Chapter
4
Gary's
rage boiled over during the summer break. Over dinner, he took
occasion to complain loudly to his brother and sister that Etienne
was a snitch. To put an end to malingering, the family patriarch
finally inquired as to what the offense might be. Heedless as ever,
Gary unhesitatingly ratted his classmate out. “Etienne says you're
a spy!” he told his father.
To
a diplomat, loose talk about espionage is no small matter but to
Agent Echo, a paradoxically innocent and guilty conscience took
particular offense. How dare the young Canadian pup accuse his
religious latitude of lax patriotism? His ire slumbered wakefully.
A
forgiving soul, Etienne again pushed aside memories of injustice, and
threw himself into his chores at his father's direction. An only
child, his American mother spent more time with Etienne than his
father, and that very summer she persuaded him to claim American
citizenship as his birthright.
Imagine
Agent Echo's surprise at the office nine days later, to see Etienne's
passport application cross his desk. “Etienne DuBois” was
claiming American birth. Trained in diplomacy, Agent Echo knew from
experience not to waste even the smallest diplomatic chip, but under
“OC” (official cover,) he was also trained in espionage.
Together, these two competencies set his mind alight with more than
one scenario in which his office exploited such a windfall. He could
gain leverage by using this identity for a NOC (non-official cover.)
This left only to decide if the cover in question should be
represented as an American or a Canadian. But really, was this
currency worth more to his country or was this a plum for his new
contacts at the Vatican?
He
spent a full three days thinking it over, before issuing
instructions that Etienne's first passport number be annotated by the
US Secret Service's witness protection database under sealed
indictment for espionage, as an un-indicted co-conspirator. Etienne
was to begin life all unsuspecting, a spy before he knew it, his only
defense his utter unpreparedness for any accusations that might come
his way.
Agent
Echo then proceeded to prepare a packet for the Vatican explaining
that the House of Cardinals could exploit this identity
internationally as an American spy under cover as a Canadian. No one
was likely to put a child in supermax, but the resulting diplomatic
pile-up would teach this impertinent Canadian AND his country
NOT
to
meddle
with
American
diplomacy.
Agent Echo was pleased with
himself as he greeted his Chief of Station in the hall. Etienne was
sworn in privately, and the passport was issued.
With an outlet for his various
diplomatic injuries, real and imagined, Agent Echo's attitude
outwardly improved, and soon enough he was able to inform the Vatican
that he was applying for a promotion to the United Kingdom. His
Holiness the Pope would soon not only enjoy inside information, but
exert influence in the steerage of a Superpower.
The Ship of State had
unofficially slipped her moorings, set adrift in a sea of doubt.
