Windmills of Gods

8/11/2019 Windmills of Gods

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WI NDMI LLS OF THE GODS

BY SI DNEY SHELDON

Synopsi s:

I t al l began wi t h an ast oundi ng cal l f r omt he Whi t e House. One mi nut eMar y Ashl ey, Kansas housewi f e and pol i t i cal sci ence teacher , waschat t i ng over di nner wi t h her f ami l y; t he next mi nut e t he Pr esi dent oft he Uni t ed St at es was aski ng her t o become t he new ambassador t oRomani a! That cal l changes everyt hi ng f or Mary Ashl ey. She becomes ani nst ant cel ebr i t y, hounded ' by the pr ess, cour t ed by pol i t i ci ans.

Fi nal l y Mar y ar r i ves i n exoti c Buchar est t o t ake up her dut i es,conf i dent , r ef r eshi ngl y candi d- and danger ousl y i nnocent . For wat chi ngher cl osel y i s an i n- vi si bl e net wor k ' of power f ul men whose ai m i s t osabotage t he Presi dent ' s bol d new peace pl an. They are about t o set adi abol i cal t r ap. And t he i nexper i enced young di pl omat i s t he per f ectbai t .

"We ar e al l vi ct i ms, Ansel mo.

Our dest i ni es are deci ded

by a cosmi c rol l of t he di ce,

t he wi nds of t he st ar s, "

t he vagr ant br eezes

of f or t une t hat bl ow f r om

t he wi ndmi l l s of t he gods. "

- H. L. Di et r i ch

A Fi nal Dest i ny

Prol ogue

Per ho, Fi nl and. The meet i ng t ook pl ace i n a comf ort abl e weat herpr oof edcabi n i n a r emote wooded area t wo hundr ed mi l es f r omHel si nki . Themember s of t he West ern br anch of t he Commi t t ee had arr i ved di scr eet l y ati r r egul ar i nt er val s. They came f r om ei ght di f f er ent count r i es, butt hei r vi si t had been qui et l y ar r anged by a seni or mi ni st er i n t heVal t i oneuvosto, t he Fi nni sh Counci l of St at e, and t her e was no recor d ofent r y i n t hei r passpor t s. Upon t hei r arr i val , ar med guar ds escor t ed

t hem i nt o t he cabi n, and' when t he l ast vi si t or appear ed, t he cabi n doorwas l ocked and t he guar ds t ook up posi t i ons i n t he f ul l - t hr oat ed J anuar ywi nds, al er t f or any si gn of i nt r uder s.

The members, seat ed around t he l arge r ect angul ar t abl e, were men i npower f ul posi t i ons, hi gh i n t he counci l s of t hei r r espect i vegover nment s. They had al l met bef or e i n t hei r of f i ci al capaci t i es, andt hey t r ust ed one another because t hey had no choi ce. For added secur i t y,each had been assi gned a code name.


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The meet i ng l ast ed al most f i ve hour s, and t he di scussi on was heat ed.Fi nal l y t he chai r man deci ded t he t i me had come t o cal l f or a vote. Her ose, st andi ng t al l , and t ur ned t o t he man seat ed at hi s r i ght ."Si gur d?"

"Yes. "

"Odi n?"

"Yes. "

"Bal der ?"

"We' r e movi ng t oo hast i l y. The danger - "

"Yes or no, pl ease. "

"No. "

" Freyr?"

"Yes. "

"Si gmund?"

"Nei n. I f t hi s shoul d be exposed, our l i ves woul d be- "

"Thor?"

"Yes. "

"Tyr?"

"Yes. "

"I vot e yes. The r esol ut i on i s passed. I wi l l so i nf or m t heCont r ol l er. We wi l l observe t he usual pr ecaut i ons and l eave att went y- mi nut e i nt erval s. Thank you, gent l emen. "

Two hour s and f or t y- f i ve mi nut es l at er t he cabi n was deser t ed. A cr ew ofexper t s car r yi ng ker osene moved i n and set t he cabi n on f i r e, t he redf l ames l i cked by t he hungr y wi nds.

When t he f i r e br i gade f r om Per ho f i nal l y reached t he scene, t here wasnothi ng l ef t t o see but t he smol der i ng ember s t hat out l i ned t he cabi nagai nst t he hi ssi ng snow.

The assi st ant t o t he f i r e chi ef appr oached t he ashes, bent down, andsni f f ed. "Ker osene, " he sai d. "Ar son. "

The f i r e chi ef was st ar i ng at t he r ui ns, a puzzl ed express i on on hi sf ace. "That ' s st r ange, " he mut t er ed.

"What ?"

" I was hunt i ng i n t hese woods l ast week. There was no cabi n. "


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Chapter One

St ant on Rogers was dest i ned t o be Presi dent of t he Uni t ed St ates. Hewas a char i smat i c pol i t i ci an, hi ghl y vi si bl e to an appr ovi ng publ i c, andbacked by power f ul f r i ends. Unf or t unat el y f or Roger s, hi s l i bi do got i nt he way of hi s career .

I t was not t hat St ant on Rogers f anci ed hi msel f a Casanova. On t hecont r ary, unt i l t hat one f at ef ul bedr oom escapade he had been a modelhusband. He was handsome, weal t hy, and al t hough he had had ampl eoppor t uni t y t o cheat on hi s wi f e, he had never gi ven anot her woman at hought .

Ther e was a second, perhaps greater i r ony: St anton Rogers' wi f e,El i zabet h, was soci al , beaut i f ul , and i nt el l i gent , ar l d t he t wo of t hemshar ed a common i nterest i n al most everyt hi ng, whereas Barbar a, t hewoman Rogers f el l i n l ove wi t h, and event ual l y marr i ed af t er a muchheadl i ned di vor ce, was f i ve year s ol der t han St ant on, pl easant - f acedr at her t han pret t y, and seemed t o have not hi ng i n common wi t h hi m.St ant on was at hl et i c; Bar bara hat ed al l f orms of exer ci se. St ant on was

gr egar i ous; Bar bar a pr ef er r ed t o be al one wi t h her husband, or t oent er t ai n smal l gr oups. The bi ggest sur pr i se was t he pol i t i caldi f f er ences. St ant on was a l i ber al , whi l e Barbar a was anar chconservat i ve.

Paul El l i son, St ant on' s cl osest f r i end, had sai d, "You must be out ofyour mi nd, chum! You and Li z ar e t he perf ect marr i ed coupl e. Do youhave any i dea what a di vor ce i s goi ng t o do t o your career ?"

St ant on Roger s had r epl i ed t i ght l y, "Back of f , Paul . I ' m i n l ove wi t hBar bar a. Besi des, hal f t he mar r i ages i n t hi s count r y end i n di vor ce. I twon' t do anythi ng. "

Rogers had pr oved t o be a poor prophet . The pr ess kept t he st ory of t hebi t t er l y f ought di vor ce al i ve as l ong as t hey coul d, and t he gossi ppaper s pl ayed i t up as l ur i dl y as possi bl e, wi t h pi ct ur es of St ant onRoger s' l ove nest and st ori es of secret mi dni ght t r ust s. When t he f ur ordi ed dovl r n, St ant on Roger s' power f ul pol i t i cal f r i ends f ound a newwhi t e kni ght t o champi on: Paul El l i son.

El l i son was a sound choi ce. Whi l e he had nei t her St ant on ] Rogers' goodl ooks nor hi s char i sma, he was i nt el l i gent , l i kabl e, and had t he ri ghtbackgr ound. He was short i n st at ur e, wi t h r egul ar , even f eat ur es andcandi d bl ue eyes. He had been happi l y marr i ed f or t en, years t o t hedaughter of a st eel magnat e.

St ant on Rogers and Paul El l i son had gr own up t ogether i n New Yor k. Thei r

f ami l i es had had adj oi ni ng summer homes i n Southampton. They were, i nt he same cl ass, f i r st at Yal e and l ater at Harvard Law School . PaulEl l i son di d wel l , but i t was St ant on Roger s who was t he st ar pupi l . Oncehe was out of l aw school , St ant on Roger s' pol i t i cal st ar began r i si ngmet eor i cal l y, and i f he was t he comet, Paul El l i son was t he t ai l .

The di vor ce changed everyt hi ng. I t was now St anton Rogers who becamet he appendage t o Paul El l i son. The t r ai l l eadi ng t o t he pr esi dency t ookal most f i f t een year s. Fi r st El l i son became a hi ghl y popul ar , ar t i cul at eSenat or . He f ought agai nst wast e i n gover nment and Washi ngt on


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bur eaucr acy. He was a popul i st , and bel i eved i n i nt er nat i onal det ent e.When he was f i nal l y el ect ed Pr esi dent of t he Uni t ed St at es, hi s f i r stappoi nt ment was St ant on Roger s, as presi dent i al f or ei gn af f ai r s advi ser .

MAMEWL McLuhan' s t heor y t hat t el evi si on woul d t ur n the wor l d i nto agl obal vi l l age had become a r eal i t y. The i naugur at i on of t hef or t y- second Pr esi dent of t he Uni t ed St at es was car r i ed by sat el l i t e tomore t han one hundred and ni net y count r i es.

I n the Bl ack Roost er , a Washi ngt on, D. C. , hangout f or newsmen, Ben Cohn,a vet er an pol i t i cal r epor t er f or t he Washi ngt on Post , was seat ed at at abl e wi t h f our col l eagues, wat chi ng t he i naugur at i on on t he t el evi si onset over t he bar .

The camer a panned t o show t he massi ve cr owds gathered on Pennsyl vani aAvenue, huddl ed i nsi de t hei r over coats agai nst t he bi t t er J anuary wi nd.

J ason Mer l i n, Chi ef J ust i ce of t he Uni t ed St at es Supreme Court , f i ni shedt he swear i ng- i n oat h, and t he- new Presi dent shook hi s hand and st eppedup t o t he mi cr ophone.

"Look at t hose i di ot s st andi ng out t her e f r eezi ng t hei r t ai l s of f "' BenCohn comment eel "Do you know why t hey aren' t home l i ke nor mal humanbei ngs, wat chi ng i t on t el evi si on?"

"Why?" asked one of t he ot her r eport ers .

"Because a man i s maki ng hi st ory, my f r i ends. One day al l t hose peopl ear e goi ng t o t el l t hei r gr andchi l dr en t hat t hey wer e t here t he day PaulEl l i son was swor n i n. And t hey' r e al l goi ng t o br ag. "I was so cl ose Icoul d have t ouched hi m. " ' " You' r e a cyni c, Cohn. "

"And pr oud of i t . Ever y pol i t i ci an i n t he wor l d comes out of t he samecooki e cut t er . They' r e al l i n i t f or what t hey can get out of i t . "

The t r ut h was t hat Ben Cohn was not as cyni cal as he sounded. He hadcover ed Paul El l i son' s car eer f r om t he begi nni ng, and whi l e i t was t r uet hat he had not been i mpr essed at f i r st , as El l i son moved up thepol i t i cal l adder Ben Cohn began t o change hi s opi ni on. Thi s pol i t i ci anwas nobody' s yes- man. He was an oak i n a f or est of wi l l ows.

Out si de, t he sky expl oded i nt o i cy sheet s of r ai n, Ben Cohn hoped t heweat her was not an omen of t he f our years t hat l ay ahead. He t urned hi sat t ent i on back t o t he tel evi si on set and Pr esi dent E. I l i son' s speech.

"I speak today not onl y t o our al l i es but t o t hose count r i es i n t heSovi et cai np. I say t o t hemnow, as we pr epare t o move i nt o t het went y- f i r st cent ur y, t hat t her e i s no l onger any r oom f or conf r ont at i on

and that we must l ear n to make t he phr ase ' one wor l d' become a r eal i t y.Vast chasms l i e bet ween us, but t he f i r st pr i or i t y of t hi sadmi ni st r at i on wi l l be t o bui l d unshakabl e br i dges acr oss t hose chasms. "

Hi s wor ds r ang out wi t h a deep, hear t f el t si ncer i t y. He, means i t , BenCohn t hought . I hope no one assassi nat es t he guy.

I N J UNeTi ON Ci t y, Kansas, i t was a pot bel l i ed st ove ki nd of day, bl eakand r aw, and snowi ng hard. Mary Ashl ey caut i ousl y st eer ed her ol dst at i on wagon t oward t he cent er of t he hi ghway, wher e t he snowpl ows had


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been at work. The st orm was goi ng t o make her l ate f or t he cl ass shewas teachi ng.

Fromt he car r adi o came t he Presi den' s voi ce: "Because I bel i eve t hatt her e i s no pr obl emt hat cannot be sol ved by genui ne goodwi l l on bothsi des, t he concret e wal l ar ound East Ber l i n and t he i r on cur t ai n t hatsur r ounds t he Sovi et satel l i t e count r i es must come down. "

Mar y Ashl ey t hought , I ' m gl ad I vot ed f or hi m. Paul El l i son i s goi ng t omake a gr eat Presi dent .

I N BucH=ST, t he capi t al of Remani a, i t was eveni ng. Presi dentAl exandr es l onescu sat i n hi s of f i ce sur r ounded by hal f a dozen ai des,l i st eni ng t o t he broadcast on a shor t wave r adi o.

"As you are aware, " t he Amer i can Presi dent was sayi ng, " t hr ee years ago,upon t he death of Remani a' s Pr esi dent , Ni col ae CeauSSescu, ] Remani abr oke of f di pl omat i c r el at i ons wi t h t he Uni t ed St at es. I want t o i nf or myou now t hat we have appr oached t he government of Remani a and i t sPresi dent , Al exandres I onescu, and he has agr eed t o reest abl i sh

di pl omat i c rel at i ons wi t h our count r y.

"One of our f i r st of f i ci al act s wi l l be t o send an ambassador t oRemani a. And t hat i s merel y t he begi nni ng. I have no i nt ent i on ofst oppi ng t her e. Al bani a br oke of f al l di pl omat i c r el at i ons wi t h t heUni t ed St at es i n 1946. I i nt end t o r eest abl i sh t hose t i es. I naddi t i on, I i nt end t o st r engt hen our di pl omat i c rel at i ons wi t h Bul gar i a,wi t h i czechosl ovaki a, and wi t h East Germany.

"Sendi ng our ambassador t o Remani a i s t he begi nni ng of a wor l dwi depeopl e- t o- peopl e movement . Let us never f orget t hat al l manki nd shar esa common or i gi n, common probl ems, and a common ul t i mat e f at e. Let usr emember t hat t he probl ems we shar e are gr eat er t han the probl ems t hatdi vi de us, and that what di vi des us i s of our own maki ng. "

Over t he shor t wave r adi o came the sounds of cheer s and appl ause.

I N A heavi l y guar ded vi l l a i n Neui l l y, a subur b of Par i s, t he Remani anr evol ut i onar y l eader , Mar i n Gr oza, was wat chi ng Pr esi dent El l i son onchannel 2 t el evi si on.

" I t hi nk our t i me has come, Ley. He r eal l y means i t , " sai d Mar i n Gr ozat hought f ul l y.

Ley Past emak, hi s secur i t y chi ef , r epl i ed, "Won' t t hi s hel p I onescu?"

Mar i n Gr oza shook hi s head. " l onescu i s a t yrant , so i n t he end nothi ng

wi l l hel p hi m. But I must be car ef ul wi t h my t i mi ng. I f ai l ed when It r i ed t o over t hr ow hi m bef ore. I must not f ai l agai n. "

PETE Connor s had downed al most a f i f t h of Scotch whi l e watchi ng t hei naugur al speech. He pour ed hi msel f another gl assf ul and t ur ned back t ot he i mage on t he t el evi si on set . "You f i l t hy Communi st ! " he yel l ed att he scr een. "Thi s i s my count r y, and t he CI As not gonna l et you gi ve i taway. We' r e gonna st op you, El l i son. You can bet your bot t omdol l ar oni t "


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Chapter Two

PAUL El l i son sai d, "I ' m goi ng t o need your hel p, ol d f r i end. "

"You' l l get i t , " Stant on Roger s repl i ed qui et l y.

I t was t hei r f i r st meet i ng t oget her i n t he Oval Of f i ce, and Pr esi dentEl l i son was uncomf ort abl e. I f St ant on hadn' t made t hat one mi st ake, het hought , he woul d be si t t i ng at t hi s desk i nst ead of me.

As t hough r eadi ng hi s mi nd, St ant on Roger s sai d, " I have a conf essi on t omake. The day you were nomi nated f or t he pr esi dency, I was bi t t erl y

j eal ous. I t was my dream, and you were l i vi ng i t . But I came t or eal i ze t hat i f I coul dn' t si t i n t hat chai r , t her e was no one el se Iwoul d want t her e but you. "

Paul El l i son smi l ed at hi s f r i end and pr essed the but t on on hi s desk.Seconds l ater a whi t e- j acket ed st eward came i nt o t he r oom.

"Yes, Mr . Pr esi dent ?"

Paul El l i son t ur ned t o Rogers. "Cof f ee?"

"Sounds good. "

"Want anyt hi ng wi t h i t ?"

"No, t hanks. Barbar a want s me t o wat ch my wai st l i ne. "

The Pr esi dent nodded t o Henry, t he st eward, and he qui et l y l ef t t her oom.

Barbar a. She had surpri sed everyone. The gossi p around Washi ngt on wast hat t he mar r i age woul d not l ast out t he f i r st year . But i t had beenal most f i f t een years now, and i t was a success. St ant on Roger s had bui l tup a pr est i gi ous l aw pr act i ce i n- Washi ngt on, and Barbamhad ear ned t her eput at i on of bei ng a gr aci ous hostess.

Paul El l i son r ose and began t o pace. "My peopl e- t o- peopl e speech seemst o have caused qui t e an upr oar . I suppose you' ve seen al l t henewspaper s. "

"Yes, " sai d St ant on Roger s. "And qui t e candi dl y, Mr . Presi dent , you' r escar i ng t he pant s of f a l ot of peopl e. The armed f orces ar e agai nstyour pl an, and some powerf ul mover s and shakers woul d l i ke t o see i tf ai l . "

El l i son sat down and f aced hi s f r i end. "I t ' s not goi ng t o f ai l . "

The st ewar d appeared wi t h t he cof f ee. "Can I get you somet hi ng el se,Mr . Pr esi dent ?"

"No. That' s i t , Henr y. Thank you. "

The Pr esi dent wai t ed unt i l t he st ewar d had gone. " I want t o t al k t o youabout f i ndi ng the r i ght ambassador t o send to Remani a. "


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"Ri ght . "

"I don' t have t o t el l you how i mpor t ant t hi s ' i s f or us, St an. I wantyou t o get movi ng on i t as qui ckl y as you possi bl y can. "

St ant on Roger s took a si p of hi s cof f ee and r ose t o hi s f eet . "I ' l l getSt at e on i t r i ght away. "

I N a l i t t l e subur b of Neui l l y i t was two a. m. Mar i n Gr oza' s vi l l a l ayi n ebon dar kness, t he moon nest l ed i n a thi ck l ayer of - st or m cl ouds.

The st r eet s were hushed at t hi s hour , as a bl ackcl ad f i gure movednoi sel essl y t hr ough the t r ees t owar d t he br i ck wal l t hat sur r ounded thevi l l a. Over one shoul der he car r i ed a r ope and a bl anket , and i n hi sarms he cr adl ed a dart gun and an Uzi submachi ne gun wi t h a si l encer .When he r eached t he wal l , he st opped and l i st ened. He wai t ed,mot i onl ess, f or f i ve mi nut es. Fi nal l y, sat i sf i ed, he uncoi l ed t he nyl onr ope and t ossed t he scal i ng hook at t ached t o the end of i t upward. I tcaught on t he f ar edge of t he wal l , and swi f f l y t he man began t o cl i mb.When he reached t he t op of t he wal l , he f l ung the bl anket acr oss i t t opr otect hi msel f agai nst t he poi son- t i pped met al spi kes embedded on t op.

He st opped agai n t o l i st en. He r ever sed t he hook, shi f hng t he r ope t ot he i nsi de of t he wal l , and sl i d down ont o t he gr ound. He checked t hebal i song at hi s wai st , t he deadl y Fi l i pi no f ol di ng kni f e t hat coul d bef l i cked open or cl osed wi t h one hand.

The at t ack dogs woul d be next . The i nt r uder cr ouched t here, wai t i ng f ort hem t o pi ck up hi s scent . Ther e wer e t wo Dobermans, t r ai ned t o ki l l .But t hey wer e onl y t he f i r st obst acl e. The grounds and t he vi l l a wer ef i l l ed wi t h el ect r oni c devi ces and cont i nuousl y moni t or ed by t el evi si oncameras. Al l mai l and packages were r ecei ved at t he gat ehouse andopened t her e by t he guards. The door s of t he vi l l a were bombpr oof . Thevi l l a had i t s own wat er suppl y, and Mar i n Gr oza had a f ood t ast er . Thevi l l a was i mpr egnabl e. Supposedl y. The f i gure i n bl ack was here t hi sni ght t o pr ove t hat i t was not .

He heard t he sounds of t he dogs rushi ng at hi m bef ore he saw t hem. Theycame f l yi ng out of t he dar kness, chargi ng at hi s t hr oat . He ai med t hedar t gun and shot t he one on hi s l ef t f i r st , t hen t he one on hi s r i ght ,dodgi ng out of t he way of t hei r hur t l i ng bodi es. And t hen t her e was onl yst i l l ness .

The i nt r uder knew where t he soni c t r aps were bur i ed i n t he ground, andhe ski r t ed t hem. He si l ent l y gl i ded t hr ough t he ar eas of t he gr oundst hat t he t el evi si on camer as di d not cover , and i n l ess t han t wo mi nut esaf t er he had gone over t he wal l " he was at t he back door of t he vi l l a.

As he r eached f or t he handl e of t he door he was caught i n the sudden

gl ar e of f l oodl i ght s. A voi ce cal l ed out , "Fr eeze! Dr op your gun andr ai se your hands. "

The f i gur e i n bl ack car ef ul l y dropped hi s gun and l ooked up. There werehal f a dozen men spread out on t he r oof , wi t h a vari ety of weaponspoi nt ed at hi m.

The man i n bl ack gr owl ed, " What t he devi l t ook you so l ong? I nevershoul d have got t en t hi s f ar . "


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"You di dn' t , " t he head guard i nf ormed hi m. " We st art ed t r acki ng youbef ore you got over t he wal l . "

Ley Past emak was not mol l i f i ed. "Then you shoul d have st opped mesooner. I coul d have been on a sui ci de mi ssi on wi t h a l oad of gr enades.I want a meet i ng of t he ent i r e st af f i n t he mor ni ng, ei ght o' cl ockshar p. The dogs have been st unned. Have someone keep an eye on t hemunt i l t hey wake up. "

Ley Past emak pr i ded hi msel f on bei ng the best secur i t y chi ef i n theworl d. He had been a pi l ot i n t he I sr ael i Si x- Day War and af t er t he warhad become a t op agent i n Mossad, one of I sr ael ' s secret servi ces.

He woul d never f orget t he morni ng, t wo year s ear l i er, when hi s col onelhad cal l ed hi m i nt o hi s of f i ce and sai d, "Ley, Mar i n Gr oza want s t obor r ow you f or a f ew weeks. "

Mossad had a compl ete f i l e on t he Remani an di ssi dent . Gr oza had beent he l eader of a popul ar Remani an movement t o depose Al exandr es I onescuand was about t o st age a coup when he was bet r ayed by one of hi s men.

More than t wo dozen underground f i ght ers had been execut ed, and Gr ozahad bar el y escaped wi t h hi s l i f e. Fr ance had gi ven hi m sanct uary. Thenl onescu had put a pr i ce on hi s head. So f ar , hal f a dozen at t empt s t oassassi nat e Gr oza had f ai l ed, but he had been wounded i n t he most r ecentat t ack.

"What does he want wi t h me?" Past emak had asked. "He has Fr enchgovernment pr otect i on. "

"Not good enough. He needs someone t o set up a f ool proof secur i t ysyst em. He came t o us. I r ecommended you. "

"I ' d have t o go to Fr ancer '

" ' Onl y f or a f ew weeks. Ley, we' r e t al ki ng about a mensch. He' s t heman i n t he whi t e hat . Our i nf ormat i on i s t hat he' l l soon have enoughpopul ar support i n Remani a to knock over I onescu. When t he t i mi ng i sr i ght , he' l l make hi s move. Meanwhi l e, we have t o keep t he man al i ve. "

Ley Past emak had t hought about i t "A f ew weeks, you sai d?"

"That ' s al l . "

The col onel had been wr ong about t he t i me, but he had been r i ght aboutMari n Gr oza. He was a whi t e- hai r ed, f r agi l e- l ooki ng man whose f ace wasetched wi t h sor r ow. He had deep bl ack eyes, and when he spoke, t heybl azed wi t h passi on.

"I don' t gi ve a damn whet her I l i ve or di e, " he t ol d Ley at t hei r f i r stmeet i ng. "We' r e al l goi ng t o di e. I t ' s t he when t hat I ' m concer nedabout . I have t o st ay al i ve f or another year or t wo. That ' s al l t het i me I need t o dr i ve t he tyr ant I onescu out of my count r y. "

Ley Past emak went t o work on t he secur i t y syst em at t he vi l l a i nNeui l l y. He used some of hi s own men, and t he out si der s he hi r ed werechecked out t horoughl y. Ever y si ngl e pi ece of equi pment wasstat e- of - t he- art .


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Past emak saw t he Remani an rebel l eader ever y day, and t he more t i me hespent wi t h hi m, t he mor e he came t o admi r e hi m. When Mar i n Gr oza askedPast emak t o st ay on, Past emak agr eed, sayi ng, "Unt i l you' r e ready t omake your move. "

At i r r egul ar i nt er val s Past emak st aged sur pr i se at t acks on t he vi l l a,t est i ng i t s secur i t y. Now he t hought , Some of t he guards ar e get t i ngcar el ess. I ' l l have t o r epl ace t hem.

He wal ked t hr ough t he hal l ways checki ng t he heat sensor s, t he el ect r oni cwar ni ng syst ems, and t he i nf r ar ed beams at - t he si l l of each door . As her eached Gr oza' s bedr oom he heard a l oud crack, and a moment l at er Gr ozabegan scr eami ng out i n agony.

Ley Past emak passed Mar i n Gr oza' s r oomand kept wal ki ng.

THE Monday- mor ni ng execut i ve st af f meet i ng was under way i n t hesevent h- f l oor conf er ence r oom at CI A headquar t er s i n Langl ey, Vi r gi ni a.Seat ed ar ound t he l ar ge oak t abl e were Ned Ti l l i ngest , di r ect or of t he

CI A; General Ol i ver Br ooks, Ar my Chi ef of St af f ; Secret ar y of St at eFl oyd Baker ; Pet e Connor s, chi ef of count er i nt el l i gence; and St ant onRogers.

Ned Ti l l i ngest, t he CI A di r ector, was i n hi s s i xt i es, a col d, t aci t urnman bur dened wi t h mal ef i cent secrets. There i s a l i ght branch and adark br anch of t he CI A. The dark br anch handl es cl andest i ne operat i ons,and f or t he past seven year s Ti l l i ngest had been i n char ge of bothsect i ons.

General Ol i ver Br ooks was a West Poi nt sol di er who conducted hi sper sonal and prof essi onal l i f e by t he book. He was a' company man, andt he company he wor ked f or was t he Uni t ed St at es Army.

Fl oyd Baker , t he Secr et ar y of St at e, was of sout her n vi nt age,si l ver - hai r ed, di st i ngui shed- l ooki ng, wi t h an ol o- f ashi oned gal l ant r y.He owned a chai n of i nf l uent i al newspapers ar ound t he countr y and wasr eputed t o be enor mousl y weal t hy.

Pet e Connor s was bl ack I r i sh, a st ubborn bul l dog of a man, har d- dr i nki ngand f ear l ess. He f aced compul sory r et i r ement i n August . As chi ef ofcount er i ntel l i gence, Connors hel d sway over t he most secr et , hi ghl ycompar t mental i zed branch of t he CI A. He had worked hi s way up t hrought he var i ous i nt el l i gence di vi si ons, and had been ar ound i n t he good ol ddays when CI A agent s were t he gol den boys. I n f act , Pet e Connor s hadbeen a gol den boy hi msel f . As f ar as he was concerned, no sacr i f i ce wast oo gr eat t o make f or hi s count r y.

Now, i n t he mi ddl e of t he meet i ng, hi s f ace was r ed wi t h anger . "Thi si di ot i c peopl e- t o- peopl e pr ogr am has t o be st opped. We can' t al l ow t hePresi dent t o gi ve t he count r y away. We- "

Fl oyd Baker i nt er r upt ed. " The Pr esi dent has been i n of f i ce l ess t han aweek. We' r e al l her e t o car r y out hi s pol i ci es and- "

"He sprang hi s pl an on us. We di dn' t have a chance t o get t ogether arebut t al . "


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Ned Ti l l i ngest t ur ned t o St ant on Roger s. "Connors has a poi nt . ThePr esi dent i s act ual l y pl anni ng t o i nvi t e t he communi st count r i es t o sendt hei r spi es her e posi ng as at t aches, chauf f eur s, secret ar i es, mai ds.We' r e spendi ng bi l l i ons t o guar d the back door , and the Pr esi dent want st o thr ow open t he f r ont door . "

General Br ooks nodded agr eement . " I wasn' t consul t ed, ei t her .

I n my opi ni on, t he Pr esi den' s pl an coul d dest r oy thi s count r y. "

Stant on Rogers sai d, "Gent l emen, some of us may di sagr ee wi t h thePr esi dent , but Let ' s not f orget t hat t he peopl e vot ed f or Paul El hson.We have t o suppor t hi m i n ever y way we can. " Hi s words were f ol l owed bya r el uct ant si l ence. "Al l r i ght , t hen. The Pr esi dent want s an updat eon Remani a. What ' s t he si t uat i on wi t h Presi dent I onescu?"

"l onescu' s r i di ng hi gh i n t he saddl e, " Ned Ti l l i ngest r epl i ed. "Once hegot r i d of t he CeauSSescu f ami l y, al l of CeauSSescu' s al l i es wer e ei t herassassi nated, j ai l ed, or exi l ed. Si nce he sei zed power I onescu' s been

bl eedi ng t he count r y dr y. The peopl e hat e hi s gut s. "

"What about t he pr ospect s f or a r evol ut i on?"

Ti l l i ngast sai d, " Ah, That ' s r at her i nt erest i ng. Remember a coupl e ofyear s back when Mar i n Gr oza al most t oppl ed t he l onescu gover nment ?" $

"Yes. Gr oza got out of t he count r y by t he ski n of hi s t eet h. "

"Wi t h our hel p. Our i nf ormat i on i s t hat t her e' s a popul ar ground swel lt o br i ng hi m back. Gr oza woul d be good f or Romani a, and good f or us.We' r e wat chi ng t he si t uat i on. "

St ant on Roger s t ur ned t o t he Secr et ary of St ate. "Do you have t hat l i stof candi dat es f or t he Remani an post ?"

Fl oyd Baker t ook an envel ope f r oma l eat her at t aches case and handed i tt o Roger s. "These ar e our t op pr ospect s. They' r e al l car eer di pl omat s.Natur al l y, " he added, " t he St ate Depart ment f avors a career di pl omatr at her t han a pol i t i cal appoi nt ee. Someone who' s been t r ai ned f or t hi ski nd of j ob. Remani a i s an extr emel y sensi t i ve post . "

"I agr ee. " St ant on Roger s r ose t o hi s f eet . "i ' l l di scuss these nameswi t h t he Pr esi dent and get back t o you. "

As the ot her s got up t o l eaveNed Ti l l i ngast sai d, "St ay her e, Pet e. Iwant t o t al k t o you. " When they wer e al one, Ti l l i ngast sai d, "You came

on pr et t y st r ong, Pet e. "

"But I ' m r i ght , " Pet e Connors sai d st ubbor nl y. "The Pr esi dent i s t r yi ngt o sel l out t he count r y. What ar e we supposed t o do?"

"Keep your mout h shut , Pet e. And be car ef ul . Ver y car ef ul . "

Ned Ti l l i ngast had been around l onger t han Pete Connor s. He had been amember of Wi l d Bi l l Donovan' s OSS bef ore i t became t he CI A. He t oohated what t he bl eedi ng hear t s i n Congr ess were doi ng t o t he


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or gani zat i on he l oved. I t had been Ti l l i ngast who had r ecrui t ed Pet eConnors out of col l ege, and Connors had tur ned out t o be one of t hebest . But i n t he l ast f ew years Connors had become a cowboy- a l i t t l et oo i ndependent , a l i t t l e t oo qui ck on t he t r i gger . Danger ous.

"Pet e, have you hear d anythi ng, about an under gr ound or gani zat i on cal l i ngi t sel f Pat r i ot s f or Fr eedom?" Ti l l i ngast asked.

Connors f r owned. "No. Can' t say t hat I have. Who are t hey?"

"Al l I have i s smoke. See i f you can get a l ead on t hem. "

"Wi l l do. "

An hour l at er Pet e Connors was maki ng a phone cal l f r om a publ i c boot h." I have a message f or Odi n, " he sai d.

"Thi s i s Odi n, " Gener al Ol i ver Br ooks r epl i ed.

PAUL El l i son threw t he l i st of candi dat es down on hi s desk. "They' r e

di nosaur s, " he snapped. "Every one of t hem. "

"Mr . Pr esi dent , " Roger s pr ot est ed, "t hese peopl e ar e al l exper i encedcar eer di pl omat s. "

"And hi debound by Stat e Depar t ment t r adi t i on. You r emember how we l ostRemani a t hree year s ago? Our exper i enced car eer di pl omat i n Bucharestscr ewed up, and we were out i n t he col d. The pi n- st r i ped boys wor r y me. "

"But i f you put an amateur i n t here, someone wi t h no experi ence, you' r et aki ng a bi g r i sk. "

"Maybe we need someone wi t h a di f f erent ki nd of exper i ence. Remani a i sgoi ng t o be a t est case, St an. " He hesi t at ed. "I ' m not ki ddi ng mysel f .I know t hat t here are a l ot of power f ul peopl e who don' t want t o seet hi s work. I f i t f ai l s , I ' m goi ng t o get cut of f at t he knees. I don' ti nt end f or t hat t o happen. "

" I can check out some of our pol i t i cal appoi ntees who- "

Presi dent El l i son shook hi s head. " Same pr obl em. I want someone wi t h acompl etel y f r esh poi nt of vi ew. Someone who can t haw t he i ce. Theopposi t e of t he ugl y Amer i can. "

St ant on Roger s was st udyi ng t he Presi dent , puzzl ed. "Mr . Presi dent , Iget t he i mpressi on t hat you al r eady have someone i n mi nd. "

"As a mat t er of f act, " Paul El l i son sai d sl owl y, "I t hi nk I have. "

"Who i s he?"

"She. Di d you happen t o see I de ar t i cl e i n For ei gn Af f ai r s magazi necal l ed' Ddtent e Now' ?"

"Yes. "

"She wr ot e i t . What di d you t hi nk of i t ?"


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"t hought i t was i nt er est i ng. The aut hor bel i eves t hat we' r e i n aposi t i on t o t r y t o seduce t he communi st count r i es i nt o comi ng i nt o ourcamp by of f er i ng t hem economi c and- " He br oke of f " I t was a l ot l i keyour i naugur al speech. "

"Onl y i t was wr i t t en si x mont hs ear l i er . She' s publ i shed br i l l i antar t i cl es i n Commentar y and Publ i c Af f ai r s. Last year I r ead a book ofher s on East er n Eur opean pol i t i cs, and I must admi t i t hel ped cl ar i f ysome of my i deas. "

"Okay. So she agr ees wi t h your t heor i es. That ' s no r eason- "

"St an, she went f urt her t han my t heory. She out l i ned a det ai l ed pl anThat ' s br i l l i ant . She want s t o t ake t he f our maj or wor l d economi c pact sand combi ne t hem. "

"How can we- "

" I t woul d t ake t i me, but i t coul d be done. Look. You know t hat i n 1949

t he East ern- bl oc count r i es f ormed a pact f or mut ual economi c assi st ance,cal l ed COMECON, and i n 1958 t he ot her European count r i es f ormed t heEEC- t he Common Mar ket . "

"Ri ght . "

"We have t he Or gani zat i on f or Economi c Cooper at i on and Devel opment ,whi ch i ncl udes t he Uni t ed St at es, some West er n- bl oc count r i es, and

Yugosl avi a. And don' t f or get t hat t he Thi r d Wor l d count r i es have f or meda nonal i gned movement of t hei r own. "

The Pr esi den' s voi ce was char ged wi t h exci t ement . "Thi nk of t hepossi bi l i t i es. I f we coul d combi ne t hese pl ans and f orm one bi gmarket pl ace, i t coul d be awesome! I t woul d mean r eal wor l d t r ade. Andi t coul d br i ng peace. "

St ant on Roger s sai d caut i ousl y, "I t ' s an i nt er est i ng i dea, but I t ' s al ong way of f . Do you know anyt hi ng about t hi s woman?"

"No. Except t hat she' s ext r emel y br i ght and t hat we' r e on t he samewavel engt h. Her name i s Mary Ashl ey. I want you t o f i nd out ever yt hi ngyou can about her . "

Two days l at er Pr esi dent El l i son and St anton Roger s breakf ast edt oget her .

"I got t he i nf or mati on you asked f or . " ] Roger s pul l ed a paper f r om hi s

pocket . "Mar y El i zabet h Ashl ey. Mi l f or d Road, j unct i on Ci t y, Kansas.Age, al most t hi r t y- f i ve. Mar r i ed t o Dr . Edwar d Ashl ey. Two chi l dr en:Bet h, t wel ve, and Ti m, t en. Assi st ant pr of essor, East er n Eur opeanpol i t i cal sci ence, Kansas St at e Uni ver si t y. Gr andf at her bor n i nRemani a. " He l ooked up thought f ul l y. " I must admi t she soundsi nt erest i ng. "

"I t hi nk so t oo. I ' d l i ke t o have a f ul l secur i t y check r un on her . "

" I ' l l see that I t ' s done. "


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" I DI SAGREE, Prof essor Ashl ey, " sai d Bar r y Dyl an, one of t he t wel vegr aduat e st udent s i n Mar y Ashl ey' s pol i t i cal sci ence semi nar ."Al exandros l onescu i s worse t han CeauSSescu ever was. "

"Can you back up t hat st at ement ?" Mar y asked.

The wai t i ng l i st s t o get i nt o Mary Ashl ey' s cl asses wer e l onger t han anyother pr of essor ' s at Kansas St at e Uni ver si t y. She was a super b t eacher ,wi t h an easy sense of humor and a war mt h t hat made bei ng ar ound her apl easur e. She had an oval f ace t hat changed f r omi nt erest i ng t obeaut i f ul , dependi ng on her mood. She had t he hi gh cheekbones of amodel , and al mond- shaped, hazel eyes. Her hai r was dar k and t hi ck. Shehad a f i gur e t hat made her f emal e st udent s envi ous and t he mal esf ant asi ze, yet she was unaware of how beaut i f ul she was.

"Wel l , " sai d Bar r y, " I onescu has cr acked down har d on al l t he pr o- Gr ozael ement s and r eest abl i shed a har d- l i ne, pr o- Sovi et posi t i on. EvenCeauSSescu wasn' t t hat bad. "

Anot her st udent spoke up. "Then why i s Pr esi dent El l i son so anxi ous t oest abl i sh di pl omat i c r el at i ons wi t h hi m?"

"Because we want t o woo hi m i nt o t he West ern or bi t . Al so- " The bel lsounded. The t i me was up.

Mar y sai d, "Monday we' l l di scuss t he possi bl e consequences of Presi dentEl l i son' s pl an t o penet r at e t he East er n bl oc. Have a good weekend. "

Mary Ashl ey l oved t he gi ve- and- t ake of her gr aduate semi nar. Forei gnnames and pl aces became real , and hi st or i cal event s t ook on f l esh andbl ood. Thi s was her f i l l year on t he f acul t y at Kansas St at e, andt eachi ng st i l l exci t ed her .

She especi al l y enj oyed t eachi ng about Remani a. I t had been hergr andf at her who had i nst i l l ed i n her a deep cur i osi t y about hi s nat i vel and. He had t ol d her r omant i c st or i es of Queen Mari e

and bar onesses and pr i ncesses; t al es of Al ber t , t he pr i nce consort ofEngl and, and of Al exander I I , Czar of Russi a.

Somewher e i n our backgr ound t her e i s r oyal bl ood. I f t he r evol ut i on hadnot come, you woul d have been a pr i ncess.

She used t o have dreams about i t .

She t aught f i ve pol i t i cal sci ence cl asses i n addi t i on t o the gr aduat e

semi nar , and each of t hem deal t wi t h t he Sovi et Uni on and i t s sat el l i t ecount r i es. At t i mes she f el t l i ke a f r aud. I ' ve never been t o any oft he count r i es I t each about , she t hought . I ' ve never even been out si det he Uni t ed St at es.

Mary had pl anned a t r i p abroad when she recei ved her mast er ' s degr ee,but t hat summer she met Edward Ashl ey, and the Eur opean t r i p turned i ntoa t hr ee- day honeymoon at Wat er vi l l e, f i f t y- f i ve mi l es f r om j unct i onCi t y, where Edwar d was t aki ng car e of a cr i t i cal hear t pat i ent .


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"We r eal l y must t r avel next year , " Mar y sai d to Edwar d shor t l y af t ert hey were marr i ed. " I ' m dyi ng t o see Rome and Par i s and Remani a. "

"So am I . I t ' s a dat e. Next summer . "

But t hat f ol l owi ng summer Bet h was born, and Edward was caught up i n hi swork at t he Gear y Communi t y Hospi t al . Two year s l ater Ti m was bor n.Mary had got t en her Ph. D. and gone back t o t eachi ng at Kansas Stat eUni ver si t y, and somehow t he years had mel t ed away. Except f or br i eft r i ps t o Chi cago, At l ant a, and Denver , Mary had never been out of t hest at e of Kansas.

One day, she pr omi sed hersel f . One day . . .

Mary gat her ed her notes t ogether, put on her coat and a scar f , andheaded out t o her car . As she passed Deni son Hal l a st r anger wi t h aNi kon camera ai med i t at t he bui l di ng and pr essed t he shut t er. Mary wasi n t he f oregr ound of t he pi ct ur e. One hour l ater t he phot ogr aph was oni t s way t o Washi ngton, D. C.

EVERY town has i t s own di st i nct i ve r hythm, a l i f e pul se t hat spr i ngsf r om t he peopl e and t he l and. J unct i on Ci t y, i n Gear y Count y, i s a f ar mcommuni t y one hundred and t hi r t y mi l es west of Kansas Ci t y. I t pr i desi t sel f on bei ng t he geogr aphi cal cent er of t he cont i nent al Uni t edSt ates. The downt own shoppi ng area consi st s of scat t ered st ores,f ast - f ood chai ns, and gas st at i ons- t he t ypes of est abl i shment s t hat ar edupl i cat ed- n hundr eds of smal l t owns acr oss Ameri ca. But t he r esi dent sof j uncti on Ci t y l ove i t f or i t s bucol i c peace and t r anqui l l i t y. Onweekdays, at l east . Weekends, j unct i on Ci t y becomes t her est - and- r ecreat i on cent er f or t he sol di er s at near by For t Ri l ey.

MARY Ashl ey st opped t o shop f or di nner at Di l l on' s Market and t henheaded home. The Ashl eys l i ved i n an ei ght - r oom, st one house set i n t hemi ddl e of gent l y r ol l i ng hi l l s. I t had been bought by Dr . Edwar dAshl ey and hi s br i de t hi r t een year s ear l i er .

"I t ' s awf ul l y l ar ge f or j ust t wo peopl e, " Mar y Ashl ey had pr ot est ed whent hey' d f i rst t aken a l ook at i t .

And Edward had t aken her i nt o hi s ar ms and hel d her cl ose. "Who sai dI t ' s goi ng t o be f or onl y t wo peopl e?"

When she wal ked i n t he door t hi s eveni ng, Ti m and Beth ran t o gr eet her.

"Guess what ?" Ti m sai d. "We' r e goi ng t o have our pi ct ur es i n t hepaper! "

"Hel p me put away t he grocer i es, " Mary sai d. "What paper ?"

"The man di dn' t say, but he sai d we' d hear f r omhi m. "

Mary st opped and t urned t o l ook at her son. "Di d he say why?"

"No, " Ti m sai d. " But he sur e had a ni t t y Ni kon. "

ON SUNDAY, Mary cel ebr ated- al t hough t hat was not t he word t hat sprang t oher mi nd- her t hi r t y- f i ve bi r t hday. Edwar d had' ar r anged a sur pr i se


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par t y f or her at t he count r y cl ub. Thei r nei ghbor s, Fl orence andDougl as Schi l l er , and f our ot her coupl es wer e wai t i ng f or her . Edwar dwas as del i ght ed as a smal l chi l d at t he l ook of amazement on Mary' sf ace when she wal ked i nt o t he cl ub and saw t he f est i ve t abl e and t hehappy bi r t hday banner. Af t er di nner , as Mary bl ew out t he candl es onher cake, she l ooked across at Edward and t hought , How l ucky can a l adybe?

Monday mor ni ng she awoke wi t h a headache. There had been a l ot ofchampagne t oast s t he ni ght bef ore. She eased her way out of bed andwent down t o t he ki t chen, where she set about pr epari ng br eakf ast f ort he chi l dr en.

Bet h, Mar y' s t wel ve- year - ol d daught er, wal ked i nt o t he room car r yi ng anar mf ul of books.

Mary put a box of cereal on t he t abl e. " I bought a new cereal f or you.You' r e goi ng t o l i ke i t . "

Bet h sat dowt i at t he ki t chen t abl e and st udi ed t he l abel on t he cer eal

box. "I can' t eat t hi s. You' re t ryi ng t o ki l l me. "

"Don' t put any i deas i n my head, " . her mother caut i oned.

Ti m, Mary' s t en- year - ol d, r an i nt o t he ki t chen. He sl i d i nt o a chai r att he t abl e and sai d, "I ' l l have bacon and eggs. "

"What ever happened t o good morni ng?" Mary asked. "Good morni ng. I ' l lhave bacon and eggs. Can I go t o t he skat i ng r i nk af t er school , Mom?"

"You' r e t o come r i ght home and st udy. Mr s. Reynol ds cal l ed me. You' r ef ai l i ng mat h. How do you t hi nk i t l ooks f or a col l ege pr of essor t o havea son who' s f ai l i ng mat h?"

" I t l ooks okay. You don' t t each mat h. "

They t al k about t he t er r i bl e t wos, Mary t hought gr i ml y. What about t het er r i bl e ni nes, t ens, el evens, and t wel ves?

She had packed a l unch f or each of t hem, but she was concer ned aboutBet h, wt i o was on some ki nd of cr azy new di et . "Pl ease, Bet h, eat al l ofyour l unch today. "

"I f i t has no art i f i c i al pr eservat i ves. I ' m not goi ng t o l et t he greedof t he f ood i ndust r y rui n my heal t h. "

What ever happened t o the good ol d days of j unk f ood? Mary wonder ed.

Ti m pl ucked a l oose paper f r om one of Bet h' s notebooks. "Look at t hi s! "he yel l ed. "' Dear Bet h, Let ' s si t t oget her dur i ng st udy per i od. It hought of you al l day yest er day and- "$

"Gi ve t hat back to me!" Bet h scr eamed. "Thaes mi ne! "

"Hey! I t ' s si gne. "Vi r gi l . " I t hought you wer e i n l ove wi t h Ar nol d. "

Bet h snat ched t he not e away f r om hi m. "What woul d you know about l ove?


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You' r e a chi l d. "

At t hat moment t hey hear d t he horn of t he school bus out si de. Ti m andBeth st ar t ed t oward t he door .

"Wai t ! You haven' t eat en your breakf ast s, " Mary sai d. She f ol l owed t hemout i nt o t he hal l way.

"No t i me, Mother . Got t o go. "

"Bye, Mom. "

And t hey wer e gone.

Mary, f eel i ng dr ai ned, l ooked up as Edward came down t he st ai r s.

"Mor ni ng, dar l i ng, " he sai d.

"Sweet hear t , woul d you do me a f avor ?"

"Sur e, beaut i f ul . " He gave her a ki ss. "Anyt hi ng. "

"want t o sel l t he chi l dr en. "

"Who' d buy t hem?"

"St r anger s. They' ve r eached t he age wher e I can' t do anythi ng r i ght .Beth has become a heal t h- f ood f r eak, and your son i s t ur ni ng i nto awor l d- cl ass dunce. "

Edwar d sai d t hought f ul l y, " Maybe t hey' r e not our ki ds. "

"I hope not . I ' m maki ng oatmeal f or you. "

"Sor r y, dar l i ng. No t i me. I ' m due i n sur ger y i n hal f an hour . "

Mar y l ooked at Edwai d and f el t a gl ow. Even af t er al l t hese year s, shet hought , he' s st i l l t he most at t r act i ve man I ' ve ever known.

"I may deci de t o keep t he ki ds, af t er al l , " she sai d. "I l i ke t hei rf at her a l ot . "

"To t el l you t he t r ut h, " sai d Edwar d, "I ' m r at her f ond of t hei r ,mother. " He t ook her i n hi s arms.

MARY and Edward l ef t t he house t oget her , bowi ng t hei r heads agai nst t her el ent l ess wi nd. Edwar d st r apped hi msel f i nt o hi s For d Gr anada and

watched Mary as she got behi nd t he wheel of t he st at i on wagon.

"Dr i ve car ef ul l y, sweet hear t , " Edwar d cal l ed.

"You t oo, dar l i ng. " She bl ew hi m a ki ss, and the two car s drove awayf r omt he house, Edward headi ng t oward t he hospi t al and Mary t oward t heuni ver si t y.

Two men parked hal f a bl ock f r om t he Ashl ey house wai t ed unt i l t hevehi cl es wer e out of si ght . "Let ' s go. "


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They drove up t o t he house next door t o t he Ashl eys' . The dr i ver sat i nt he ci l r whi l e hi s compani on wal ked up t o the f r ont door and r ang - t hebel l . The door was opened by an at t r act i ve brunett e i n her mi ddl ethi r t i es.

"Mr s. Dougl as Schi l l er ?"

"Yes?"

The man r eached i nt o hi s j acket pocket and pul l ed out an i dent i f i cat i oncard. "My name i s Donal d Zaml ock. I ' m wi t h t he Secur i t y Agency of t heState Depart ment . I want t o ask you a f ew quest i ons about yournei ghbor , Mr s. Ashl ey. "

She l ooked at hi m wi t h concer n. "Mary? Why woul d you be aski ng abouther?"

"May I come i n?"

"Yes. " Fl or ence Schi l l er l ed hi m i nt o t he l i vi ng r oom. "Woul d you l i kesome cof f ee?"

"No, t hanks. I ' l l onl y t ake a f ew mi nut es. " He smi l ed r eassur i ngl y."Thi s i s j ust a r out i ne check. She' s not suspect ed of any wr ongdoi ng. "

"I shoul d hope not , " Fl or ence Schi l l er sai d i ndi gnant l y. "Mar y Ashl eyi s one of t he ni cest persons you' l l ever meet . " She added, "Have you mether?"

"No, ma' am. Thi s vi si t i s conf i dent i al , and I woul d appr eci at e i t i fyou kept i t t hat way. How l ong have you known Mr s. Ashl ey?"

"About t hi r t een years . Si nce t he day she moved i n next door . "

"Woul d you say t hat you know Mr s. Ashl ey wel l ?"

"Of cour se I woul d. Mar y' s my cl osest f r i end. What - "

"Mr s. Schi l l er , i n your opi ni on i s Mr s. Ashl ey an emot i onal l y st abl eper son?"

"Of cour se she i s. "

"Mr s. Ashl ey' s grandf ather was bor n i n Remani a. Have you ever hear dher di scuss Remani a?"

"Oh, once i n a whi l e she' l l t el l st ori es her gr andf at her t ol d her aboutt he ol d count r y. "

"One l ast quest i on. Have you ever hear d Mr s. Ashl ey or Dr . Ashl ey sayanyt hi ng agai nst t he Uni t ed St ates gover nment ?"

"Absol ut el y not ! "

"Then i n your est i mat i on t hey' r e bot h l oyal Amer i cans?"


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"You bet t hey are. Woul d you mi nd t el l i ng me- "

The man r ose. " I want t o t hank you f or your t i me, Mr s. Schi l l er . AndI ' d l i ke t o i mpr ess upon you agai n t hat t hi s mat t er i s hi ghl yconf i dent i al . I woul d appr eci at e i t i f you di dn' t di scuss i t wi t hanyone- not even your husband. "

A moment l at er he was out t he door . Fl orence Schi l l er st ood t herest ar i ng af t er hi m. "I don' t bel i eve t hi s whol e conver sat i on t ookpl ace, " she sai d al oud.

BRI DGE WI TH THEI R NEI GHBOI RS t he Schi l l ers was a Mondayni ght r i t ual f orMary and Edward Ashl ey. The f act t hat Dougl as Schi l l er was a doct or andworked wi t h Edward at t he hospi t al made the t wo coupl es even cl oser .Dougl as Schi l l er was normal l y a pl easant , easygoi ng man, but at t hemoment t her e was a gr i m expressi on on hi s f ace. They were i n t he mi ddl eof t he game, and t he Schi l l er s wer e ten t housand poi nt s behi nd. For t hef our t h t i me t hat eveni ng Fl orence Schi l l er had r eneeed.

"Fl orence! " Dougl as expl oded. "Whi ch si de are you on?"

"I ' m sor r y, " she sai d ner vousl y.

" I s anyt hi ng bother i ng you?" Edward Ashl ey asked Fl orence.

" I can' t tel l you. "

They al l l ooked at her i n surpr i se: "What does t hat mean?" her husbandasked.

Fl or ence Schi l l er t ook a deep br eat h. "Mar y, I t ' s about you. "

"What about me?"

"I ' m not supposed t o t el l . I pr omi sed. "

"You pr omi sed who?" Edward asked.

"A f ederal agent f r omWashi ngt on. He was at t he house t hi s morni ngaski ng me al l ki nds of quest i ons about Mar y. "

"What ki nd of quest i ons?" Edward demanded.

"Oh, you know. was she a l oyal Amer i can? was she st abl e?"

"Wai t , " Mar y sai d exci t edl y. "I t hi nk I know. I ' m up f or t enur e.

The uni ver si t y does some sensi t i ve government r esear ch on campus, so Isuppose t hey check ever yone pr et t y t horoughl y. "

"Wel l , t hank God That ' s al l i t i s. " Fl or ence Schi l l er br eat hed a si gh ofr el i ef . "I t hought t hey were goi ng t o l ock you up. "

"I hope t hey do. " Mar y smi l ed. "At Kansas St at e. "

Abbeywood, Engl and. "We are meet i ng under t he usual r ul es, t he chai r manannounced. "No r ecor ds wi l l be kept , t hi s meet i ng wi l l never be


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di scussed, and we wi l l r ef er t o one anot her by the code names we havebeen assi gned. "

Ther e wer e ei ght men i nsi de t he l i br ary of t he f i f t eent h- cent uryCl aymore Cast l e. Two armed men kept vi gi l out si de, whi l e a t hi r d manguar ded t he door t o t he l i brary.

. The chai r man cont i nued. " The Cont r ol l er has r ecei ved some di st ur bi ngi nf ormat i on. Mar i n Gr oza i s pr epar i ng a coup agai nst Al exandr osI onescu. A gr oup of seni or ar my of f i cers i n Remani a has deci ded t o backGr oza. Thi s t i me he coul d ver y wel l be successf ul . "

Odi n spoke up. "How woul d t hat af f ect our pl an?"

" I t coul d dest r oy i t . I t woul d open t oo many br i dges t o t he West . "

Freyr sai d, "Then we must prevent i t f r omhappeni ng. "

Bal der asked, "How?"

"We assass i nate Gr oza, " t he chai r man r epl i ed.

"I mpossi bl e. Hi s vi l l a i s i mpr egnabl e. Anyway, no one i n t hi s r oomcanaf f or d t o be i nvol ved i n an assassi nat i on at t empt . "

"We woul dn' t be di r ect l y i nvol ved, " t he chai r man sai d. "The Cont r ol l erhas di scover ed a conf i dent i al dossi er t hat concer ns an i nt er nat i onalt er r or i st who' s f or hi r e. He' s cal l ed Angel . "

"Never heard of hi m, " Si gmund sai d.

"So much t he bet t er. Hi s cr edent i al s ar e most i mpr essi ve. Accor di ng t ot he Cont r ol l er ' s f i l e, Angel was i nvol ved i n t he Si kh Khal i st anassassi nat i on i n I ndi a. He hel ped t he Khmer Rouge i n Cambodi a. He' smast er mi nded t he assassi nat i ons of hal f a dozen ar my of f i cer s i n I sr ael ,and t he I sr ael i s have of f er ed a mi l l i ondol l ar r ewar d f or hi m, dead oral i ve. "

"He sounds promi si ng, " Thor sai d. " Can we get hi m?"

"He' s expensi ve. I f he agr ees t o t ake t he cont r act , i t wi l l cost us t womi l l i on dol l ars . "

"How do we get t o t hi s Angel per son?" Si gmund asked.

"Al l hi s cont act s ar e handl ed t hrough hi s mi st r ess, a woman named NeusaMuf i ez. Angel has set her up i n an apart ment i n Buenos Ai r es. "

Thor sai d, "Who woul d get i n t ouch wi t h her f or us?"

The chai r man r epl i ed, "The Cont r ol l er has suggest ed a man named Har r yLant z. He was t hr own out of t he CI A f or set t i ng up hi s own dr ugbusi ness i n Vi etnam. Whi l e he was wi t h t he CI A he di d a t our i n Sout hAmeri ca, so he knows the t er r i t ory. He' d be a perf ect go- between. " Hepaused. "I suggest we t ake a vot e. Al l t hose i n f avor of hi r i ng Angel ,pl ease rai se your hands. "


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Ei ght wel l - mani cur ed hands went i nt o t he ai r .

"Then I t ' s set t l ed. " The chai r man r ose. "The meet i ng i s adj our ned.Pl ease obser ve t he usual pr ecaut i ons as you l eave. "

Chapter Thr ee

I N HI S hot el r oom i n New York, Harr y Lant z was awakened i n t he mi ddl e oft he ni ght by t he r i ngi ng of t he t el ephone.

Who t he devi l knows I ' m here? he wondered. He l ooked bl ear i l y at t hebedsi de cl ock, t hen snat ched up t he phone. " I t ' s f our o' cl ock i n t hemor ni ng! Who t he- "

A sof t voi ce at t he other end of t he l i ne began speaki ng, and Lant z satupr i ght i n bed, hi s hear t begi nni ng t o pound. "Yes, si r . "

He l i st ened f or a l ong t i me. Fi nal l y he sai d, "Yes, . si r . Iunder st and. I ' l l be on t he f i r st pl ane t o Buenos Ai r es. Thank you,s i r . "

He r epl aced t he r ecei ver and l i t a ci gar et t e. Hi s hands wer e t r embl i ng.The man he had j ust spoken t o was one of t he most power f ul men i n t hewor l d and was goi ng t o pay hi m f i f t y t housand dol l ar s t o del i ver amessage. I t woul d be f un goi ng back t o Ar gent i na. Harr y Lant z l ovedSout h Amer i can women.

THE 747 ar r i ved at Ezei za Ai r port i n Buenos Ai r es at f i ve t he f ol l owi ngaf t er noon. Har r y Lant z f el t a sur ge of exci t ement as he st epped out oft he pl ane, but t he bl ast of hot ai r st ar t l ed hi m f or a moment . Ofcour se, he r eal i zed. I t ' s summer here.

Yes, i t was good t o be back. Si est a was over , and t he st r eets werecr owded wi t h peopl e. When t he t axi arr i ved at t he Hot el ElConqui st ador , i n t he hear t of t he f ashi onabl e Bar r i o Nor t e sect or , Lant zpai d t he dr i ver wi t h a mi l l i on- peso not e.

"Keep t he change, " he sai d. Thei r money was a j oke.

Harr y l ooked up an ol d f r i end. No one had ever . hear d of Neusa Muf i ez.Harr y Lant z began to f eel he mi ght be on a wi l d- goose chase.

I t was at t he Pi l ar , a smal l bar i n t he bar r i o of Fl or est a, t hat hi sl uck suddenl y changed. I t was a Fr i day ni ght , and t he bar was f i l l edwi t h worki ngmen. I t t ook Lant z t en mi nut es t o get t he bar t ender' sat t ent i on. Bef ore Lant z was hal f way thr ough hi s pr epared speech, t hebar t ender sai d, "Neusa Muez? S( . I know her . I f she wi shes t o t al k t o

you, she wi l l come here maana, about mi dni ght . "

The f ol l owi ng eveni ng Har r y Lant z r et urned t o t he Pi l ar at el eveno' cl ock and t ook a pl ace at t he bar , wat chi ng t he r oom gr adual l y f i l lup. As mi dni ght approached, he f ound hi msel f get t i ng more and morener vous. I f she doesn' t show up, he t hought , I can ki ss t he f i f t y gr andgood- bye.

He wonder ed what she l ooked l i ke. She had t o be a st unner . He wasaut hor i zed t o of f er her boyf r i end, Angel , a cool t wo mi l l i on dol l ar s t o


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assassi nate someone, so Angel was pr obabl y up t o hi s ear s i n mi l l i ons.He woul d be abl e t o af f ord a beaut i f ul young mi st r ess.

The door opened, and Lant z l ooked up expect ant l y. A woman was wal ki ngi n al one. She was mi ddl e- aged and unat t r act i ve, wi t h a f at , bl oat edbody and huge, pendul ous breast s t hat swayed as she wal ked. Her f acewas pockmarked, and she had dyed bl ond hai r . A hooker down on her l uck,Lant z deci ded.

The woman l ooked ar ound t he bar wi t h vacant , l i st l ess eyes, t hen pushedher way over t o Har r y. "Wanna buy me a dr i nk?"

She had a heavy Spani sh accent .

She l ooks l i ke a f at cow, Lant z t hought . . And she' s dr unk. "Get l ost ,si ster . "

"Est eban, t he bar t ender . He say you ar e l ooki n' f or me, no?"

"He must have made a mi st ake. I ' m l ooki ng f or Neusa Muez. "

"Si . Yo soy Neusa Mudez. "

But t he wr ong one, Har r y t hought . " Ar e you Angel ' s f r i end?"

She smi l ed dr unkenl y. "Si . "

Har r y Lant z recover ed swi f f l y. "Wel l , wel l . " He f or ced a smi l e. "Can wego t o a corner t abl e and t al k?"

They f ought t hei r way acr oss t he smoky bar, and when t hey were seat ed,Har r y Lant z sai d, "I ' d l i ke t o t al k about - "' "You buy me a r um, s( ? Adoubl e. "

Lant z nodded. "Sure. " When t he wai t er l ef t , Lant z sai d, " I want t o meetwi t h Angel . I have a l i t t l e pr esent f or hi m. "

She st udi ed hi m. "St ? What ki n' a present ?"

"Two mi l l i on dol l ar s. "

Thei r dr i nks ar r i ved. She downed hers i n one gul p. "Wha' f or you wannagi ve Angel t wo mi l l i on dol l ar s?"

"That ' s somet hi ng I ' l l have t o di scuss wi t h hi m i n per son. "

"Thai s not possi bl e. Angel , he don' t al k t o nobody. "

"Lady, f or t wo mi l l i on dol l ar s- "

Neusa Muf i ez str uggl ed t o her f eet . "I t ol ' you, he don' t al k t onobody. Ad16s. "

"Hey! Wai t a mi nut e! Don' t go. "

She l ooked down at hi m wi t h bl ear y eyes. "What you wan' ?"


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dol l ar s on hi s head. Thi s dr unken f l oozy was goi ng t o l ead hi m t oAngel . He was goi ng t o col l ect t hat one mi l l i on dol l ar s.

He wat ched her sl op down her dr i nk, spi l l i ng some of i t on her al r eadysoi l ed bl ouse. "What el se di d Angel say?"

"Angel say he wanna know' who your peopl e are. "

Lant z gave her a wi nni ng smi l e. "You t el l hi m That ' s conf i dent i al ,Neusa. I can' t gi ve hi m t hat i nf or mat i on. "

She shr ugged. "Then Angel say t o t el l you t o get l ost . "

Har r y Lant z' s mi nd st ar t ed wor ki ng at t op speed. "Neusa, I ' l l t el ephonet he peopl e I ' m wor ki ng f or , and i f t hey gi ve me per mi ssi on, I ' l l gi veyou a name. Okay? "

She nodded, i ndi f f er ent .

"You t el l Angel I ' l l have an answer f or hi m by t omor r ow. I s t her e

somepl ace I can r each you?"

guess so. "

He was maki ng progress. "Where?"

"Her e. "

He made t he cal l col l ect f r oma t el ephone boot h so i t coul d not bet r aced. I t had t aken hi m one hour t o get t hr ough.

"No, " t he Cont r ol l er sai d. "I t ol d you, no r - mmes.

"Yes, si r . But t her e' s a pr obl em. Neusa Muf i ez, Angel ' s mi st r ess, sayshe' s wi l l i ng t o make a deal , but he won' t move wi t hout knowi ng who he' sdeal i ng wi t h. "

"What i s t hi s woman l i ke?"

"She' s a f at , ugl y mor on, si r . "

" I t ' s much too danger ous f or my name t o be used. "

Har r y Lant z coul d f eel t he deal sl i ppi ng away f r om hi m. "Yes, si r , " hesai d ear nest l y. " The onl y t hi ng i s, si r , Angel ' s r eput at i on i s based onhi s bei ng abl e t o keep hi s mout h shut . I f he ever st ar t ed t al ki ng, hewoul dn' t l ast f i ve mi nut es i n hi s busi ness. "

Ther e was a l ong si l ence. "Very wel l . You may gi ve Angel my name. Buthe i s never t o di vul ge i t and never t o cont act me di r ect l y. He' l l wor konl y t hr ough you. "

Har r y Lant z coul d have danced. "Yes, si r . I ' l l t el l hi m. Thank you,si r . " He hung up, a bi g gr i n on hi s f ace. He was goi ng t o col l ect t hef i f t y t housand. And t hen t he mi l l i ondol l ar r ewar d.

WHEN Har r y Lantz met Neusa Muez l at e t hat eveni ng, he i mmedi at el y


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or der ed a doubl e r um f or her and sai d happi l y, "Ever ythi ng' s set . I gotper mi ssi on. "

She l ooked at hi m i ndi f f er ent l y. "Yeah?"

He t ol d her t he name of hi s empl oyer . I t was a househol d word.

She shr ugged. "Never hearda hi m. "

"Neusa, t he peopl e I work f or want t hi s done as qui ckl y as possi bl e.Mar i n Gr oza i s hi di ng out i n a vi l l a i n Neui l l y, and- "

"Where?"

"I t ' s a subur b of Par i s, " he sai d pat i ent l y. "Angel wi l l know. "

"I need ' not her dri nk. "

An hour l at er Neusa was st i l l dr i nki ng, and t hi s t i me Harr y Lant z wasencour agi ng her. When she' s dr unk enough, he thought , she' s goi ng t o

l ead me st r ai ght t o her boyf r i end. The r est wi l l be easy. "When i sAngel comi ng back t o t own?" he asked.

She f ocused her wat ery eyes on hi m. "Nex' week. "

Harr y Lantz t ook her hand and st r oked i t . "Why don' t you and I go backt o your pl ace?" he asked sof t l y.

"Okay. "

He was i n.

NEUSA MUez l i ved i n a shabby t wo- r oom apar t ment t hat was as messy andunkempt as i t s t enant . When t hey wal ked t hrough t he door , Neusa madestr ai ght f or t he l i t t l e bar i n t he corner.

Lant z wat ched as she pour ed a dr i nk and downed i t . She' s t he most ugl y,r epul si ve pi g I ' ve ever met , he t hought , but t he mi l l i on dol l ar s i sgoi ng t o be beaut i f ul .

Lant z wal ked over t o her and put hi s arms ar ound her huge, f l abby wai st ."You' r e cut e, do you know t hat?"

"Wha' ?" Her eyes were gl azed.

He was get t i ng nowher e. He had t o t hi nk of an approach t hat woul d gett hi s amazon i nto bed. But he knew he had t o make hi s move caref ul l y. I f

he of f ended her , she mi ght r eport hi m t o Angel , and that woul d be t heend of t he deal .

As Lant z was desperat el y t r yi ng to t hi nk of a cl ever gambi t Neusamumbl ed, "Come on ' n t he bedr oom. "

He gr i nned i n r el i ef . "That ' s a gr eat i dea, baby. "

She st umbl ed as Lant z f ol l owed her i nt o t he smal l bedr oom. I n i t was al arge unmade bed and a bur eau wi t h a cracked mi r r or above i t . I t was


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t he open cl oset t hat caught Har r y Lant z' s at t ent i on. He gl i mpsed a r owof men' s sui t s hangi ng on a rack.

He went i nto t he bat hroom t o undr ess, and when he returned, Neusa waspropped up i n bed l i ke a l evi athan. He sat down besi de her . She wasdr unker t han he had t hought . Th: I t ' s good, he sai d t o hi msel f . I t wi l lmake t hi ngs easi er . "You' r e a ver y pr et t y woman, honI l i ke you a l ot . "He began t o car ess her . "I ' l l bet you l i ve an exci t i ng l i f e bei ngAngel ' s gi r l f r i end. That must be r eal l y i nt er est i ng. Tel l me, baby,What ' s Angel l i ke?"

Ther e was a si l ence, and he wondered i f Neusa had f al l en asl eep. "Don' tgo t o sl eep, sweet hear t . Not yet . " He f el t her st i r . "What ki nd of mani s Angel ? I s he handsome?"

"Ri ch. Angel , he' s r i ch. "

Lant z cont i nued t o car ess her . "Who ar e hi s f r i ends?"

Her voi ce was dr owsy. "Angel got no f r en' s. I ' m hi s f r en' . "

Neusa cl osed her eyes. "Hey, I ' m sl eepy. Let ' s go t o sl eep. "

Lant z st ayed t here qui et l y unt i l he was cert ai n Neusa was asl eep. Thenhe car ef ul l y ar ose f r omt he bed, padded over t o t he cl oset , and swi t chedon t he cl oset l i ght .

Ther e wer e a dozen sui t s hangi ng on t he r ack and si x pai r s of men' sshoes on t he f l oor . Lant z opened t he j ackets and exami ned t he l abel s.

The sui t s were al l cust om- made by Hef f era, Aveni da l a Pl at a. I ' ve hi tt he j ackpot ! Lant z gl oat ed. They' l l have a r ecor d of Angel ' s addr ess.I ' l l go and ask a f ew quest i ons. Then al l I have t o do i s t i p of f myf r i ends i n Mossad and col l ect t he rewar d.

Lant z t hought he heard a sound f r om across t he r oom. He qui ckl y t urnedout t he cl oset l i ght and wal ked over t o the bed. Neusa' s eyes werecl osed, ' and she was snori ng l i ght l y. He t i ptoed t o t he bur eau andbegan l ooki ng t hr ough t he dr awers , hopi ng t o f i nd a phot ogr aph of Angel .No l uck. He cr ept back t o bed.

WHEN Harr y Lant z awoke i n t he morni ng, he heard Neusa si ngi ng of f key i nt he bathr oom.

She was st andi ng i n f r ont of t he mi r r or. Her hai r was done up i n f atcur l er s, and she l ooked, i f possi bl e, even more unat t r act i ve t hanbef or e. She poi nt ed t o t he bat ht ub f ul l of wat er . "I f i x a bat h f oryou. When you' r e f i ni sh' , I f i x br eakf ast . "

"Sounds great , " he l i ed.

"You l i ke omel ets? I make good omel ets. Angel t each me. "

Neusa pl ugged i n an el ect r i c hai r dr yer and began t o dr y her hai r .

Lant z st epped i nt o t he bat htub and l ay back i n t he war m wat er , t hi nki ng,Maybe I shoul d get a gun and t ake Angel mysel f . I f I l et t he I sr ael i sdo i t , t her e' l l pr obabl y be an i nqui r y i nt o who get s the r ewar d. Thi s


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way t her e won' t be any quest i on. I ' l l j ust t el l t hem wher e t o pi ck uphi s body.

Neusa sai d somethi ng, but Harr y Lant z coul d bar el y hear her over t her oar of t he hai r dr yer .

"What di d you say?" he cal l ed out .

"I got a pr esen' f or you f r om Angel . "

She dr opped t he el ect r i c hai r dr yer i nt o the wat er and st ood t her ewatchi ng as Lant z' s body t wi t ched i n a dance of deat h.

PRESI DENT PAUL ELLI SON l ooked down at t he l ast securi t y repor t on MaryAshl ey and sai d, " Not a bl emi sh, St an. "

"I know. I t hi nk she' s t he per f ect candi dat e. Of cour se, St at e i sn' tgoi ng t o be happy. "

"We' l l send t hem a cr yi ng t owel . Now Let ' s hope t he Senat e wi l l back us

up. Woul d you l i ke another dr i nk, Stan?"

"No, t hanks. Unl ess you need me t oni ght , I ' m t aki ng Bar bar a t o anopeni ng at t he Kennedy Cent er . "

"You go ahead, " Paul El l i son sai d. "Al i ce and I ar e due t o ent er t ai nsome r el ati ves of her s. "

"Pl ease gi ve my l ove t o Al i ce, " Stanton Roger s sai d. He r ose.

"And you gi ve mi ne t o Barbar a. "

Chapter Four

MARY Ashl ey' s nerves were on edge dur i ng di nner . The chi l dren werebei ng i mpossi bl e agai n. Beth r ef used t o t ouch her f ood.

"No one eat s meat anymore, " Bet h i nsi st ed. " I t ' s a barbar i c cust omcar r i edover f r om t he caver nan. Ci vi l i zed peopl e don' t eat l i veani mal s. "

. "I t ' s not al i ve, " Ti m ar gued. "I t ' s dead, so you mi ght as wel l eati t . "

"Chi l dr en! Qui et . Bet h, go make your sel f a sal ad. "

"She coul d go gr aze i n t he f i el d, " Ti m of f er ed.

"Ti m! Fi ni sh your di nner. " Mary' s head was poundi ng.

The t el ephone r ang.

"That ' s f or me, " Bet h sai d. She l eaped out of her chai r and r acedt owar d t he t el ephone. She pi cked i t up and sai d f l i r t at i ousl y,"Vi r gi l ?" She l i st ened a moment , and her expr essi on changed. "Oh, sure, "she sai d di sgust edl y. She sl ammed down t he r ecei v&r and r eturned t o t het abl e.


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"What was t hat al l about ?" Edward asked.

"Some j oker . sai d i t was t he Whi t e House cal l i ng Mom. "

"The Whi t e House?"

The t el ephone r ang agai n.

"I ' l l get i t . " Mar y rose and wal ked over t o t he t el ephone. "Hel l o. " Asshe l i st ened, her f ace gr ew gr i m. " We' r e i n t he mi ddl e of di nner , and Idon' t t hi nk t hi s i s f unny- What ? Who?

The Pr esi dent ?" There was a hush i n t he r oom. "Wai t , I - Oh, goodeveni ng, Mr . Presi dent . " There was a dazed expr essi on on her f ace. Herf ami l y was wat chi ng her , wi de- eyed. "Yes, si r . I do. I r ecogni ze yourvoi ce. H' m sor r y about hangi ng up a moment ago. Beth t hought i t wasVi r gi l , and- Yes, si r . Thank you. " She st ood t her e l i st eni ng. "Woul d Ibe wi l l i ng t o ser ve as what ?" Her f ace suddenl y f l ushed.

Edward was on hi s f eet , movi ng toward the phone, t he chi l dr en cl osebehi nd hi m.

"There must be some mi st ake, Mr . Pr esi dent . My name i s Mary Ashl ey.I ' m a pr of essor at Kansas St at e Uni ver si t y, and- You r ead i t ? Thankyou, si r . " She l i st ened f or a l ong t i me. "Yes, si r . I agr ee. But t hatdoesn' t mean t hat I - Yes, si r . I ' m sur e I t ' s a wonder f ul oppor t uni t y,but I - Of cour se. I wi l l . I ' l l t al k i t over wi t h my husband and getback t o you. " She pi cked up a pen and wr ot e down a number . "Yes, si r . Ihave i t . Thank you, Mr . Presi dent . Good- bye. " She sl owl y r epl aced t her ecei ver and stood t her e i n shock.

"What i n heaven was t hat al l about ?" Edward demanded.

"was i t r eal l y t he Pr esi dent ?" Ti m asked.

Mar y sank i nt o a chai r . "Yes. I t r eal l y was. "

Edward t ook Mary' s hand i n hi s. "Mary, what di d he want ?"

Mary sat t here, numb, t hi nki ng, So That ' s why t hat man was quest i oni ngFl orence. She l ooked up at Edward and t he chi l dr en and sai d sl owl y,"The Presi dent r ead my book and t he ar t i cl e i n For ei gn Af f ai r s, and het hought t hey wer e br i l l i ant . He sai d That ' s the ki nd of t hi nki ng heWant s f or hi s peopl e- t o- peopl e pr ogr am. He want s t o nomi nat e me asambassador t o Remani a. "

Ther e was a l ook of t ot al di sbel i ef on Edward' s f ace. "You?

Why you?"

I t was exact l y' what Mar y had asked her sel f , but she f el t Edwar d coul dhave been more t act f ul . He coul d have sai d, How wonder f ul l You' d make agreat ambassador .

"You haven' t had any pol i t i cal exper i ence. "


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"I ' m wel l awar e of t hat , " Mar y r esponded t ar t l y. "I agr ee t hat t hewhol e t hi ng i s ri di cul ous. "

"Ar e you goi ng t o be the ambassador?" Ti m asked.

Edwar d t urned t o t he chi l dr en. "You t wo f i ni sh your di nner .

Your mot her and I woul d l i ke t o have a l i t t l e t al k. " Edward t ook Mar y' sar m and l ed her i nt o t he l i br ar y. He t ur ned t o her and sai d, "I ' m sor r yi f I sounded l i ke a pompous j er k i n t her e. I t was j ust such a- "

"No. You were per f ect l y r i ght . Why on ear t h shoul d t hey have chosenme?"

"Honey, you' d probabl y make a great ambassador . But you must admi t i tcame as a bi t of a shock. "

"Try t hunder bol t . I st i l l can' t bel i eve i t . " Mar y l aughed. "Wai t unt i lI t el l Fl orence. She' l l di e. "

"You' r e real l y exci t ed about t hi s, aren' t you?" asked Edwar d.

She l ooked at hi m i n sur pr i se. "Of cour se. Woul dn' t you be?"

Edwar d chose hi s wor ds car ef ul l y. " I t i s a gr eat honor, honey, and I ' msure they must have had good r eason f or choosi ng you' . "

He hesi t ated. "We have t o t hi nk about t hi s ver y car ef ul l y. "

She knew what he was goi ng t o say, and she t hought , Edward' s r i ght . Ofcour se he' s r i ght .

" I can' t j ust l eave my pr act i ce and wal k out on my pat i ent s. I have t ost ay her e. I don' t know how l ong you' d have t o be away, but i f i tr eal l y means a l ot t o you, wel l , maybe you coul d go over t here wi t h t hechi l dr en and I coul d j oi n you whenever - "

Mary sai d sof t l y, "You cr azy man. Not hi ng means as much t o me as youand t he chi l dr en. I coul d never l i ve away f r om you. "

He t ook her i n hi s ar ms. " Ar e you sure?"

"I ' m posi t i ve. I t was exci t i ng bei ng asked. That ' s enough. "

THE f ol l owi ng mor ni ng Mary di al ed t he number t hat t he Pr esi dent hadgi ven her . "Thi s i s Mr s. Edwar d Ashl ey. The Pr esi dent s assi st ant , Mr .Gr eene, i s expect i ng my cal l . "

"One moment , pl ease. "

A mal e voi ce on t he other end sai d, "Hel l o. Mr s. Ashl ey?"

"Yes, " Mary sai d. "Woul d yo. "Pl ease gi ve t he Presi dent a message f orme? That I ' m ver y, ver y f l at t er ed by hi s of f er , but my husband' spr of essi on t i es hi m down her e, so I ' m af r ai d i t woul d be i mpossi bl e f orme t o accept . I hope he under st ands. "


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" I ' l l pass on your message, " t he voi ce sai d noncommi t t al l y. "Thank you,Mr s. Ashl ey. " The l i ne went dead.

Mar y sl owl y r epl aced t he r ecei ver . I t was done. For one br i ef

moment a t ant al i zi ng dr eam had been of f er ed her . But t hat was al l i twas. A dream. Thi s i somy r eal worl d, she t hought . I ' d bet t er getr eady f or my f i r st cl ass.

Manama, Bahrei n. The whi t ewashed st one house was anonymous, hi ddenamong dozens of i dent i cal houses a shor t wal k f r omt he souks, t he l ar ge,col or f ul out door market s. I t was owned by a merchant sympathet i c t o t hecause of Pat r i ots f or Fr eedom.

The chai r man was speaki ng t o t he men gathered i n t he l i vi ng r oom. "Apr obl em has ar i sen. The mot i on t hat was recent l y passed has run i nt odi f f i cul t y. The go- bet ween we sel ect ed Har r y Lant z- was mur der ed. Hi sbody was f ound f l oat i ng i n the har bor i n Buenos Ai r es. "

"Do t he pol i ce have any i dea who di d i t ?" Bal der asked. " I mean, can

t hey connect t hi s t o us i n any way?"

"No. We' r e per f ect l y saf e. "

Thor asked, "What about our pl an? Can we go ahead wi t h i t ?"

"Not at t he moment . We have no i dea how t o reach Angel . However , t heCont r ol l er gave Harr y Lant z per mi ssi on t o r eveal hi s name t o hi m. I fAngel i s i nt er est ed i n our pr oposi t i on, he wi l l f i nd a way t o get i nt ouch wi t h hi m. Al l we can do now i s wai t . "

THE man di r ect l y r esponsi bl e f or Mar i n Gr oza' s saf et y was Rol and Passy,t he French mi ni st er of def ense. Gendarmes were st at i oned i n f r ont oft he vi l l a - i n Neui l l y twent y- f our hour s a day, but i t was t he knowl edget hat Ley Past emak was i n char ge of t he vi l l a' s i nner secur i t y t hat gavePassy conf i dence. He had seen t he secur i t y ar r angement s hi msel f and wasf i r ml y convi nced t hat t he house was i mpr egnabl e.

I n recent weeks r umors had been sweepi ng t he di pl omat i c wor l d that acoup was i mmi nent , t hat Mar i n Gr oza was pl anni ng t o r et urn t o Remani a,and t hat Al exandres l onescu was goi ng t o be deposed by hi s seni ormi l i t ary of f i cers .

Ley Past emak knocked on the door and ent ered t he bookcr ammed l i braryt hat served as Mann Gr oza' s of f i ce. Gr oza was seated behi nd hi s desk,worki ng.

"Everybody want s t o know when t he r evol ut i on i s goi ng t o happen, "Past emak sai d. "I t ' s t he wor l d' s worst - kept secr et . "

Tel l t hem t o be pat i ent . Wi l l you come t o Bucharest wi t h me, Ley?"

Mor e t han anythi ng Ley Past emak year ned t o ret ur n t o I sr ael . "I ' l l onl yt ake t hi s j ob t empor ar i l y, " he had t ol d Mar i n Gr oza. "Unt i l you' r e r eadyt o make your move. " Tempor ar i l y had t urned i nt o weeks and mont hs, andf i nal l y i nt o t wo year s. And now i t was t i me t o make another deci si on.I n a wor l d peopl ed wi t h pygmi es, Ley Past emak thought , I have been gi ven


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t he pr i vi l ege of servi ng a gi ant . Mar i n Gr oza was t he most sel f l ess andi deal i st i c man Ley Past emak had ever known.

When Past emak had come t o wor k f or Gr oza, he had wondered about t heman' s f ami l y. Gr oza woul d never speak of t hem, but t he of f i cer who hadar r anged' f or Past emak t o meet Gr oza t ol d hi m t he st ory.

"Gr oza was bet r ayed. The Secur i t at e pi cked hi m up and t ort ur ed hi m f orf i ve days. They promi sed t o f r ee hi m i f he woul d gi ve . t hem t he namesof hi s associ at es i n t he under gr ound. He woul dn' t t al k. They ar r est edhi s wi f e and hi s f our t een- year - ol d daught er and br ought t hem t o t hei nt er r ogat i on r oom. Gr oza was gi ven a choi ce: t al k or wat ch t hem di e.I t was the hardest deci si on any man ever had t o make. I t was the l i vesof hi s bel oved wi f e and chi l d agai nst t he l i ves of hundr eds of peopl ewho bel i eved i n hi m. " The man paused, t hen went on more sl owl y. " It hi nk i n t he end what made Gr oza deci de the way he di d was t hat he wasconvi nced he and hi s f ami l y were goi ng t o be ki l l ed anyway. He r ef usedt o gi ve t hem t he names. The guar ds st r apped hi m i n a chai r and f orcedhi m t o watch hi s wi f e and daught er bei ng t or t ur ed unt i l t hey di ed. "

"How he must hat e t hem! "

The of f i cer l ooked i nt o Ley Past emak' s eyes and sai d, "The mosti mport ant t hi ng f or you t o unders t and i s t hat Mari n Gr oza does not wantt o r etur n t o Remani a t o seek vengeance. He want s t o go' back t o f r ee hi speopl e. He want s t o make cer t ai n t hat such t hi ngs can never agai nhappen. "

Ley Past emak had been wi t h Gr oza f r om t hat day on, and t he more t i me hespent wi t h t he r evol ut i onary, t he mor e he came t o l ove hi m. Now hewoul d have t o deci de whet her t o gi ve up hi s r et ur n to I sr ael and go t oRemani a wi t h Gr oza.

PAsTERNAK was WALKI NG down t he hal l way t hat eveni ng, and as he passedMar i n Gr oza' s bedr oom door he hear d t he f ami l i ar scr eams of pai n ri ngbut . So I t ' s Fri day, Past emak t hought ; Mar i n Gr oza' s day of penance.

Ever y Fri day ni ght t he hal l s of t he vi l l a r esounded wi t h Gr oza' sscr eams. That was t he day of t he week when Gr oza woul d shut hi msel f i nhi s r oom and whi p hi msel f mer ci l essl y, unt i l hi s bl ood f l owed, event hough no amount of sel f - i nf l i ct ed pai n woul d ' ever er adi cat e t het er r i bl e gui l t t hat consumed hi m. Each t i me he f el t t he l ash of t hewhi p, he woul d see hi s wi f e and daughter scr eami ng f or hel p. And hewoul d cry out , "I ' m sorr y! I ' l l t al k. Oh, God, pl ease l et me t al k. .. . "

THE t el ephone cal l came t en days af t er Har r y Lant z' s body was f ound. The

Cont r ol l er was i n t he mi ddl e of a st af f meet i ng i n t he conf er ence r oomwhen t he i ntercom buzzer sounded. " I know you asked not t o bedi st ur bed, si r , but t her e' s a Mi ss Neusa Muf i ez cal l i ng f r om BuenosAi r es. I t sounds ur gent . I t ol d her - "

" I t ' s al l r i ght . " He kept hi s emot i ons under t i ght cont rol . " I ' l l t aket he cal l i n my pr i vat e of f i ce. " He went i nt o hi s of f i ce and l ocked t hedoor . "Hel l o. I s t hi s Mi ss Muf i ez?"

"Yeah. I got a message f or you f r om Angel . He di n' l i ke t he nosy


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messenger you sent . "

The Cont r ol l er chose hi s wor ds car ef ul l y. " I ' m sor r y. But we woul dst i l l l i ke Angel t o go ahead. Woul d t hat be possi bl e?"

"Yeah. He say he wanna do i t . "

"Excel l ent . How shal l I ar r ange hi s advance?"

The woman l aughed. "Angel , he don' need no advance. Nobody cheat sAngel . " Somehow t he words wer e chi l l i ng. "When t he j ob i s f i ni shed, hesay you put t he money i n- Wai t a mi nut e. I got i t wr ote down. Her e i ti s- t he St at e Bank i n Zur i ch. I t hi nk That ' s somepl ace i n Swi t zer l and. "She r eal l y di d sound l i ke a moron.

" I ' l l need t he account number . "

"Oh, yeah. Hol ' on. I got i t her e somewher e. " He heard t he r ust l e ofpaper s, and f i nal l y she was back on t he t el ephone. "Her e i t i s. jt hr ee f our ni ne zer o seven seven. "

"How soon can he handl e t he mat t er?"

"When he' s ready, sehor . Angel say you' l l know when I ees done. You' l lr ead ' bout i t i n t he newspaper s. "

"Ver y wel l . I ' m goi ng t o gi ve you my pr i vat e t el ephone number i n caseAngel needs t o reach me. "

He gave i t t o her sl owl y.

Thi l i si , Russi a. The meet i ng was bei ng hel d i n an i sol at ed dachaborderi ng on t he Kur a Ri ver .

The chai r man sai d, "Two urgent mat t er s have ar i sen. The f i r st i s goodnews. The Cont r ol l er has had word f r omAngel . The cont r act i s movi ngf or war d. "

"That ' s ver y good news i ndeed!" Fr eyr excl ai med. "What ' s the bad news?"

"I ' m af r ai d i t concer ns t he Pr esi den' s candi dat e f or t he ambassador shi pt o Remani a, but t he si t uat i on can be handl ed. . . . "

I T was di f f i cul t f or Mar y Ashl ey t o keep her mi nd on her cl ass. Too muchhad changed. The J unct i on Ci t y newspaper had carr i ed a f eat ur e st ory onher r ej ect i on of t he ambassadorshi p t o Remani a, and t he f act t hat shehad decl i ned t he Presi den' s of f er had made t he st ory even bi gger t han i f

she had accept ed i t . I n t he eyes of t he communi t y and her st udent s shehad become a cel ebr i t y. I t was a heady f eel i ng.

Remani a, she mused. Wel come t o Remani a, Madam Ambassador . Yourl i mousi ne i s here t o dr i ve you t o your embassy. Her embassy. She hadbeen i nvi t ed t o l i ve i n Buchar est , one of t he most exci t i ng capi t al s oft he wor l d, r epor t i ng t o the Pr esi dent , bei ng i n t he cent er of hi speopl e- t o- peopl e concept . I coul d have been a par t of hi st ory.

Mary was roused f r omher r everi e by t he sound of t he bel l . Cl ass was


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over . Ti me t o go home and, change. Edward was t aki ng her out t o t hecount r y cl ub f or di nner . As bef i t t ed an al most ambassador.

I T was l at e by t he t i me Edward and Mary ar r i ved at t he count r y cl ubTher e was onl y a spr i nkl i ng of guest s' l ef t i n t he di ni ng r oom. Theyst ared, watchi ng as Mary sat down, and whi spered t o one, anot her .

Edwar d l ooked at hi s wi f e and f el t gui l t y. He was responsi bl e f or hert ur ni ng down t he Presi den' s of f er , and hi s reasons wer e val i d. Butt her e' s more t o i t t han t hat , Edwar d admi t t ed t o hi msel f I was j eal ous.I r eact ed l i ke a spoi l ed br at . What woul d have happened i f t hePresi dent had made me an of f er l i ke t hat? I ' d pr obabl y have j umped ati t . Al l I coul d t hi nk of was t hat I want ed Mar y t o st ay home and t akecare of me and t he ki ds.

He sat t her e admi r i ng Mar y. I ' l l make i t up t o her , he t hought . I ' l lsurpri se her t hi s summer wi t h a t r i p to Par i s and London. Maybe Remani a.We' l l have a r eal honeymoon. "Any r egr ets?" he asked her .

Of cour se t her e were r egr et s. But t hey wer e cast l e- i n- Spai n r egr et s

about t he ki nd of gl amorous, i mpossi bl e dr eams t hat everyone has. Marysmi l ed. "None, darl i ng. I t was a f l uke t hat t hey even asked me. " Shet ook Edwar d' s hand i n her s. "I ' m gl ad I r ef used t he of f er . "

Edwar d l eaned acr oss the t abl e and ki ssed hi s wi f e. " I l ove you somuch, Mar y. "

"I l ove you t wi ce as much, dar l i ng. "

AT THREE o' cl ock i n the mor ni ng, when Edward and Mary were f ast asl eep,t he phone expl oded i nt o sound. Edward sl eepi l y r eached f or t hei nst r ument and br ought i t t o hi s ear . "Hel l o. - . .

A woman' s ur gent voi ce sai d, " Dr . Ashl ey?"

"Yes?"

"Pet e Gr i mes i s havi n' a hear t at t ack. He' s i n pai n somet hi n' awf ul . It hi nk he' s dyi n' . I don' t know what t o do. "

Edwar d sat up i n bed, t r yi ng t o bl i nk t he sl eep away. "Don' t doanyt hi ng. ] Keep hi m sti l l . I ' l l be t here i n hal f an hour. " He sl i d outof bed and sewed t o dress.

"Edwar d, whays wr ong?" Mar y mumbl ed.

"Ever yt hi ng' s f i ne. Go back t o sl eep. "

Fi ve mi nut es l ater Edward was on hi s way t o t he Gr i mes f arm. I t was acol d and raw morni ng, wi t h a nort hwest erl y wi nd dr i vi ng t he temperat ur ewel l bel ow zero. He t ur ned t he car ont o Rout e j 18, t he t wo- l ane hi ghwayt hat went t hr ough j unct i on Ci t y. The t own was asl eep, i t s houseshuddl ed agai nst t he bi t t er , f r i gi d wi nd.

When Edwar d came t o t he end of Si xt h St r eet , he made t he t urn that t ookhi m ont o Rout e 57- How many t i mes had he dr i ven over t hi s. r oad on hotsummer days, wi t h the sweet smel l of corn and pr ai r i e hay i n t he ai r ?


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And how many wi nter s had he dr i ven on t hi s r oad t hrough a f r ost edl andscape, wi t h power l i nes del i cat el y l aced wi t h i ce, and l onel y smokef r om f ar - of f chi mneys?

Edward thought of Mary l yi ng i n t hei r warm bed wai t i ng f or hi m. He wasso l ucky. I ' l l make ever yt hi ng up t o her , he pr omi sed hi msel f

Ahead, at t he j unct i on of Hi ghways 57 and 77, was a st op si gn. Edwardcame t o a hal t and l ooked up and down t he deser t ed r oad. As he st ar t edi nt o t he i nt ersect i on a t r uck appear ed out of nowhere. He hear d asudden r oar , and hi s car was pi nned by two br i ght headl i ght s r aci ngt oward hi m. He caught a gl i mpse of t he gi ant f i ve- t on army t r uckbear i ng down on hi m, and the l ast sound he hear d was hi s own voi cescr eami ng.

I N NEUI LLY chur ch bel l s peal ed out across t he qui et noon ai r . Thegendarmes guardi ng Mari n Gr oza' s vi l l a had no reason t o pay at t ent i on t ot he dust y Renaul t sedan t hat was cr ui si ng by. Angel drove sl owl y,al t hough not s l owl y enough t o ar ouse suspi ci on, t aki ng ever ythi ng i n.

Ther e wer e t wo guar ds i n f r ont , a hi gh wal l , probabl y el ect r i f i ed, and

i nsi de" of cour se, woul d be t he usual el ect r oni c nonsense of beams,sensor s, and al ar ms. I t woul d t ake an ar my t o st or m t he vi l l a. But Idon' t need an army, Angel t hought . Onl y my geni us. Mar i n Gr oza i s adead man. I f onl y my mot her were al i ve t o see how r i ch I have become.ow happy i t woul d have made her.

I n Ar gent i na podr f ami l i es were ver y poor i ndeed, and Angel ' s mother hadbeen of t he poorest . Thr ough t he year s Angel had watched f r i ends andr el at i ves di e of hunger and si ckness. Deat h was a way of l i f e, and Angelt hought phi l osophi cal l y, Si nce i t i s goi ng t o happen anyway, why notmake a pr of i t f r om i t ? I n t he begi nni ng t her e wer e t hose who doubt edAngel ' s l et hal t al ent s, but peopl e who t r i ed t o put r oadbl ocks i n t heway had a habi t of di sappeari ng. Angel ' s reput at i on as an assassi ngr ew. I have never f ai l ed, Angel t hought . I am Angel . The Angel ofDeat h.

Chapt er Fi ve

THE snow- cover ed Kansas hi ghway was abl aze wi t h f l ashi ng r ed l i ght s t hatt ur ned t he f r ost y ai r bl ood r ed. I n t he cent er of a ci r cl e of vehi cl es,r i nged by headl i ght s, sat t he f i ve- t on M871 ar my t r act or - t r ai l er , andpar t i al l y beneat h i t , Edwar d Ashl ey' s crumpl ed car . A dozen pol i ceof f i cer s and f i r emen wer e mi l l i

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