The sum of all fears - Tom Clancy [240]
"Also correct, Dr Elliot. Action such as Kadishev reports is completely unprecedented. Historically, our worries about political ambition within the Soviet military have been as groundless as they've been continuous. It would seem that this may have changed. The possibility of a de facto alliance between the military and the KGB is most disturbing."
"So, you were wrong before?" Elliot pressed.
"That is a possibility," Ryan admitted.
"And now?" Fowler asked.
"Mr President, what do you want me to say? Might I be wrong on this also? Yes, I may. Am I sure this report is accurate? No, I am not, but the import of the information compels me to bring it to your attention."
"I'm less concerned with the missile issue than with the missing warheads." Elliot said. "If Narmonov is facing real blackmail wow."
"Kadishev is a potential political rival to Narmonov." Fowler noted speculatively. "Why confide in him?"
"You meet regularly with the congressional leadership, sir. So does he. The political dynamic in the Congress of People's Deputies is more confused than on The Hill. Moreover, there's genuine respect between the two. Kadishev has supported Narmonov more often than he's opposed the man. They may be rivals, but there is also a commonality of views on many key issues."
"Okay, I want this information confirmed any way you can, and as quickly as you can."
"Yes, Mr President."
"How's Goodley working out?" Elliot asked.
"He's a bright kid. He's got a good feel for the Eastern Bloc. I read over a paper he did up at the Kennedy School a while back, and it was better than our people did at the time."
"Get him in on this. A fresh mind might be useful." Liz opined.
Jack shook his head emphatically. This is too sensitive for him."
"Goodley is that Presidential Fellow you told me about? Is he that good, Elizabeth?" Fowler wanted to know.
"I think so."
"My authority, Ryan, let him in." the President ordered.
"Yes, sir."
"Anything else?"
"Sir, if you have a minute, we did have something else come in about Japan." Jack explained further for a few minutes.
"Is that a fact ?" Fowler smiled in his clever way. "What do you think of them?"
"I think they like to play games." Ryan answered. "I do not envy the folks who have to negotiate with them."
"How can we find out if this is true?"
"It comes from a good source. It's another one we guard closely."
"Wouldn't it be nice if how would we find out if the deal is struck?"
"I don't know, Mr President."
"I could ram something like that right down his throat. I'm getting tired of this trade impasse, and I'm tired of being lied to. Find a way to do it."
"We'll try, Mr President."
"Thanks for coming in." The President didn't rise or extend his hand. Ryan stood and left.
"What do you think?" Fowler asked as he scanned over the report.
"It confirms what Talbot says about Narmonov's vulnerability but worse."
"I agree. Ryan looks harried."
"He shouldn't be playing both sides of the street."
"Hmph?" the President grunted without looking up.
"I have a preliminary report from the investigation Justice has been running. It looks as though he is playing around, as we suspected, and there is a kid involved. She's the widow of an Air Force guy who died in a training accident. Ryan has spent a lot of money to take care of the family, and his wife doesn't know."
"I don't need that sort of scandal, not another womanizer on top of Charlie's affairs." Good thing they haven't found out about us, he didn't have to say. That was, in any case, a different matter. Alden had been a married man. Ryan still was. Fowler was not. That made it different. "How sure are you of this? You said a preliminary report?"
"That's right."
"Firm it up and let me know what you find out."
Liz nodded and went on. This thing with the Soviet military scary."
"Very scary," Fowler agreed. "We'll talk about it over lunch."
"And that is the halfway point," Fromm said. "Might I ask a favor?"
"What favor is that?"