She didn't want to upset him. Then again, it wouldn't really hurt him,
would it? And in the long run, it could be better for their
relationship.
Ah, said her inner voice, rationalization rears its ugly head!
'Shut up,' she told her inner voice.
A Marine lieutenant walking past glanced at her, but apparently decided
she wasn't talking to him.
She didn't have to take the job. She told the director she'd have to
think it over, that she'd get back to her. But she had made up her
mind.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Morrison never thought he would be glad to see the gates of a racist
militia compound, but as soon as they closed behind the car, he felt a
lot better.
General Bull Smith was waiting at the main compound, and as soon as
Ventura had alighted, he made straight for the man.
'Everything go okay. Colonel?'
'More or less, sir. We had some problems. I don't want you to get
blindsided by this, so I'll just tell you up front--we are going to get
some heat because of a few things that went down.'
Smith smiled.
'Heat doesn't bother us at all. Idaho summers'll give Hell a run for
the money sometimes.'
'Some of this could be from our own side.'
Morrison watched Smith take this in.
'That a fact?'
'You'll hear about it on the news soon enough. I lost two men. A
couple of federal marshals went down, too.'
'No shit?'
'I don't think they know who we are. And they can't know where we
went.'
Smith nodded.
'Well. Revolution might be starting sooner than expected. We're
ready, if it comes to that.'
'I don't believe it will. General, but I had to bring you up to
speed.'
'I appreciate it. Colonel. Why don't y'all come on in and have a
beer? Got barbecued pork cooking.'
'That sounds great,' Ventura said.
After Smith was out of earshot, Morrison, mindful of listening devices,
said, 'Good that you updated the general.'
What he meant was 'Why the hell did you tell him?'
Venture's answer also carried a hidden meaning: He said, 'I expect the
general's own intel sources would have gotten it in short order
anyhow.' And what Morrison heard was 'He needed to hear it from us,
just in case he ever got a clue.'
'What now?' Morrison asked.
'We wait for our friends to get in touch with us as to the transfers on
both sides of the negotiation. Since nobody trusts anybody--nor should
they--certain safeguards must be put into effect. We'll have to work
