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Keith's thoughts turned again to Annie, and he wondered what she'd make of all this if she were here. As he'd said to Charlie, she was a simple country girl, but she wasn't stupid, and in fact she'd done far better academically in high school and college than he had. She had also come from the same midwestern populist tradition that he had, and if she were here in this room, he had little doubt that she'd find all of this pomp, protocol, and pecking order slightly distasteful, and undoubtedly she'd see through this nonsense in a lot less time than it had taken him.

In the early days of his service, the world was more dangerous, but the government seemed to him a lot simpler and more benign. There had been men around in those days who'd helped defeat the Axis powers, men who were dedicated public servants and not pigs at the government trough, men with a sense of purpose and mission. Now even the Vietnam generation of men, such as himself, were retiring or were being asked to leave, and he didn't particularly care for the new crop.

During the next five minutes, Colonel Chandler described the duties and responsibilities of the job, putting it in the most favorable light, forgetting to mention twelve-hour days, homework, or crises in countries whose time zones, holidays, and Sabbaths didn't mesh well with those of Washington, D.C.

Keith interrupted Chandler and asked, "Did you enjoy it?"

"Enjoy?" He thought a moment, then said, "It's very stressful here in the White House, but very rewarding."

"How can anything stressful be rewarding?"

"Well... it can be. Maybe I should say I felt I was doing something for my country, not for myself."

"But were you doing the right thing for your country?"

"I thought I was. I was. It's not over, you know. There are still a lot of bad guys out there."

"Right. Maybe the new good guys can handle the new bad guys."

"We have the experience."

"We're experienced with the old bad guys. We may possibly understand the new realities, but we think in the old way." He looked at Colonel Chandler and asked him, "Do you suggest I take this job?"

Chandler cleared his throat and glanced at Adair, who made a motion with his hand as if to say, "Answer the man."

Colonel Chandler thought a moment, then replied, "I'm glad I have it in my resume, but I wouldn't wish these last two years on my worst enemy."

"Thank you."

The door opened, and in strode Edward Yadzinski, the president's national security advisor. Everyone stood, and Yadzinski shook hands all around. He said to Keith, "I'm delighted you could come on such short notice."

"Thank you, sir. So am I."

"I have another appointment, but I wanted to chat a moment. I've read your file, and I'm quite impressed with the range of your experiences from rifle platoon leader to your last assignment. I'm looking for someone like you who will be forthright and honest with me. Colonel Chandler will vouch for that. I like military men because they have the attributes I want."

"Yes, sir." And Keith thought, because they usually had no political ambitions, they followed orders, and they could be transferred easily instead of having to be fired. Like priests or ministers, military officers had a calling that theoretically transcended their careers or personal lives. People in the executive branch found it useful to have a certain number of military people on staff: indentured servants in mufti.

Yadzinski continued, "Your former colleagues speak well of you, Colonel. Right, Charlie?"

Charlie Adair agreed. "Colonel Landry was an asset to my department and respected throughout the intelligence community."

Keith said to his potential boss, "I never got along with General Watkins, and I caused Mr. Adair a lot of anxiety."

Charlie winced, but Yadzinski smiled. "You're not much of a diplomat, are you? In fact, I was present that time in the Situation Room when you asked the secretary of state if we had a foreign policy." He chuckled. "I like that. And I'll back you up, Colonel. I work directly for the president, and you work directly for me."

Keith thought he might actually like Yadzinski and would have liked working for him five or six years ago. But it was too late. Keith said, "Despite my differences with Mr. Adair, I found him to be extremely knowledgeable, competent, and dedicated." Keith was glad he'd gotten that in, but clearly Yadzinski wasn't paying attention.

Yadzinski said, "Colonel Chandler can answer any of your questions better than I can." He put out his hand, and Keith took it. Yadzinski said, "Welcome aboard, Colonel." As he shook hands with Keith, he looked at his watch. "I have another appointment." Still clasping Keith's hand, he asked, "When can you start?"

"Well, I'd like to take the weekend to consider..."

"Of course. Monday would be fine. Colonel Chandler will show you your office."

Charlie said, "Colonel Landry lives in Ohio, sir."

"Great state. Good day, gentlemen." He turned and left.

Keith looked at his watch and said, "I have another appointment. Good day, gentlemen."