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〃Where did Ariel get this intelligence？〃 Tori asked。 〃Who were his contacts？〃
〃We don't know；〃 Russell admitted。 〃He convinced me in order to get close to these people he had to be cut loose from all normal Mall procedure。 That meant no day…by…day control； no timed dead…drop reports； no backup； no shield； nothing。 He told me he was in a red zone； that if they suspected anything…〃 Russell stared down at the ICE CREAM file； but Tori could see he was looking at nothing。 Perhaps he was remembering…and regretting…Ariel's death。
〃This is why we need you；〃 Russell said。 〃You know the Japanese culture； and the people。 They can't invent anything； but give them a prototype and they'll refine it better than anyone else on earth。〃
〃It isn't true that they can't invent anything。〃
〃You know what he means； Tori；〃 Bernard said。 〃This isn't a synthetic drug。 The real thing is needed to metamorphose it into this most potent； untraceable； unstoppable weapon。〃
〃This is insane；〃 Tori told them。 〃Why would the Japanese create the ultimate cocaine？ To make money； yes； that's understandable； but to create such a thing as a weapon…it's monstrous。〃
〃I couldn't agree more；〃 Bernard Godwin said。 〃There are elements within our own government who feel strongly that for years the Japanese have been waging systematic economic war on us； that they will stop at nothing to defeat us。〃 He pursed his lips； as he often did when analyzing plex data。 〃Personally； I don't believe this； but you'd be surprised at who does in the White House and on Capitol Hill。〃 He looked firm and resolute； a leader still。 〃All that seems clear at the moment is the intelligence Ariel unearthed that the Japanese created the supercocaine。 We want you to find out the rest： who is manufacturing it； who they're selling it to； and why。 Then we want you to shut the whole goddamned thing down。〃
〃You should try to be more tolerant of Russell；〃 Bernard Godwin said。 〃He's a good man。〃
''He fired me；〃 Tori said。
〃Yes； indeed。 And he had my blessing。〃
〃Your…〃
〃Tori； I trained you； and I love you。 I brought you into the Mall； and； I must say； I knew the risks involved when I did so。 I was convinced that your extraordinary physical talents and your unique mind more than outweighed your rebelliousness； your unpredictability； your insubordination。
''But the fact remains that the Mall is an organization； not so very unlike the military in ways you already are quite familiar with。 And like the military； strict rules and regulations have been instituted for the benefit of the Mall as a whole。 No one individual must be allowed to rise above those rules and regulations。 You tried to do just that； and you reaped the consequences。 Russell did what he had to do as director； so stop blaming him。〃
They were walking out past the corrals where the striped wooden bars were set out to put the hunter…jumper horses through their paces。 No one else was around； and by a bond of unspoken tradecraft； they kept near the trees and foliage； natural barriers against electronic listening devices。
〃All right；〃 she said； 〃perhaps I've been unfair to him。 But I still want what I want。〃
〃And what is that？〃
〃To e back on my own terms。〃
〃That's too loaded a request for me to agree to outright；〃 Bernard said。 〃Tell me exactly what it is you want。〃
Tori thought a moment。 〃I don't want to rise above the rules； I just want them bent a little。 I want autonomy…〃
〃Impossible。〃
〃You need me。〃
Bernard turned； and his eyes bored into hers。 〃Let's not dance。 We know each other too well； Tori。 The fact is； we need each other。 If you deny this； I cannot under any circumstances allow you to e home； because in deceiving yourself； you're likely to deceive us。 Not willingly； perhaps； but that possibility would be far more perilous for us。 You love the hunt； the danger…even； yes； the blood being spilled so close to you。 No； no； don't bother to deny it； we both know it's the truth。 The dance so near death is your dance； Tori； and you do it better than anyone I ever met。〃
There was silence for a moment； broken only by the sound of a nearby woodcock。 〃If you'd have allowed me to finish；〃 Tori said at length； 〃perhaps you'd agree to what I'm asking for。〃
〃I doubt it；〃 Bernard said； 〃but be my guest。〃
They began to walk again。 They stopped within a copse of huge maples。 It was cool and dark within the eaves of the shade trees。 In the sun…drenched distance they could see horses grazing； nuzzling one another。 It was very peaceful。
〃I want Director's Clearance； so if I need to； I can get Mail materiel without going through interminable red tape；〃 Tori said。 ''And I want Russell with me in the field。''
The silence between them was momentarily so deep that Tori could hear a horse snorting on the hillside a good six hundred yards away。 This was her revenge on Russell Slade： to take the desk jockey into the warrens； get him muddy； let him see the face of the enemy； and； if she were lucky； have him stare death in the eye。
She had not for a moment been swayed by what Bernard said。 He was an ex…actor。 One of his talents lay in manipulating emotions with what he said。 But Tori had grown up with such guile； and she was by now inured to it。
〃A director's place is not in the field；〃 Bernard said at last。
〃Nevertheless…〃
〃I cannot allow it。〃
Tori gave him a little salute。 〃Then maybe I'll see you in another eighteen months or so。〃
〃Tori； you need us as much as we need you。〃
She took a step away from him； into the sunshine。 Bernard reached out； stopped her。 〃All right。 You'll get your D。C。〃 He closed his hand over hers。 〃I've never asked you for anything； Tori。 But I am now。 We do need you。 Far more than Russell was willing to admit back there。 He's only human； he's got his pride。〃 He took her hand in his。 〃And perhaps you need us more than you're willing to admit to yourself。 Damnit； you know there's truth in what I say。''
Tori's eyes held his； she did not blink。 〃I want Russell with me； Bernard。〃
〃Why？〃
〃He's ultimately vulnerable here； locked away on this impregnable farm； in his bulletproof limos； his terrorist…proof jets。 He's out of touch with the world。 You weren't like that。 Think back。 Your experience enpassed more than the think tank and the munications center。 Once in a while you've got to put your ear to the ground instead of to a wireless grill。 Russell will be a danger to me if he sits here and runs me； which is what he's got planned for me。 He ran Ariel； so he'll run me。 Let me bring him into the field。 He needs the experience； and I'm going to need the help。〃
〃I 'm not sure this is the mission for him to get his feet wet。〃
Now it was Tori who impaled him with her eyes。 〃You mean you can afford to lose me in the field； but not Russell。〃
Bernard said； 〃I can't； at this moment； afford to lose either of you。'' But he seemed to be wavering。
〃Neither can you afford to allow this new cocaine to begin flooding the country。 Your own evidence shows that it's already started。 Can you possibly imagine where it will end？ If this mission doesn't get off the ground； there may not be another one for Russell to go out on。〃
〃How did she talk you into it？〃 Russell Slade said。 〃I know this couldn't have been your idea。''
〃Don't be impertinent；〃 Bernard Godwin said。 〃I sanctioned it。〃
Russell grunted。 〃You always did have a soft spot for her。〃
〃With good reason；〃 Bernard said。 〃It seems to me； Russell； that you never fully appreciated Tori's talents。〃
〃To the extent that's so；〃 Russell said； 〃it's because I've never fully trusted her。 Oh； not in the usual sense。 But she's chronically unpredictable。 I know when you brought her in； you thought she'd grow out of her rebelliousness。 But you saw； as I did； that she never matured。〃
〃I'm not so sure 'mature' is the operative word；〃 Bernard said。 〃She's got a healthy hatred of organizations of any kind。 I'm beginning to see that's an asset in her line of work。''
Russell snorted derisively。
Bernard said； 〃If you'd put aside your personal antipathy toward her； you'd understand what I 'm talking about。 Her hatred of organizations makes her one hundred percent secure。 Do you think anyone could ever get to her to turn her？ Not a chance。 In that sense； she's pure； and that free spirit of hers guarantees it。 Be grateful for that。〃
〃All of this is bullshit；〃 Russell said。 〃I'll be goddamned if I'll go into the field taking orders from her。〃
Bernard Godwin grabbed hold of the younger man。 〃Listen to me； Russell。 You'll do it； and you'll be a good sport about it。 Because if you aren't； where you and Tori are headed； I'll guarantee you'll be dead inside of thirty…six hours。 There's nobody who's better in the field than Tori Nunn。 Nobody。 She's asked for you as part of her negotiations for returning home； and I've given you to her。''
〃What else has she negotiated for？〃
〃Leave that to me； will you？ They're just details。 Now I want you to take charge of this Japanese situation。 I've got more than enough on my plate with White Star。''
〃I can't believe you're still on that； Bernard；〃 Russell said。
〃White Star is our first real link to a coordinated Soviet nationalist underground；'' Bernard sa