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Nolan returned the nod. "I haven't had the honor until now. And while I am unsure how Mr. Sukhinin-Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs-learned of our unoffic...
"If one would move quickly, one must carry few bags."
"Moscow is not going to be happy, my friend."
"Shto? I care? There was no time to send a message-and it would have attracted too much attention."
"It's your career, Vassily."
"Yes, and it would be a kindness to be asked to retire."
Nolan smiled-Caine saw a flash of the same gentleness that he had seen yesterday-and then Admiral Corcoran was on stage again: "I'm sorry to rush things along...
The Indonesian Finance Minister folded his hands. "I am here to serve notice to the five blocs that, if the Parthenon Dialogs are to be truly global in nature...
Nolan leaned forward. "Mr. Ruap, as the Dialogs' mediator, I am charged with assessing whether your World General Assembly is genuinely a sixth bloc. And here...
"So I can only think, Mr. Ruap, that you are here on what we Americans call 'a fishing expedition.' You don't have a committed bloc behind you: rather, you're...
Ruap spread his hands. "It is hard to see how Indonesia can continue to work with its American partners on the Mass Driver Project, then. It is a great shame,...
Sukhinin's shoulders came forward sharply: "I can no longer sit here and watch this charade. This is not about UN preeminence, or a sixth bloc, or even your m...
The rapid change in topic disoriented Caine, but Ruap's reaction told him that the Indonesian Finance Minister certainly felt the relevance of Sukhinin's word...
Sukhinin waved his hand in the air as if he were brushing away a fly. "Gospodin Ruap, it is your government which insults us-by wasting our time and recruitin...
Ruap was still: his face had grown very dark. "Mr. Sukhinin, my nation shall remember your nation's slander."
Astor-Smath leaned into the space between them. "Gentlemen, please. These harsh words are unproductive and unbecoming. Let's get back on track. Clearly, Admir...
Downing shrugged. "Mr. Astor-Smath, you might want to examine the history of the Mass Driver Project before you become overly sanguine about its completion. A...
"We are ready to do so-because we believe it is not only a good investment, but is an important step towards global economic and social equity. The mass drive...
Caine watched Astor-Smath's chin rise into his topic, recalled the bio: born in Wichita, then enrolled in private schools-from daycare onward-in Madrid, Rio, ...
"With the political leverage provided by the mass driver," he was saying, "the Developing World can not only begin to compete in space commerce, but can press...
A different voice jumped into the pause in Astor-Smath's speech: "I'm curious: at what point in the last twenty-four hours did you have a transforming moral e...
"I beg your pardon?" Astor-Smath was not able to thoroughly mask his surprise. Nor was Nolan, who turned to look at Caine: his left eyebrow was raised, as wel...
"Well, you see, just yesterday, I was listening to your apologetics for CoDevCo's mistreatment of workers from the Developing and Undeveloped Nations. So I ca...
"That is a separate matter. Those are isolated complaints-"
"Really? That doesn't match up with what I've read recently. Your ghastly working conditions on gray worlds and asteroids are experienced almost solely by lab...
Astor-Smath did not appear to have an answer at the ready. No one spoke: the silence dragged on until it became sharply uncomfortable. Nolan rose. "It appears...
Ruap, halfway to his feet, paused.
"It's possible that if you pull the plug on the mass driver partnership, Congress and American industry might be tempted to reexamine other deals they have wi...
Caine had planned on remaining quiet until they reached their vehicles, but halfway there, Nolan took his arm. "I thought you already had breakfast."
"Huh? I did."
"Then I guess you were still hungry enough to eat Astor-Smath alive."
"Hope I didn't make any trouble."
"I doubt it. He didn't get any policy surprises here-although I suspect you caught him off guard when you put him on the spot personally."
"Which was not wise," added Downing at Caine's other elbow. "Astor-Smath seems unflappable, but he's got an ego-and the memory of an elephant."
"Okay, Rich," Nolan scolded, "stop scaring the new guy."
"I'm scared enough as it is." Caine sighed.
"Why?"
"Because CoDevCo must have foreseen this outcome."
"Naturally," agreed Corcoran.
"Then what was their real purpose in coming here? What are they up to?"
Nolan shook his head. "I haven't a clue. But right now, we don't have any way to find out. So we wait, watch, and-above all-remain completely focused on today...
CIRCE
The Sun, almost exactly overhead, duplicated itself in the man's wraparound sunglasses, which were aimed skyward as if he were scrutinizing the details of the s...
"More black olives, sir?"
If the man was startled by the young waiter approaching quickly from behind, he gave no sign of it. He shook his head, pointed to a jar of green olives: each ...
The waiter smiled: the man tipped well and was not like most foreigners, who were constantly inquiring about different dishes, Greek food in general, the loca...
The man kept looking through the space the waiter had just vacated, kept looking up at the end of the Sounion headland.
Chapter Twenty-One
ODYSSEUS