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with its needs； all of them presented by its own minister as vital to the security of the state； in white papers of brilliant logic and pelling reasoning。 Who knew； maybe some of them would even be telling the truth； though truth was so often a rare modity in the cabinet room。 Each minister had an empire to build； and the better he built it； the closer he would e to the seat at the head of the table that was occupied； for now； by Eduard Petrovich Grushavoy。 Golovko wondered if it had been this way under the czars。 Probably； he decided at once。 Human nature didn't change very much。 The way people had acted in Babylon or Byzantium was probably little different from the way they'd act at the next cabinet meeting； three days hence。 He wondered how President Grushavoy would handle the news。
〃How much has leaked out？〃 the spymaster asked。
〃There are doubtless some rumors；〃 Minister Solomentsev answered； 〃but the current estimates are less than twenty…four hours old； and it usually takes longer than that to leak。 I will have these documents messengered to you … tomorrow morning？〃
〃That will be fine； Vasily。 I'll have some of my own analysts go over the data； so that I can present my own independent estimate of the situation。
〃I have no objection to that；〃 the economics minister responded； surprising Golovko more than a little。 But then this wasn't the USSR anymore。 The current cabinet might be the modern counterpart to the old Politburo； but nobody there told lies。。。 well； at least not big lies。 And that was a measure of progress for his country； wasn't it？
CHAPTER 11
Faith of the Fathers
His name was Yu Fa An； and he said he was a Christian。 That was rare enough that Monsignor Schepke invited him in at once。 What he saw was a Chinese national of fifty…plus years and stooped frame； with hair a curious mix of black and gray that one saw only rarely in this part of the world。
〃Wele to our embassy。 I am Monsignor Schepke。〃 He bowed quickly and then shook the man's hand。
〃Thank you。 I am the Reverend Yu Fa An；〃 the man replied with the dignity of truth； one cleric to another。
〃Indeed。 Of what denomination？〃
〃I am a Baptist。〃
〃Ordained？ Is that possible？〃 Schepke motioned the visitor to follow him； and in a moment they stood before the Nuncio。 〃Eminence； this is the Reverend Yu Fa An … of Beijing？〃 Schepke asked belatedly。
〃Yes； that is so。 My congregation is mainly northwest of here。〃
〃Wele。〃 Cardinal DiMilo rose from his chair for a warm handshake； and guided the man to the fortable visitor's chair。 Monsignor Schepke went to fetch tea。 〃It is a pleasure to meet a fellow Christian in this city。〃
〃There are not enough of us； and that is a fact； Eminence；〃 Yu confirmed。
Monsignor Schepke swiftly arrived with a tray of tea things； which he set on the low coffee table。
〃Thank you； Franz。〃
〃I thought that some local citizens should wele you。 I expect you've had the formal wele from the Foreign Ministry； and that it was correct。。。 and rather cold？〃 Yu asked。
The Cardinal smiled as he handed a cup to his guest。 〃It was correct； as you say； but it could have been warmer。〃
〃You will find that the government here has ample manners and good attention to protocol； but little in the way of sincerity〃 Yu said； in English； with a very strange accent。
〃You are originally from。。。？〃
〃I was born in Taipei。 As a youth； I traveled to America for my education。 I first attended the University of Oklahoma； but the call came； and I transferred to Oral Roberts University in the same state。 There I got my first degree … in electrical engineering … and went on for my doctor of divinity and my ordination；〃 he explained。
〃Indeed； and how did you e to be in the People's Republic？〃
〃Back in the 1970s； the government of Chairman Mao was ever so pleased to have Taiwanese e here to live … rejecting capitalism and ing to Marxism； you see；〃 he added with a twinkling eye。 〃It was hard on my parents； but they came to understand。 I started my congregation soon after I arrived。 That was troublesome for the Ministry of State Security； but I also worked as an engineer； and at the time the state needed that particular skill。 It is remarkable what the State will accept if you have something it needs； and back then their need for people with my degree was quite desperate。 But now I am a minister on a full…time basis。〃 With the announcement of his triumph； Yu lifted his own teacup for a sip。
〃So； what can you tell us about the local environment？〃 Renato asked。
〃The government is truly munist。 It trusts and tolerates no loyalty to anything except itself。 Even the Falun Gong； which was not truly a religion … that is； not really a belief system as you or I would understand the term … has been brutally suppressed； and my own congregation has been persecuted。 It is a rare Sunday on which more than a quarter of my congregation es to attend services。 I must spend much of my time traveling from home to home to bring the gospel to my flock。〃
〃How do you support yourself？〃 the Cardinal asked。
Yu smiled serenely。 〃That is the least of my problems。 American Baptists support me most generously。 There is a group of churches in Mississippi that is particularly generous … many are black churches； as it turns out。 I just received some letters from them yesterday。 One of my classmates at Oral Roberts University has a large congregation near Jackson； Mississippi。 His name is Gerry Patterson。 We were good friends then； and he remains a friend in Christ。 His congregation is large and prosperous； and he still looks after me。〃 Yu almost added that he had far more money than he knew how to spend。 In America； such prosperity would have translated into a Cadillac and a fine parsonage。 In Beijing； it meant a nice bicycle and gifts to the needy of his flock。
〃Where do you live； my friend？〃 the Cardinal asked。
The Reverend Yu fished in his pocket for a business card and handed it over。 Like many such Chinese cards； it had a sketch…map on the back。 〃Perhaps you would be so kind as to join my wife and myself for dinner。 Both of you； of course；〃 he added。
〃We should be delighted。 Do you have children？〃
〃Two；〃 Yu replied。 〃Both born in America； and so exempt from the bestial laws the munists have in place here。〃
〃I know of these laws；〃 DiMilo assured his visitor。 〃Before we can make them change； we need more Christians here。 I pray on this subject daily。〃
〃As do I； Eminence。 As do I。 I presume you know that your dwelling here is； well。。。〃
Schepke tapped his ear and pointed his finger around the room。 〃Yes； we know〃
〃You have a driver assigned to you？〃
〃Yes； that was very kind of the ministry；〃 Schepke noted。 〃He's a Catholic。 Isn't that remarkable？〃
〃Is that a fact？〃 Yu asked rhetorically； while his head shook emphatically from side to side。 〃Well； I am sure he's loyal to his country as well。〃
〃But of course；〃 DiMilo observed。 It wasn't much of a surprise。 The Cardinal had been in the Vatican's diplomatic service a long time； and he'd seen most of the tricks at least once。 Clever though the Chinese munists were； the Catholic Church had been around a lot longer； loath though the loc