The sum of all fears - Tom Clancy [259]
"That was much healthier work. I also had a far shorter distance to commute. About fifteen feet, as a matter of fact," he added with a chuckle.
Ryan laughed rather tiredly. "Must be nice. For me it's that far to see my secretary."
"And the family?"
There was no sense in lying. "Could be better. My work doesn't help."
"Something is troubling you, Jack. It's quite obvious, you know."
"Too much stress. I've been hitting the booze too hard, not enough exercise. The usual. It'll get better, just I've had a longer than usual stretch of bad times at the office. I appreciate your concern, sir, but I'll be all right." Jack almost convinced himself that it was true. Almost.
"As you say."
"And I must say that's the best dinner I've had in a very long time. So, when's the next time you're coming over to our side of the pond?" Ryan asked, grateful for the chance to change subjects.
"Late spring. A breeder in Wyoming will have some horses for me. Polo ponies, actually."
"You gotta be crazy to play that game. Lacrosse on horses."
"Well, it gives me a chance to enjoy the countryside. Magnificent place, Wyoming. I plan to tour Yellowstone also."
"Never been there," Jack said.
"Perhaps you could come with us, then? I might even teach you how to ride."
"Maybe," Jack allowed, wondering how he'd look on a horse, and wondering how the hell he'd be able to get away from the office for a week. "Just so you don't wave one of those hammers at me."
"Mallet, Jack, mallet. I shan't try to involve you in polo. You'd probably end up killing some unfortunate horse. I presume you'll be able to find the time."
"I can sure try. If I'm lucky, the world will settle down a little by then."
"It's settled down quite a bit, thanks in large part to your work."
"Sir, Basil may have placed a little too much emphasis on what I did. I was just one cog in the machine."
"Modesty can be overdone. I find it disappointing that you failed to receive any recognition," the Prince observed.
"That's life, isn't it?" Jack was surprised at how it came out. For once, he'd been unable to hide his feelings completely.
"I thought as much. Yes, Jack, that's life, and life is not always fair. Have you thought perhaps about changing your line of work - take leave, perhaps?"
Jack grinned. "Come on, I don't look all that bad. They need me at the office."
His Royal Highness became very serious. "Jack, are we friends?"
Ryan sat upright in his chair. "I don't have all that many, but you're one of them."
"Do you trust my judgment?"
"Yes, sir, I do."
"Get out. Leave. You can always come back to it. A person of your talents never really leaves. You know that. I don't like the way you look. You've been at it too long. Have you any idea how lucky you are that you can leave? You have a degree of freedom I do not. Use it."
"Nice try, man. If you were in my position, you wouldn't leave. Same reason, even. I'm not a quitter. Neither are you. It's that simple."
"Pride can be a destructive force," the Prince pointed out.
Jack leaned forward. "It's not pride. It's fact. They do need me. I wish they didn't, but they do. Problem is, they don't know it."
"Is the new director that bad?"
"Marcus is not a bad person, but he's lazy. He likes his position better than he likes his duties. I don't suppose that's a problem limited to the American government, is it? I know better. So do you. Duty comes first. Maybe you're stuck with your job because you were born into it, but I'm just as stuck with mine because I'm the guy best able to do it."
"Do they listen to you?" His Highness asked sharply. Jack shrugged. "Not always. Hell, sometimes I'm wrong, but there has to be somebody there who does the right thing, at least tries to. That's me, sir. That's why I can't bug out. You know that just as well as I do."
"Even if it harms you?"
"Correct."
"Your sense of duty is