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"Canada and Quebec ether without further friction," said Villon "You and I should too"

"I' in Sarveux's voice "Sit down, Henri, and tell me what's on your mind"

Alan Mercier finished reading the contents of a folder marked MOST SECRET and then reread them

He was stunned Every so often he flipped the pages backward, attely difficult to believe what his eyes conveyed He had the look of abomb in his hands

The President sat across fro It was very quiet in the roo log in the fireplace Two trays of food sat on the large coffee table that separated the two rossed to eat, but the President consurily

Finally Mercier closed the folder and solelasses He pondered for a moment, then looked up

"I have to ask," he said "Is this mad plot for real?"

"Right down to the period in the lase sentence"

"A reive it that"

"I think so"

"I find it hard to believe you took it so far in all these years without a leak"

"Not surprising when you consider only two people knew about it"

"Doug Oates over at State are"

"Only after the inauguration," the President acknowledged "Once I possessed the power to put the wheels inin the State Department"

"But not national security," said Mercier, a cool edge on his voice