first person who takes it ties and gets away with it. 'We can now solve the darkest riddles of innocence and guilt!' What a laugh.
Men and women deceive themselves continually. I'm a hundred years old and I still don't know whether my life was a truth or a lie. I really don't know.'
Christian had retrieved his cigar from the Oracle and now he lit it and that small circle of fire made the Oracle's face a mask in a museum.
'I let that atom bomb go off,' Christian said. 'I'm responsible for that.
And when I take that PET scan I will know the truth and so will the scanner. But I thought I understood Kennedy better than anybody. I could always read him. He wanted me not to interrogate Gresse and Tibbot. He wanted that explosion to happen. Then how the hell did he pass that test?'
'If the brain were that simple, we would be too simple to understand it,' the Oracle said. 'That was the wit of your Dr. Annaccone and I suggest that is your answer. Kennedy's brain refused to acknowledge his guilt.
Therefore, the computer in the scanner says he is innocent. You and I know better, for I believe what you say. But he will be forever innocent even in his own heart.'
'Unlike Kennedy, I am forever guilty.'
'Cheer up,' the Oracle said. 'You only killed ten or was it twenty thousand people? Your only hope is to refuse to take the test.'
'I promised Francis,' Christian said. 'And the media will crucify me for refusing.'
'Then why the hell did you agree to take it?' the Oracle said.
'I thought Francis was bluffing,' Christian said. 'I thought he couldn't afford to take the test and that he would back down. That's why I insisted he take the test first.'
The Oracle showed his impatience by running the motor on his wheelchair.
'Climb up on the Statue of Liberty,' he said. 'Claim your civil rights and your human dignity. You'll get away with it. Nobody wants to see such infernal science become a legal instrument.'
'Sure,' Christian said. 'That's what I have to do. But Francis will know I'm guilty.'
The Oracle said, 'Christian, if that test asked you whether you were a villain, what would you answer, in all truthfulness?'
Christian laughed, genuinely laughed. 'I would answer that no, I wasn't a villain. And I'd pass. That's really funny.' Gratefully he pressed the Oracle's shoulder. 'I won't forget about your birthday party,' he said.
It was Vice President Du Pray who reacted most quickly and most angrily to Klee's statement. She said. 'Do you realize that if you refuse you must resign and even then this stance of yours will do great damage to the presidency?'
'I don't see that at all,' Klee said. 'Do I have to agree to let guys like Annaccone scramble my brain just to keep my job? Or do you think I'm really guilty?' He could see the answer in her eyes and thought he had never seen so handsome a hanging judge. Defensively he added, 'There's the Constitution of the United States. I have the individual freedom to refuse such a test.'
Otto Gray said sternly, 'You're not so keen on the Constitution when it comes to criminals. You're eager to ship them off to Alaska.'
Klee said, 'Ah, Otto, you don't believe I did it. Do you?' and was relieved when Otto said, 'Of course I don't, but you should take the test.' He paused for a moment and then said, 'Or resign.'
Klee turned to Wix and Dazzy. 'How about you two?' he asked and smiled at them.
It was Wix who answered first. He said, 'I don't have the slightest doubt you're innocent, the charges against you are pure bullshit. But if you refuse to take the brain-scan test you will be guilty in the mind of the public. And then you must leave this administration.'
Klee turned to Dazzy. 'Eugene?'
Dazzy would not look at him and Dazzy owed him, Klee thought. Then Dazzy said with a judicious air, 'You have to take the test, Christian. Even resigning won't help us much. We've already announced you would take it, as you agreed you would. Why this change of mind? Surely you're not afraid?'
'I promised to show my loyalty to Francis Kennedy,' Klee said. 'Now I've thought it over and decided the risk is too great.'
Dazzy sighed. 'I sure as hell wish you had thought it over sooner. As for your resignation, I think that is up to the President.'
They all looked at Francis Kennedy. His face was dead white, his eyes, which were usually so pale, seemed to be a darker and deeper blue. But his voice was surprisingly gentle when he spoke to Klee. 'Christian,' he said, 'can I persuade you on the basis of our long and close friendship?
I took the test and the risk because I thought it was important for our country and the presidency. And because I was innocent. You've never failed me, Christian. I count on you.'
For one moment Klee felt hatred for Francis Kennedy. How could this man conceal his own guilt from himself? And why this best friend of his putting him on the cross of truth? But he said calmly, 'I just can't do it, Francis.'
Kennedy said soberly, 'That's it, then. I don't want you to resign, I won't let you suffer that indignity. Now let's go on.”
Dazzy said, 'Do we make a statement to the press?'
'No,' Kennedy said. 'If they ask, say the Attorney General has the flu and will take the test when he is recovered. That will give us a month's time.'
'And in a month?' Dazzy said.
'We'll rethink it then,' Kennedy said.
President Kennedy summoned Theodore Tappey, the CIA director, to a private meeting in the Yellow Oval Room. He excluded everyone, he wanted no witnesses, no recording.
Kennedy wasted no time on civilities. There was no window dressing of a leisurely tea. He spoke curtly to Tappey. 'Theo, we have a big problem that only you and I understand. And only you and I can solve.'
'I'll do my best, Mr. President,' Tappey said. And Kennedy saw the feral look in his eyes. He scented blood.
'Everything we say here has the highest security classification, it has executive privilege,' Kennedy said. 'You are not to repeat this to anyone, not even members of my staff.' That was when Tappey knew the matter was extremely sensitive because Kennedy cut his staff in on everything.
'It's Yabril,' Kennedy said. 'I'm sure-he smiled» I’m positive, you've thought this all out. Yabril will go on trial. That will rake up all the resentments against America. He will get convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. But somewhere down the line there will be a terrorist action that takes important hostages. One demand will be to release Yabril. By that time I won't be President and so Yabril will go free. Still a dangerous man.'
Kennedy had caught the sight of skepticism in Tappey. The sign was no sign, Tappey was too experienced in deception. His face simply lost all expression, all animation in the eyes, the contour of the lips. He had made himself a blank so as not to be read.
But now Tappey smiled. 'You must have read the internal memos my counterintelligence chief has been giving me. That's exactly what he says.'
'So how do we prevent all this?' Kennedy asked. But it was a rhetorical question and Tappey did not answer.
Kennedy decided the time had come. 'I assure you I can persuade Yabril to take the brain test. I'll take care of him. The public needs to know that the results of the test will link the atom bomb to Yabril and prove once and for all that this was a global conspiracy. We can clear Christian and go after those kids-stage a manhunt and bring them to justice at least.'
For the very first time in their relationship, Kennedy saw Tappey looking at him with the shrewd appraising eye of a fellow conspirator. He knew that Tappey thought things out far ahead. 'We don't really need Yabril's answers, do we?'
'No,' Kennedy said.
Tappey asked, 'Is Christian in on this?'
This was difficult for Kennedy. And this was not even the hardest part. fie said slowly, 'Forget about
