"Linda Evans - Time Scout 5 - License Invoked" - читать интересную книгу автора (Evans Linda)

Chapter 1

"Damn it to Hell anyway!"

Hearing the utterance of these words by the head of the United States
Secret Service, his aide materialized in his office like a genie
answering a magical summoning.

In actuality, the simile was not that far from the truth. The men had
been together for years (a professional, working relationship, of
course. It's not that kind of a book!) and the aide had long since
learned that on the rare occasions his chief resorted to swearing, it
was best to stand by even before being called. Even then it would
sometimes be too late.

"Trouble, sir?" he said.

"Where have you been?" the chief snarled.

(See what we mean?)

"Sorry, sir. It won't happen again," the aide replied, deliberately
bland of countenance.

Washington, D.C., was a city of power, both built on and undermined by
petty tyrants and obscure pecking orders. One did not survive there
being thin-skinned.

"I can't believe we're getting this dumped on us!" the chief raved.
"And in an election year, too!"

The aide waited patiently. Eventually the vital points of information
would be forthcoming. Trying to rush it would only focus attention on
himself.

"Every no-name power monger in Washington up for re-election bugging us
for protection . . . not to mention the 'equal treatment' demands from
their opponents . . . and now we're supposed to provide protection for
some foreign nut touring the U.S. And with our limited budget, we can
barely -- "

"Excuse me, sir, but providing protection for foreign dignitaries is a
normal part of our department's function."

"Dignitaries, yes," the chief said. "Ambassadors, royalty. But this
falls well outside that description. Did you ever hear of a rock group
called Green Fire?"

"Yes, sir."