s less than eight hundred thousand。 The greatest part of that is concentrated in a few urban areas； chiefly in Hawaii and the capital city。 Furthermore； all of the members of the government and virtually all of the wealthy reside in those metropolitan centers。 The handful of super…rich families who own desert enclaves get their water by truck from the cities。 In short； we could take control of everyone of influence within the country…giving us a behind…the…scenes managerial dictatorship over the Kuwait oil reserves； which pose twenty percent of the entire world supply。 That done； Kuwait would bee our base of operations； from which we could subvert Saudi Arabia； Iraq； Yemen； and every other oil…exporting nation in the Mid…East。〃
〃We could smash the OPEC cartel；〃 Klinger said thoughtfully。
〃Or strengthen it；〃 Dawson said。 〃Or alternately weaken and strengthen it in order to cause major fluctuations in the value of oil stocks。 Indeed； we could affect the entire stock market。 And because we'd know about each fluctuation well in advance； we could take rare advantage of it。 Within a year of assuming control of a half…dozen Mid…Eastern countries； we should be able to siphon one and a half billion dollars into the corporation in Liechtenstein。 Thereafter； it will be a matter of no more than five or six years until everything； quite literally everything； is ours。〃
〃It sounds…crazy； mad；〃 Klinger said。
Dawson frowned。 〃Mad？〃
〃Incredible； unbelievable； impossible；〃 the general said； clarifying his first statement when he saw that it disturbed Dawson。
〃There was a time when heavier…than…air flight seemed impossible；〃 Salsbury said。 〃The nuclear bomb seemed incredible to many people even after it was dropped on Japan。 And in 1961； when Kennedy launched the Apollo Space Program； very few Americans believed that a man would ever walk on the moon。〃
They stared at one another。
The silence in the room was so perfect that each tiny wave breaking against the boat dock； although it was little more than a gentle ripple and was muffled by the window； sounded like an ocean surf。 At least it did to Salsbury； it reverberated within his nearly fevered mind。
Finally Dawson said； 〃Ernst？ Will you help us get those magnetic tapes？〃
Klinger looked at Dawson for a long moment； then at Salsbury。 A shudder either of fear or pleasure； Ogden could not be certain which…passed through him。 He said； 〃I'll help。〃
Ogden sighed。
〃Champagne？〃 Dawson asked。 〃It's a bit crude after brandy。 But I believe that we should raise a toast to one another and to the project。〃
Fifteen minutes later； after a servant had brought a chilled bottle of Mo？t et Chandon and he had uncorked it； after the three of them had toasted success； Klinger smiled at Dawson and said； 〃What if I'd been terrified of this drug？ What if I'd thought your offer was more than I could handle？〃
〃I know you well； Ernst；〃 Dawson said。 〃Perhaps better than you think I do。 I'd be surprised if there was anything that you couldn't handle。〃
〃But suppose I'd balked； for whatever reason。 Suppose I hadn't wanted to e in with you。〃
Dawson rolled some champagne over his tongue； swallowed； inhaled through his mouth to savor the aftertaste； and said； 〃Then you wouldn't have left this estate alive； Ernst。 I'm afraid you'd have had an accident。〃
〃Which you arranged for a week ago。〃 〃Nearly that。〃
〃I knew you wouldn't disappoint me。〃
〃You came with a gun？〃 Dawson asked。 〃A thirty…two automatic。〃
〃It doesn't show。〃
〃It's taped to the small of my back。〃
〃You've practiced drawing it？〃
〃I can have it in my hand in less than five seconds。〃
Dawson nodded approval。 〃And you would have used me as a shield to get off the estate。〃
〃I would have tried。〃
They both laughed and regarded each other with something very near to affection。 They were delighted with themselves。
Jesus Christ！ Salsbury thought。 He nervously sipped his champagne。
5
Friday； August 19； 1977
PAUL AND MARK SAT cross…legged； side by side on the dew…damp mountain grass。 They were as still as stones。 Even Mark； who loathed inactivity and to whom patience was an irritant rather than a virtue； did no more than blink his eyes。
Around them lay a breath…taking panorama of virtually unspoiled land。 On three sides of their clearing； a dense； purple…green； almost primeval forest rose like walls。 To their right the clearing opened at the head of a narrow valley； and the town of Black River； two miles away； shimmered like a patch of opalescent fungus on the emerald quilt of the wild land。 The only other scar of civilization was the Big Union mill； which was barely visible； three miles on the other side of Black River。 Even so； from this distance the huge buildings did not resemble millworks so much as they did the ramparts； gates； and towers of castles。 The planned forests that supplied Big Union； and which were less attractive than the natural woods； were out of sight beyond the next mountain。 Blue sky and fast…moving white clouds overhung what could have passed for a scene of Eden in a biblical film。
Paul and Mark were not interested in the scenery。 Their attention was fixed on a small； red…brown squirrel。
For the past five days they had been putting out food for the squirrel…dry roasted peanuts and sectioned apples…hoping to make friends with it and gradually to domesticate it。 Day by
day it crept closer to the food； and yesterday it took a few bites before succumbing to fear and scampering away。
Now； as they watched； it came forth from the perimeter of the woods； three or four quick yet cautious steps at a time； pausing again and again to study the man and boy。 When it finally reached the food； it picked up a piece of the apple in its tiny forepaws and； sitting back on its haunches； began to eat。
When the animal finished the first slice and picked up another； Mark said； 〃He won't take his eyes off us。 Not even for a second。〃
As the boy spoke the squirrel became suddenly as still as they were。 It cocked its head and fixed them with one large brown eye。
Paul had said they could whisper； breaking their rule of silence； if the squirrel had gained courage since yesterday and managed to stay at the food for more than a few seconds。 If they were to domesticate it； the animal would have to bee accustomed to their voices。
〃Please don't be scared；〃 Mark said softly。 Paul had promised that； if the squirrel could be tamed； Mark would be allowed to take it home and make a pet of it。 〃Please； don't run away。〃
Not yet prepared to trust them； it dropped the slice of apple； turned； bounded into the forest； and scrambled to the upper branches of a maple tree。
Mark jumped up。 〃Ah； heck！ We wouldn't have hurt you； you dumb squirrel！〃 Disappointment lined his face。
〃Stay calm。 He'll be back again tomorrow；〃 Paul said。 He stood and stretched his stiff muscles。
〃He'll never trust us。〃
〃Yes； he will。 Little by little。〃
〃We'll never tame him。〃
〃Little by little；〃 Paul said。 〃He can't be converted in one week。 You've got to be patient。〃
〃I'm not very good at being patient。〃
〃I know。 But you'll learn。〃
〃Little by little？〃
〃That's right；〃 Paul said。 He bent over； picked up the apple slices and peanuts； and dropped them into a plastic bag。
〃Hey；〃 Mark said； 〃maybe he's mad at us because we always take the food when we leave。〃
Paul laughed。 〃Maybe so。 But if he got in the habit of sneaking back and eating after we've gone； he wouldn't have any reason to e out while we're here。〃
As they started back toward camp； which lay at the far end of the two…hundred…yard…long mountain meadow； Paul gradually became aware again of the beautiful day as if it were a mosaic for all the senses； falling into place around him； piece by piece。 The warm summer breeze。 White daisies gleaming in the grass； and here and there a buttercup。 The odor of grass and earth and wild flowers。 The constant rustle of leaves and the gentle soughing of the breeze in the pine boughs。 The trilling of birds。 The solemn shadows of the forest。 High above； a hawk wheeled into sight； the last piece of the mosaic； its shrill cry seemed filled with pride； as if it knew that it had capped the scene； as if