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your reply. But the Bureau is proud of you. Which was Kilbreck's way of saying that he was pleased.
Thank you, sir. Then you won't mind my taking a couple of weeks off. To tell you the truth, sir, I'm flat
wore out. These last couple of years down south were pretty bad. I'd just like to disappear for a while,
get my mind off Bureau business completely.
I'd say you're overdue, Joshua. As I recall you haven't taken off more than five consecutive days since
you joined the Bureau.
Kilbreck's recall was legendary among his agents. Oak wouldn't have been surprised if he'd quoted the
exact vacation days his informer had taken off each year in the last ten. Or he might be utilizing his
desktop computer to scroll through Oak's file.
By all means take some time off. A month if you wish. You certainly have enough time accrued and, as
you know, we encourage those of our people who function in stressful capacities to relax whenever the
opportunity arises.
What about that business up in New York?
Nothing that can't wait, or be handled on a temporary basis by someone else. I'd rather have you fresh
and eager to tackle something like that than surly and run-down. Are you going to stay around
Washington or were you planning to relax further afield?
Actually, sir, I thought I might spend some time in Britain. I've never been there and it's about time. I've
always wanted to see Stonehenge and Westminster Abbey, places like that. Educational places. He
could almost see Kilbreck nodding approvingly over the phone.
The Mrs. and I have been there several times. You'll like England. Do try to stay away from guided
tours. You never meet anyone interesting that way. They both chuckled. If there was anything Joshua
Oak had enjoyed a surfeit of the past ten years, it was encounters with interesting people. That was the
thought Kilbreck was laughing at.
Oak was chuckling at the image of Martin Kilbreck sitting in a country pub trying to mix with the local
people. Kilbreck was about as relaxed in strange company as a telephone pole. The assistant director
was an odd duck. He also happened to be one of the bravest and most decorated senior agents in the
Bureau's history. Oak had learned early in his career that more often than not, the only brave men tended
to look more like your neighborhood druggist than Conan the Barbarian.
When are you taking off?
Tomorrow, sir.
Isn't that kind of abrupt?
I don't see any point in hanging around. I've been feeling like I needed to get away for a number of
months now. I just couldn't decide to where. England just kind of came up. Now that I've made up my
mind to do it, I figure I'd better get on with it before I talk myself out of going.
Makes sense. You have a good time, Joshua, a good time. Get your mind off work for a while. We'll
see about an assignment when you get back.
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Check. Thanks, sir.
No need for thanks. You've more than earned your time off, Oak, more than earned it.
Oak let out a sigh of relief as the receiver at the other end was disconnected. That hadn't gone badly at
all. No difficult questions, no requests for forms filled out in triplicate. Now he could lean back and enjoy
the forthcoming journey he was about to embark upon in the company of a naive total stranger from
Seattle and a crazy old man from Africa.
Sure he could.
10
Near Burke Lake, Virginia 20 June
The next morning Oak had the opportunity to show that in addition to being able to handle rioting
Iranians and spirits that assaulted elevators he could also cook. The three of them sat around his small
breakfast table eating and looking through the glass at the lush green woods behind his house.
You clean house, you decorate, you cook. Merry finished her toast. You're not a typical bachelor,
Joshua Oak.
Typical bachelors haven't had to live through two failed marriages. As for the way I live, I figure if you
can't organize your private life, you can't organize your work, and if I can't organize my work, I'm ... in
trouble.
So what is it you do for the government, Josh? she mused. Some super-secret spy agency no one's ever
heard about? Are you the truth that's stranger than fiction? You make great coffee, and that's strange
enough.
He really was an interesting man. If only he were more open. Donald was open, and on occasion he
could even be romantic, but he was definitely, decidedly not mysterious.
Heretofore the only mystery in Merry Sharrow's life involved the window envelopes that showed up in
her mailbox marked occupant.
Olkeloki had downed a whole quart of milk from Mrs. Hernandez's stock. He refused to touch bacon or
eggs, but he eagerly devoured a brace of breakfast steaks Oak found in the bottom of the freezer.
Except for cattle we eat no other meat save for an occasional sheep or goat slaughtered for ceremonial
purposes. We kill no other grazing animals. The wild grazers are our trust.
But you kill lions, Merry reminded him.
To defend ourselves and our herds. With our spears and knives. The Maasai do not carry guns. It
would not be fair.
It's certainly more sporting. Oak was shoveling in scrambled eggs and hash browns.
Olkeloki's expression narrowed. Sporting? There is no sport in killing. That is another strange ilmeet
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custom. I have studied it for many years and still find no philosophical basis for such an institution. Only
immature children find sport in killing.
Whoa now, I didn't say I supported it. Fact is I'm against it. Anything you kill, you eat.
That is human.
What hotel are you staying at, Merry?
Sheraton. This side of the river, I think.
Fine. He wiped his mouth, crumpled the napkin. We'll finish up here and I'll shove some stuff into one
of my backpacks. Then we'll shoot over and get your stuff. He turned to Olkeloki. How about you?
I have one suitcase. I am somewhat attached to it. Oak nodded. We'll get it too and then head out to
the airport. What about reservations?
That will not be necessary. We will buy tickets on the next appropriate plane going to London.
It may not be that simple. Oak repressed a smile.
School's out and this is the time of year when a lot of Americans take their vacations.
It has been my experience that they do not fly on a plane called the Concorde. It flies higher than the
shetani.
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