Windmills of the Gods

There was a long, stunned silence. “Neusa Muez? That fat, ugly moron was Angel?”

Mary felt a sudden chill. “That’s right, Stan,” she said slowly.

“Is there anything I can do for you, Mary?”

“No. I’m on my way to see the children. I’ll talk to you later.”

She replaced the receiver and sat dazed.

Mike looked at her. “What’s the matter?”

She turned to him. “You said that Harry Lantz told only some Committee members what Neusa Mufiez looked like.”

“Yes.”

Mary said, “Stanton Rogers just described her.”

WHEN Angel’s plane landed at Dulles Airport, she went to a telephone booth and dialed the Controller’s private number.

The familiar voice said, “Stanton Rogers.”

Two days later Mike, Colonel McKinney, and Mary were seated in the embassy conference room. An electronics expert had just finished debugging it.

“It all fits now,” Mike said. “The Controller had to be Stanton Rogers, but none of us could see it.”

“But why would he want to kill me?” Mary asked. “In the beginning he was against my being appointed ambassador. He told me so himself.”

Mike explained. “He hadn’t completely formulated his plan then. But once he realized what you and the children symbolized, he fought for you to get the nomination. That’s what threw us off the track. He was behind you all the way, seeing to it that you got a buildup in the press.”

Mary shuddered. “Why did he get involved with-“

“He never forgave Paul Ellison for being President. He felt cheated. He started out as a liberal, and he married a rightwing reactionary. My guess is that his wife turned him around.”

“Have they found him yet?”

“No. He’s disappeared. But he can’t hide for very long.”

Stamton Rogers’ head was found in a Washington, D.C., garbage dump two days later. His eyes had been torn out.

PAUL Ellison was calling from the White House. “I’m refusing to accept your resignation, Mary. I know how ‘much you’ve been through, but I’m asking you to remain at your post in Remania.”

I know how much you’ve been through. Did anyone have any idea? She had been so unbelievably naive. She was going to show the world how wonderful Americans really were. And all the time she had been a cat’s-paw. She and her children had been placed in mortal danger. She thought of Edward and how he had been murdered, and of Louis and his lies and his death. She thought of the destruction Angel had sown all over the world.

I’m not the same person I was when I came here, Mary thought.

I’ve grown up the hard way, but I’ve grown up. I’ve managed to accomplish something here. I got Hannah Murphy out of prison, and I made our grain deal. I saved the’ life of Ionescu’s son, and I rescued some Jews.

“Hello. Are you there?” the President asked.

“Yes, sir.” She looked over at Mike Slade, who was slouched back in his chair studying her.

“You’ve done a truly remarkable job,” the President said.

“You’re the person we need over there. You’ll be doing our country a great service.”

The President was waiting for an answer. Mary was weighing her decision. Finally she said, “Mr. President, if I did agree to stay, I would insist that our country give sanctuary to Corina Socoli.”

“I’m sorry, Mary. I’ve already explained why we can’t do that.

It would offend lonescu and-“

“He’ll get over it. I know lonescu, Mr. President. He’s using her as a bargaining chip.”

There was a long silence. “How would you get her out?”

“An army cargo plane is due to arrive in the morning. I’ll send her out in that.”

There was a pause. “I’ll square it with State. If that’s all-“

Mary looked over at Mike Slade again. “There’s one thing more. I want Mike Slade to stay here with me. I need him. We make a good team.”

Mike was watching her, a private smile on his lips.

“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” the President said firmly. “I need Slade back here. He already has another assignment.”

Mary sat there holding the phone, saying nothing.

The President went on. “We’ll send you someone else. Anyone you want. Mary? Hello? What is this-some kind of blackmaill?”

Mary sat silently waiting.

Finally the President said grudgingly. “Well, I suppose if you really need him, we might spare him for a little while.”

Mary felt her heart lighten. “Thank you, Mr. President. I’ll be happy to stay on as ambassador.”

The President had a final parting shot. “You’re one ace of a negotiator, Madun Ambassador. I have some interesting plans in mind for you when you’re finished there. Good luck! And stay out of trouble.” The line went dead.

Mary replaced the receiver and looked at Mike. “You’re going to be staying here. He told me to stay out of trouble.”

Mike Slade grinned. “He has a nice sense of humor.” He rose and moved toward her. “Do you remember the day I met you and called you a perfect ten?”

How well she remembered. “Yes.”

“I was wrong. Now you’re a perfect ten.”

She felt a warm glow. “Oh, mike…

“Since I’m staying on,. Madam Ambassador, we’d better talk about the problem we’re having with the Remanian commerce minister.” He looked into her eyes and said softly, “Would you like a cup of coffee?”