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"Since the Gulf War of thirty-two years ago, the
Americans have twice more put together a coalition to deal with a rogue state.
This one deals with a rogue entity, but the classic means of alliance
diplomacy are the essential skills."
"As a scientist, how are you qualified  "
This last from a frowzy woman apparently noted for her "incisive" questions.
He put a stop to her by turning his back and walking away, which from startled
looks from the "handlers" assigned to him was Just Not Done to Famous Media
Personalities.
Nonetheless, it got him quickly out of the floodlit room and shortly after
into a helicopter for Dulles.
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Everywhere people seemed to have only a dim notion of what was at stake in
this crisis. He avoided conversation with people in nearby seats from State
and Defense. Takeoff was delayed by several people maneuvering for seats near
others. The Marine guard got irked at this, quite rightly, and threatened to
throw a White House aide off if he would not "get your ass in gear," a
delicious American turn of phrase that no foreigner could ever get exactly
right in intonation.
"Hey, Kingsley," a fellow from the U Agency called, plunking himself down next
to him before
Kingsley could think of a plausible reason why the seat had to be kept open as
a grave matter of national security. "Herb Mansfield. I met you a couple weeks
ago on the Big Island. You heading back?"
'To Hawaii? Yes."
"We'd like you to catch a chopper at Dulles, visit us over by Langley."
"Sorry, can't. Have to" 
What's the Americanism
?
 "mind the store."
"We had a few things to go over."
Something ominous in his tone? "I believe there are a plentitude of you
fellows at the Center."
"Not policy stuff."
"Scientific?"
"Personal."
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The helicopter roared into the air then, giving him time to judge this odd
approach. He barely knew this man. There was an air of heavy assurance about
the way he wore his gray suit and undistinguished tie, a massive sense that he
was not used to being differed with. When they had cleared the trees over the
nearby hills, Kingsley said, "I didn't think you cared."
This lightness had no effect upon the government armor. "Oh, we do. Vital
personnel we are taking a big interest in."
How nice
. "I am scarcely vital."
"You handled getting your friends into the Center pretty well."
"I prefer to work with people I know."
"Funny you didn't bring your wife in."
"She is not a scientist."
"Talked to her lately?"
"I haven't spoken to her in months; I don't like to interrupt her."
This little joke provoked not even a twinge of his upper lip. The helicopter
hammered at the long pause between them.
All right, then, dead earnest it is
. "I suppose I might find it difficult?"
"Some people are hard to reach."
He had to admire the style of this threat, as anyone overhearing it would
think it completely bland chat.
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"You may have overestimated the value of that particular card."
"Don't think so."
"We are separated."
No big effect, but the eyes lost a touch of hardness.
Kingsley sat back and allowed himself the luxury of looking out at greenery
zooming by. Generally this sort, from his admittedly limited experience, took
a steely stare as the lingua franca of such negotiations. Perhaps a show of
indifference would work best. He took his time with the scenery. Then:
"I don't believe you have weighed all factors here."
"I think so, friend."
"Negative inducements seldom work."
A shift of mood in the otherwise uninteresting face. "Maybe not, for a
customer like you. Let me shift the terms."
"Do."
"Your wife could be taken to one of the shelters."
"Which are?"
"The hot ticket. How come you don't know?"
"I have been rather busy."
"A global system, using tne old shelters put up to protect national asset
people in case of nuclear war."
"Which this promises to be."
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"Right, hadn't thought of it that way. Anyway, we stocked these up, got them
running. Spot for your wife in one of ours, the best."
"If I& "
"Do your duty."
"I might remind you that I am not required to feel any patriotic sentiment."
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"Yeah, but you're one of us." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]