"Mr. President, may I say how relieved I am to hear you say that?" Secretary Cohen said. "The ramifications of a black operation going wrong--"
"Right now," the President interrupted, "the answer is no, Colonel Castillo. But I will give you one more chance to turn your Russians over to the agency. If they are able to convince the DCI there is even a remote chance that what they're selling is true, I will authorize a mission to the Congo."
"Mr. President, I have people in the Congo," Castillo said.
"What the hell did you just say?" the DCI barked.
"I find that hard to believe, Charley," the President said. "Why should I?"
Castillo turned on the AFC handset, and his speakerphone.
"C. G. Castillo. Colin Leverette. Encryption Level One."
I know Colin's twenty-four hours are far from up, but, please, Lord, let him answer.
"What is that thing?" the President asked. "Some kind of telephone?"
Sexy Susan's voice said: "Colonel Castillo, I have Mr. Leverette. Encryption Level One."
"Hey, Charley! You bastard--I haven't been here an hour."
"Where are you, Uncle Remus?"
"Kisangani. You want to buy a parrot?"
"What is that, some sort of a code?" the secretary of State muttered.
"What are you doing in Kisangani?" Castillo asked.
"Well, the colonel needed someplace to set up his laboratory, so we rented a house. He's using the kitchen for his lab, and I'm buying parrots in the living room. I have fifty of them and have promised to buy another hundred."
"Uncle Remus, I'm with the President and some very important people--"
"Oh, God! I have a sick feeling that you're not pulling my chain."
"Do you think the colonel has come up with anything the President should hear?"
"Yes, sir. He has."
"Can you get him on here, please?"
"Hold on."
"What colonel is that?" Montvale asked.
"Colonel J. Porter Hamilton of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute at Fort Dietrich," Castillo said. "Ring a bell?"
"Not with me it doesn't," the President said. "Who is he?"
"The preeminent expert on biological and chemical warfare," the DCI said.
"And you sent him into the Congo?" Montvale said. "You really are crazy, Castillo."
"Charles, go get yourself a cup of coffee," the President said.
"Excuse me, Mr. President?"
"Come back in ten minutes--if you have your mouth under control by then."