Quantum

68

Upon their arrival at Dulles Airport, Kilkenny and Avvakum were met by a Customs official who whisked them through the border-entry process in near record time. Once their passports were stamped, they gathered up their carry-on baggage and entered the airport’s main concourse, where CIA director Jackson Barnett and Cal Mosley stood waiting for them.

‘I wondered who expedited our arrival paperwork,’ Kilkenny said as he walked toward Barnett and Mosley.

‘I heard you got a little banged up over there, Nolan,’ Mosley said. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Other than a few dings and some jet lag, I’m fine.’

‘I’m glad to hear it.’

‘It’s good to see you again, Mr Kilkenny,’ Barnett said.

Kilkenny reached out and shook Barnett’s extended hand. ‘And you, too, sir. If I may, Dr Lara Avvakum, I’d like to introduce you to Jackson Barnett and Cal Mosley. They were associates of Bart Cooper’s.’

Avvakum smiled and offered her hand. ‘A pleasure to meet you, gentlemen. My condolences on your loss.’

‘Thank you, Dr Avvakum, and welcome to the United States,’ Barnett replied, his voice and manner rich with Southern warmth. ‘Bart Cooper was a unique individual whom I, and many other people at the Agency, will dearly miss. On behalf of the CIA, I’d like to thank you both for escorting him home.’

‘It was the least we could do,’ Kilkenny acknowledged.

‘I am certain that you want to get home as quickly as possible, Nolan, and I apologize for the layover that this stop has added to your journey. By way of compensation, I’ve made some dinner reservations for the four of us at an excellent restaurant not too far from here. I hope you don’t mind.’

‘I’m starved,’ Avvakum said, appreciative of Barnett’s gesture.

‘It beats spending a couple of hours waiting here. Are we dressed appropriately?’

‘You’re both fine,’ Barnett replied. ‘Dr Avvakum, if you’d like to freshen up a bit, Cal and I need to have a word with Nolan in private.’

‘Sounds like business,’ she replied. ‘I should be presentable in about ten minutes. Will that be enough time?’

‘More than enough. Thank you.’

Avvakum picked up her overstuffed carry-on bag and walked toward the ladies’ room. When she was out of earshot, Barnett turned to Kilkenny, his face serious.

‘Nolan, from what Bart and Cal told me, the concept for this operation was your idea.’

‘In broad strokes, yes, it was. Cal, Bart, and my friend Grin can certainly take credit for fleshing out my idea and making it work.’

‘He’s being modest, sir,’ Mosley said. ‘This was his show from the beginning.’

‘I was up to my neck in this, Cal. Vested interest.’

‘I appreciate that,’ Barnett said. ‘I’m just pleased that you came back in one piece, more or less. Mosley painted a very bleak picture should Orlov have succeeded in acquiring ownership of this quantum technology.’

‘In the long term, Orlov could have been in control of an industry with significant influence over the global economy — kind of like a one-man OPEC. Now that we got it back, quantum technology can evolve as it should in a free market.’

‘When we first met, a little over a year ago, you were in the thick of a technological problem that was, in many ways, of the Agency’s own making,’ Barnett said. ‘I am pleased to learn that my decision to leave that Spyder with you and your associate has proved to be a fruitful one. You’ve not only improved the device but applied it in a manner my operations planners hadn’t yet contemplated.’

‘The Spyder is very amenable to improvisation.’

‘Yes. Now I find you involved in rescuing a technological advance of enormous magnitude that somehow slipped past all the analysts working for me.’

‘Progress often comes from the most unexpected places.’

‘True, but the Agency’s job is to look for the unexpected and to protect the industries and technologies that underpin our economy. Industrial espionage is the most serious threat our nation has ever faced, and more and more the CIA is being drawn into cases involving technologies that few people have ever heard of. This is the second time you’ve risen to the challenge, Nolan. Twice now, you’ve proved to me that someone with your unique expertise would be of immense value to the Agency.’

‘Are you offering me a job?’ Kilkenny asked.

‘In a manner of speaking.’

‘Sir, I have the job I want at MARC and, frankly, I don’t think I would make a very good spy.’

‘I disagree, but I’m not asking you to be an agent. In fact, I’d prefer that you remain at MARC, where you will continue to be exposed to promising technological developments. You see, your value as an adviser to the Agency demands that you retain a level of professional objectivity.’

‘Define adviser,’ Kilkenny requested suspiciously. ‘Do you want me to report on private-sector research? On who is working on what? There are both legal and ethical problems with that.’

‘I understand your reluctance, but I believe your participation in this effort is crucial.’ Barnett looked straight into Kilkenny’s eyes. ‘I have the authority to reinstate you in the navy and have you reassigned to the CIA.’

‘I think I understand your motive, and I agree with it, but this isn’t the way to do it. You said it yourself, my value as an observer depends on my ability to work. If word ever got out about this relationship you’re proposing, there wouldn’t be one researcher in this country who’d even talk to me. Then there’s the issue of nondisclosure agreements; reporting to you would be a violation that opens MARC, the CIA, and me to a lawsuit that we would, in all likelihood, lose.’

‘There has to be some way that we can come to an agreement, Nolan. This is an issue with grave implications for national security, and it’s not going away anytime in the foreseeable future.’

‘I think there is a way. What if the CIA was to become a client of MARC’s? In that kind of business relationship, I could provide you with assistance on technological issues on an as-need basis.’

‘Much like our current arrangement involving the Spyder?’

‘Exactly. We come to each other with specific issues, like the theft of Sandstrom’s research by Orlov. If it ever got out that I was working with the CIA on something like that, the research community would probably hail me as a hero of intellectual-property rights.’

‘As well they should. I think what you’re proposing is workable, Nolan, and I’m sure we can come to some sort of arrangement.’

‘I think so, too, sir.’

‘If we’re going to be working together, you’re going to have to drop the sir. Call me Jackson.’

‘All right, Jackson.’

‘Welcome to the team, Nolan,’ Mosley said.