laws—which are quite obscure, if not mystifying, in my opinion.'
'If I need a lawyer, I'll call you, Milos,' added Lowell, smiling and sitting back in her chair.
'I've furnished each of you with a copy of the names of the newspapers, their editorial writers and the columnists involved in this phase—’
'To be burned in our coal stove,' broke in Winters softly.
'Of course;' 'Naturally;' 'Most certainly,' came the chorus of quiet replies.
Which was the liar?
'Tell me, Varak,' said the brilliant, cherubic Sundstrom. 'According to everything we know, everything you've brought us, our candidate hasn't displayed an iota of that “fire-in-the-belly” we hear so much about. Isn't it terribly important? Doesn't he have to ultimately want the job?'
'He'll want it, sir. As we've learned, he's what might be called a closet activist who runs out of the closet when the conditions call for his abilities.'
'Good Lord, Samuel, he's a rabbi, too?'
'Hardly, Mr. Mandel,' replied the Czech, permitting himself a tight grin. 'What I mean to say, no doubt poorly—’
'The words are lovely, Milos.'
'Thank you, sir, you're too kind. But what I'm trying to say is that on two dramatic occasions in his life—one extraordinarily dangerous to him personally—he chose to take the most difficult course of action because he felt he could effect a change for the better. The first was his decision to replace a corrupt congressman; the second, of course, was Oman. In short words, he must once again be convinced that his person and his abilities are needed—uniquely needed for the good of the country.'
'That's a tall order,' said Gideon Logan. 'He's obviously a man of realistic sensibilities who makes a pretty fair appraisal of his qualifications. His bottom line may be… “I'm not qualified.” How do we overcome that?'
Varak looked around the table, his expression that of a man trying to be understood. 'I suggest symbolically, sir.'
'How's that?' asked Mandel, removing his steel-rimmed glasses.
'For example, the current Secretary of State, although he is frequently maligned by his colleagues and the White House staff as a stubborn academic, is the most reasoned voice in the administration. I know privately that he has managed to block a number of rash actions recommended by the President's advisers because the President respects him—’
'He damn well should,' exclaimed Margaret Lowell.
'I think the European alliance would fall apart without him,' offered Winters.
'There wouldn't be an alliance without him,' agreed Mandel, anger on his normally passive face. 'He's a beacon of rationality in a sea of belching Neanderthals.'
'If I may, sir? Could your use of the word “beacon” be construed as a symbol?'
'That's logical,' answered Gideon Logan. 'Our Secretary of State is by all means a symbol of intelligent moderation. The nation, too, respects him.'
'He intends to resign,' said Varak simply.
'What?' Sundstrom sat forward. 'His loyalty to Jennings wouldn't permit it.'
'His sense of integrity shouldn't permit him to stay,' said Winters with finality.
'Out of loyalty, however,' explained Varak, 'he's agreed to attend the Middle East NATO conference at the UN mission on Cyprus in three weeks. It's both a show of unity and a way of giving the President's men time to find a replacement who will be acceptable to the Congress. Then he leaves for “pressing personal reasons”, the main one being his frustration with the National Security Council, which continues to undercut him.'
'Has he explained that to the President?' asked Lowell.
'According to my source, he has not,' replied Varak. 'As Mr. Mandel has pointed out, he's a rational man. He understands that it's easier and far better for the country to replace one person
