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lex that set him off。
〃It's easy； man。〃 Dobbens smiled。 He enjoyed showing this hotshot how things were done。 〃All you gotta do 。 。 。 〃
〃And you really think you can get past them just like that！〃 Miller snapped after he finished。
〃Easy。 I can write my own work orders； remember？〃
Miller struggled with himself again； and this time he won。 He told himself to view Alex's idea dispassionately。 He hated admitting to himself that the plan made sense。 This amateur black was telling him how to run an op； and the fact that he was right just made it worse。
〃Hey； man； it's not just better； it's easier to do。〃 Alex backed off somewhat。 Even arrogant whities needed their pride。 This boy was used to having his own way。 He was smart enough； Dobbens admitted to himself； but too inflexible。 Once he got himself set on an idea； he didn't want to change a thing。 He never would have made a good engineer； Alex knew。 〃Remember the last op we ran for you？ Trust me； man。 I was right then； wasn't I？〃
For all his technical expertise； Alex did not have tremendous skills for handling people。 This last remark almost set Miller off again； but the Irishman took a deep breath as he continued to stare at the map。 Now I know why the Yanks love their niggers so much。
〃Let me think about it。〃
〃Sure。 Tell you what。 I'm going to get some sleep。 You can pray over the map all you want。〃
〃Who else besides the security and the targets？〃
Alex stretched。 〃Maybe they're going to cater it。 Hell I don't know。 I imagine they'll have their maid。 I mean； you don't have that kind of pany without one servant； right？ She doesn't get hurt either； man。 She's a sister； handsome woman。 And remember what I said about the lady and the kid。 If it's necessary； I can live with it； but if you pop 'em for fun； Sean； you'll answer to me。 Let's try to keep this one professional。 You have three legitimate political targets。 That's enough。 The rest are bargaining chips； we can use 'em to show good will。 That might not be important to you； boy； but it's fucking well important to me。 You dig？〃
〃Very well； Alex。〃 Sean decided then and there that Alex would not see the end of this operation。 It shouldn't be too hard to arrange。 With his absurd sentimentality； he was unfit to be a revolutionary。 You'll die a brave death。 At least we can make a martyr of you。
Two hours later Miller admitted to himself that this was unfortunate。 The man did have a flair for operations。
The security people were late enough that Ryan pulled into the driveway right behind them。 There were three of them； led by Chuck Avery of the Secret Service。
〃Sorry； we got held up；〃 Avery said as he shook hands。 〃This is Bert Longley and Mike Keaton； two of our British colleagues。〃
〃Hello； Mr。 Longley；〃 Cathy called from the door。
His eyes went wide as he saw her condition。 〃My goodness； perhaps we should bring a physician in with us！ I'd no idea you were so far along。〃
〃Well； this one will be part English。〃 Jack explained。 〃e on in。〃
〃Mr。 Longley arranged our escort when you were in the hospital；〃 Cathy told her husband。 〃Nice to see you again。〃
〃How are you feeling？〃 Longley asked。
〃A little tired； but okay；〃 Cathy allowed。
〃Have you cleared the problem about Robby？〃 Jack asked。
〃Yes； we have。 Please excuse Mr。 Bennett。 I'm afraid he took his instructions a bit too literally。 We have no problems with a naval officer。 In fact； His Highness is looking forward to meeting him。 So； may we look around？〃
〃If it's all right with you； I want to see that cliff of yours；〃 Avery said。
〃Follow me； gentlemen。〃 Jack led the three through the sliding…glass doors onto the deck that faced Chesapeake Bay。
〃Magnificent！〃 Longley observed。
〃The only thing we did wrong is that the living and dining room aren't separated； but that's how the design was drawn； and we couldn't figure a graceful way to change it。 But all those windows do give us a nice view； don't they？〃
〃Indeed； also one that gives our chaps good visibility；〃 Keaton observed； surveying the area。
Not to mention decent fields of fire； Ryan thought。
〃How many people will you be bringing？〃 Jack asked。
〃I'm afraid that's not something we can discuss；〃 Longley replied。
〃More than twenty？〃 Jack persisted。 〃I plan to have coffee and sandwiches for your troops。 Don't worry； I haven't even told Robby。〃
〃Enough for twenty will be more than ample；〃 Avery said after a moment。 〃Just coffee will be fine。〃 They'd be drinking a lot of coffee； the Secret Service man thought。
〃Okay； let's see the cliff。〃 Jack went down the steps from the deck to the grass。 〃You want to be very careful here； gentlemen。〃
〃How unstable is it？〃 Avery asked。
〃Sally has been past where the fence is twice。 Both times she got smacked for it。 The problem's erosion。 The cliff's made out of something real soft sandstone； I think。 I've been trying to stabilize it。 The state conservation people talked me into planting this damned kudzu； and stop right there！〃
Keaton had stepped over the low fence。
〃Two years ago I watched a twenty…square…foot piece drop off。 That's why I planted these vines。 You don't think somebody's going to climb that； do you？〃
〃It's one possibility；〃 Longley answered。
〃You'd think different if you looked at it from a boat。 The cliff won't take the weight。 A squirrel can make it up； but that's all。〃
〃How high is it？〃 Avery asked。
〃Forty…three feet over there； almost fifty here。 The kudzu vines just make it worse。 The damned stuffs nearly impossible to kill； but if you try grabbing onto it； you're in for a big surprise。 Like I said； if you want to check it； do it from a boat；〃 Ryan said。
〃We'll do that；〃 Avery replied。
〃ing in； that driveway must be three hundred yards；〃 Keaton said。
〃Just over four hundred； counting the curves。 It cost an arm and a leg to pave it。〃
〃What about the swimming pool people？〃 It was Longley this time。
〃The pool's supposed to be finished next Wednesday。〃
Avery and Keaton walked around the north side of the house。 There were trees twenty yards from there； and a swarm of brambles that went on forever。 Ryan had planted a long row of shrubs to mark the border。 Sally didn't go in there either。
〃This looks pretty secure；〃 Avery said。 〃There's two hundred yards of open space between the road and the trees； then more open ground between the pool and the house。〃
〃Right。〃 Ryan chuckled。 〃You can set up your heavy machine guns in the treeline and put the mortars over by the pool。〃
〃Doctor Ryan； we are quite serious about this；〃 Longley pointed out。
〃I'm sure。 But it's an unannounced trip； right？ They can't 〃 Jack stopped short。 He didn't like the look on their faces。
Avery said； 〃We always assume that the other side knows what we're up to。〃
〃Oh。〃 Is that all of it； or is there more？ He knew it wouldn't do any good to ask。 〃Well； speaking as a has…been Marine； I wouldn't want to hit this place cold。 I know a little about how you guys are trained。 I wouldn't want to mess with you。〃
〃We try；〃 Avery assured him； still looking around。 The way the driveway came through the trees； he could use his munications van to block vehicles out entirely。 He reminded himself that there would be ten people from his agency； six Brits； a liaison guy from the Bureau； and probably two or three State Police for traffic control on the road。 Each of his men would have both a service revolver and a submachine gun。 They practiced at least once a week。
Avery still was not happy； not with the possibility of an armed terrorist group running around loose。 But all the airports were being watched； all the local police forces alerted。 There was only one road in here。 The surrounding terrain would be difficult even for a platoon of soldiers to penetrate without making all kinds of noise； and as nasty as terrorists were； they'd never fought a set…piece battle。 This wasn't London； and the potential targets weren't driving blithely about with a single armed guard。
〃Thank you； Doctor Ryan。 We will check the cliff out from the water side。 If you see a C