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“It is my fond hope,” he replied with a courtly smile “Tell your waiter that ill have only sweets at our table None of those little sandwiches Only cakes and cream”

“Of course, Herr Riker As always, Herr Riker”

Katherine was late, as usual, and he used the time to rehearse for what he kneould be a difficult discussion He felt as ready as he could be when she stepped off the elevator Her tea goas a cloud of blue silk that matched her eyes and complemented her hair

O’Shay rose as she approached his table, taking her gloved hands in his and saying, “You are the prettiest girl, Miss Dee”

“Thank you, Herr Riker”

Katherine Dee smiled and dimpled But when she sat, she looked him full in the face in her direct way, and said, “You look very serious-ward-and-guardian serious What are you up to, Brian?”

“Self-annointed ‘good warriors’ who fight ‘good wars’ accusea ence Because for a mercenary the war is over when he says it is over He retires a victor”

“I hope you’ve ordered whiskey instead of tea,” she said O’Shay s to tell you that we are in the endgame, dearest”

“What do you mean?”

“It is ti they’ll never forget”

“Where?”

“Where they will treat us like gold”

“Oh, not Germany!”

“Of course Germany What democracy would take us in?”

“We could go to Russia?”