After dinner the three men reclined in easy chairs in the living room； a few feet from the picture window。 Tahoe； one of the highest and deepest lakes in the world； shimmered with light and shadow as the last rays of the sun； already gone behind the mountains； drained from the sky。 In the morning the water had a clear； greenish cast。 By afternoon it was a pure； crystalline blue。 Now； soon to be as black as a vast spill of oil； it was like purple velvet folded softly against the shoreline。 For five or ten minutes they enjoyed the view； speaking only to remark on the meal they had just finished and on the brandy they were sipping。
At last Dawson turned to the general and said； 〃Ernst； what do you think of subliminal advertising？〃
The general had anticipated this abrupt shift from relaxation to business。 〃Fascinating stuff。〃
〃You have no doubts？〃
〃That it exists？ None whatsoever。 Your man here has the
proof。 But he didn't explain what subliminal advertising has to do with me。〃
Sipping brandy； savoring it； Dawson nodded toward Salsbury。 Putting down his own drink； angry with Klinger for referring to him as Dawson's man and angry with Dawson for not correcting the general； reminding himself not to address Klinger by his military title； Ogden said； 〃Ernst； we never met until this morning。 I've never told you where I work…but I'm sure you know。〃
〃The Brockert Institute；〃 Klinger said without hesitation。
General Ernst Klinger supervised a division of the Pentagon's vitally important Department of Security for Weapons Research。 His authority within the department extended to the states of Ohio； West Virginia； Virginia； Maryland； Delaware； Pennsylvania； New Jersey； New York； Connecticut； Massachusetts； Rhode Island； Vermont； New Hampshire； and Maine。 It was his responsibility to choose； oversee the installation of； and regularly inspect the traditional and electronic systems that protected all laboratories； factories； and test sites where weapons research was conducted within those fourteen states。 Several laboratories belonging to Creative Development Associates； including the Brockert facility in Connecticut； came under his jurisdiction； and Salsbury would have been surprised if the general had not known the name of the scientist in charge of the work at Brockert。
〃Do you know what sort of research we're conducting up there？〃 Salsbury asked。
〃I'm responsible for the security； not the research；〃 Klinger said。 〃I only know what I need to know。 Like the backgrounds of the people who work there； the layout of the buildings； and the nature of the surrounding countryside。 I don't need to know about your work。〃
〃It has to do with subliminals。〃
Stiffening as if he had sensed stealthy movement behind him； Some of the brandy…inspired color seeping from his face； Klinger said； 〃I believe you've signed a secrecy pledge like everyone else at Brockert。〃
〃Yes； I have。〃
〃You just now violated it。〃
〃I am aware of that。〃
〃Are you aware of the penalty？〃 〃Yes。 But I'll never suffer it。〃
〃You're sure of yourself； aren't you？〃
〃Damned sure；〃 Salsbury said。
〃It makes no difference； you know； that I'm a general in the United States Army or that Leonard is a loyal and trusted citizen。 You've still broken the pledge。 Maybe they can't put you away for treason when you've only talked to the likes of us… but they can at least give you eighteen months for declassifying information without the authority to do so。〃
Salsbury glanced at Dawson。
Leaning forward in his chair； Dawson patted the general's knee。 〃Let Ogden finish。〃
Klinger said； 〃This could be a setup。〃
〃A what？〃
〃A setup。 A trap。〃
〃To get you？〃 Dawson asked。
〃Could be。〃
〃Why would I want to set you up？〃 Dawson asked。 He seemed genuinely hurt by the suggestion。
In spite of the fact； Salsbury thought； that he has probably set up and destroyed hundreds of men over the last thirty years。
Klinger seemed to be thinking the same thing； although he shrugged and pretended that he had no answer to Dawson's question。
〃That's not the way I operate；〃 Dawson said； either unable or unwilling to conceal his bruised pride。 〃You know me better than that。 My whole career； my whole life； is based on Christian principles。〃
〃I don't know anyone well enough to risk a charge of treason；〃 the general said gruffly。
Feigning exasperation…it was a bit too obvious to be real… Dawson said； 〃Old friend； we've made a great deal of money together。 But all of it amounts to pocket change when pared to the money we can make if we cooperate with Ogden。
There is literally unlimited wealth here…for all of us。〃 He watched the general for a moment； and when he could get no reaction he said； 〃Ernst； I have never misled you。 Never。 Not once。〃
Unconvinced； Klinger said； 〃All you ever did before was pay me for advice…〃
〃For your influence。〃
〃For my advice；〃 Klinger insisted。 〃And even if I did sell my influence…which I didn't…that's a long way from treason。〃
They stared at each other。
Salsbury felt as if he were not in the room with them； as if he were watching them from the eyepiece of a mile…long telescope。
With less of an edge to his voice than there had been a minute ago； Klinger finally said； 〃Leonard； I suppose you realize that I could be setting you up。〃
〃Of course。〃
〃I could agree to hear your man out； listen to everything he has to say…only to get evidence against you and him。〃
〃String us along。〃
〃Give you enough rope to hang yourselves；〃 Klinger said。 〃I only warn you because you're a friend。 I like you。 I don't want to see you in trouble。〃
Dawson settled back in his chair。 〃Well； I've an offer to make you； and I need your cooperation。 So I'll just have to take that risk； won't I？〃
〃That's your choice。〃
Smiling； apparently pleased with the general； Dawson raised his brandy glass and silently proposed a toast。
Grinning broadly； Klinger raised his own glass。
What in the hell is going on here？ Salsbury wondered。
When he had sniffed and sipped his brandy； Dawson looked at Salsbury for the first time in several minutes and said； 〃You may proceed； Ogden。〃
Suddenly； Salsbury grasped the underlying purpose of the conversation to which he had just listened。 In the unlikely event that Dawson actually was setting a trap for an old friend；
on the off chance that the meeting was being taped； Klinger had deftly provided himself with at least some protection against successful prosecution。 He was now on record as having warned Dawson about the consequences of his actions。 In court or before a military review board； the general could argue that he had only been playing along with them in order to collect evidence against them； and even if no one believed him； he more than likely would manage to retain both his freedom and his rank。
Ogden got up； leaving his brandy glass behind him； went to the window and stood with his back to the darkening lake。 He was too nervous to sit still while he talked。 Indeed； for a few seconds he was too nervous to speak at all。
Like a pair of lizards perched half in warm sunlight and half in chilly shadows； waiting for the light balance to change enough to warrant movement； Dawson and Klinger watched him。 They were sitting in identical high…backed black leather easy chairs with burnished silvery buttons and studs。 A small round cocktail table with a dark oak top stood between them。 The only light in the richly furnished room came from two floor lamps that flanked the fireplace； twenty feet away。 The right side of each man's face was softened and somewhat concealed by shadows； while the left side was starkly detailed by amber light； and their eyes blinked with saurian patience。
Whether or not the scheme was a success； Salsbury thought； both Dawson and Klinger would e through it unscathed。 They both wore effective armor： Dawson his wealth； Klinger his ruthlessness； cleverness； and experience。
However； Salsbury didn't possess any armor of his own。 He hadn't even realized…as Klinger had when he protected himself with that spiel about secrecy pledges and treason…that he might need it。 He had assumed that his discovery would generate enough money and power to satisfy all three