May I ask," began De Vries after the waiter had left, should Drew be. right and nothing happen, is it possible we might force Janine to make a move?"
"In what way?" asked the Frenchman.
"A votre santi,he added softly, raising his glass.
"To all of us.. .. How, my dear Karin?"
"I'm not sure. The Antinayous, perhaps. I know them and they know me; more to the point, they held my husband in great esteem."
"Go on," said Latham, his eyes fixed on her.
"Keeping in mind that Sorenson didn't exactly give them a clean bill of health."
"That's rubbish."
"It may be, but old Wesley has instincts few people are born with-except perhaps Claude here, and probably Witkowski."
"You're too generous where I am concerned, but I can vouch for my friend Sorenson. Brilliant only half describes his talents."
"He says the same about you. He also told me you saved his life in Istanbul."
"While saving my own, he should have added. But back to the Antinayous, Karin. How would we use them to urge the ambassador's wife into an indiscreet act?"
"Again, I'm not sure, but their knowledge of the ncos is extensive. They've unearthed names, codes, methods of contact;
their files contain a thousand secrets they will not share. However, this might be an exception."
"Why?" asked Drew.
"I must 'join him," added Moreau.
"From everything we've learned about the Antinayous, they, indeed, share nothing. They are an independent intelligence organization wholly unto themselves, responsible to no one but themselves. Why would they change the rules now and open their files to outsiders?"
"Not 'files," only appropriately selected information, perhaps simply a method of contact using an emergency code recognized by the Sonnenkinder, if there is one."
"You're not hearing us, lady," said Latham, leaning forward and gently covering her bandaged hand.
"Why would they do it?"
"Because we have something they don't know about. We have an authentic, highly visible Sonnenkind right here in Paris. I myself will negotiate."
"Wow," whispered Drew, leaning back in his chair.
"That's powerful bait."
"It's not unreasonable," said the chief of the Deuxieme Bureau, studying De Vries.
"But won't they demand some proof?"
"Yes, they will, and I think you can provide it."
"In what way?"
"Forgive me, darling," said Karin, glancing at Latham, "but the Antinayous are somewhat more comfortable -with the [email protected] than they are with the Central Intelligence Agency. It's a European thing, and not necessarily justified." She turned back to Moreau.
"A
short note on your stationery-date, time, and. secrecy classification registered by your security equipment-stating that I'm permitted to describe an ongoing surveillance operation on a confirmed high ranking Sonnenkind here in Paris, without giving a name until authorized by you. That should be sufficient. If they're willing to cooperate, we'll go on scrambler and I'll call you on a private line."
"At the moment I cannot think of a flaw," said Moreau admiringly.
"I can," objected Drew.
"Suppose Sorenson's right? Suppose a neo or two has infiltrated the Antinayous? She's dead meat and I won't. allow it."
"Oh, Please," said De Vries.
"The three Antinayous we met together I've known since I came to Paris, and two of them were Freddie's contacts."
"What about the third?"
"For heaven's sake, darling, he's a priest!"
Suddenly there was shouting from the pavement beyond the row of flower boxes. The owner rushed to the table and spoke harshly to Moreau.
"There is trouble!" he exclaimed.
"You must leave; get up and follow me!" The three of them rose and walked behind the owner, no more than ten feet, where he pressed a concealed button and the last flower box opened.
"Run," he cried, "into the street!"
"The wine was excellent," said the Deuxi&me chief as he and Latham held Karin's arms and raced through the opening.
Suddenly all three turned, their attention drawn by the panicked screaming crowd in front of the outdoor cafE Then each understood. Karin gasped, Moreau briefly closed his eyes in pain, and Latham swore in fury. The light of a street lamp penetrated the windshield of the unmarked embassy car, illuminating the driver behind the wheel. He was arched back in the seat, a stream of blood rolling down his face from his forehead.
Christ, they're everywhere, and we can't see them!"
roared Drew, hammering his clenched fist down a on the hotel desk.
"How did they find me?"
Claude Moreau had been standing silently by a window, looking out.
"Not you, my friend," he said quietly, "not Colonel Webster and his uniform, but me."
"You? I thought you said hardly anybody in Paris knew who you were," Latham broke in abrasively.
"That you were so ordinary and had a collection of goddamn hats!"