‘‘Not exactly,’’ Douglass said. ‘‘Not him alone. For reasons we can’t get into, we want Sidi Hassan el Ferruch involved as well.’’
"Why?"
‘‘We have other plans for him later,’’ Douglass said. ‘‘The best possible scenario is that you meet Fulmar, he greets you as a beloved friend, and he instantly agrees to persuade el Ferruch to help you. Mr. Baker does not believe that. He thinks the worst possible scenario is more probable. In that Fulmar would denounce you to the Germans.’’
‘‘Why do you think he would do that?’’
‘‘Despite your father’s character reference, it is Baker’s belief that Eric Fulmar’s loyalties are solely to Eric Fulmar. ’’
‘‘I’ve seen him since you have, Dick,’’ Baker said. ‘‘You have to keep in mind that he was educated in Germany and is in many ways German. When I first met him, he was having dinner in Fouquet’s restaurant in Paris with the daughter of a German major general. His father is a member of the Nazi party.’’
‘‘He’s an American,’’ Canidy said loyally.
‘‘We’re taking what solace we can from his skillful avoidance of German military service,’’ Baker said. ‘‘It’s not much. You saw that psychological profile.’’
‘‘It also said he thinks of me as a brother,’’ Canidy said.
‘‘Furthermore,’’ Douglass said, ‘‘el Ferruch is an unknown quantity. We have to go on the presumption that el Ferruch is even more likely to turn you over to the Germans. ’’
‘‘There are several other scenarios,’’ Baker said. ‘‘One is that we establish contact with Fulmar, he tells us he wants nothing to do with us at all, no matter what the price, but, because you are old friends, he won’t turn you over to the Germans.’’
‘‘Pleasant thought,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘So where is good old Eric?’’
‘‘We found out a few days ago,’’ Douglass said, ‘‘that he’s in the palace at Ksar es Souk in the middle of the desert. Which gives us the opening for one of the happy scenarios.’’
‘‘What’s that?’’
‘‘We get you to Ksar es Souk,’’ Baker said. ‘‘We offer Fulmar and el Ferruch a lot of money to grab the French-man—and Fulmar a way out of Morocco.’’
‘‘ ‘Grab’ the Frenchman?’’ Canidy asked.
‘‘That’s another little problem,’’ Baker said. ‘‘Our information is that the Frenchman desperately desires to return to his family. Thus he works for Vichy and the Germans in the hope they’ll give him permission to return to France. Likewise, because he’s concerned about reprisals against his family in France, it’s extremely unlikely that he will leave Morocco voluntarily.’’
‘‘You mean, we kidnap him,’’ Canidy said. Baker nodded. ‘‘Then what happens to his family?’’
Baker shrugged.
‘‘Jesus!’’ Canidy said, repelled by what he took to be unconcern.
‘‘Which is another reason we need the cooperation of el Ferruch,’’ Douglass said.
Canidy looked at him, eyes flaring.
‘‘It’s not that we don’t care about that sort of thing,’’ Douglass said.
‘‘Of course not,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘But whatever you need this guy for is more important, right?’’
‘‘Yes, it is,’’ Douglass said.
‘‘How do you propose to get this man and Fulmar out of Morocco—presuming that ‘happy scenario’ comes true?’’ Canidy asked.
Baker looked at Douglass for permission to reply. Douglass shook his head no.
‘‘We don’t think you should know that yet,’’ Douglass said.
‘‘How am I supposed to see Fulmar? Or, for that matter, enter Morocco?’’ Canidy asked.
‘‘That at least is fairly simple,’’ Baker said. ‘‘We’re going to send you to the consulate in Rabat as a foreign service officer. Cynthia will arrange for you to be issued a diplomatic passport, and we’ll run you through a quick program to show you how to behave, that sort of thing.’’