmm”, said Deutch nodding vigorously, “I'd really be interested in earning more about this tool!".

Zeno slipped a business card from a thin gold case in his pocket, scribed TRSI's phone number on the back and handed the business card to Deutch.
"This is my card, and on the back I've marked the number of my brother's company. Call him, he'll give you all the information on his "toys". I'm sure that you will find out a lot of interesting and innovative devices. You certainly realize that European telecom industries are at the leading edge in the field"

Both Cooper and Deutch looked at him like most Americans do, when they learn that the rest of the world has already invented hot water. With a condescending smile, Cooper said:
"Sure, thanks. By the way, here's my card, Dr. Santucci. If you remember anything special about that storm -or any other natural phenomenon that influences your equipment, here or elsewhere, please, don't hesitate to let me know. I'm personally very interested in finding out more about the disturbances affecting your equipment.”
He looked sincerely into Zeno's eyes, a little too sincerely, Zeno though.
Cooper smoothed over the urgency of his request with a boyish grin and an extended hand.
“I'd greatly appreciate you help”, he said congenially.
Grasping the friendly hand and the masked message, Zeno nodded politely, but this time Zeno was sure. All these stories... The two US officers were a bunch of liars. The State Department and the US Air Force knew very well what had happened out there in the desert, and were very curious to learn more about it, beyond finding a remedy to the disturbances experienced by their own equipment.

Zeno spent some more time at the party, then, tired from the journey, he excused himself and went upstairs. A few of the ladies watched his exit longingly, and more than one of them entertained the fantasy of following him. But Zeno slipped into bed -alone- and fell asleep almost immediately, despite the unbelievable clamor from the partying crowd that lasted well into the night.