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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 said。 ''Of course I 'm not going to let it go。〃
〃But how can you do otherwise？ Even you can't get a dime in appropriations； not when everyone believes you're walking into a similar situation to what happened years ago。 What a fiasco for the Mall。 That 'underground movement' turned out to be the KGB's Operation Boomerang。〃
' 'Must you continually remind me of that debacle？'' Bernard said testily。
〃I'm trying to protect you；〃 Russell said。 〃The KGB's predecessors tried the same thing in the twenties； creating the Trust。 They made believe the Trust's goal was the overthrow of Lenin。 They did it so well； in fact； that they took in a load of Soviet emigres； who were lured back to the motherland； only to fall into the hands of Felix Dzerzhinsky； head of the OGPU； who had created the bogus counterrevolutionary organization。 This is a pattern； Bernard； and me KGB is known for repeating patterns。 White Star…〃
〃This time I believe White Star is for real；〃 Bernard said。 ''It wants nothing less than a union of independent but centrally linked republics…much like our own states。〃
〃A true Union of Soviet Socialist Republics？〃 Russell almost laughed。
〃No； no。 Not socialist…and that's the point。 Imagine； Russell！ White Star envisions a democratic republic； the true death of socialism in Russia。 I am convinced this is the only way Russia can bee a viable； prosperous nation in the twenty…first century。 Their very survival depends on change。 Russia wants…and desperately needs…to pete with the likes of Japan； Korea； Taiwan for export dollars； but socialism is tying its hands and feet。 It needs a free…market economy just as surely as it needs to free its nationalist republics from their slavery to Moscow。 The leadership of White Star understands this。 But now the temptation is to move too fast。 When one does that； one gains unwanted attention。〃 He waved a hand in dismissal。 〃But enough of White Star。 We have more pressing matters to discuss。〃
Bernard had appeared to gain strength during their walk。 He said now； 〃Y