The Schliemann Legacy Read Free Page B

dredged up a morsel, which was contrary to everything Stefandis believed the Greek people should be.
    "That French bastard had it delivered to me on purpose," the Director said. "He knows how I feel about our history. He has no right to do this. Why couldn't he just keep the information to himself? With everything going on right now, I don't need this!"
    Stefandis stopped talking and sat motionless with his eyes closed.
    George imagined Stefandis was thinking about last week's meeting with the Minister of Finance. The Minister had announced a twelve-percent cut in funding. The shortage of funds had forced Stefandis to cancel several operations. Operations that the Director considered critical to monitoring the continuing tensions with Turkey.
    "It just isn't possible to do it all. Don't they understand?" By the sudden calm in his voice, George realized the Director had accepted his fate and was beginning to address the logistics of the operation. "God, but I hate that Frenchman," Stefandis continued. "Still, we have to take the good with the bad. His information has been welcome in the past. The treasure might even bring us some needed funds."
    "What was Mardinaud's message?" George asked. He didn't want the Director to suspect how deep his sources were within the agency.
    With a sigh of resignation, Stefandis sank back in his chair. A heavy paunch protruded over his belt and strained the buttons of his shirt. He scratched his hairless head and then kneaded the muscles in the back of his neck.
    "Mardinaud claims to have located Schliemann's treasure. That is, the golden treasure discovered at the site of Troy."
    "Sorry, sir. I'm not up on ancient history." The lie came easily to George. "Never had much of an interest. Not very patriotic of me, I guess."
    For the first time that morning, Stefandis smiled at his Chief of Operations. "Congratulations, George. This country would be better off with more people like you. Our countrymen spend too much time reveling in the past instead of creating a future."
    George relaxed. Stefandis was in a better mood now and thinking less emotionally. "Yes, sir. I couldn't agree with you more. Still, remember Lord Elgin. When the Turks sold him one of the caryatids from the Acropolis, all of Greece mourned. Schliemann's treasure belongs in Greece."
    "Of course, you're right. However, I can think of much better ways to spend my manpower and dwindling budget than chasing after bits of metal, ancient or not."
    "Where is the treasure?"
    Stefandis sighed. "The Frenchman doesn't say. All I know is, he located the treasure and wants a meeting."
    "Where?"
    Stefandis leaned forward and looked at a sheet of paper. "Don't ask me why, but Mardinaud wants to meet in Munich."
    George laughed. "The fat slob must have suddenly got a craving for Wiener Schnitzel. Either that or life is too hot for him in Paris. Too much terrorist activity. Have you thought about who you would like to send on the mission, sir?"
    "No, but obviously you have."
    George paused and took a deep breath. "I think, sir, it's time we gave Katrina Kontoravdis another chance."
    Stefandis slammed his fist down on the desk. "I don't have enough problems with this damn mission?" he cried. "You want to send her out? Christ, she screwed up the last time and it cost her partner's life. Some mistakes are unforgivable. She shouldn't even be in the service."
    George glanced down to see if the blow had cracked the glass desktop and resisted the temptation to reply immediately. The predictable refrain about past mistakes concealed the Director's discriminatory nature. Centuries of conditioning had ingrained his sexism and George had long ago abandoned any effort to change the attitude of his boss. To Stefandis, the male was God and the female was little more than a slave.
    Stefandis used the failure, no matter how unfairly, to justify keeping yet another woman away from field duty. Regardless of the past, Katrina was still one of the best agents they