Executive orders - Tom Clancy [388]
And what might that be? SecState asked his colleague. They got out at what appeared to be the base officers club, and a minute later found themselves in a private dining room, with a carafe of fine Beaujolais on the table. What's your take on this, Claude? What does Daryaei want?
The shrug was as much a part of the French character as the wine, which Claude poured. They toasted, and the wine was superb even by the standards of the French diplomatic service. Then came business.
We're not sure. We wonder about the death of the Turkoman Premier.
You don't wonder about the death of-
I do not believe anyone has doubts about that, Scott, but that is a long-standing business, is it not?
Not exactly. Another sip. Claude, you're still the best authority on wine I know. What's he thinking about?
Probably many things. His domestic troubles-you Americans don't appreciate them as well as you should. His people are restless, less so now that he's conquered Iraq, but the problem is still there. We feel that he must consolidate before he does anything else. We also feel that the process may turn out to be unsuccessful. We are hopeful, Scott. We are hopeful that the extreme aspects of the regime will moderate over time, perhaps not very much time. It must. It is no longer the eighth century, even in that part of the world.
Adler took a few seconds to consider that, then nodded thoughtfully. Hope you're right. The guy's always scared me.
All men are mortal. He is seventy-two, and he works a hard schedule. In any case, we have to check on him, do we not? If he moves, then we will move, together, as we have done in the past. The Saudis and we have talked on this matter also. They are concerned, but not overly so. Our assessment is the same. We counsel you to keep an open mind.
Claude might be correct, Adler thought. Daryaei WAS old, and consolidating the rule over a newly acquired country wasn't exactly a trivial undertaking. More than that, the easiest way to bring a hostile country down, if you have the patience for it, was to be nice to the bastards. A little trade, a few journalists, some CNN, and a couple of G-rated movies, such things could do wonders. If you have the patience. If you had the time. There were plenty of Iranian kids in American universities. That could be the most effective means for America to change the UIR. Problem was, Daryaei had to know that, too. And so here he was, Scott Adler, Secretary of State, a post he'd never expected to approach, much less have, and he was supposed to know what to do next. But he'd read enough diplomatic history to know better.
I'll listen to what he has to say, and we're not looking to make any new enemies, Claude. I think you know that.
Daccord. He topped off Adler's glass. Unfortunately, you will find none of this in Tehran.
And two is my limit when I'm working.
Your flight crew is excellent, Claude assured him. They fly our own ministers.
When has your hospitality ever been lacking?
FOR CLARK AND Chavez it was Perrier, cheaper to buy here, they both imagined, though the lemons probably were not.
So how are things in Washington? a French counterpart asked, just killing time, or so it seemed.
Pretty strange. You know, it's amazing how quiet the country is. Maybe having a lot of the government turned off helps, John said, trying to dodge.
And this talk of your President and his adventures?
Sounds like a lot of movie stuff to me, Ding said, with the open face of honesty.
Stealing a Russian sub? All by himself? Damn. Clark grinned. I wonder who made that up?
But the Russian spy chief, their host objected. It is he, and he's been on the television.
Yeah, well, I bet we paid him a ton of money to come across, too.
Probably wants to do a book and make some more. Chavez laughed. Sumbitch'll get it, too. Hey, mon ami, we're just worker bees, okay?
It didn't fly any better than a lead glider. Clark looked into their interrogator's eyes and they just clicked. The man was DGSE, and he knew Agency when he saw it.
Then be careful of the nectar you will find where you are going,