disapproved too
much of what I'd said, and he was cracking down at the outset just to
show the rest that _he_ wasn't intimidated. "Pete is all right with
me, since I'm sure that this is all among friends." I looked around,
and they were all friends. Especially the two generals that had seen
me stop the trucks from the Federal Building window. I don't say they
were actually afraid; just cautious. Just friends.

I went on. "Maybe I can help break the ice. I suppose you were talking
about what you were going to do about things in general, and in
particular, me. Well, go ahead."

So they did.

I won't bother with the details of the rest of the meeting or
conference, or whatever you want to call it, because I don't think the
details are too important. For one thing, when the first flush wore
off, and I began to realize the colossal bluff I'd gotten away with, I
got a little weak in the knees. For another, Morgan and Smith did all
the talking to amount to anything. Legree, who seemed to be the
self-appointed spokesman for the Army, really didn't have much to say
when he knew that the State Department had all the cards, with me the
joker. The Navy played right along when it was tentatively agreed that
it was to be an island where I would be "stationed," as they
euphemistically called it; they knew that islands are surrounded by
water, and who sails on the water? The FBI got in their little piece
when they were made responsible for general security. My contribution
was that I was to be responsible to State, in the person of Smith, and
Smith was to be the boss as far as conditions were concerned. When I
brought that up I knew the Old Man was thinking of all the times I'd
complained about his guardianship, and wrote him a tiny note so he
wouldn't get too pleased with himself.

"The lesser--or the least--of many evils. Don't get swell-headed." He
just grinned when he read it, and stuck it in his pocket to save for
Morgan, I feel sure.

Smith and Bob Stein and I were the last to leave, and Morgan's grip
for an old man was firm as we shook hands. "You did an excellent
demolition job on the Senator," he said. "You know, Pete, there is one
of the few people that have made me regret the job I have."

"Forget it," I told him. "You can get fired. Me, I got seniority in a
lifetime job. As far as that carp is concerned, you can consider me
your chief steward. I'll run ten miles to take up your grievance with
Suggs."

Morgan smil