And even stranger, the President refused to enter the Oval Office anymore.
The President put his hand over the phone.
“Alarkin. I've heard that name somewhere.”
“Might be one of the old native gods.”
“She sounds white. She sounds American,” said the President.
Both aides shrugged.
“They're in a revolutionary secession from the Bahamas,” said one aide.
“Right,” said the President, and taking his hand off the phone, spoke into the receiver.
“Can we possibly help you resolve your differences with the main islands?” the President asked.
“What we want is freedom of religion,” said the Queen of Alarkin.
“We too want that, and we support it,” said the President. He turned up the speaker so that the aides could hear. He shrugged. They shrugged.
“The Bahamas have never been known for religious intolerance,” said the President, signaling that he wanted all of this recorded.
“No, but you have,” said the woman who called herself Queen of Alarkin.
“I beg to differ, ma'am. America from its very founding has promised and given freedom of religion. We are proud of it.”
“Religious freedom for some. For the large, for the wealthy, for the powerful. But what about the small and oppressed?”
“Are you talking about small black churches? They do very well here, your Majesty.”
“I am talking about those churches that dare to tell the truth. Those churches that dare to risk new and startling ideas.”
“The fact is, your Majesty, America has more and different churches than any other country in the world.”
“Yes, and what about Poweressence?”
“Ma'am, the people who run that are not facing charges because of teaching new religious doctrines. You may or may not be aware of it, but they put an alligator into the pool of a columnist who was exposing them. The post office has a good case for mail fraud, and we believe they are behind the murder — and I call it murder — of an Air Force colonel, a United States senator, and an entire plane crew. Those poor people died when the rulers of Poweressence tried to kill me.”
“There is no need for death,” said the Queen of Alarkin.
“I'd like to believe that,” said the President.
“If you dropped your cases against them, no one would have to die.”
“I would not interfere with our judicial system for anyone, but least of all for that pair of con artists and murderers,” said the President, his voice rising in anger. He remembered Colonel Armbruster, remembered how he would ask if the landing was just right sometimes, remembered the man had a family.
“I want you to know,” continued the President, “we are not giving in to terrorism of any kind.”
“I am speaking of your life. I can not guarantee the safety of your life as long as the thousands of devoted followers of Poweressence see their leaders persecuted.”
“Is that a threat?” asked the President.
“It is a friendly warning for you to be evenhanded in the matter of the Dolomos. Why do you act friendly to the Catholics, Protestants, and Jews, and feel nothing for the Poweressence devotees, beautiful people, beautiful people all?”
“I will tell you how I will be evenhanded. I am going to suggest Congress deliver me an antifraud-cult bill today. And we are going to put bums like that out of business. Because that's all they are, Queen of Alarkin. Bums.”
“Well, I can only say, Mr. President, you have only yourself to blame. Because we are not taking it anymore.”
“I don't understand.”
“You're not picking on a couple of defenseless citizens anymore. We are a nation. And we have a right to defend ourselves from oppression in any way possible. I warn you. Look to the sea. Look to the skies. Look to the land. We're not taking it anymore. We're going to get you.”
“Who is this?”
“The beautiful wife of Rubin Dolomo herself.”
“He doesn't have a beautiful wife.”
“That has to be against the Geneva Convention. That's low. For that you will pay. I've warned you. We're not taking it anymore.”
The aides saw the President hang up and then dismiss them.
“Smith, come in here please,” he said into an intercom that worked off a button under the rug beneath his desk.
“Are you feeling all right?” asked Smith as he entered. Chiun, the Oriental who worked with Smith's organization, was with him.
“I'm feeling fine,” said the President.
The Oriental bowed and left the room.
“The Dolomos have taken over a small island in the Bahamas. They have declared themselves independent. They are now foreign leaders, and they have heaven knows what at their disposal. They are totally ruthless and unscrupulous. I suggest we use the other one to go at them now.”
“He's been lost,” said Smith.
“No,” said the President, shaking his head. “If they got him, they can get anyone.”
“Probably, but Chiun is better, I believe. Remo was not in top shape.”
“Then why did you send him?”
“We didn't have anyone else, sir.”
“Send the Oriental then.”
“I'd like to keep him here.”
“Look, if we get them, then I won't be in danger,” said the President.
“And if they get him?”
“Then they'll get me. They offered terms, you know. Just now. Let them off the hook in the courts, and they will let me off.”
“Are you going to take it?”
“No.”
“I wonder if this once we shouldn't back down, and get them at an easier time.”
“I am not selling out to two hustling bums.”
“We may be talking about your life, sir.”
“Then I'll die in office, dammit. I am President of the United States, not some courthouse politician. I will not desecrate this office by compromising with two patent frauds who have turned to murder.”
“That's your decision then?” said Smith.
“That is my decision,” said the President. “Today I am going to have introduced into Congress a tough antifraud bill, a bill that would make hustles like Poweressence illegal. And even if those two should somehow beat this rap, then they will never be able to practice their chicanery again.”
“If you say so, sir. May I suggest your sending military assistance to the Bahamas and hope more soldiers will be able to take them.”
“I'd rather use the Oriental.”
“Sir, he stays here. That's part of the safety built into my organization. No president can order me. He can only suggest. I have a choice of doing what he says or disbanding.”
“And you will disband?”
“I will not order Chiun from your presence, sir,” said Smith.
“You're going to kill me if I get infected with that substance, aren't you?”
Smith hesitated. He liked the President. He respected the President, but even more he respected the office.
