'What do they say?'
'They say that you are bewitching.'
'That would be my ass, not my eyes. But, of course, you have never seen my ass.'
'Perhaps one day we will remedy that.'
'Not as long as you are too politic to meet me for tea.'
'What can you tell me to encourage me about the pro ject?' Larive cut to the point.
'I can tell you that if you do some hard and daring things, you will win the vector technology and Chaperone for France. I have been telling you this for some time.'
'Yes, and you want to meet with me to explain it.'
'That is right,' Benoit acknowledged.
'And you do not want to tell Baptiste.'
'That is right because he cannot approve what needs to be done. We must contact people that I can best contact. We must make deals. You will need to let me out of here in order to accomplish what you want.'
'That would be extraordinary,' Larive remarked.
'It would be temporary, only until I have earned a pardon from the French government.'
'Tell me more of what you would do.'
'With all due respect, I could think better and be much more forthcoming if we were speaking in private and I could see you and be assured that you have my interests in mind.'
'In other words you once again request a personal meeting.'
Benoit smiled.
Admiral Larive attempted to suck in his gut with mar ginal results. He was standing sideways to a full-size mirror in his office that he used to judge his suits. Unfortunately, he had quit the hard workouts and his belly sagged over his belt. Off and on throughout the morning he had imagined what it would be like to take tea with Benoit Moreau.
Five minutes before the appointed time he arrived at the hotel. That morning he had put on new boxer shorts and under shirt. Although he had wanted a haircut, there hadn't been time. He had taken extra pains shaving and cut the hair out of his ears and he had vigorously gone after his long, dark nose hairs. Outside the door there were guards and they opened it to reveal Benoit Moreau in chains with another guard.
'You may take off the chains, for God's sake, we're hav ing tea.'
'Sorry, sir, but it's regulation. We never take the chains off unless ordered, so I gather you're giving me that order.'
'Yes, yes. Come on, man, she works in an office.'
'Begging your pardon, sir, but it is a very secure office, much more secure than this hotel room.'
They removed the chains and handed him a key, then left to take up positions in the hallway outside the room.
He and Benoit sat down at the table in the middle of the large suite near glass doors that opened onto a balcony. Green and gold draperies were pulled nearly across the doorway. On the table was a plate of French pastries, but he wasn't sure about taking one. He knew that fat in quantity could interfere with Viagra and he didn't want anything di minishing his potency.
Her hair was dark brown, and soft like a feather boa, her face unmarked by age. She looked younger than her thirty- eight years. If she slept with him, he told himself, she would need a very good reason. He knew as he sipped his tea that such a reason would no doubt be very bad for him. Strangely, he could not rise from the table and leave.
'I will get right to the point. There are things you should know in addition to the things I have told you on the phone.' She obviously enjoyed his undivided attention. 'These are things that I have not told anyone, not even Baptiste.' She turned in her chair and he noticed that her blouse was not buttoned to the top and with the angle he could see some cleavage. 'Baptiste does not have your stature. I do, how ever, like him.' She sipped her tea and his curiosity about her information was getting to him. 'I miss the women's magazines. Baptiste brings me one or two…'
'What would you like?'
'Cosmopolitan in English and Vogue, also in English. I like to practice the language.'
'It will be done.'
'I miss lingerie, you know. Do you like lingerie? I mean as opposed to just nudity. Most men, of course, enjoy a nude woman.'
'I like lingerie. Yes. But I think you toy with me.'
'Of course I do. That is why you came here. I am very good at it. Would you choose for me some elegant lingerie, a long white silken robe and buy it for me?'
'Yes. I think so.'
'I would like that. You seem a wise man and they say you are good with money.'
'Who says?'
'Friends. The same friends who say that you are going to be appointed a minister.'
'These are your friends in le Senat? ' Larive commented.
'I hardly have friends in le Senat. These are staff people of the people in le Senat.'
'I hear otherwise.'
'Well, that is flattering. You may continue to think such good thoughts of me.'
'You are an intriguing woman.'
'Men find that I am intriguing. Many women find me un acceptable. Those are usually the women whose husbands want to sleep with me.'
'And what do the husbands think?'
'They are attracted to any beautiful stranger. The more mysterious, the better. They cannot help it. I guess it is like a disease in a way.'
'You are more attractive than your explanation allows.'
'You are a very astute man. But intelligence is definitely not an antidote for what you crave. Is it?'
'No. It is nothing more than an annoyance where my loins are concerned.'
'You put it very well. You can see it happening to you, watch it unfold, but still you are drawn. And I think it is not bad at all. It is just the way you feel and sometimes a person should live in the moment.'
'My grandmother would have said that this is Satan's lie.' He allowed himself a smile.
'My feet are cold. Would you like to rub them for me?'
'Of course.'
'Let me sit on the bed and take off my stockings.' She wore parity hose and pulled up her skirt to take them off. She wore the slimmest of underwear, a thong, and her butt was beautiful-even with the quick glimpse. The thong was tiny in front; she obviously trimmed her pubic hair. When she sat down, she let her skirt ride high, but he could no longer see her upper thighs and it frustrated him. Then he felt a slight sense of panic. He knew it was happening, but the reality of it was like a drug rushing through his body. This woman was a criminal. Although his reputation was immense he had been faithful to his wife for two years. An old almost forgot ten anxiety came over him. When she had herself situated, he knelt and began a foot rub. The irony of being on one knee did not escape him nor did the physical discomfort.
'What is it that you were going to tell me?' Larive broke the silence.
'It is more than telling you something. It is something we can do together.'
'What is that?'
'We could save the United States from a disaster and obtain Chaperone and the vector technology for France. All at once.'
'Save the United States from what?'
'What Devan Gaudet is planning. He calls it Cordyceps.' Benoit was full of information.
'What is Cordyceps?'
'I'm not sure yet. But I can imagine.' She told him the story of Cordyceps and the beetle.
'Intriguing,' the admiral said. 'I've noticed that your plans hinge on your going to the United States.'
'Because Georges Raval understands Chaperone and I understand Georges,' she explained.
'Have you told this to Baptiste?'
