Digital Fortress Chapter 11

Spain. I send David to Spain. The commanders words stung.Davids in Spain? Susan was incredulous. You sent him to Spain? Her tone turned angry. why?Strathmore looked dumbfounded. He was app argonntly not accustomed to being yel direct at, even by his head cryptographer. He gave Susan a confused look. She was flexed like a stick tiger defending her cub.Susan, he said. You spoke to him, didnt you? David did explain?She was in addition shocked to speak. Spain? Thats why David postponed our Stone Manor trip?I sent a simple machine for him this morning. He said he was going to call you before he left. Im sorry. I thought-Why would you send David to Spain?Strathmore paused and gave her an obvious look. To get the other pass-key.What other pass-key?Tankados copy.Susan was lost. What are you talking about?Strathmore sighed. Tankado surely would have had a copy of the pass-key on him when he died. I sure as hell didnt want it floating about the Seville morgue.So you sent David Becker? Susa n was beyond shock. Nothing was making sense. David doesnt even work for youStrathmore looked startled. No one ever spoke to the deputy director of the NSA that way. Susan, he said, retention his cool, thats the point. I needed-The tiger lashed out. Youve got twenty thousand employees at your command What gives you the right to send my fiance?I needed a civilian courier, someone solely removed from government. If I went through regular channels and someone caught wind-And David Becker is the lonesome(prenominal) civilian you hit the hay?No David Becker is not the only civilian I know But at six this morning, things were happening quickly David speaks the language, hes smart, I trust him, and I thought Id do him a favorA favor? Susan sputtered. move him to Spain is a favor?Yes Im paying him ten thousand for one days work. Hell pick up Tankados belongings, and hell fly home. Thats a favorSusan fell silent. She understood. It was all about money.Her thoughts wheel around back fiv e months to the night the president of Georgetown University had offered David a promotion to the language department chair. The president had warned him that his teaching hours would be cut back and that there would be increased paperwork, but there was also a substantial raise in salary. Susan had wanted to cry out David, dont do it Youll be miserable. We have enough of money-who cares which one of us earns it? But it was not her place. In the end, she stood by his decision to accept. As they fell asleep that night, Susan tried to be happy for him, but something wrong kept telling her it would be a disaster. Shed been right-but shed never counted on being so right.You paid him ten thousand dollars? she demanded. Thats a dirty trickStrathmore was fuming now. bedevil? It wasnt any goddamn trick I didnt even tell him about the money. I asked him as a personal favor. He agreed to go.Of course he agreed Youre my boss Youre the deputy director of the NSA He couldnt say noYoure right, Strathmore snapped. Which is why I called him. I didnt have the luxury of-Does the director know you sent a civilian?Susan, Strathmore said, his patience obviously wearing thin, the director is not involved. He knows nothing about this.Susan stared at Strathmore in disbelief. It was as if she no monthlong knew the man she was talking to. He had sent her fiance-a teacher-on an NSA mission and then failed to notify the director about the biggest crisis in the history of the organization.Leland Fontaine hasnt been notified?Strathmore had reached the end of his rope. He exploded. Susan, now list here I called you in here because I need an ally, not an inquiry Ive had one hell of morning. I heaploaded Tankados file last night and sit down here by the output printer for hours praying TRANSLTR could break it. At dawn I swallowed my pride and dialed the director-and let me tell you, that was a conversation I was really looking forward to. Good morning, sir. Im sorry to wake you. Why am I calling? I just found out TRANSLTR is obsolete. Its because of an algorithm my absolute top-dollar Crypto team couldnt come close to writing Strathmore slammed his fist on the desk.Susan stood frozen. She didnt make a sound. In ten days, she had seen Strathmore lose his cool only a fistful of times, and never once with her.Ten seconds later neither one of them had spoken. Finally Strathmore sat back down, and Susan could hear his breathing slowing to normal. When he finally spoke, his verbalise was eerily calm and controlled.Unfortunately, Strathmore said quietly, it turns out the director is in South America meeting with the President of Colombia. Because theres absolutely nothing he could do from down there, I had two options-request he cut his meeting short and return, or handle this myself. There was along silence. Strathmore finally looked up, and his tired eyes met Susans. His expression soften immediately. Susan, Im sorry. Im exhausted. This is a nightmare come true. I know youre upset about David. I didnt mean for you to find out this way. I thought you knew.Susan felt a wave of guilt. I overreacted. Im sorry. David is a good choice.Strathmore nodded absently. Hell be back tonight.Susan thought about everything the commander was going through-the pressure of overseeing TRANSLTR, the endless hours and meetings. It was rumored his wife of thirty years was leaving him. Then on top of it, there was Digital Fortress-the biggest intelligence threat in the history of the NSA, and the poor guy was flying solo. No curio he looked about to crack.Considering the circumstances, Susan said, I think you should probably call the director.Strathmore shook his head, a bead of sweat dripping on his desk. Im not about to agree the directors safety or risk a leak by contacting him about a major crisis he can do nothing about.Susan knew he was right. withal in moments like these, Strathmore was clear-headed. Have you considered calling the President?Strathmore n odded. Yes. Ive decided against it.Susan had figured as much. Senior NSA officials had the right to handle verifiable intelligence emergencies without executive knowledge. The NSA was the only U.S. intelligence organization that enjoyed total immunity from federal accountability of any sort. Strathmore often availed himself of this right he preferred to work his magic in isolation.Commander, she argued, this is too big to be handled alone. Youve got to let somebody else in on it.Susan, the existence of Digital Fortress has major implications for the future of this organization. I have no object of informing the President behind the directors back. We have a crisis, and Im handling it. He eyed her thoughtfully. I am the deputy director of operations. A weary make a face crept across his face. And besides, Im not alone. Ive got Susan Fletcher on my team.In that instant, Susan realized what she respected so much about Trevor Strathmore. For ten years, through thick and thin, he had a lways led the way for her. Steadfast. Unwavering. It was his dedication that amazed her-his unshakable allegiance to his principles, his country, and his ideals. Come what may, Commander Trevor Strathmore was a guiding light in a world of impossible decisions.You are on my team, arent you? he asked.Susan smiled. Yes, sir, I am. One hundred percent.Good. Now can we get back to work?