Why Do Birds

CHAPTER 16

The President of the United States got to his feet when Stone entered the Oval Office, and so did the three others, Senator Givens, Congressperson Yamada, and Carl Jaekel.

"Come in, boy, set down, take a load off your feet," said the President. "Want you to meet Carl Jaekel. We been having a powwow about you."

They shook hands all around. Jaekel was a man in his late forties, lean and balding, with a grayish complexion.

"Bourbon and branch, Ed?"

"Yeah, thanks."

The President pushed the decanter and water jug closer and watched while Stone poured a drink. "Now, Ed, Dick and Ronnie here, they tell me the enabling legislation for the international corporation is gone go through just fine, and we can start setting you up some appointments with the high mucky-mucks over in Europe. And I know you'll do just fine, but with all you've got to do, you're gonna have to have an organization behind you."

"What kind of organization, Howie?"

"Less let Carl explain that. Carl?"

"Essentially, pretty much like a campaign organization," said Jaekel. "Okay if I show you what I mean?"

"Sure."

Jaekel put a pocket viewer on the table, popped up the screen, and displayed a chart. "Now, you see here, this is you at the top. Then right under you we have a manager, and under him, the way this is set up now, four departments. You've got secretarial, travel, publicity, and security."

"How many people is that?"

"Depending, it might be about a dozen, or it might be twenty or more. Then, of course, you want people to liaise with the Cube Group, with the Congress, the President, et cetera."

"To do what with them?"

"To be your liaison. Keep in touch, in other words." "Oh."

"Now, Ed, our suggestion is to think it over, and see if you'd like me to be your manager or if you'd rather try somebody else. I don't say this because I'm modest-"

Givens smiled.

"No, because I'm not modest, that's not one of my failings, but because whoever is your manager, it's got to be somebody you can trust and get along with. And one more thing, if you hire me and it doesn't work out, you can fire me. Anytime."

"Would you take care of hiring all these other guys?"

"Yes, that's my job. But you're the boss, and if you don't like somebody, they're out."

"Well, then, sure, let's try it."

Jaekel smiled and put his viewer away. "I like a man that can make up his mind," he said. He extended his hand, and Stone shook it again.

"How soon can you get something set up, Carl?" Givens asked.

"I'll know better after I make some calls this afternoon. Maybe early next week.''

"That's splendid," said Givens. Now, Ed, one more thing while you're here, there's a little problem with your passport. We sent to the Blair County courthouse for your birth certificate, but they tell us those records were lost in transit in nineteen ninety-seven. Well, in a way maybe it's fortunate, because if they found that birth certificate, you'd have to put down your age as one hundred and one."

"Yeah, that's right. "

"So, what is your real age, not counting the years between nineteen thirty-one and now?"

"Uh, let's see. Gee, it's hard to figure, because I would of been thirty March the fifteenth that year, but it was November the ninth when I got back."

"I see what you mean. Well, it would be simpler if you kept your birthday, and then you'd be thirty-one next March, you see. That would be better, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Okay, now what we can do is have the FBI construct a false identity, like they do with informers, and then the passport will go through without any trouble."

"You mean a phony name and a phony birthdate?"

"Right."

"I agree that's the best way," said Yamada.

"No, guys, sorry, but that's not what I want. Then I'd be carrying a passport that says I'm a phony. I want the real date on there, even if it's hard to believe. I mean, it is hard to believe, but that's the point, you see what I mean?"

"Oh. Well, yes. All right, let me straighten it out. It will take awhile."

"So would the FBI thing," said Yamada.

"That's true. Now about transportation- When were you planning to go back to New York, Ed?"

"Tomorrow morning. "

"Well, if you'll check into the federal lounge when you get to the airport, we've got a little surprise for you."

"Call from Mr. Stone," said the computer.

"Who-? Oh. Put him on."

Ed's face appeared in the holo. "Hey there, how are you?"

"Okay, and you?"

"I'm feeling great. Listen, they gave me an airplane. You want to take a ride in it?"

"They gave you an airplane?"

"Yeah, so I can go anywhere I want without worrying about commercial flights. It sleeps eighteen, not counting the crew. "

"You've got to be kidding. Where are you?"

"I'm in the plane. Take a look." He moved away from the pickup, and she saw gray watered-silk walls, the top of a blue couch. His head reappeared. "I'm landing at Reagan about five o'clock. I thought we could have dinner tonight or tomorrow, and then I could take you out to see the plane and take a spin."

"I don't fly in airplanes, they scare me."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. So what do you think, is tonight okay?"

She shuffled some memocubes on her desk. "You could have given me a little warning."

"I know, but I was tied up all day in Washington, and I didn't have your home number. "

"All right. I had another date, but I guess I can break it. Where are you staying?"

"The UN Plaza."

"Okay, there's a nice Italian restaurant just a block from there. I'll see if I can make a reservation and call you back. What's your number?"

"Triple 0 five nine five, but listen, let me make the reservation, okay? You wouldn't believe how much respect I get now. What's the name of the restaurant?"

"La Cucina."

"Okay, I'll meet you there at seven-thirty, and if there's any problem with the reservation I'll call you. "

Sylvia was already in the kitchen when Lavalle got home after work. "Hi, how was your day?"

"Not bad. Ed called me for another date." She dropped her bag on the table, sat down and took off her shoes.

"For tonight?"

"Yes."

"Is he the one I saw on holo today?"

"Yes."

Sylvia whistled. "Does Julian know about this?"

"I talked to him this afternoon."

"What did you say?"

"Well, I said, Julian, I'm very confused."

"Uh-huh." Sylvia drew a finger across her throat, put out her tongue and rolled her eyes.

"What am I supposed to do, stick toJulian until death do us part? We're not even married. Is there any gin in the fridge?"

Sylvia opened the refrigerator, took out the gin bottle and the cocktail onions. "I just feel sorry for the poor saps sometimes."

''Julian isn't a sap."

"No, but he's a poindexter."

"You never told me that before."

"Well, you never broke up with him before."

"I haven't broken up with him."

"Not yet, but how about Monday morning?"