The Aquaintaine Progession

by Ludlum, Robert

  “That’s why I remember her,” said Halliday. “Soa lousy student left college and the Navy gained ahot pilot.”

  “Not very hot, none of us was. There wasn’t thatmuch to be hot against. Mostly we burned.”

  “Still, you must have hated people like me backin the States. Not your sister, of course.”

  "Her, too,” corrected Converse. “Hated, loathed,despised furious. But only when someone waskilled, or went crazy in the camps. Not for what youwere saying we all knew Saigon but because yousaid it without any real fear. You were safe, and youmade us feel like assholes. Dumb, frightenedassholes.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “So nice of you.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”

  “How did it sound, counselor?”

  Halliday frowned. “Condescending, I guess.”

  “No guess,” said Joel. “Right on.”

  “You’re still angry.”

  “Not at you, only the dredging. I hate the subjectand it keeps coming back up.”

  “Blame the Pentagon PR. For a while you werea bona fide hero on the nightly news. What was it,three escapes? On the first two you got caught andput on the racks, but on the last one you made it allby yourself, didn’t you? You crawled through acouple of hundred miles of enemy jungle before youreached the lines.”

  “It was barely a hundred and I was goddamnedlucky.

  With the first two tries I was responsible for killingeight men. I’m not very proud of that. Can we get tothe Comm Tech-Bern business?”

  “Give me a few minutes,” said Halliday, shovingthe croissant aside. “Please. I’m not trying to dredge.There’s a point in the back of my mind, if you’llgrant I’ve got a mind.”

  “Preston Halliday has one, his rep confirms it.You’re a shark, if my colleagues are accurate. ButI knew someone named Avery, not Press.”

  “Then it’s Fowler talking, you re morecomfortable with him.”

  “What’s the point?”

  “A couple of questions first. You see, I want tobe accurate because you ve got a reputation too.They say you’re one of the best on the internationalscene, but the people I’ve talked to can’t understandwhy Joel Converse stays with a relatively small ifentrenched firm when he’s good enough to getflashier. Or even go out on his own.”

  “Are you hiring?”

  “Not me, I don’t take partners. Courtesy of JohnHalliday attorney-at-law, San Francisco.”

  Converse looked at the second half of thecroissant and decided against it. “What was thequestion, counselor?”

  “Why are you where you’re at?”

  “I’m paid well and literally run the department;no one sits on my shoulder. Also I don’t care totake chances. There’s a little matter of alimony,amiable but demanding.”

  “Child support, too?”

  “None, thank heavens.”

  “What happened when you got out of the Navy?How did you feel?” Halliday again leaned forward,his elbow on the table, chin cupped in his hand theinquisitive student. Or something else.

  “Who are the people you’ve talked to?” askedConverse.

  “Privileged information, for the moment,counselor. Will you accept that?”

  Joel smiled. “You are a shark…. Okay, the gospelaccording to Converse. I came back from thatdisruption of my life wanting it all. Angry, to besure, but wanting everything. The nonstudentbecame a scholar of sorts, and I’d be a liar if Ididn’t admit to a fair amount of preferentialtreatment. I went back to Amberst and racedthrough two and a half years in three semesters anda summer. Then Duke offered me an ac

  celerated program and I went there, followed bysome specializations at Georgetown while Iinterned.”

  “You interned in Washington?”

  Converse nodded. “Yes.”

  “For whom?”

  “Clifford’s firm. "

  Halliday whistled softly, sitting back. “That’sgolden territory, a passport to Blackstone’s heaven aswell as the multinationals.”

  "I told you I had preferential treatment.”

  “Was that when you thought about the foreignservice? While you were at Ceorgetown? InWashingtonP”

  Again Joel nodded, squinting as a passing flash ofsunlight bounced off a grille somewhere on thelakefront boulevard. “Yes,” he replied quietly.

  “You could have had it,” said Halliday.

  "They wanted me for the wrong reasons, all thewrong reasons. When they realized I had a differentset of rules in mind, I couldn’t get a twenty-cent tourof the State Department. “

  “What about the Clifford firm? You were a hellof an image, even for them.” The Californian raisedhis hands above the table, palms forward. I know, Iknow. The wrong reasons.”

  “Wrong numbers,” insisted Converse. " Therewere forty-plus lawyers on the masthead and anothertwo hundred on the payroll. I’d have spent ten yearstrying to find the men’s room and another tengetting the key. That wasn’t what I was looking for.’

  What were you looking for?”

  “Pretty much what I’ve got. I told you, themoney’s good and I run the international division.The latter’s just as important to me.”

  "You couldn t have known that when you joined,”objected Halliday.

  But I did. At least I had a fair indication. WhenTalbot, Brooks and Simon as you put it, that smallbut entrenched firm I’m with came to me, wereached understanding. If after four or five years Iproved out, I’d take over for Brooks. He was theoverseas man and was getting tired of adjusting to allthose time zones.” Again Converse paused."Apparently I proved out.”

  " And just as apparently somewhere along theline you got married.

  Joel leaned back in the chair. "Is this necessary?”

  “It’s not even pertinent, but I’m intenselyinterested.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s a natural reaction,” said Halliday, his eyesamused. “I think you’d feel the same way if youwere me and I were you, and I’d gone through whatyou went through.”

  “Shark dead ahead,” mumbled Converse.

  “You don’t have to respond, of course, counselor.”

  “I know, but oddly enough I don’t mind. She’staken her share of abuse because of that what-l’ve-been-through business.” Joel broke thecroissant but made no effort to remove it from theplate. “Comfort, convenience, and a vague image ofstability,” he said.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Her words,” continued Joel. “She said that I gotmarried so I’d have a place to go and someone tofix the meals-and do the laundry, and eliminate theirritating, time-consuming foolishness that goes withfinding someone to sleep with. Also by legitimisingher, I projected the. proper image…. "And, Christ,did I have to play the part’ also her words.”

  “Were they true?”

  “I told you, when I came back I wanted it all andshe was part of it. Yes, they were true. Cook, maid,laundress, bedmate, and an acceptable, attractiveappendage. She told me she could never figure outthe pecking order.”

  “She sounds like quite a girl.”

  “She was. She is.”

  “Do I discern a note of possible reconciliation?”

  “No way.” Converse shook his head, a partialsmile on his lips but only a trace of humor in hiseyes. “She was also conned and it shouldn t havehappened. Anyway, I like my current status, I reallydo. Some of us just weren’t meant for a hearth androast turkey, even if we sometimes wish we were.”

  “It’s not a bad life.”

  “Are you into it?” asked Joel quickly so as toshift the emphasis.

  “Right up with orthodontists and SAT scores.Five kids and one wife. I wouldn t have it any otherway.”

  “But you travel a lot, don’t your”

  “We have great homecomings.” Halliday againleaned

  forward, as if studying a witness. “”So you have noreal attachments now, no one to run back to.’

  " Talbot, Brooks and Simon might find thatoffensive.
Also my father. Since Mother died we havedinner once a week when he’s not flying all over theplace, courtesy of a couple of lifetime passes.”

  “He still gets around a lot?”

  “One week he’s in Copenhagen, the next in HongKong. He enjoys himself; he keeps moving. He’ssixty-eight and spoiled rotten.”

  “I think I’d like him.”

  Converse shrugged, again smiling. “You mightnot. He thinks all lawyers are piss ants, me included.He’s the last of the white-scarved flyboys.”

  “I’m sure I’d like him…. But outside of youremployers and your father, there are no shall wesay priority entanglements in your life.”

  “If you mean women, there are several and we’regood friends, and I think this conversation has goneabout as far as it should go.”

  “I told you, I had a point,” said Halliday.

  “Then why not get to it, counselor?Interrogatories are over. “

  The Californian nodded. “All right, I will. Thepeople I spoke with wanted to know how free youwere to travel.”

  “The answer is that I’m not. I’ve got a job and aresponsibility to the company I work for. Today’sWednesday, we’ll have the merger tied up by Friday,I’ll take the weekend off and be back onMonday when I’m expected.”

  “Suppose arrangements could be made thatTalbot Brooks and Simon found acceptable?”

  “That’s presumptuous.”

  “And you found very difficult to reject.”

  “That’s preposterous.”

  “Try me,” said Halliday. “Five hundred thousandfor accepting on a best-efforts basis, one million ifyou pull it off.”

  “Now you’re insane.” A second flash of lightblinded Converse, this one remaining stationarylonger than the first. He raised his left hand to blockit from his eyes as he stared at the man he had onceknown as Avery Fowler. “Also, ethics notwithstandingbecause you haven’t a damn thing to win thismorning, your timing smells. I don’t like gettingoffers even

  crazy offers from attorneys I’m about to meetacross a table.”

  “Two separate entities, and you’re right, I don’thave a damn thing to win or lose. You and Aarondid it all, and I’m so ethical, I’m billing the Swissonly for my time minimum basis because noexpertise was called for. My recommendation thismorning will be to accept the package as it stands,not even a comma changed. Where’s the conflict?”

  “Where’s the sanityP” asked Joel. "&To say nothing of those arrangements Talbot, Brooks and Simon will find acceptable. You’re talking roughlyabout two and a half top years of salary and bonusesfor nodding my head.”

  “Nod it,” said Halliday. “We need you.”

  ” We? That’s a new wrinkle, isn’t it? I thought itwas they. They being the people you spoke with.Spell it out, Press.”

  A. Preston Halliday locked his eyes with Joules.“I’m part of them, and something is happening thatshouldn’t be happening. We want you to put acompany out of business. It’s bad news and it’sdangerous. We’ll give you all the tools we can.”

  “What company?”

  “The name wouldn’t mean anything, it’s notregistered. Let’s call it a govermnent-in-exile.”

  “A what2″

  “A group of like-minded men who are in theprocess of building a portfolio of resources soextensive it’ll guarantee them influence where theyshouldn’t have it authority where they shouldn’thave it.”

  “Where is that?”

  “In places this poor inept world can’t afford.They can do it because no one expects them to.”

  “You’re pretty cryptic.”

  “I’m frightened. I know them.”

  “But you have the tools to go after them,” saidConverse. “I presume that means they’re vulnerable.”

  Haliday nodded. “We think they are. We havesome leads, but it’ll take digging, piecing thingstogether. There’s every reason to believe they’vebroken laws, engaged in activities and transactionsprohibited by their respective governments.”

  Joel was silent for a moment, studying theCalifornian. “Governments?” he asked. “Plural?”

  “Yes.” Halliday’s voice dropped. “They’re differentnationalities.”

  “But one company?” said Converse. “Onecorporation?”

  “In a manner of speaking, yes.”

  “How about a simple yes?”

  “It’s not that simple.’

  “I’ll tell you what is,” interrupted Joel. “You’vegot leads so you go after the big bad wolves. I’mcurrently and satisfactorily employed.”

  Halliday paused, then spoke. “No, you’re not,” hesaid softly.

  Again there was silence, each man appraising theother. “What did you say?” asked Converse, his eyesblue ice.

  “Your firm understands. You can have a leave ofabsence.”

  “You presumptuous son of a bitch! Who gave youthe right even to approach “

  “General George Marcus Delavane,” Hallidaybroke in. He delivered the name in a monotone.

  It was as if a bolt of lightning had streaked downthrough the blinding sunlight burning Joel’s eyes,turning the ice into fire. Cracks of thunder followed,exploding in his head.

  The pilots sat around the long rectangular table inthe wardroom, sipping coffee and staring down into thebrown liquid or up at the Bray no one caring to breakthe silence. An hour ago they had been sweeping overPak Song, firing theearth, interdictingtheadvancingNorth Vietnamese battalions, giving vitaltime to the regrouping ARVN and American troops whosoon would beunderbrutalsiege. They had completed thestrike and returned to the carrier all but one. Theyhad lost their commanding officer.. Lieutenant SeniorGrade Gordon Ramsey had been hit by a fluke rocketthat had winged out of its trajectory over the coastlineand zeroed in on Ramsey’s fuselage; the explosion hadfilled the jet streams, death at six hundred miles anhour in the air, life erased in the blinking of an eye. Asevere weather front had followed hard upon thesquadron; there would be no more strikes,perhapsforseveral days. There would be time to thinkand that was not a pleasant thought

  “Lieutenant Converse. ” said a sailor by the openwardroom door.

  "Yes?”

  “The ca plain requests your presence in his quarters,sir. ” The invitation was so nicely phrased, mused Joel,as he got out of his chair, acknowledging the comberlooks of those around the table. The request wasexpected, but unwelcome. The promotion was an hotterhe would willingly forgo. It was not that he heldlongevity or seniority or even age over his fellow pilots;it was simply that he had been in the air longer thananyone else and with that time came the experiencenecessary for the leader of a squadron.

  As he climbed the narrow steps up toward thebridge he saw the outlines of an immense army Cobrahelicopter in the distant sky stuttering its way towardthe carrier. In five minutes or so it would be hoveringover the threshold and lower itself to the pad; someonefrom land was paying the Navy a visit.

  “It’s a terrible loss, Converse, “said the captain,standing over his charts table, shaking his head sadly.“And a letter I hate like hell to write. God knowsthey’re never easy, but this one’s more painful thanmost.”

  “We all feel the same way, sir. “

  “I’m sure you do. ” The pa plain nodded. "I’m alsosure you know why you’re here.”

  “Not specifically, sir. “

  “Ramsey said you were the best, and that meansyou’re taking over one of the Amok squadrons in theSouth China Sea. ” The telephone mng, interruptingthe carrier’s senioroffeer. He picked it up. “Yes9″

  Whatfollowed was nothingJoel expected. Thecaptain at first frowned, then tensed the muscles of hisface, his eyes both alarmed and angry. “What?” heexclaimed, raising his voice. “Was there any advancenotice anything in the radio roomy” There was apause, after which the captain slammed down thephone, shouting, "Jesus Christ!” He looked at Converse.“It seems we have the dubious honor of an unan-nounced visitation by Command-Saigon, and I domean visitation!”

  “I’M return below, sir, ” s
aid Joel, starting to salute.

  “Not just yet, Lieutenant, “shot back the captainquietly but f rally. “You are receiving your orders, andas they affect the air operations of this ship, you’ll hearthem through. At the least, we’ll let Mad Marcus knowhe’s interfering with Navy business.”

  The next thirty seconds were taken up with the ritual of

  command assignment, a senioro"ficer investing asubordinate with new responsibilities. Suddenly therewas a sharp two-ra p knock the captain’s door openedand the tall, broad-shouldered general of the ArmyGeorge Marcus Delavane intruded, dominating theroom with the sheer force of his presence.

  “Captain?” said Delavane, saluting the ship’s com-manderfirst despite the Navy man’s lesser rank. Thesomewhat high-pitched voice was courteous, but notthe eyes; they were intensely hostile.

  “General, ” replied the pa plain, saluting back alongwith Converse. “Is this an unannounced inspection byCommand-Saigon?”

  “No, it’s an urgently demanded conference betweenyou and me between Command-Saigon and one of itslesser forces. “

  “I see, ” said the four-striper, anger showing throughhis calm. “At the moment I’m delivering urgent ordersto this man “

  “You saw fit to countermand mine!” Delavanebroke in vehemently.

  “General, this has been a sad and trying day, ” saidthe captain. “We lost one of our finest pilots barely anhour ago “

  “Running away?”Again Delavane interru pled, thetastelessness of his remark compounded by the nasalpitch of his voice. “Was his goddamned tail shot off?”

  “For the record, I resent that!” said Converse,unable to control himself “I’m replacing that man andI resent what you just said General!”

  “You? Who the hell are you?”

  “Easy, Lieutenant. You’re dismissed. “

  “I respectfully request to answer the general, sir!”shouted Joel, in his anger refusing to move.

  “You what, prissy flyboy?”

  “My name is “

  “Forget it, I’m not interested!” Delavane whippedhis head back toward the ca plain. “What I want toknow is why you think you can disobey my orders theorders from Command-Saigon!I called a strikeforfifteen hundred hours! You "respectfully declined’ toimplement that order!”