Falcon Down

by Mark Spaid

  “Okay folks, you can exit by the front door. A van is waiting for you,” an agent said. They hadn’t seen this one. Johnny Rodriguez was in the car with the President. They got up and left the plane. The van was waiting as a rather disheveled driver with a three-day beard and a dirty hat waited for them. They looked at one another and boarded, though somewhat reluctantly. It took twenty minutes to get to the hotel. The Kerch airport was nothing like a stateside airport. In America a large airport is like a city with cafes, shops, hair salons, car rental places, places to buy luggage etc. At the Kerch Airport there were no businesses anywhere. It was in receivership and only operated to local single engine planes for private use. There was no baggage conveyor so their luggage was loaded in a separate van that followed.

  “Should we tip the driver?” Andy asked.

  “Give him a twenty-dollar bill. American dollars are coveted over here,” Tatiana said.

  “Why?” Ariel asked.

  “They can sell them on the black market for twice the value.”

  “I’ve got a twenty, Jozette said.

  “Keep in mind this is not America. He doesn’t get a salary. His tips are all he makes,” Tatiana said.

  “Well, here take this fifty,” Dave said.

  “Add this,” Ariel said as she handed a hundred to Tatiana.

  “He’ll be stunned,” Tatiana said. They arrived at the hotel. It was small but nicely decorated and seemed clean on the outside. They got out and Tatiana handed the money to the driver. His eyes widened and he actually smiled.

  “The Crimean Star,” Andy said as they stood at the front desk. The lobby was crawling with security agents both American and Russian but there no other guests. Tatiana spoke to the desk clerk to get their keys and such.

  “I think it’s just us and the President’s people,” Dave said.

  “Is there a dining room?” Warren asked.

  “Do you really want to know?” Dave asked. The hotel was clean but the furnishings were bare and no attempt had been made to decorate the lobby. The clerk at the desk had on a shabby suit of his own rather than a hotel uniform. The thought of a hotel kitchen at this place was not reassuring.

  “I guess we’ll find a restaurant on the outside,” Warren said.

  “Tatiana can talk us through so we don’t end up eating brains or fish heads,” Dave said and they laughed.

  “Will we be on the same floor as the President?” Belinda asked.

  “No, the President and her people will have a floor all to themselves,” Dave answered.

  “Lind, none of us are going to see the President very much at all on this trip,” Jozette said.

  “But she invited us.”

  “Yes, to cover the meeting and do a brief interview with her, not to vacation with her,” Justin said.

  “Lind, did you really think we would be with the President the whole time seeing the sights, eating at outdoor cafes together, taking scenic boat rides, etc.?” Jozette asked.

  “No, no…well maybe,” Belinda said and lowered her head and sighed.

  “Miss Belinda, I thought we’d see more of her too but I guess we’re just along for the ride,” Julieta said. Julieta knew exactly how things would go but she loved Belinda and couldn’t stand to see her hurt.

  “Okay, we’re on the third floor,” Tatiana said as she handed out the keys and a brochure describing the local eateries and shops.

  “I can’t wait to take a shower,” Belinda said. Tatiana looked at Jozette and Ariel and they grinned as did Julieta.

  “That’s a situation,” Tatiana said.

  “What kind of a situation?” Belinda asked.

  “You see, Lind, in some European hotels the rooms don’t have bathrooms.”

  “What?”

  “There is one male and one female bathroom in the hall,” Tatiana said.

  “You mean we have to share?” Belinda asked with a terrified expression on her face.

  “Yes, I’m afraid we do,” Tatiana answered.

  “I don’t like it here,” Belinda said and there were smiles, though they were suppressed so as not to get Belinda into one of her states.

  “Lind, I’ll stand outside while you shower and not let anyone else inside,” Tatiana said.

  “You can do that here?” Belinda asked.

  “Normally, no but no one will get past me.” They laughed at that.

  “I must seem like a baby but it kind of caught me by surprise.”

  “Forget it, there are individual stalls but when you step out the shower the whole bathroom can see you. Some of the native girls might be in shock when they see you in your natural state,” Tatiana said grinning and they all laughed at that.

  “Yes, it would be eye opening and humbling when they looked in the mirror at themselves. My figure is overwhelming to even an above average looker,” Belinda said with a smile and her head held high. Tatiana looked at Jozette and grinned as Jozette rolled her eyes and sighed.

  “We have our girl back,” Tatiana said as she put her arm around Belinda.

  * * *

  “Ma’am, I apologize for the conditions here,” Bonnie said.

  “It’s hardly your fault Bonnie and it’s not that bad. We knew it wouldn’t be like a posh hotel in the states or Europe. It’s clean and comfortable.”

  “I still feel bad.”

  “Bonnie, when Don and I were first married we lived in a crummy apartment above a bar. We couldn’t get to sleep until two a.m. and the whole place smelled of booze and popcorn.” Bonnie looked at Ellen and grinned. “We survived and we’ll all survive here as well.”

  “Okay, Ma’am but what about your supper?”

  “Trent went out to get something. You, Clarice, Kent, Andrew and I will dine in my room at the deluxe dining table.” Bonnie laughed at that. The hotel had pushed two dining room tables together and covered them with a thin table cloth.

  “Does Andrew have to dine with us?” Andrew Bellingham was the foreign affairs advisor to the President. He’d been Secretary of State in a previous administration, had headed the CIA, was ambassador to England and he’d taught international relations for ten years at Harvard. Yes, he was very well qualified.

  “What’s wrong with Andrew?”

  “He’s too…I don’t know, uh.”

  “Smart,” Ellen said with a grin.

  “Yes...no…yes. I don’t know but he makes me nervous he’s so smart.”

  “He makes me nervous too, Bonnie, but he’s the best and I need him, especially during this trip.”

  “Okay, Ma’am.”

  “It’ll be fine, Bonnie, and besides we’ll be too worried about the food giving us ptomaine.” Bonnie laughed and shook her head.

  * * *

  “Kind of a strange place,” Andy said.

  “We’re in Eastern Europe, very Eastern Europe, very Slavic,” Tatiana said.

  “What’s that?” Belinda asked. Justin looked at Little Wolf.

  “It’s a cultural thing,” Little Wolf said.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It’s how the people dress, what they eat, what music they listen to, what language they speak even where they go to church.”

  “They’re different than us?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are they Catholic?”

  “No, the Christians are Russian Orthodox, Miss Belinda”

  “What’s that?” Belinda asked.

  “It’s a religion that is very close to Catholicism. It’s kind of a cousin to Catholicism.”

  “You mean they’re like me?”

  “No one is like you, Miss Belinda.” Belinda smiled from ear to ear and made a face at Jozette who shook her head but said nothing.

  “What about tomorrow?” Andy asked.

  “The girls are going for a walk and sight-seeing,” Jozette said.

  “So, what do the men do?” Andy asked.

  “Well, Warren and I are going to meet and discuss physics,” Dave said.

  “I’d like t
o hear that if I may,” Little Wolf said.

  “Be my guest,” Dave said.

  “What about us?” Andy asked looking at Justin.

  “I have a meeting with the President at nine a.m.,” Justin said. There was a brief silence and Andy sighed.

  “A solitary boy, Ebeneezer Scrooge, left alone and deserted by his friends and family,” Andy quipped and Warren chuckled.

  “You’re welcome to join us, Andy. We’re going out for lunch afterwards,” Dave said.

  “Am I a pathetic case upon whom you’re showing pity or do you need a fourth for bridge?” Andy asked. Dave pondered the question.

  “Perhaps both,” Dave said chuckling and Andy grinned.

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll wander the city on my own.”

  “Suit yourself but the offer’s open,” Dave said.

  “We’ll be discussing Quantum Theory. This could be your big chance to broach the world of physics,” Warren said.

  “No thanks. I took algebra and geometry but I got a C in Trigonometry and I figured I’d reached my zenith in math.” Warren and Dave grinned.

  “We can meet back at the lobby to go out for supper if you like,” Jozette offered and they all agreed.

  * * *

  “Andrew, I seek your wisdom frequently as you know because my knowledge of international relations is sketchy at best.”

  “Yes, Madam President.”

  “I enjoy your honest approach to things, Andrew, and you are by no means a yes man.”

  “I’ve advised Presidents in the past and will do so in the future if asked. You are no more or less familiar with the world than any of them, Andrew said.

  “You’re kidding, I thought I was the worst.”

  “No, Ma’am, because none of them knew anything and you’re no worse than the rest.”

  “I hope that wasn’t intended to reassure me,” Ellen said.

  “No, Ma’am, just to make you aware of your need to know more.”

  “Your honesty is refreshing as always, Andrew.”

  “Thank you, Ma’am.” Ellen grinned.

  “Do you anticipate any problems with the treaty?”

  “Yes.” Ellen looked surprised.

  “You do?”

  “Yes, there are always problems with the Russians even back to the Imperial days.”

  “Explain, please.”

  “They propose ideas for an arrangement such as this treaty then when you meet to finalize it, they have additions and usually take back some of what they proposed initially.”

  “Do you expect that this time?”

  “If they’re true to form then yes. The Russians are very hard to deal with over any matter.”

  “What will they take back or add?”

  “Impossible to say, you can’t predict what they’ll do.”

  “How should we handle it?”

  “Their foreign secretary Vasily Glasovitch, with be there alongside Deniken. I should be next to you on the first day. It is better if the two secretaries argue their side.”

  “What about the second day?”

  “Glasovitch will be gone and so will I. It’ll be just you and Deniken.”

  “What do I do?”

  “On the first day you and Deniken will confer with Glasovitch and me and after we have hashed things out the two Presidents will state their positions.”

  “Will we reach an agreement?”

  “Not right away and there’ll be a recess where we can talk alone,” Andrew explained.

  “You and Glasovitch met last year and hammered out the framework of the agreement. Why are we having problems now?”

  “That’s the way these things work, Ma’am.”

  “Do we give in to their demands?”

  “No, not at all. We bargain, we push back against what they’re asking for, we make our case and see what happens.”

  “Any predictions?” Ellen asked.

  “I never make predictions, it limits flexibility.”

  “Will we go back home with a signed agreement?”

  “Too early to tell,” Andrew said and Ellen sat back and sighed.

  “Great,” Ellen said shaking her head.

  “Don’t despair, Madam President, this is how diplomacy works.” Andrew smiled as he got up to leave.

  “Thank you, Andrew, for your advice.” He smiled as he left. It was going to be tough negotiating with the Russians and maybe they thought the same way about the United States. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, that’s what she was told almost daily by sage advisors but she thought that somewhere along the line there would be something even a small something in this job that would be easy…she was still waiting for it. The meeting was scheduled for three in the afternoon so she spent the morning talking with Clarice and Bonnie then a few minutes with Andrew again to prepare for the meeting with Deniken. At two thirty the car arrived in front of the hotel and Trent knocked on her door and Bonnie opened it.

  “It’s time, Ma’am,” Trent said and Bonnie nodded and told the president.

  “Well, you’re on, Ellen,” she said to herself as she put on the final touches in the bathroom mirror. “I wish Belinda was here to make things perfect.” At that she chuckled remembering Belinda’s egocentric remark about her own beauty. “Okay, Ellen, go dazzle them.” She blew herself a kiss in the mirror then grinned as she headed out her hotel room for the car and maybe to history in the making. It would be historic but not how she imagined.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “What are the main problems you’ve encountered?” Dave asked Warren as they sat with Little Wolf in the lobby. Warren was experimenting with sending electricity over long distances to a receiving tower. The ultimate goal was sending electricity to the moon. Yes, the moon. Westinghouse had set him up in the desert of New Mexico and he’d been there for over a year.

  “The biggest one is controlling the stream.”

  “Because it has a tendency to spray?” Dave asked.

  “Yes, we call it shotgunning. You must’ve run across this in the lab,” Warren said.

  “On a much smaller scale. We send current two to three feet and though it holds its line, there are trace amounts of spreading and you’re working over miles.”

  “It’s a problem but we’ve worked solutions with some effect.”

  “What exactly?” Dave asked.

  “Lasers,” Warren said.

  “You parallel the current with lasers?” Little Wolf asked.

  “Yes, how’d you know?” Warren asked.

  “I read an article by Erik Sommerstom,” Little Wolf said.

  “He’s sharp, the Swedes have been working on this for years,” Dave said.

  “Yes, I’ve talked to Sommerstom, we share ideas,” Warren said.

  “What does Westinghouse think of you sharing with another scientist?” Dave asked with furrowed brows.

  “We share but neither one of us gathers anything that they didn’t already know. It’s a cat and mouse game trying to steal shortcuts.”

  “Have you garnered anything?”

  “He inadvertently told me the intensity of the laser he was using.”

  “And you adjusted yours?” Dave asked grinning.

  “Yes, and it worked,” Warren replied chuckling.

  “Does he know?” Dave asked.

  “I think he might because he stopped returning my calls and emails.”

  “The physicist turned spy,” Little Wolf quipped and they laughed.

  “My work is strictly for science and I don’t think the government has much interest in what I’m doing.” Dave looked at Little Wolf and nodded.

  “Don’t kid yourself, Mr. Warren, if there are weapon applications to your work the military will be in your lab in 24 hours, maybe sooner,” Little Wolf posed,

  “You think so?”

  “I know so, right, Mr. Dave.”

  “He’s right, Warren.”

  “Are there any weapon possibilities?” Little Wolf asked.

  “I guess wi
th lasers and high voltage electricity involved there’s certainly a chance. A beam of current could be directed with lasers to fire at missiles or planes.” Warren replied.

  “Welcome to the army, Captain Peabody,” Little Wolf said.

  “You think so?” Warren asked.

  “I don’t know but if the military finds out what you’re doing their imagination will get the best of them and they’ll be all over you and the lab, just like Little Wolf suggested,” Dave said.

  “But we’re keeping everything a secret,” Warren pleaded.

  “Mr. Warren, the government knows what everyone is doing these days. I’m sure they’re aware of your work. They just haven’t acted yet.”

  “What will they do?” Warren asked.

  “I don’t know but I’d guess they’ll take your results and kick you out,” Little Wolf replied.

  “They wouldn’t need me?”

  “They might if they thought you were indispensable. They’d draft you and keep you a secret.”

  “Dave,” Warren said nervously.”

  “Little Wolf is right; this could be the weapon of the future and it’d be the end of you going home to see Ariel or anyone else.”

  “I’d be another Manhattan project?” Warren said with a questioning tone.

  “I’d say so,” Dave replied.

  “I never thought about that. Would I have a legal argument against them stealing my work, Little Wolf?”

  “There is no legal argument against the United States government, especially if it’s a military project. They’d declare it classified, it couldn’t be mentioned in court and you couldn’t talk or write about it.”

  “What have I done? I’ve created a situation for a weapon. It could kill millions.”

  “Warren, we’re both scientists and we explore the impossible every day, especially physicists and chemists. There’s unlimited potential to be unlocked in those two fields and the government, in fact all governments are watching us closely,” Dave posed.

  “You mean other countries could be spying on me?”

  “Sure, I would imagine they are or at least they’re trying,” Dave said.

  “What should I do?”

  “Keep working but if you can have a log or journal that only you know about containing all of your work, that would be wise. Then hide it somewhere secure but not on the lab premises,” Dave said. Warren nodded and smiled.