The Peregrine Spy Read Free Page B

guy has lost control. He tries to be tough, but he worries too much about, you know, world opinion. Whatever that is.”
    “The papers make it sound like he’s been pretty ruthless,” said Frank.
    “Fact is, we’ve had a pretty good run with him,” said Jack. “I mean, he may be a mean son of a bitch, but for almost forty years he’s been our son of a bitch, know what I mean?”
    “Up until lately,” said Joe. “I mean he’s still ours, but lately the son of a bitch hasn’t been mean … I mean, strong enough. No matter what all these civil rights crybabies and liberal newspapers say about what a nasty bastard he is, fact is he isn’t nasty enough. What we need is a military takeover that will ease out this guy and put his son on the throne.”
    “Just like we and the Brits did in 1941,” said Jack.
    “It’s that,” said Joe, “or we get a Commie takeover like already’s happened next door in Afghanistan,”
    “What about this holy man I’ve been reading about?” asked Frank.
    “He can’t amount to much,” said Joe. “Hasn’t even been in the country in a dozen years or so. He’d been holed up in Iraq a long time, but the Shah managed to get the Iraqis to kick him out. So now he’s even further outta the picture, up in Paris.”
    “He may have some following in Iran,” said Jack, “but the real trouble comes from the left.”
    “The problem is,” said Dan, “we don’t get much real intel these days except what Savak tells us, and Savak pretty much tells us what they think we want to hear.”
    “ Savak has some of the best interrogators in the world,” said Joe.
    “Torturers, you mean,” said Dan.
    “Interrogators who get results,” countered Joe. “And another thing…”
    “We need some new eyes and ears on the ground,” said Dan, interrupting again. “That’s why we’re sending these jokers over in the first place, am I right?”
    “Is that why we’re sending them over?” said Jack.
    “We’re sending them over because Pete Howard got another bee in his bonnet,” said Joe, looking directly at Frank. “Now he’s a big shot over at Brzezinski’s National Security Council, he’s more high and mighty than ever.”
    “He’s a good friend of mine,” said Frank.
    “So I heard,” said Joe.
    Frank fought down his anger and tried to concentrate on what the two Near East Division men had to say. Covert Action approved the idea. Even the ambassador approved the idea.
    “But we won’t hold that against you,” said Jack.
    “How long?” asked Frank.
    “How long what?” said Joe.
    “How long will we be over there?”
    Joe and Jack looked at each other. Neither showed any expression.
    “As long as it takes,” said Joe. “Just show these military types how to win the hearts and minds. You Covert Action types are all alike. Propaganda, that’s your racket, isn’t it?”
    “Sometimes,” said Frank. Sometimes, he thought to himself, it’s intelligence.
    “Covert Action does involve a bit more than propaganda,” said Dan.
    The two Near East men exchanged another glance. “Just be a fly on the wall,” said Joe. “And keep your mouth shut.”
    “Just show the flag,” said Jack. “And don’t stir up any trouble.”
    “Another thing,” said Joe. “You’ve got a limited mandate. Stay away from this KGB thug, this Lermontov. Soviet Division concurs fully with that stipulation.”
    Frank nodded, not quite sure what all this meant.
    “No cowboy stuff, right?” added Joe.
    Frank nodded again.
    “Ergo,” said Jack, “no weapons authorized.”
    “Speak swiftly,” said Dan, “but don’t carry a big stick.”
    “Don’t pay any attention to him,” said Jack. “When you get over there, pay attention to Bunker. He’ll give you your marching orders.”
    “I hear he’s a good man,” said Frank.
    “Damn good,” said Jack. His eyes locked on Frank’s. “Trained him myself.”
    “Balls,” said Joe. “Fred Bunker never recruited a dink in his