按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
follow the conventions of high…level talk； like lawyers discussing a major case in chambers。
〃Yes； the Chinese。 They seem to be contemplating a threat to the peace of the world。 America has no wish to see that peace threatened。 We've all worked very hard…your country and mine…to put an end to conflict。 We note with gratitude Russia's assistance in our most recent conflicts。 Just as we were allies sixty years ago； so Russia has acted again lately。 America is a country that remembers her friends。〃
Golovko let out a breath slowly。 Yes； his prediction was about to e true。 Ivan Emmetovich was a man of honor； and a friend of his country。 What came back to him was the time he'd held a pistol to Ryan's head； the time Ryan had engineered the defection of KG B chairman Gerasimov all those years before。 Sergey Nikolay'ch had been enraged back then； as furious as he had ever been in a long and stressful professional life； but he'd held back from firing the pistol because it would have been a foolish act to shoot a man with diplomatic status。 Now he blessed his moderation； for now Ivan Emmetovich Ryan offered to Russia what he had always craved from America： predictability。 Ryan's honor； his sense of fair play； the personal honesty that was the most crippling aspect of his newly acquired political persona； all bined to make him a person upon whom Russia could depend。 And at this moment； Golovko could do that which he'd spent his life trying to do： He could see the future that lay only a few short minutes away。
〃This Chinese threat； it is real； you think？〃 Grushavoy asked。
〃We fear it is；〃 the American Secretary of State answered。 〃We hope to forestall it。〃
〃But how will we acplish that？ China knows of our military weakness。 We have de…emphasized our defense capabilities of late； trying to shift the funds into areas of greater value to our economy。 Now it seems we might pay a bitter price for that；〃 the Russian president worried aloud。
〃Mr。 President； we hope to help Russia in that respect。〃
〃How？〃
〃Mr。 President； even as we speak； President Ryan is also speaking with the NATO chiefs of state and government。 He is proposing to them that we invite Russia to sign the North Atlantic Treaty。 That will ally the Russian Federation with all of Europe。 It ought to make China take a step back to consider the wisdom of a conflict with your country。〃
〃Ahh；〃 Grushavoy breathed。 〃So； America offers Russia a full alliance of state？〃
Adler nodded。 〃Yes； Mr。 President。 As we were allies against Hitler； so today we can again be allies against all potential enemies。〃
〃There are many plications in this； talks between your military and ours； for example…even talks with the NATO mand in Belgium。 It could take months to coordinate our country with NATO。〃
〃Those are technical matters to be handled by diplomatic and military technicians。 At this level； however； we offer the Russian Federation our friendship in peace and in war。 We place the word and the honor of our countries at your disposal。〃
〃What of the European Union； their mon Market of economic alliances？〃
〃That； sir； is something left to the EEC； but America will encourage our European friends to wele you pletely into the European munity； and offer all influence we can muster to that end。〃
〃What do you ask in return？〃 Grushavoy asked。 Golovko hadn't offered that prediction。 This could be the answer to many Russian prayers； though his mind made the leap to see that Russian oil would be a major boon to Europe； and hence a matter of mutual； not unilateral； profit。
〃We ask for nothing special in return。 It is in the American interest to help make a stable and peaceful world。 We wele Russia into that world。 Friendship between your people and ours is desirable to everyone； is it not？〃
〃And in our friendship is profit also for America；〃 Golovko pointed out。
Adler sat back and smiled agreement。 〃Of course。 Russia will sell things to America； and America will sell things to Russia。 We will bee neighbors in the global village； friendly neighbors。 We will pete economically； giving and taking from each other； as we do with many other countries。〃
〃The offer you make is this simple？〃 Grushavoy asked。
〃Should it be more plicated？〃 the SecState asked。 〃I am a diplomat； not a lawyer。 I prefer simple things to plex ones。〃
Grushavoy considered all this for half a minute or so。 Usually； diplomatic negotiations lasted weeks or months to do even the simplest of things； but Adler was right： Simple was better than plex； and the fundamental issue here was simple； though the downstream consequences might be breathtaking。 America offered salvation to Russia； not just a military alliance； but the opening of all doors to economic development。 America and Europe would partner with the Russian Federation； creating what could bee both an open and integrated munity to span the northern hemisphere。 It stood to make Eduard Petrovich Grushavoy the Russian who brought his country a full century into the present/future of the world； and for all the statues of Lenin and Stalin that had been toppled； well； maybe some of his own likeness would be erected。 It was a thought to appeal to a Russian politician。 And after a few minutes； he extended his hand across the low table of tea things。
〃The Russian Federation gladly accepts the offer of the United States of America。 Together we once defeated the greatest threat to human culture。 Perhaps we can do so again…better yet； together we may forestall it。〃
〃In that case； sir； I will report your agreement to my president。〃
Adler checked his watch。 It had taken twenty minutes。 Damn； you could make history in a hurry when you had your act together； couldn't you？ He stood。 〃I must be off then to make my report。〃
〃Please convey my respects to President Ryan。 We will do our best to be worthy allies to your country。〃
〃He and I have no doubts of that； Mr。 President。〃 Adler shook hands with Golovko and walked to the door。 Three minutes after that； he was back in his car and heading back to the airport。 Once there； the aircraft had barely begun to taxi when he got on the secure satellite phone。
Mr。 President？〃 Andrea said； ing up to Ryan just as the plenary session of the NATO chiefs was about to begin。 She handed over the secure portable phone。 〃It's Secretary Adler。〃
Ryan took the phone at once。 〃Scott？ Jack here。 What gives？〃
〃It's a done deal； Jack。〃
〃Okay； now I have to sell it to these guys。 Good job； Scott。 Hurry back。〃
〃We're rolling now； sir。〃 The line went dead。 Ryan tossed the phone to Special Agent Price…O'Day。
〃Good news？〃 she asked。
〃Yep。〃 Ryan nodded and walked into the conference room。
〃Mr。 President。〃 Sir Basil Charleston came up to him。 The chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service； he'd known Ryan longer than anyone else in the room had。 One odd result of Ryan's path to the Presidency was that the people who knew him best were all spooks； mainly NATO ones； and these found themselves advising their chiefs of government on how to deal with America。 Sir Basil had served no less than five Prime Ministers of Her Majesty's Government； but now he was in rather a higher position than before。