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"Now, wait a minute!" Powell protested.
"So Powell has to go," the attorney general went on, "to be replaced by Lammelle, who instead of a.s.sisting in the President's plan to arrest Castillo and swap him to the Russians-and the illegality of that boggles the mind-worked with General Naylor and Castillo and solved the problem of Congo-X."
"I can't take credit for that-" Lammelle began.
"Shut up, Frank. I'm not finished. If I had to search the world for the two people who most detest Joshua Ezekiel Clendennen and at the same time have an unparalleled knowledge of what he should be doing, I'd come back with Natalie Cohen and Charles M. Montvale.
"So . . . Natalie withdraws her resignation, and the President announces he has chosen Charles M. Montvale as his Vice President."
"That's insane!" the President of the United States said.
"Mr. President, if it goes the other way, if Secretary Cohen and General Naylor resign," Porky Parker said, "and I do and Mr. Lammelle does, and it comes out-and it will-that you were willing to cave in to the Russians, the Congress will be drawing up articles of impeachment within seventy-two hours."
"And we all remember the last time that happened," the attorney general said. "It was a disaster for the country."
"Yes, it was," President Clendennen said. "And with that in mind, for the good of the country, for the good of the Office of the President, I am inclined to accept Amba.s.sador Montvale's offer-"
"You miserable G.o.dd.a.m.ned shameless hypocritical sonofab.i.t.c.h!" Natalie Cohen exploded.
It was the first time anyone in the room had ever heard her use anything stronger than "darn."
Her face flushed.
"Excuse me," she said, and then looked at Montvale. "Mr. Amba.s.sador, this may be one of those situations where if we don't stand up to what we know are our obligations, and leave, those who take our offices may be worse for the country. . . ."
"You think I should take it, Natalie?" Montvale asked.
She nodded. "I think you should take it, and if you do, I'll stay."
"Do it, Charles, please," Truman Ellsworth said.
"I'll take your offer of the vice presidency, Mr. President, on the following conditions: First, that you decline Secretary Cohen's resignation."
"Agreed, of course, for the reasons-"
"Second, that you decline General Naylor's resignation."
"I never asked for it in the first place."
"Third, that you send Truman Ellsworth's name to the Senate for confirmation to replace me as director of National Intelligence."
"Of course. I have always held Mr. Ellsworth in the highest poss-"
"Fourth, that Mr. Parker make the announcement that I am your choice to be Vice President of the United States within the next three or four minutes, before you can change your mind or otherwise squirm out of doing so."
"Squirm out of-Mr. Montvale, now I think you're just insulting me and-"
"And finally," Montvale went on, "vis-a-vis Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Castillo and his Merry Band of Outlaw . . ."
"What about Castillo?" It was clear that even saying his name left a bad taste in Clendennen's mouth.
Montvale said: "I think the CIA's Distinguished Intelligence Cross would be appropriate for him. I know he's never actually been in the CIA, but as the attorney general has pointed out, he has been doing their work for them. So I think it's appropriate."
President Clendennen, white-faced and tight-lipped, glared at him, but said nothing.
"And for Colonel Torine, Colonel Hamilton, and Mr. Leverette, the CIA Distinguished Intelligence Medal seems fitting," Montvale went on. "And for everyone else in Castillo's Merry Band of Outlaws who played a role in this, the CIA Intelligence Star.
"Wouldn't you agree, Mr. President?"
For the rest of his life, neither the future Vice President of the United States nor any of the other people in the room would ever forget the kaleidoscope of emotions that pa.s.sed over Clendennen's face before he finally opened his mouth and said the one word: "Yes."
ALSO BY W. E. B. GRIFFIN.
HONOR BOUND.
HONOR BOUND.
BLOOD AND HONOR.
SECRET HONOR.
DEATH AND HONOR.
(with William E. b.u.t.terworth IV) THE HONOR OF SPIES.
(with William E. b.u.t.terworth IV)
BROTHERHOOD OF WAR.
BOOK I: THE LIEUTENANTS.
BOOK II: THE CAPTAINS.
BOOK III: THE MAJORS.
BOOK IV: THE COLONELS.
BOOK V: THE BERETS.
BOOK VI: THE GENERALS.
BOOK VII: THE NEW BREED.
BOOK VIII: THE AVIATORS.
BOOK IX: SPECIAL OPS.
THE CORPS.
BOOK I: SEMPER FI.
BOOK II: CALL TO ARMS.
BOOK III: COUNTERATTACK.
BOOK IV: BATTLEGROUND.
BOOK V: LINE OF FIRE.
BOOK VI: CLOSE COMBAT.
BOOK VII: BEHIND THE LINES.
BOOK VIII: IN DANGER'S PATH BOOK IX: UNDER FIRE.
BOOK X: RETREAT, h.e.l.l!.
BADGE OF HONOR.
BOOK I: MEN IN BLUE.
BOOK II: SPECIAL OPERATIONS.
BOOK III: THE VICTIM.
BOOK IV: THE WITNESS.
BOOK V: THE a.s.sa.s.sIN.
BOOK VI: THE MURDERERS.
BOOK VII: THE INVESTIGATORS.
BOOK VIII: FINAL JUSTICE.
BOOK IX: THE TRAFFICKERS.
(with William E. b.u.t.terworth IV) BOOK X: THE VIGILANTES.
(with William E. b.u.t.terworth IV)
MEN AT WAR.
BOOK I: THE LAST HEROES.
BOOK II: THE SECRET WARRIORS.
BOOK III: THE SOLDIER SPIES.
BOOK IV: THE FIGHTING AGENTS.
BOOK V: THE SABOTEURS.
(with William E. b.u.t.terworth IV) BOOK VI: THE DOUBLE AGENTS.
(with William E. b.u.t.terworth IV)
PRESIDENTIAL AGENT.
BOOK I: BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT.
BOOK II: THE HOSTAGE.
BOOK III: THE HUNTERS.
BOOK IV: THE SHOOTERS.
BOOK V: BLACK OPS.
