_______________________
A.R.Yngve
PARRY'S PROTOCOL
_______________________
Chapter 43
WESTMOREHAM INSTITUTE
OCTOBER 17
"Long time no see, Doc. What've you been up to now?"
Parry's tone was remarkably calm and level. He stood leaning with one shoulder against one corner of the plexiglass wall, indifferently looking at Abram, who had just sealed off the room. It was early in the morning.
"Are they still giving you as heavy doses every night?"
"Not since you told them to lower the doses. But it always takes me a little time to wake up in the morning." He yawned.
His eyes opened attentively when Abram took out the name list from his briefcase; he rushed to the middle of the glass wall and Abram went up close.
Parry read quietly as Abram held the list up to his eyes:
ANDERSON, NEVILLE - DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
(ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, STATUS UNCLEAR)
RAYMOND, COLMER - ADVISOR TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
(HAS APPEARED IN DIFFERENT ADVISORY POSTS SINCE 1948)
STANTON, PETER - DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CIA
(PREVIOUSLY ADVISOR TO THE DIRECTORS)
ULMGARD, HAROLD - AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, PENTAGON
(RETIREMENT SUSPENDED THROUGH UNKNOWN INFLUENCE)
WADE, JOSHUA - AIR FORCE GENERAL, ASSISTANT CHIEF STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND
(AUTHORIZED TO REPLACE THE PRESIDENT AND THE S.A.C. CHIEF IN AN EMERGENCY -- RUMOR UNCONFIRMED)
He read the list again and again, for almost a whole minute. His palms, pressed against the glass, started to tremble as in a cramp. He backed slowly, eyes fixed on the paper, and nearly stumbled on the little cat; it leaped away with its tail raised. As if a cold wind had blown through the hermetically sealed chamber, Parry hugged himself, trembling. He murmured something inaudible. Abram put his ear to the glass and listened.
"I said," Parry repeated a little louder, "that I didn't believe you'd have the guts to do it, much less tell anyone..."
"I've already told my superiors," Abram answered.
Parry lunged at the glass, roaring with sudden fury: "WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?!"
He pounced at the glass, his gaze shifting wildly about him. Abram made a calming gesture; Parry stopped his pounding.
"Wait, Parry. I didn't mean literally. All I did, was to insert these five names into the text of the report -- in a reference, in a footnote, as writer of a made-up book title -- in such a way that if you don't know the connection between the names, you won't spot it. It's an old spy trick. If you're right about them, someone will notice it and contact me. This report will be read at the top."
Parry scrutinized Abram's face: Abram was more haggard than he, but calm and collected.
"Open the air vent and show me the report itself," Parry commanded.
Abram returned to the glass wall and held up the paper bundle. On the title page was, as before, a contents page:
IMAGES OF THE NEW FUTURE
By DR. ABRAM LEMERCIER
PART 3: THE INNER ENEMY
3.1. SEPARATISM IN NORTH AMERICA
3.1.1. Economic causes
3.1.2. Demographic causes
3.1.3. The new migrations
3.1.4. Predicting ethnic unrest
3.1.5. Suggestions for "uniting visions"
3.1.6. Could there be another Civil War?
3.2. CONTROLLING THE INSTITUTIONS
3.2.1. Parkinson's Law revisited
3.2.2. Voter-Decisionmaker contact in the future
3.2.3. Corruption in federal government
3.2.4. Could the system be overthrown?
3.3. ALTERNATIVE CONSTITUTIONS
3.3.1. Direct Democracy: Perot's dream
3.3.2. Corporativism: The dangerous path
3.3.3. Military Dictatorship: The last resort
3.3.4. Suggestions for restructuring of federal organs
3.3.5. Some political scenarios (2000 - 2050)
3.4. Notes and Sources
Parry gestured at Abram to turn pages; quiet and tense, he skimmed through the rest of the document. A few minutes later, when he was finished, Parry held a finger to his mouth and pointed at the air intake. Abram sealed it.
Parry took in air, seemingly gathering himself together.
"You used a lot of what I said. And your little list, without asking me. So... Doc... what do you think will happen now?"
Abram paused, poised in a similar manner, then answered Parry: "I will prove to you, that your conspiracy theory is completely groundless."
He assumed a face of professional understanding: "What will happen is this. The day before yesterday, I flew to Langley and handed in a copy of this report to my superior's office. He scanned it through while I was watching, and gave me an early positive response. Immediately, I went back here and rested the entire yesterday. By this time..."
He paused, checking his watch.
"...by this time, copies of the completed report have been sent by courier, to the members of the National Security Council and the President. They will read it, discuss the problems and suggestions presented there; assign a special committee to investigate futurology and security issues; and perhaps even use my finished report as a reference.
"And," he added calmly, "nothing is going to happen to neither you nor me."
Parry made a convulsive shudder: he giggled joylessly, almost hysterically. He gave Abram an inscrutable, hollow stare.
"I actually began to believe I knew you, could predict your behavior," he said mutely. "How stupid of me. How shamefully, obscenely stupid. Everyone is out for something. You're out for prestige, you must prove above all that you are sane, that I'm nothing but a confused human wreck in need of treatment. You lied about working for the CIA, just to raise my curiosity. Perhaps you're an instrument for the unknown power, without knowing it yourself."
Suspicion had grown back into his features, stronger than before. Abram opened his mouth to speak -- but gave up. Another couple of seconds they stood there facing each other. And Abram wavered, turned away, and moved to the air vent. He removed the covering piece of insulation from the vent, and put it in his pocket.
Picking up his case, Abram went to the door; unlocked it, opened, and exited. Parry stood immobile, his stare following Abram until the door slid shut and was locked from outside.