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Authors: David Baldacci
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attack on the euro and yen by a cabal in Yemen sponsored by a top member of the Saudi royal family.
“I consider these facts material to the worldwide apocalypse that is most certainly on the horizon,” Milton concluded.
The other members of the Camel Club sat there looking a bit overwhelmed; it was a normal reaction after Milton had delivered one of his convoluted diatribes.
Finally, Reuben said, “Yes, but that North Korea/Great Britain thing is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think, Milton? I mean the bloody Koreans are absolutely humorless, and whatever else you say about the Brits, they are a very witty people.”
Stone looked at Caleb. “Anything interesting on your end?”
Caleb thought for a moment. “Well, we had a real scare when we couldn’t find our Dutch Bible.”
They all looked at him expectantly.
Caleb exclaimed, “Our Dutch Bible! It has hand-colored illustrations by Romeyn de Hooghe. He’s generally thought to be the most important Dutch illustrator of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. But it turned out all right. It was there the whole time, simply a clerical error.”
“Thank God,” Reuben said sarcastically. “We wouldn’t want a de
Hoose
on the loose.”
Disappointed, Stone turned back to Reuben. “Other than your lascivious congressman, do you have anything of real interest?”
Reuben shrugged. “I’ve been out of the loop too long, Oliver. People forget you.”
“Then why don’t we move on to something a little more concrete?”
The other men eyed him curiously.
Stone drew a long breath. So many birthdays had passed by uncelebrated that he had to actually think about how old he was.
Sixty-one,
he said to himself.
I am sixty-one years old
. He’d founded the Camel Club long ago with the purpose of scrutinizing those in power and raising the public cry when they believed things to be awry, which they very often were. He had kept vigil outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue watching and noting his observations and fighting for things that other people apparently didn’t believe were important anymore, like truth and accountability.
He was beginning to wonder if it was worth it.
Yet he said aloud, “Have you noticed what is going on in this country?” He stared at his friends, who didn’t answer. “They may have us believing that we’re better protected. Yet being safer doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re more
free
.”
“You sometimes have to sacrifice freedom for security, Oliver,” Caleb said as he fiddled with his heavy watch. “I don’t necessarily like it but what’s the alternative?”
“The alternative is not living in fear,” Stone answered. “Especially in a state of fear from exaggerated circumstances. Men like Carter Gray are quite good at that.”
“Well, Gray’s first year on the job you would’ve thought the man would have been run out on a rail, but he somehow managed to turn it around,” Reuben admitted grudgingly.
“Which proves my point,” Stone retorted, “because I don’t think anyone is that good or that
lucky
.” He paused, obviously choosing his words with care. “My opinion is that Carter Gray is bad for this country’s future. I open the meeting to discuss relevant possibilities.”
His three companions simply stared dully at him. Finally, Caleb found his voice.
“Uh, what exactly do you mean, Oliver?”
“I mean what can the Camel Club do to make sure that Carter Gray is relieved of his post as intelligence secretary?”
“You want
us
to take down Carter Gray!” Caleb exclaimed.
“Yes.”
“Oh, good,” Reuben added in mock relief. “Because I thought it might be something difficult you were wanting.”
“There is ample historical precedent for the powerless overcoming the powerful,” Stone noted.
“Yeah, but in real life, Goliath kicks the shit out of David nine times out of ten,” Reuben replied grimly.
Stone said, “Then what exactly is the purpose of continuing the club? We meet
“I consider these facts material to the worldwide apocalypse that is most certainly on the horizon,” Milton concluded.
The other members of the Camel Club sat there looking a bit overwhelmed; it was a normal reaction after Milton had delivered one of his convoluted diatribes.
Finally, Reuben said, “Yes, but that North Korea/Great Britain thing is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think, Milton? I mean the bloody Koreans are absolutely humorless, and whatever else you say about the Brits, they are a very witty people.”
Stone looked at Caleb. “Anything interesting on your end?”
Caleb thought for a moment. “Well, we had a real scare when we couldn’t find our Dutch Bible.”
They all looked at him expectantly.
Caleb exclaimed, “Our Dutch Bible! It has hand-colored illustrations by Romeyn de Hooghe. He’s generally thought to be the most important Dutch illustrator of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. But it turned out all right. It was there the whole time, simply a clerical error.”
“Thank God,” Reuben said sarcastically. “We wouldn’t want a de
Hoose
on the loose.”
Disappointed, Stone turned back to Reuben. “Other than your lascivious congressman, do you have anything of real interest?”
Reuben shrugged. “I’ve been out of the loop too long, Oliver. People forget you.”
“Then why don’t we move on to something a little more concrete?”
The other men eyed him curiously.
Stone drew a long breath. So many birthdays had passed by uncelebrated that he had to actually think about how old he was.
Sixty-one,
he said to himself.
I am sixty-one years old
. He’d founded the Camel Club long ago with the purpose of scrutinizing those in power and raising the public cry when they believed things to be awry, which they very often were. He had kept vigil outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue watching and noting his observations and fighting for things that other people apparently didn’t believe were important anymore, like truth and accountability.
He was beginning to wonder if it was worth it.
Yet he said aloud, “Have you noticed what is going on in this country?” He stared at his friends, who didn’t answer. “They may have us believing that we’re better protected. Yet being safer doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re more
free
.”
“You sometimes have to sacrifice freedom for security, Oliver,” Caleb said as he fiddled with his heavy watch. “I don’t necessarily like it but what’s the alternative?”
“The alternative is not living in fear,” Stone answered. “Especially in a state of fear from exaggerated circumstances. Men like Carter Gray are quite good at that.”
“Well, Gray’s first year on the job you would’ve thought the man would have been run out on a rail, but he somehow managed to turn it around,” Reuben admitted grudgingly.
“Which proves my point,” Stone retorted, “because I don’t think anyone is that good or that
lucky
.” He paused, obviously choosing his words with care. “My opinion is that Carter Gray is bad for this country’s future. I open the meeting to discuss relevant possibilities.”
His three companions simply stared dully at him. Finally, Caleb found his voice.
“Uh, what exactly do you mean, Oliver?”
“I mean what can the Camel Club do to make sure that Carter Gray is relieved of his post as intelligence secretary?”
“You want
us
to take down Carter Gray!” Caleb exclaimed.
“Yes.”
“Oh, good,” Reuben added in mock relief. “Because I thought it might be something difficult you were wanting.”
“There is ample historical precedent for the powerless overcoming the powerful,” Stone noted.
“Yeah, but in real life, Goliath kicks the shit out of David nine times out of ten,” Reuben replied grimly.
Stone said, “Then what exactly is the purpose of continuing the club? We meet
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