Red Rabbit - Tom Clancy [113]
"Sure," Prince replied. "What is it?"
"If you hear anything interesting, let us know here?"
"You can read about it in the Times, usually on the front page above the fold," he added, to make sure Foley knew how important he was, along with his penetrating analysis.
"Well, some things, you know, the Ambassador likes to get a heads-up. He told me to ask, off-the-record-like."
"That's an ethical issue, Ed."
"If I tell Ernie that, he won't be real happy."
"Well, you work for him. I don't."
"You are an American citizen, right?"
"Don't wave the flag at me, okay?" Prince responded wearily. "Okay, if I find out they're about to launch nuclear weapons, I'll let you know. But it looks to me like we're more likely to do something that stupid than they are."
"Tony, give me a break."
"This 'focus of evil in the world' crap wasn't exactly Abe Lincoln talking, was it?"
"You saying the President was wrong?" the Chief of Station asked, wondering just how far his opinion of this ass might sink.
"I know about the Gulag, okay? But that's a thing of the past. The Russians have mellowed since Stalin died, but the new administration hasn't figured that one out yet, have they?"
"Look, Tony, I'm just a worker bee here. The Ambassador asked me to forward a simple request. I take it your response is 'no'?"
"You take it correctly."
"Well, don't expect any Christmas cards from Ernie Fuller."
"Ed, my duty is to The New York Times and my readers, period."
"Okay, fine. I had to ask," Foley said defensively. He hadn't expected anything better from the guy, but he'd suggested this to Ambassador Fuller himself to feel Prince out, and the Ambassador had approved it.
"I understand." Prince checked his watch. "Hey, I have a meeting scheduled at the CPSU Central Committee building."
"Anything I ought to know about?"
"Like I said, you can read it in the Times. They fax you the Early Bird out of Washington, don't they?"
"Yeah, it eventually trickles down here."
"Then, day after tomorrow, you can read it," Prince advised, standing to take his leave. "Tell Ernie."
"I'll do that," Foley said, extending his hand. Then he decided he'd walk Prince to the elevator. On the way back, he'd hit the men's room to wash his hands. His next stop after that was the Ambassador's office.
"Hi, Ed. Meet with that Prince guy?"
Foley nodded his head. "Just cut him loose."
"Did he nibble at your hook?"
"Nope. Just spat it right back at me."
Fuller smiled crookedly. "What did I tell you? There used to be some patriotic reporters back when I was your age, but they've mostly grown out of it over the last few years."
"I'm not surprised. When Tony was a new kid in New York, he never liked the cops very much, but he was good at getting them to talk to him. Persuasive bastard, when he wants to be."
"Did he work on you?"
"No, sir. I'm not important enough for that."
"What did you think of the Washington request about the Pope?" Fuller asked, changing the subject.
"I'm going to have some people look into it, but—"
"I know, Ed. I don't want to know exactly what you're doing about it. If you find anything, will you be able to tell me about it?"
"Depends, sir," Foley answered, meaning probably not.
Fuller accepted that. "Okay. Anything else shaking?"
"Prince is on to something, ought to be in the papers day after tomorrow. He's on his way to the Central Committee, or so he told me. He confirmed that Alexandrov will replace Mikhail Suslov when Red Mike checks out. If they're telling him, it must be official. I think we can believe that one. Tony has good contacts with their political types, and it tracks with what our other friends tell us about Suslov."
"I've never met the guy. What gives with him?"
"He's one of the last true believers. Alexandrov is another one. He thinks Marx is the One True God, and Lenin is his prophet, and their political and economic system really does work."
"Really? Some people never learn."
"Yep. You can take that to the bank, sir. There are a few left, but Leonid Ilyich isn't one of them, and neither is his heir apparent,