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〃He's right；〃 said Gunn。 〃Al and I are in no condition to crawl fifty feet。 Better we stay than foul your chances。 Take the LeBarons and swim like hell for the States。〃
〃I can't risk taking Raymond LeBaron into our confidence。 I'm positive he would inform on us。 He lied up a storm claiming the island is nothing but a businessmen's retreat。〃
Gunn shook his head in disbelief。 〃Whoever heard of a retreat run by the military that tortured its guests。〃
〃Forget LeBaron。〃 Giordino's eyes went black with fury。 〃But for God's sake； save Jessie before that son of a bitch Gly kills her。〃
Pitt stood there confused。 〃I can't go off and leave you two behind to die。〃
〃If you don't；〃 said Gunn gravely； 〃you'll die too； and no one will be left alive to tell what's happening here。〃
The mood was somber but softened by the long gap in time。 No more than one hundred people had assembled for the early morning ceremony。 In spite of the President's presence； only one network bothered to send a television crew。 The small crowd stood quietly in a secluded corner of Rock Creek Park and listened to the conclusion of the President's brief address。
〃。 。 。 and so we have gathered this morning to pay belated tribute to the eight hundred American men who died when their troopship； the Leopoldville； was torpedoed off the port of Cherbourg； France； on Christmas Eve of 1944。〃
〃Never has such a wartime tragedy been denied the honor it deserved。 Never has such a tragedy been so pletely ignored。〃
He paused and nodded toward a veiled statue。 The shroud was pulled away； revealing a solitary figure of a soldier； standing brave with grim determination in the eyes； wearing a GI overcoat and full field gear with an M…1 carbine slung over one shoulder。 There was a pained dignity about the life…sized bronze fighting man； heightened by the wave of water that lapped around his ankles。
After a minute of applause； the President； who had served in Korea as a lieutenant in an artillery pany of the Marine Corps； began pumping hands with survivors of the Leopoldville and other veterans of the Panther Division。 As he worked his way toward the White House limousine he suddenly stiffened when he shook the hand of the tenth man in line。
〃A moving speech； Mr。 President；〃 said a recognizable voice。 〃May we talk in private？〃
Leonard Hudson's lips were spread in an ironic smile。 He bore no resemblance to Reggie Salazar the caddy。 His hair was thick and gray and matched a Satan…style beard。 He wore a wool turtleneck sweater under a tweed jacket。 The flannel slacks were a dark coffee color and the English leather shoes were highly polished。 He looked as though he had stepped out of a cognac ad in Town & Country magazine。
The President turned and spoke to a Secret Service agent who stood less than a foot from his elbow。 〃This man will be acpanying me back to the White House。〃
〃A great honor； sir；〃 said Hudson。
The President stared at him for a moment and decided to carry on the charade。 His face broke into a friendly grin。 〃I can't miss an opportunity to swap war stories with an old buddy； can I； Joe？〃
The presidential motorcade turned onto Massachusetts Avenue； red lights flashing； sirens cutting the rush…hour traffic sounds。 Neither man spoke for nearly two minutes。 At last Hudson made the opening play。
〃Have you recalled where we first knew each other？〃
〃No；〃 the President lied。 〃You don't look the least bit familiar to me。〃
〃I suppose you meet so many people。 。 。〃
〃Frankly； I've had more important matters on my mind。〃
Hudson brushed aside the President's seeming hostility。 〃Like throwing me in prison？〃
〃I thought something more along the lines of a sewer。〃
〃You're not the spider； Mr。 President； and I'm not the fly。 It may look like I've walked into a trap； in this case a car surrounded by an army of Secret Service bodyguards； but my peaceful exit is guaranteed。〃
〃The old phony bomb trick again？〃
〃A different twist。 A plastic explosive is attached to the bottom of a table in one of the city's four…star restaurants。 Precisely eight minutes ago Senator Adrian Gorman and Secretary of State Douglas Oates sat down at that table for a breakfast meeting。〃
〃You're bluffing。〃
〃Maybe； but if I'm not； my capture would hardly be worth the carnage inside a crowded restaurant。〃
〃What do you want this time？〃
〃Call off your bloodhound。〃
〃Make sense； for Christ's sake。〃
〃Get Ira Hagen off my back while he can still breathe。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Ira Hagen； an old school chum of yours who used to be with the justice Department。〃
The President stared unseeing out the window as if recalling。 〃Seems like a lifetime since I've talked to Ira。〃
〃No need to lie； Mr。 President。 You hired him to track down the ‘inner core。' 〃
〃I what？〃 The President acted genuinely surprised。 Then he laughed。 〃You forget who I am。 With one phone call I could have the entire capabilities of the FBI； CIA； and at least five other intelligence services on your ass。〃
〃Then why haven't you？〃
〃Because I've questioned my science advisers and some pretty respected people in our space program。 They agreed unanimously。 The Jersey Colony is a pipedream。 You talk a good scheme； Joe； but you're nothing but a fraud who sells hallucinations。〃
Hudson was caught off base。 〃I swear to God； Jersey Colony is a reality。〃
〃Yes； it sits midway between Oz and Shangri…la。〃
〃Believe me； Vince； when our first colonists return from the moon； your announcement will fire the imagination of the world。〃
The President ignored the presumptuous use of his first name。 〃What you'd really like me to announce is a make…believe battle with the Russians over the moon。 Just what is your angle？ Are you some kind of Hollywood publicity flack who's trying to hype a space movie； or are you an escaped mental patient？〃
Hudson could not suppress a flash of fury。 〃You idiot！〃 he snapped。 〃You can't turn your back on the greatest scientific achievement in history。〃
〃Watch me。〃 The President picked up the car phone。 〃Roger； pull up and stop。 My guest is getting out。〃
On the other side of the glass divider； the Secret Service chauffeur raised one hand from the wheel and nodded in understanding。 Then he notified the other vehicles of the President's order。 A minute later the motorcade turned onto a quiet residential side street and stopped at the curb。
The President reached over and opened the door。 〃The end of the line； Joe。 I don't know what your fantasy is with Ira Hagen； but if I hear of his death； I'll be the first to testify at your trial that you threatened his life。 That is； of course； if your execution hasn't already been carried out for mitting mass murder in a swank restaurant。〃
In an angry daze； Hudson slowly climbed from the limousine。 He hesitated； bent half in； half out of the car。 〃You're making a terrible mistake；〃 he said accusingly。
〃It won't be a new experience；〃 the President said； dismissing him。
The President leaned back in his seat and smiled smugly to himself。 A masterful perf