Chapter 15 — News

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*****

~ 1 ~ Leandro Gutierrez, the recently re-elected President of Mexico, waited for his visitor to speak. General Pablo Diaz had requested an opportunity to brief Leandro privately on a matter of 'utmost importance', with no other military personnel present at their meeting, and with only one or two of the President’s staff present—ones in whom he had 'absolute confidence'. Pablo’s request had been made through Gina, Leandro's personal secretary who had worked for him for the past quarter of a century.

Pablo Diaz was not a well-known general, so Gina had briefed Leandro, informing him that General Diaz was well-respected within the career military, that he avoided politics, and that he performed his job well. She told Leandro that the General maintained good relations with the military leaders of neighboring countries, especially the USA and Cuba, and that he was fluent in Russian and English. General Diaz had been in the thick of things during the Cuban Missile Crisis, doing much, as a neutral player, to keep communications open between the United States and the Soviet Union. "Possibly, it was he who prevented World War III from happening, Leandro."

"This man, then, is a military diplomat whom both the Americans and the Soviets trust? Gina, I have heard nothing of this before now."

"He did this work during the peak of the crisis, while he was on vacation leave. He telephoned his military peers on both sides, at their homes, and informally volunteered his service."

“But Gina, when I reviewed the state of the military after the election, General Fernando told me that Pablo Diaz is merely a nonpolitical time-server, although useful in his place."

“I had to dig out this information, Leandro. General Fernando may not even know about General Diaz’s role in this matter. If he does know, perhaps he thought it best to pass over it."

“Gina, I am aware of your opinion of Fernando, but what other role is available to an ambitious military man in Mexico, except in politics? General Fernando is an astute politician and he is my ally. But tell me now: How did you learn about General Diaz?”

“I have been personally informed by well-placed relatives of mine in Cuba.”

"Did they tell you exactly what it is that General Diaz did?"

"Well, Leandro, it is “he”, not “they”, who told me. Using the General’s given name, he said that Pablo had figured out what Nikita Khrushchev would agree to in private, in order to save face in the Communist world if he met President Kennedy's demand to break off the transport of nuclear missiles to Cuba. You remember the drama: The Soviet flotilla which was carrying nuclear missiles turned around in mid-ocean while the whole world was on red-alert, thinking that the end of the world was at hand. The flotilla turned around because the Americans had made a last-minute secret deal with the Soviets, based on Pablo's suggestion to both of the two Powers."

“Who would know these things about the Soviet leader, but one of his peers?” Leandro smiled at Gina with his most indulgent look. "Not Fidel Castro?"

“Yes, Leandro, he is the very man who informed me about 'Pablo'.”

“Gina, you have never before told me about this relationship!”

“I have been with you for so long, Leandro, that you have never had occasion to research my family relations. Rather, it is I and my staff who have investigated others for you.”

“Well, it is certainly true that without your advice and discretion in managing my affairs, I would not be President. And it’s true that you do not even tell me about your children or your husband. Please arrange this meeting with General Diaz, and invite only Enrico and yourself.

It was Enrico who had long ago persuaded Leandro to cultivate simply "Leandro" as his public persona. It was "Leandro" which always identified his iconic handsome face on billboards, posters and other political ads. "Your face, not your platform, is your chief political capital," Enrico had bluntly told him. Now, half of the country called him “Leandro”, not “President Gutierrez”. That wise advice—to make himself known only by his beautiful given name—had solidified Enrico’s position as Leandro’s most trusted aide.

Enrico himself was a gaunt man bearing a disproportionately large head which most of his hair had abandoned, revealing his bony skull. His small, darting eyes were guarded by wire-rimmed spectacles, and he was very much aware of everything which was happening around him (although he ignored Gina as he would ignore a fixture of a room). While Leandro—whose hair was thick and black and only just beginning to grey, and who carried athletically his tall, well proportioned body—continued to radiate the mature, manly self-assurance of a leader of men, Enrico was graced with absolutely no charisma. He did have, however, the self-assurance of one who is constantly well-calculating his moves. And acting within the sphere of Leandro’s power made him a powerful person.

Gina had always been more than content with her garden and her family—her husband, who was a civil engineer with his own company, and their two children, the youngest of whom would soon be leaving home. Dealing with Leandro’s political affairs was her day job, at which she had become masterful in discerning the aims and motives of those with whom Leandro worked—both those who were with him and those who opposed him. When he asked for her advice, she gave it; otherwise, she kept her own counsel. She worked for no reward other than her daily wage and her satisfaction in her work. Leandro recognized her quality, and frequently sought her advice. Others, like Enrico, saw only an efficient, loyal secretary who could not be bribed.

~ ~ ~

General Diaz arrived in civilian attire for the meeting, explaining that he was on vacation and that he had come to report an informal matter about which he had learned informally. He had not verified it personally, he said, but his trust in those with whom he had spoken was such that he personally believed in the truth of what he had to say.

The President turned to his secretary and shared a thoughtful look with her before saying, “Please proceed with your account, Pablo.”

Gina took notes, and she studied Enrico’s face while he was listening to the General speaking in measured tones, carefully choosing the words in which he described an incredible, forebodingly catastrophic situation which others had planted on Mexican soil. The expressions on Enrico’s face revealed much to Gina. Enrico knows something about this situation! He is distressed by its coming to light! She had come to suspect, in recent years, that Enrico was angling to make money for himself from the work which he did for Leandro. This was hardly unique in the political world, but Enrico had not always been like that. If what General Diaz is saying is true, the black market arms sale of the century is shaping up on Leandro’s watch. Oh, God! It cannot be the case that Enrico is tied up in it! My instincts must be wrong!

~ ~ ~

Leandro remained silent for several minutes after General Diaz’s departure. Gina and Enrico waited for him to break the silence.

“I cannot believe what we have just heard!” Leandro exclaimed. “If it is true, how can we find out more about it without creating an international incident and risking atomic warfare in Mexico? Yet, without knowing more, how can we act without drawing real or political fire upon us?”

Enrico said to him, “Leandro, the assessment by General Diaz is based on two unsolicited telephone calls, and circumstantial evidence which he acquired from one small joint military training exercise with the Americans in the region where these weapons may be held. I, myself, am familiar with Quinceañera Beach; in fact, I have my own suite in the resort there. I propose that I take a weekend vacation at the Beach to celebrate the election’s outcome, which is a natural thing to do, now that your administration is in place for a second term. It will not arouse suspicion, for no one other than you and I knows of this meeting.” Gina smiled coolly at Enrico, who did not look at her. “I will be able to get some sense of the veracity of what we have heard,” he said. “I know some of the regulars at the Beach, and such things cannot be hidden.“

Gina raised an eyebrow at Leandro, who asked, “You have a suite there, Enrico?”

“Oh, I share the suite. And the Beach is no worse than Las Vegas.” Enrico shrugged his shoulders. “It is nearer than that place, and there are fewer Americans, and there’s natural sand on a real sea. Perhaps, back in the 1930’s, it was a den of iniquity, but now… As you know, I enjoy recreational gambling, and there are excellent poker games at the Beach.”

“That it is a good idea, Enrico. I will wait for your report.”

They began to discuss other matters. The elephant remained in the room which was the President’s office.

~ ~ ~

After his weekend at Quinceañera Beach, Enrico reported that he had found no trace there of atomic bombs or arms dealers. There were only the usual beach security guards. Any discussion of dangerous things there was mostly about the big crocodiles which had been imported to the river in the 1920s: Did any of them remain?

Later, Leandro spoke informally with General Fernando about the political wisdom of Mexico’s joint military exercises with the Americans. Their discussion touched on the fact that the exercises usually were held in ‘remote regions’, which meant in areas of the country in which organized bands of drug and arms traffickers operated. General Fernando said, "These operations are a show of force which helps to keep a check on these brigands, Leandro.” He never mentioned General Diaz’s role in joint operations with the Americans, although Leandro had given him the opportunity to do so.

When she was alone with Leandro, Gina reminded him that Enrico was a political ally of General Fernando. The elephant had faded, but it was not gone.

~ 2 ~ Ricardo answered his telephone formally: "This is Ricardo Chavez speaking." Then his voice became friendly as he asked, “Wilson, what’s up?”

“Just a ‘heads up’, Ricardo. I’m sure you remember Geraldine, the young lady whom you left to finish up your work on the digital reading Device, on that day when I called asking for your help with the Soviet atomic bombs. That adventure set you on your present career path.”

Wilson Cintra, Rhoda’s crew chief, had telephoned from her Ontario Hangar to Ricardo’s office in Steuben’s Institute. Ricardo had been dealing with some scholars’ issues which Dr. Lily Su had brought to him, and she was stoically waiting for the end of this interruption to their work conversation.

“I remember, Wilson.”

“At the time, you recommended that my brother Harland give her some help, which he did. Now she has him wrapped around her little finger, and she has sweet-talked him into letting her accompany him to Southern California, claiming that she’s considering studying at New City University. The problem I’ve just learned about is that she has borrowed the crew’s car with its New University parking permit, and she’s probably on the campus already. As you've said, she's clever and curious and has a nose for trouble. And I think she’s also completely naive about the dangers of the War Thing. My brother has just now told me about her current situation, and I’m feeling apprehensive about her being loose on the campus so near to the Foe's Keep. I've called you because Miss Knox has told me to follow my instincts in such matters.”

Ricardo could feel Wilson smiling to himself, thinking, “It’s off my desk.”

“Thanks Wilson. Geraldine’s an ardent Rhoda fan, but Rhoda’s not on the campus today; she’s visiting the Eyrie. It may be that Geraldine will only stake out Rhoda’s place, so let Alonzo know. But you’re right to be concerned about the pitfalls on campus—and under it—into which she might fall as a naive Maker wandering around asking about Rhoda Knox.”

Ricardo had contracted Wilson’s anxiety. He replaced the telephone’s receiver and said, “I’m sorry, Lily. I have to deal with this problem immediately. Are any of these requests truly controversial?”

“Just this one, Ricardo.”

“I’ll sign the others, sight unseen. Make me a list summarizing each item, in case Dr. Steuben brings up one of these requests. I’ll read the controversial one.” He stood and picked up the woven leather attaché case which Rhoda had made for him—his ‘Ottilie’s purse’—and stowed in it the controversial request. He put on the light leather jacket which was his Goth armor made by Rhoda. Ricardo was cautious about invoking his Powers within the Keep, but by donning his battle garb he alerted his Powers to follow him when he left the Keep, in which the Foe’s Powers were thick, and ever on the prowl.

After striding away through the eucalyptus grove, leaving the Niche of the Circle’s Keep more or less behind him, Ricardo called to his Powers’ attention that year-old event: He had handed his work journal to Geraldine in the Aeronauticas’ Workshop, after Wilson had called him on that “career changing” day which now seemed so long ago.

Ricardo’s Powers worked their way through Geraldine’s personal relationship with Wilson’s brother Harland, with whom she had come to New City University that morning. While continuing to walk along the path, Ricardo cast a Net around the journal which Geraldine had handled—a Net designed to elucidate her current physical location relative to his in Earth’s Province. He turned toward the library, and sensed clearly that he was moving nearer to Geraldine.

~ ~ ~

Geraldine had entered the library only a few minutes earlier, naturally recognizing none of the people sitting around in the open area surrounding the curved front desk. Three members of the library’s staff behind the desk were talking softly with students, but one was only working busily at her station, so Geraldine strode up to her. Geraldine had no experience in using public libraries. She had used only Guild Libraries, saying a Goth Chant to obtain inscribed books, so she did not know to soften her pleasant but carrying voice.

"I'm a peer of Rhoda Knox," Geraldine began, not realizing that she had broadcast an odd-sounding Clan idiom in the large room, annoying everyone except for Herbert Schooner, who instantly gave her his full attention. Geraldine explained that she had dropped by the university, hoping to find her old colleague, and she thought that the library was a good place to look for Miss Knox. The volume of Geraldine's voice dropped suddenly after the library assistant responded to her in a very soft voice, making her understand that silence was the rule of the place.

Herbert nudged his companion. "Follow me, Esther,” he whispered. “We have work to do." When they stepped out from behind the book stack which had blocked their view of the front desk, Herbert identified at once the young woman who was a Clan Maker, by reading the faint Keen Maker Self Sign which her excitement had allowed to slip out. "Esther, we must make her think that we’re close friends of Miss Knox and we can help to locate her quickly."

~ ~ ~

Ricardo, moving through the library’s fiction section, no longer needed his Powers’ aid in locating Geraldine. He heard her hushed voice in the next aisle, speaking with Esther Rosen and Herbert Schooner!

Thinking that Geraldine had tripped into the deepest pit possible, Ricardo sighed and cast a defensive Net around the Niche of Geraldine’s day. The Net was meant to ward off any resumption of Esther’s recent attempt to seduce Ricardo, and also to deflect complications arising from Rhoda’s relationship of teacher of the Makers’ art to Herbert, Esther and Het.

Ricardo reasoned that Geraldine must have come to the library asking about Rhoda Knox, and by chance she had been overheard by the worst possible people. He shook his head. Esther and Herbert were telling Geraldine that they were practically bosom buddies of Rhoda’s. Geraldine proudly told them that she was a Keen Maker who worked with Ricardo. Herbert said, “Geraldine, I can take you right now to the Workshop where Rhoda gives lessons. Maybe she’s there.” Geraldine showed off by asking questions about the lessons. In answering her, Esther encouraged Geraldine to accept Herbert’s offer and visit the Workshop, where she could evaluate the Devices made by them there.

Good Grief, Geraldine! Ricardo was alarmed. Serving as their Bridge, he directed some of his Powers to manifest their personal presence very near to Geraldine. He had to get her away from those two in a natural manner, and close out this Net. He felt that it was too early in the game to engage Herbert Schooner head-on; he needed to better understand Herbert’s game.

Ricardo slipped quietly out into the open area and sat down at a table where Geraldine would see him when she emerged with her new acquaintances. He expected Geraldine to dash over to him, showing Esther that she knew—on a first name basis—the people whom Esther knew. Ricardo would offer to take Geraldine to see Rhoda, causing Herbert and Esther to suspect something and raise their defenses, and the delicate neutral relationships which he and Rhoda had developed with them would be marred. Yet, he had to act as well as he was able to on the spur of the moment. He removed from his briefcase the controversial request for an original manuscript, for reading material. The request was from one of the scholars whom Esther knew; he would ask for her opinion about him.

“Why, Ricardo! What a surprise it is to see you here!” The voice was that of Bridgett, Victor’s bride.

He responded at once, with commanding urgency: “Bridgett! Please, I need you to do something for me right now. Please take a young lady who’s in the book stacks over there, to see Rhoda at the Eyrie.”

“Sure, I can do that, Ricardo. I’m planning to go to the Eyrie anyway, to have lunch with Victor and check out his new job site. What’s the young lady’s name?”

“Geraldine. When she asked a library worker about Rhoda, she was overheard by Herbert and Esther, too. Now they’re setting their hooks into her.”

“Oh, dear! And you don’t want to be seen by them as her rescuer.”

Ricardo smiled and touched her hand. He and Rhoda had been told by Judith that Bridgett had a sharp mind; Judith looked forward to having clever grandchildren. “I’ll show you which aisle she’s in, Bridgett, then I’ll slip into the next one and be your backup.”

~ ~ ~

“Geraldine? A library assistant told me that you’re looking for Rhoda Knox. Come with me; I’m on my way now to the place where she’s hanging out, because it’s the place where I’m having lunch with my lover. …Oh! Hello, Esther.” Bridgett took Geraldine’s hand and led her quickly away, in a way which appeared to spite Esther over Victor.

“Bitch!” hissed Esther at Bridgett’s departing back.

Geraldine was having a thrilling day.

“What did you want her for, Herbert? She’s a smart-ass, and she smells like a virgin to me—not your type at all.”

“I’m sure you’re right, but she really is a Keen Maker who knows Rhoda well, and I have just the place for her.”

“My place?” Esther turned on Herbert.

“A place, not a position, Esther. You’ll learn what I mean.” Herbert looked at the aisle between the book stacks from which his prey had just exited. “I can’t risk pursuing them now,” he said to himself. “Esther, I take it that you know the identity of the ‘lover’, and perhaps the identity of the place where Miss Knox is ‘hanging out’.”

“Yes. I have no doubt that the place the Eyrie which Home Construction is nearly finished building. The Eyrie is like an old European grand salon for Alice Cunningham. Did you know about that, Herbert?”

Startled by the information, Herbert said nothing for a moment. Esther saw him thinking. Then he said, “I don’t think Miss Knox will disabuse Geraldine of the rosy picture of your relationship with her, nor will she waste much time on Geraldine. Since Geraldine has your card, she may seek you later to satisfy more of her curiosity, and if she returns soon, we'll devise a scheme to get her to Quinceañera Beach.”

“You haven’t even given me a tour of the place, Herbert. But I’ll hang out in my office today, and the guards will let her in when they see my initials on the card, if she shows up.”

In the next aisle, Ricardo heard all of this, and knew that getting Geraldine out of their hands was not enough. He needed to understand the danger which had threatened her. He instructed his Powers to use the defensive Net to obtain a Strand of Herbert’s Living Memory which would reveal the nature of the danger threatening Geraldine. He would have to run the risk of exposing himself to the Circle’s Powers, by reading the Strand as soon as there was sufficient distance between him and Herbert to make the risk minimal.

~ ~ ~

Ricardo telephoned Wilson from the first payphone in the library’s entrance hall, and learned from him that Wilson’s brother Harold had given Geraldine a pager. “Ask Harold to alert Geraldine that she needs to be back as soon as possible for an early return to Home Ranch.”

Then Ricardo called Rhoda to warn her about Geraldine, who would arrive at any minute.

“Young women! Who knows what they might do?” said Rhoda, who felt more sympathy for Geraldine than did Ricardo. “Ricardo, I’ll drive her back to Ontario and give her a big-sister talk about Little Red Riding Hood. Honey, please make time to return the crew’s car to the hangar, and remember that you’ve got my lock-picking ability to get into the car and start it. We can have a late lunch at our favorite place near the hangar, and I’ll get you back to the Keep to finish your day in the office.”

“I’ll meet you in Ontario, sweetheart.”

Ricardo postponed his reading of the strand of Herbert’s Living Memory. He thought that it might be better for Rhoda to read it.

~ ~ ~

“Ricardo, I fear that Strand of Herbert’s Living Memory will disclose some very ugly—but important—secrets, and because you can read a man’s memory better than I can, I'll leave it to you. Did you know that Ottilie avoided reading Herbert Schooner’s Living Memory? I will follow her precedent in this matter.”

“I think that's wise, Rhoda. I’ll have to read it before tomorrow, which is the future boundary of my defensive Net’s Niche.” Exiting Rhoda’s Karmann Ghia in the Arch parking lot, Ricardo waved at guard Schwartz in his kiosk and said to Rhoda, “I’ll drive up to the Cliff Rancho as soon as I can get away from Lily; I’ll read it in greater security there. Breakfast at the Student Union tomorrow?”

“Certainly, honey, and if it’s fit for polite conversation, you can tell me all about Herbert’s secret at Quinceañera Beach, about which Geraldine might have learned—to her great discomfort. Leo has reported to Daddy that he has seen Herbert there recently with Marge Hemming’s henchman Witteric.”

~ ~ ~

Later that day, Ricardo read the Strand of Herbert’s Living Memory, and learned about Herbert’s relationship with the Left and Right Hands of Swinthila. He also learned that the Hands were currently quartered in the swampy region inland from Quinceañera Beach.

At the moment in which Ricardo learned about these things, a great agitation erupted in his Burden of the Wild Way. It was an agitation equal in agony to that which he had experienced when he had assisted Wilson with the mellowing of the Greased Lightning—on the day of Rhoda’s return with Benjamin from scouting out the Wild Way. Doubled over in agony, Ricardo was glad to be alone this time.

The Clan had known little about the Hands, except by rumor. So, even though Ricardo had obtained it by suffering his Burden of the Wild Way again, he was glad to have knowledge of the Hands’ present location and of the role played by these two wicked creatures in the making of the Wild Way. At the moment, he was more grateful to learn of Herbert’s plan to take Geraldine to Quinceañera Beach and give her to the Hands—For what evil end?

~ ~ ~