Page 213 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

Jasper went into the study. He called the Daily Echo in London and reached Barry Pugh, who said: "Hi, Jasper, how are you enjoying the USA?"

"It's great." Jasper swallowed nervously. "Did you get my Smokey Robinson piece?"

"Yes, thanks. Well written, Jasper, but it doesn't make it for the Echo. Try the New Musical Express."

Jasper was disheartened. He had no interest in writing for the pop press. "Okay," he said. Not ready to give up, he added: "I thought the fact that Smokey is the Beatles' favorite singer might give the interview extra interest."

"Not enough. Nice try, though."

Jasper tried hard to keep the disappointment out of his voice. "Thanks."

Pugh said: "Isn't there some kind of demonstration in Washington today?"

"Yes, civil rights." Jasper's hopes rose again. "I'll be there--if you'd like a report?"

"Hmm . . . Give us a ring if it gets violent."

And not otherwise, Jasper inferred. Disappointed, he said: "Okay, will do."

Jasper cradled the phone and stared at it pensively. He had worked hard on the Smokey Robinson piece and he felt the Beatles connection made it special. But he had been wrong, and all he could do was try again.

He returned to the dining room. "I must go," he said. "I'm meeting Senator Peshkov at the Willard Hotel."

Woody said: "The Willard is where Martin Luther King stays."

Jasper brightened. "Maybe I could get an interview." The Echo would surely be interested in that.

Woody smiled. "There will be several hundred reporters hoping for an interview with King today."

Jasper turned to Beep. "Will I see you later?"

"We're meeting at the Washington Monument at ten," she said. "There's a rumor that Joan Baez is going to sing."

"I'll look for you there."

Woody said: "Did you say you're meeting Greg Peshkov?"

"Yes. He's the half brother of Daisy Williams."

"I know. The domestic arrangements of Greg's father, Lev Peshkov, were hot gossip when your mother and I were teenagers in Buffalo. Please give Greg my regards."

"Of course," said Jasper, and he went out.

*

George Jakes entered the coffee shop at the Willard and looked around for Verena, but she had not yet arrived. However, he saw his father, Greg Peshkov, having breakfast with a good-looking man of about twenty who had a blond Beatle haircut. George sat at their table and said: "Good morning."

Greg said: "This is Jasper Murray, a student from London, England. He's the son of an old friend. Jasper, meet George Jakes."

They shook hands. Jasper looked faintly startled, as people often did when they saw Greg and George together; but, like most people, he was too polite to ask for an explanation.

Greg said to George: "Jasper's mother was a refugee from Nazi Germany."

Jasper said: "My mother has never forgotten how the American people welcomed her that summer."

George said to Jasper: "So the subject of racial discrimination is familiar to you, I guess."

"Not really. My mother doesn't like to talk about the old days too much." He smiled engagingly. "At school in England I was called Jasper Jewboy for a while, but it didn't stick. Are you involved in today's march, George?"

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