Page 323 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"No Pentagon figures on enemy casualties are trustworthy," Jasper said.

"It would be a big step, for our show to tell the American people that the government lies to us about this."

"Everyone from Lyndon Johnson to the grunt on patrol in the jungle is lying about this, because they all need high kill figures to justify what they're doing. But I know the truth because I was there. In Vietnam, any dead person counts as an enemy casualty. Throw a grenade into a bomb shelter, kill everyone inside--two young men, four women, an old man, and a baby--that's eight Vietcong dead, in the official report."

Herb was dubious. "How can we be sure this is true?"

"Ask any veteran," said Jasper.

"It's hard to credit."

Jasper was right and Herb knew it, but Herb was anxious about taking such a strong line. However, Jasper judged he was ready to be talked round. "Look," said Jasper. "It's now four years since we sent the first ground combat troops to South Vietnam. Throughout that period, the Pentagon has been reporting one victory after another, and This Day has been repeating their statements to the American people. If we've had four years of victory, how come the enemy can penetrate to the heart of the capital city and surround the U.S. embassy? Open your eyes, will you?"

Herb was thoughtful. "So, Jasper, if you're right, and Sam's wrong, what's our story?"

"That's easy," said Jasper. "The story is the administration's credibility after the Tet Offensive. Last November Vice President Humphrey told us we're winning. In December General Palmer said the Vietcong had been defeated. In January Secretary of Defense McNamara told us the North Vietnamese were losing their will to fight. General Westmoreland himself told reporters the Communists were unable to mount a major offensive. Then one morning the Vietcong attacked almost every major city and town in South Vietnam."

Sam said: "We've never questioned the president's honesty. No television show ever has."

Jasper said: "Now's the time. Is the president lying? Half America is asking that."

Everyone looked at Herb. It was his decision. He was silent for a long moment. Then he said: "All right. That's the title of our report. 'Is the President Lying?' Let's do it."

*

Dave Williams got an early flight from New York to San Francisco and ate an American breakfast of pancakes with bacon in first class.

Life was good. Plum Nellie was successful and he would never have to take another exam for the rest of his life. He loved Beep and he was going to marry her as soon as he could find the time.

He was the only member of the group who had not yet bought a house, but he hoped to do so today. It would be more than a house, though. His idea was to buy a place in the country, with some land, and build a recording studio. The whole group could live there while they were making an album, which took several months nowadays. Dave often recalled with a smile how they had recorded their first album in one day.

Dave was excited: he had never bought a house before. He was looking forward eagerly to seeing Beep, but he had decided to take care of business first, so that his time with her would be uninterrupted. He was met at the airport by his business manager, Mortimer Schulman. Dave had hired Morty to take care of his personal finances separately from those of the group. Morty was a middle-aged man in relaxed California clothes, a navy blazer with a blue shirt open at the neck. Because Dave was only twenty he often found that lawyers and accountants condescended to him and tried to give him instructions rather than information. Morty treated him as the boss, which he was, and laid out options, knowing that it was up to Dave himself to make the decisions.

They got into Morty's Cadillac, drove across the Bay Bridge, and headed north, passing the university town of Berkeley, where Beep was a student. As he drove, Mort said: "I received a proposition for you. It's not really my role, but I guess they thought I was the nearest thing to your personal agent."

"What proposition?"

"A television producer called Charlie Lacklow wants to talk to you about doing your own TV show."

Dave was surprised: he had not seen that one coming. "What kind of show?"

"You know, like The Danny Kaye Show or The Dean Martin Show."

"No kidding?" This was big news. Sometimes it seemed to Dave that success was falling on him like rain: hit songs, platinum albums, sellout tours, successful movies--and now this.

There were a dozen or more variety shows on American television every week, most of them headlined by a movie star or a comic. The host would introduce a guest and chat for a minute, then the guest would sing his or her latest hit, or do a comedy routine. The group had appeared as guests on many such programs, but Dave did not see how they could fit into that format as hosts. "So it would be The Plum Nellie Show?"

"No. Dave Williams and Friends. They don't want the group, just you."

Dave was dubious. "That's flattering, but . . ."

"It's a major opportunity, if you ask me. Pop groups generally have a short life, but this is your chance to become an all-around family entertainer--which is a role you can play until you're seventy."

That struck a chord. Dave had thought about what he might do when Plum Nellie were no longer popular. It happened to most pop acts, though there were exceptions--Elvis was still big. Dave was planning to marry Beep and have children, a prospect he found daunting. The time might come when he needed another way to earn a living. He had thought about becoming a record producer and artist manager: he had done well in both roles for Plum Nellie.

But this was too soon. The group was hugely popular and now, at last, making real money. "I can't do it," he said to Morty. "It might break up the group, and I can't risk that while we're doing so well."

"Should I tell Charlie Lacklow you're not interested?"

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