Windmills of the Gods

Colonel McKinney was waiting at the airport for the serum. An army escort cleared the way to the presidential palace.

MARY had remained in her office all night, getting up-to-the minute reports. At six a.m. McKinney telephoned. “They gave the boy the serum. The doctors say he’s going to live.”

“Oh, thank God!”

Two days later a diamond-and-emerald necklace was delivered to Mary’s office with a note: “I can never thank you enough. Alexandros Ionescu.”

“I don’t believe this!” Dorothy exclaimed when she saw the necklace. “It must have cost half a million dollars!”

“At least,” Mary said. “Return it.”

The following morning President Ionescu sent for Mary.

When she arrived, an aide said, “The President is waiting for you in his office.”

“May I see Nicu first?”

“Yes, of course.” He led her upstairs.

Nicu was in bed reading. He looked up as Mary entered. “Good morning, Madam Ambassador.”

“Good morning, Nicu.”

“MY father told me what you did. I wish to thank you.”

“I couldn’t let you die. I’m saving you for Beth one day.”

Nicu laughed. “Bring her over, and we’ll talk about it.”

President Ionescu was waiting downstairs for Mary. He said without preamble, “You returned my gift.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

He indicated a chair. “Sit down.” He studied her. “You saved my son’s life. I must give you something.” ” Mary said, “I don’t make trades for children’s lives.

“You must want something! Name your price.”

Mary said, “Your Excellency, there is no price. I have two children of my own. I know how you must feel.”

He closed his eyes for a moment. “Do you? Nicu is my only son. If anything had happened to him-” He stopped, unable to go on.

“I went up to see him. He looks fine. If there’s nothing else, Your Excellency, I have an appointment.” She rose and started to leave.

“Waitl You will not accept a GIFT but-“

“No. I’ve explained-‘, IonesCu held up a hand. “All right, all right.” He thought for a moment. “If you were to make a wish, what would you wish for?

Anything you want.”

Mary stood there studying his face. Finally she said, “I wish that the restriction on the Jews waiting to leave Remania could be lifted.”

“I see.” lonescu was still for a long time before he looked up at Mary. “It shall be done. They will not all be allowed out, of course, but I will make it easier.”

When the announcement was made public two days later, Mary received a telephone call from President Ellison himself “I thought I was sending a diplomat, and I got a miracle worker.

Congratulations, Mary, on everything you’ve done over there.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.” She hung up, feeling a warm glow.

IN CELEBRATION of her diplomatic coup Louis invited Mary to a candlelit dinner in the rooftop restaurant at the Hotel Intercontinental. They saw each other whenever possible now, and more and more Mary had come to rely on him as an island of strength and,sanity. Before they parted that night, Mary found herself accepting an invitation to go away to the mountains with Louis the following weekend.

Once she got into bed, she lay in the dark talking to Edward: Darling, I’ll always, always love you, but it’s time I started a new life. You’ll always be a part of that life, but there has to be someone else too. Louis isn’t you, but he’s Louis. He’s strong, and he’s good, and he’s brave. That’s as close as I can come to having you. Please understand, Edward. Please….

“JULy is just around the corner,” Harriet Kruger told Mary. “In the past the wnbassador always gave a Fourth of July party for the Americans living in Bucharest. If you’d prefer not to-“

“No. I think it’s a lovely idea.”

“Fine. I’ll take care of all the arrangements. A lot of flags, balloons, an orchestra-the works.”

“Sounds wonderful. Thank you, Harriet.”

A big party would eat into the residence’s expense account, but it would be worth it. The truth is, Mary thought, I miss home. She had been here for only four months, but it seemed an eternity.

junction City had meant peace and security, an easy, friendly way of life. Here, there was fear and terror and a death threat scrawled on her office wall in red paint. Suddenly Mary felt a sharp pang of loneliness, a sense of being totally isolated from her roots, adrift in an alien and dangerous land. Then she thought about Louis, and the loneliness began to disappear.

MARY WAS HAVING HER USUAL morning coffee with Mike Slade, discussing the day’s agenda.

When they finished, he said, “I’ve been hearing mmors about you. It seems that you’re seeing a lot of Dr. Desforges.”

Mary felt a flare of anger. “Who I see is no one’s business.”

“I beg to differ with you, Madam Ambassador. The State Department has a strict rule against getting involved with foreigners, and the doctor is a foreigner. He also happens to be an enemy agent.”

Mary was almost too stunned to speak. “That’s absurd!”

“Think about how you met him,” Mike suggested. “The damsel in distress and the knight in shining armor. That’s the oldest trick in the world. I’ve used it myself.”

“I don’t care what you’ve done,” Mary retorted. “He’s worth a dozen of you. He fought against terrorists in Algeria, and they murdered his wife and children.”