Page 410 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

The new Verena wanted marriage and children, and felt sure she could have both and a career too. Once burned, George did not again put his hand in the fire: if that was what she thought, it was not up to him to argue.

George had written a tactful letter to Maria, beginning: "I don't want you to hear this from someone else." He had told her that he and Verena were together again and talking about marriage. Maria had replied in tones of warm friendship, and their relationship had reverted to what it had been before Nixon resigned. But she remained single, and did not come to the wedding.

Taking a break from dancing, George sat down with his father and grandfather. Lev was downing champagne with relish and telling jokes. A Polish cardinal had been made Pope, and Lev had a fund of bad-taste Polish Pope jokes. "He did a miracle--made a blind man deaf!"

Greg said: "I think this is a highly aggressive political move by the Vatican."

George was surprised by that, but Greg usually had grounds for what he said. "How so?" said George.

"Catholicism is more popular in Poland than elsewhere in Eastern Europe, and the Communists aren't strong enough to repress religion there as they have in all other countries. There's a Polish religious press, a Catholic university, and various charities that get away with sheltering dissidents and noting human rights abuses."

George said: "So what is the Vatican up to?"

"Mischief. I believe they see Poland as the Soviet Union's weak spot. This Polish Pope will do more than wave at tourists from the balcony--you watch."

George was about to ask what the Pope would do when the room went quiet and he realized that President Carter had arrived.

Everyone applauded, even the Republicans. The president kissed the bride, shook hands with George, and accepted a glass of pink champagne, although he took only one sip.

While Carter was talking to Percy and Babe, who were long-term Democratic fund-raisers, one of the president's aides approached George. After a few pleasantries the man said: "Would you consider serving on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence?"

George was flattered. Congressional committees were important. A seat on a committee was a source of power. "I've been in Congress only two years," he said.

The aide nodded. "The president is keen to advance black congressmen, and Tip O'Neill agrees." Tip O'Neill was the House majority leader, who had the prerogative of granting committee seats.

George said: "I'll be glad to serve the president any way I can--but intelligence?"

The CIA and other intelligence agencies reported to the president and the Pentagon, but they were authorized, funded, and in theory controlled by Congress. For security, control was delegated to two committees, one in the House and one in the Senate.

"I know what you're thinking," said the aide. "Intelligence committees are usually packed with conservative friends of the military. You're a liberal who has criticized the Pentagon over Vietnam and the CIA over Watergate. But that's why we want you. At present those committees don't oversee, they just applaud. And intelligence agencies that think they can get away with murder will commit murder. So we need someone in there asking tough questions."

"The intelligence community is going to be horrified."

"Good," said the aide. "After the way they behaved in the Nixon era, they need to be shaken up." He glanced across the dance floor. Following his gaze, George saw that President Carter was leaving. "I have to go," the aide said. "Do you want time to think?"

"Hell, no," said George. "I'll do it."

*

"Godmother? Me?" said Maria Summers. "Are you serious?"

George Jakes smiled. "I know you're not very religious. We're not, either, not really. I go to church to please my mother. Verena has been once in the last ten years, and that was for our wedding. But we like the idea of godparents."

They were having lunch in the Members' Dining Room of the House of Representatives, on the ground floor of the Capitol building, sitting in front of the famous fresco Cornwallis Sues for Cessation of Hostilities. Maria was eating meat loaf; George had a salad.

Maria said: "When's the baby due?"

"A month or so--early April."

"How is Verena feeling?"

"Terrible. Lethargic and impatient at the same time. And tired, always tired."

"It will soon be over."

George brought her back to the question. "Will you be godmother?"

She evaded it again. "Why have you asked me?"

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