by James Grady
The old man paused, cocked his head to one side, then continued half to himself. "I wonder how much about our boy, the Chinese passed on to the Soviets. I hate to think our budding agent will lose all his-protective shadow through too much Chinese light."
Kevin interrupted the old man's worries. "How's Malcolm doing?" The old man frowned. "He seems to be all right, basically, but he is very thoughtful. Dr. Lofts is optimistic. He says the problem is probably linked in part to his attraction to the Chinese girl and in part to all the killings. But Dr. Lofts thinks we still have our Condor. At least for a while.
"And how are you? You look rested. I know-you just got back. Carl told me you had something to show me you refused to let him see. He is quite miffed, you know. I sent him on-an errand to the Pentagon."
Kevin smiled. He handed the old man a long sheet of cream-colored paper. "This just came over the wire. We had only a little trouble with the three local officials we had to tell; The coroner, sheriff and a doctor. That deaf Old Man Gorton presented a problem until we offered him money and combined that with a pitch to his patriotism. Few people would believe him if he talked anyway. Some of the Air Force people will have to be watched, but there's no difficulty there. We even identified the C~hinese girl's accomplice. We'll let the general handle him. That wire story shows our cover story is flying."
The old man read from the cream-colored -paper:
WHITLASH, Mont. (AP) -A truck carrying highly explosive propane gas went out of control early this morning, slamming through a farmhouse i this tiny northem Montana border community, killing the driver and six of the town's seven inhabitants and a visiting relative.
The truck, a tractor and trailer unit owned and operated by independent petroleum dealer Lon Shaughnessy apparently lost its brakes and skidded down the town's one street fifty yards before jumping a fence and smashing through the Neil Robinson household. Neil and Fran Robinson, their nephew, Peter Robinson, Mrs. Robinson's mother, Clare Stowe, and their neighbors from across the street, Matthew and Shirley Kincaid, were in the house at the time of the accident. David Livingston, a relative of the Robinsons from Kansas, was also in the house when the truck crashed through the tiny frame building.
According to Toole County Sheriff John Dibbern, the truck tore through the kitchen where those seven people. were presumably relaxing over a meal. Although no one witnessed the collision, Efrim Gorton, an elderly neighbor and Whitlash's only other inhabitant, said he heard the collision and ran from his house just as the propane gas exploded. He said no signs of life came from inside the house after the explosion.
Sheriff Dibbern, the first official to arrive at the scene, said. . .
The old man smiled at Kevin. "All in all" he paused to smile---"I think it went rather well, don't you?"
All in all, the general thought the whole goddamn mess stank. He glared across the desk at the impeccably dressed Carl. The general wanted to reach over and smash Carl's face up and down on the desk's fine-grained wood, but he controlled himself. For the second time the general read the terse one-page note Carl had brought.
So that old fart thought Forty was satisfied and would agree with his handling of the affair, and would "the general" be so kind as to follow the enclosed instructions and any subsequent suggestions?
In a pig's eye, thought the general. He knew the carefully worded phrases about "keeping you informed of all relevant details" meant the old man would tell him what he damn well pleased. The general knew he might never find out what the bell happened with Parkins and that damn mess in Montana. He also knew the old man was probably behind the "suggestion" he had received from his commander that morning that he "take some time off."
The general looked back to Carl's impassive face. Just one good punch, he thought. Finally he put his dreams aside and sighed. "Thank you, son. Tell your superior I am most grateful for his assistance, and I will, of course, be glad to follow any suggestions he might have."
And take your fucking ass out of this office and hurry home, he thought.
Serov had never seen Commander Ryzhov in such a state. Serov's awe and surprise helped him keep his fear under control as Ryzhov paced the room, raving to the bare walls as if Serov weren't there. Serov thought that it was a good thing the commander didn't stop for a reply. The events of the last two days had left Serov too numb to defend himself adequately. The contents of the manila envelope Ryzhov had thrown on this desk when he stormed into his office had left Serov virtually incapable of speech. He sat mute while Ryzhov raved.
". . . knew Gamayun was gone, blown when Krumin didn't check in on schedule. That I could comprehend. We immediately pulled in that twerp in East Berlin and checked all our contacts. Our man at the FBI knew something had happened, but the CIA is keeping it all very close. In time we would have found out the full story, but then this, today, this . . . this thing.
"The Chinese military attach6 just happens to drop by the GRU for a midmorning brunch and some nice talk about how we should ease our tensions, lessen our competition to avoid unpleasant incidents. Overtures he should have made to us! And h4~ accidentally leaves a manila envelope behind. That manila envelope! With those pictures in it! And so the GRU photographs everything, everything, and ships it over here with that gloating little "perhaps you will be interested in this enclosure" note and a lieutenant, a flunky lieutenant telling the tale of how they got it to one of our colonels who has to listen politely and then who brings it to me!
"To top it off, look how they maneuvered with the Americans. The Chinese get rid of Krumin to harm and warn us, and in so doing they help the Americans. They even let an American agent live after . . . after working with him. The implications of that! The balance was precarious enough with the American telling the Chinese about our border troop movements they monitor with their satellites, but in this affair the Chinese work with them without complete cooptation. They turned Gamayun into a two-pronged example: Do not mess with us and remember we can find other allies! All accomplished without a confrontation or exchange in which we could do more than lose! The repercussions of this affair have not even begun. Not even begun!
"Well, I can tell you this, Comrade Serov, it's lucky, it's very lucky for Krumin that he is lying there in that picture with his eye shot out, for after the way he botched this whole operation, continuing to play with his little Gamayun against my advice, well, if he were here, I would shoot out both his eyes I God knows what he's. cost us. We've heard rumors from China already!’’
"All I can say is I feel sorry for those above us who had faith in Krumin and his Gamayun. I feel sorry for them, for they approved his little scheme and forced us to carry it out. You and I, Comrade Serov, the working people, to risk ourselves in ' this foolishness! Luckily, I am sure the Politburo will recognize where the blame lies. I talked to a friend I have on their staff this morning just before I came to bring this horrible news to you, and I am sure they are smart enough to understand how we tried to save Krumin from his stupidity and how others blocked our efforts!"
Ryzhov leaned across the desk and said in a calmer tone, "Comrade Serov, I want you to know that I attach none of this blame to you. Your handling of the operation was impeccable. My report three 7 days ago stated as much and I stand by that assessment. While I was not as directly,involved in this affair as you~ I, of course, took full responsibility then and I will now. The report has been in the proper hands since last night, and I'm sure it, plus our subsequent reports, will show us for the true comrades we are. I'm afraid I must leave you now and further attend to this most unfortunate matter."
Ryzhov turned and quickly stalked from the room.
Serov waited fifteen minutes. No one came to lead him away. He sighed deeply. For a while he had known ecstasy, the ecstasy of relief after Gamayun appeared safe. Then all hell broke loose, and he was right back in'his office, right back living in fear and panic, functioning as best he could, holding the world together while he waited for them to come and take him away.
At least, he thought, it looks as though I will still come out all right. He shook his head resignedly. Again he hadn't been punished for failure. That is how he measured success: lack of punishment.
Between the hammer and the anvil, he wanted to tell his wife, that's where they've got me. Between the hammer and the anvil.
But, of course, he told his wife nothing.
