Follow Focus
11
Friends in Places
SOMEHOW, we got through the next few days in India. We handled Madras on Friday and flew on to Hyderabad on Saturday. We spent the evening Saturday and most of the day Sunday as tourists in the city. Upon our arrival Saturday, we were assigned a tour guide from the consulate who drove us around all the important sites, explaining what we were seeing in heavily accented English. I took a lot of pictures, but can’t say what I saw beyond a lake, a tomb, the legislative building, and a bunch of very old architecture.
We were in a very nice hotel and elected to simply stay there from mid-afternoon on Sunday until our driver picked us up on Monday morning. We even ordered room service and spent some time relaxing in each other’s arms as we made love.
“Do we have any idea what we are doing when we get back to Chicago?” I asked my lover.
“Yes. That’s what I’ve been doing in the evening when I’m on the phone. That magic hour from seven until eight p.m. here is the best time to call the office. When we get back, we will have three days off as comp time after our thirteen straight days on the clock. I would guess our yard needs to be mowed again. The following week, I’ll be staying in Chicago while you travel alone.”
“What? Where are they sending me alone? I didn’t think that after Calcutta they would trust me out of sight. We’ve had a person assigned to us everywhere we’ve gone since then,” I said.
“I think we were supposed to have someone in Calcutta, too, but signals somehow got crossed up and we were left to our own devices. I’m sure we’ll hear all about that in our meeting with Mr. Martin on Thursday next week. But then on Tuesday, you are headed to Washington, DC. A shipment of equipment will be waiting for you in a large classroom where you will train some fifty or so personnel on the equipment. Class sizes are limited to twelve stations at a time. The equipment will primarily be used for creating ID badges at the State Department, but will have the twenty-seven passport agencies and centers in the US, so you won’t have to travel around to all the centers training people. They’re all coming to you in DC. The other devices and personnel are located in and around DC and will be responsible for getting every State Department employee badged.”
“Is that such a big job that they need all those people? We handled this office in a week.”
“There are over 20,000 State Department employees domestically. They don’t want you working in DC for the entirety of your alternative service. They really do want us out and training in the consulates. I guess the trip here to India was first because of an urgent need in Bangladesh. The rest of India was a target of opportunity. I’m almost surprised they aren’t sending us on to Pakistan. But I’m not suggesting it. We have nearly 20,000 Foreign Office employees to tag as you install at each of the consulates.”
“I had no idea it was so big!”
“I didn’t either until I saw it for the first time,” Ronda said seductively. “I was sure it would never fit, but the more I got used to it, the more certain I was that I would make it fit no matter what.”
“Are we still talking about the State Department?”
“No. We’re talking about making love again. What good is traveling together and having hotel rooms and room service if we aren’t fucking our brains out?”
I had to agree with that.
We did the training in Hyderabad Monday morning. By three o’clock, we were in the air to Bombay. We were once again met at the airport and escorted to our hotel. Our driver indicated he was at our disposal if we wanted to go anywhere. We asked about food and he gladly took us to a restaurant where he suggested the Bheja Fry.
“This is a Muslim restaurant. Much meat. Only fish at Maharashtran restaurant,” our driver said. “I will wait for you here. Do not hurry. I will not move.”
We went in and enjoyed our meal, discovering that our driver’s version of ‘meat’ was primarily goat and chicken. That was okay. Our meal was sauteed with tomatoes and onions and a bunch of spices I couldn’t name. When we finally got around to asking the waiter, who spoke English, what was in the dish, he told us: Goat brains. We were glad we didn’t know before eating.
Our driver was waiting when we left the restaurant.
Breakfast in the hotel was much simpler. It was simply an egg and toast dish and we learned not to ask what else was in it. Our driver was waiting for us when we left the hotel and drove us the short distance to the consulate. We were greeted by the Consul General himself and welcomed to their humble chancery. He asked if we would have lunch with him, and of course we agreed.
Training went well, though I was afraid by the time we finished, we might have missed our lunch date. Not so. The consulate here seemed to be a little more laid back than the first three we’d visited. We were asked about the training we’d conducted and the status of the other consulates. The questions were pretty general and I didn’t think we were giving up any secrets of one branch to another in the same government.
“We’ve had our challenges here. Perhaps not as acute as those faced by Calcutta, but India is still in the throes of change. It has been independent for only twenty-five years and there are many factions vying for control. Some are the usual communist, democratic socialist, nationalist, etc. You see them everywhere. And some are religious divisions—not just Hindu vs. Muslim, but many sects within each,” he said.
“I understand,” Ronda said. “It must be very difficult to negotiate among so many who must be clamoring for your attention or endorsement.”
“Yes. Of course, the real weight is on the shoulders of the ambassador.” He looked between the two of us as if weighing options and then turned first to Ronda. “You might consider carrying a sturdy handbag on your trips to different consulates and embassies. Something with a strong strap that you can pass over the opposite shoulder. And always make sure that the flap opens toward your body and not away. Since you are without such a bag at the moment, I will give this to Mr. Hart.” He handed me a standard business envelope. It had no name or address on it. “If you would be so kind as to secure this in the inside pocket of your suit and hand it to the ambassador in New Delhi, I would be indebted.”
I wondered what kind of test this was. They had telephones here. They had couriers. There must be any number of ways to get a message from Bombay to New Delhi. I tucked the envelope into my inside pocket and buttoned the flap. Adrienne. She had thought of everything when working on my wardrobe, including the ability to secure things in my pocket.
We concluded our meal and unorthodox meeting and packed up to leave the consulate. It was already late in the day and we decided to stay in for another evening, just enjoying the luxurious bath and casual time together. We didn’t mention or discuss the envelope. I just hoped I could get it out of my jacket and into the hands of the ambassador more easily than passing a note in Miss Kellogg’s literature class in high school.
We arrived in New Delhi early enough that our driver took us to the embassy for a courtesy call. At least that’s what I expected it to be. We did have a tour of the embassy, which was at least twice the size of any of the consulates. There must have been 150-200 people there, plus people who were interviewing or had business with the embassy.
“Leonard Graves, Consular Affairs Attaché,” the man in the passport office introduced himself. “That covers all US citizen interactions, including passports and immigration visas. Let me say we are happy to welcome you and the new technology you bring to India.”
“Nate Hart and Ronda May,” I said, shaking his hand.
“We’ve had an excellent time with the first four installations,” Ronda volunteered.
“As busy as our four consulates are, we still process close to three times the number of passport and visa requests here at the embassy. Remember that India is the second most populous country in the world, with over half a billion people. Believe me, anything you can do to streamline our process is appreciated.” He led us into an office next to his that had the equipment cases and materials in it. “This is where we intend to do the training, but I believe we’ll need to have the actual operation located less deep within the embassy. Do you have an opinion on that?”
“Of course you need to determine your own traffic patterns,” I said. “One of the things we discovered in Chicago was separating where the applicant info is taken and typed from the area where the passport is actually manufactured gives an added level of security. In this room, for example, you have nearly everything that is necessary to create a valid US Passport. The passport form, typewriter, camera, photosensitive papers, laminating and binding. I’ve advised each of the consulates to separate the information gathering and completion of the template from the photo and binding portion.”
“Excellent. You’ll be training a few more people in the process tomorrow than for the consulates. We can’t be dependent on having only one operator at the embassy. You’ll get a break for lunch, of course, but after your day’s work, there will still be the evening.”
“The evening, sir?”
“Yes. We are asking to enlist your service as a photographer for an ambassadorial dinner.” He glanced at his watch. “We’re due for a quick introduction to the Ambassador, if you’ll come with me.”
We had to actually walk outside and across a courtyard to a separate building to get to the main offices of the ambassador. Mr. Graves pointed out the ambassador’s residence, Roosevelt House, next door to the chancery. It was all within one walled compound.
“Mr. Ambassador, may I present our photographer and passport experts, Mr. Hart and Miss May,” Graves said when we were admitted to the rather grandiose office.
“Welcome. Welcome,” the ambassador said as he came around the desk. Mr. Graves stepped out of the office leaving us alone with the ambassador. I immediately reached in my pocket for the letter and handed it to him. It had no markings on the envelope.
“It’s from…”
“Shh. It doesn’t exist,” the ambassador said. He slipped the envelope into his own pocket. “Now, regarding the assignment tomorrow evening. You have all you need for photographing an event?”
“I wasn’t aware that we’d be doing any official photos, but I have my 35mm camera, a strobe, and film. If you want black and white, I’ll need to change out what I’ve currently loaded,” I said.
“We have a photographer,” the ambassador sighed. “But he is currently indisposed. If you can take a roll of black and white photos, my secretary will point out the scenes. At the end of the session, just give her the roll of film and we’ll take care of the processing and printing. Please be sure that there are only official photos on the film. No miscellaneous scenery. These things can be rather delicate if not handled correctly. Suit and tie for Mr. Hart. Miss May, as his official assistant, a suit or dress with a jacket will do. Knee-length or longer skirt. If you need anything, your driver will escort you to a shopping area.”
“I believe we’re prepared for that,” Ronda said. “We didn’t understand why we were bringing such formal clothes when we were assigned this trip.”
“You’ll find that in the diplomatic services, you should always be prepared,” the ambassador chuckled. “They should at least tell you in advance if you will need a tuxedo and formal gown.”
“I never anticipated that,” I said.
“My secretary will meet you at Roosevelt House after your training session tomorrow. Don’t worry; you will get to eat.”
He escorted us back to the door where our driver, introduced as Mo, met us, and took us to check into our hotel. We decided to eat in the hotel restaurant, so the driver said he’d be back at eight o’clock in the morning to pick us up.
“I’m not going out on another assignment until I’ve had a meeting with Mr. Martin and get some things clarified,” I said when Ronda and I were in our room. “I don’t know exactly how the organization and structure of the Bureau of Consular Affairs works, but I understand my reporting structure for alternative service. Until and unless he reassigns me, I report only to Martin and if these guys want me to pass secret messages and take official photographs, they need to understand that I’ll report it all to him.”
“Calmly, sweetheart. I agree, but there is nothing we can do before we return to the US and have our debriefing on Thursday. We go back day after tomorrow, but our meeting with our boss is still a week away.”
“Should we call him?”
“Somehow, I don’t think this should be discussed over the phone. I know I’ve seen too many spy movies, but I get the feeling we could be watched and monitored at any time.”
“You’re right. Whoever is spying on us, I hope they enjoy watching me make love to you tonight.”
“Why Mr. Hart! Are you going to sexually assault your assistant?”
“Only if she wants me to.”
“Oh, she does!”
We went to the restaurant in the hotel for dinner first.
We did two full training sessions on Thursday, with four in each session. Two of the people were designated as being the ones responsible for getting everyone in the embassy issued a badge. The other six were filling the administrative and technical roles in producing passports and visas. This embassy was really a hopping place.
We ate lunch in the embassy cafeteria, and at five o’clock a staff member came to pick us up in the training room and escort us to Roosevelt House. We were taken to a room where we could change clothes and get ready for the dinner. When we were ready, we were led to a small eating area off the kitchen where the ambassador’s secretary joined us for dinner.
“I’m Karen. Do you mind if I join you for dinner? I’m afraid I won’t get to eat otherwise.”
“Please do,” Ronda said. “Maybe you can tell us what we’re doing.”
“Well, I’m sure you know what to do in general. I’ll follow along with you and direct you to specific photos of the ambassador with the foreign minister. The whole dinner is supposed to help shore up the Foreign Minister by showing how closely he is working with the US on economic, education, and cultural matters. Relations took a bit of a hit when the West Bengal local government renamed the road the consulate is on to Ho Chi Minh Sarani Road. Now the official address of the consulate is on a road named for our current great enemy.”
“I see. I’m just filling in for the embassy photographer to take photos that show how good the working relationship between India and the US is,” I said.
“That’s correct. We hope you will use a flash in taking the photos. The Ambassador intends to have the Foreign Minister understand that we are taking the desire of India to work more closely seriously and that he will be responsible for assuring that.”
“There is so much politics involved here,” Ronda said. “You know we are not political appointees, right?”
“Neither am I, Ronda. But there is nothing we can do to eliminate politics from the field. It’s what diplomacy is all about.”
I had no experience with state dinners and Karen told me that would continue. There is apparently an official terminology and state dinners carried much more weight than two officials meeting together for dinner.
“A state dinner is given by the president to honor a visiting head of state. It often involves a hundred or more guests,” Karen said when we entered the dining room. “This is an ambassadorial level unofficial dinner. We’d like to start with a couple of photos of the table arrangement, if you would, please.”
It was a long table with five places set on either side. There was no setting at the head or foot of the table. I was informed the ambassador would sit at the center of what was to me the right side of the table and the foreign minister would sit opposite at the center of the left side.
“Do you plan this whole thing?” Ronda asked.
“Oh, no. I’m the ambassador’s office secretary. The social secretary plans dinners like this. This one came together rather quickly after a number of conversations last week. It is a business dinner, as can be told by having no wives present.”
I could hear chatter in the next room as I took the pictures and servers hurried in and out, but Karen explained there were no cameras allowed in the cocktail lounge. Ronda, Karen, and I stepped back against a wall to wait as the guests entered the dining room. All stood behind their chairs as the ambassador and the foreign minister gave their greetings and then were seated. I got a photo of their toasts. As soon as they were seated, food began arriving. Karen maneuvered me into position to take pictures of everyone at the table, shooting over the ambassador to get the foreign minister and vice versa. Most of the meal was spent waiting until Karen tapped me to take a specific photo. I had Ronda hold the strobe and bounced it off the ceiling to get better illumination without shadows. We’d get a picture and then step back against the wall until Karen pointed out the next photo to take.
At eight-thirty, the meeting broke up and I photographed the ambassador and the foreign minister shaking hands across the table. I had no idea what any of the meeting was about. I removed the film from the camera and handed it off to Karen. She led us back to the room where we’d changed and we picked up our bags. Mo met us and drove us back to the hotel. We collapsed in bed and barely got up early enough to have Mo drive us to the airport for our trip back to Chicago.
Ronda and I indulged in a bottle of wine for dinner, but did not try to have sex on the plane again. It was only thirty hours home instead of thirty-six, because we were flying from New Delhi instead of Calcutta and had one less layover. We still didn’t get in until Saturday afternoon.
Our girlfriends and little girl were waiting at customs, which we breezed through with our bags and black passports. We hugged and kissed and generally made a spectacle of ourselves.
“I hope your trips aren’t all this long,” Anna sighed as she led us to the parking lot. “This was like being in college again and living in a different city.”
“And you know, we are an awful long way from anyone we know up in Antioch,” Patricia said. “We want to invite neighbors over to meet everyone, but when you get home, we want you all to ourselves.”
“Dance, Daddy,” Toni said.
“As soon as we get home, precious,” I answered. I sat in the back seat next to the little girl on the way home.
“I mowed the yard last weekend,” Patricia said. “But I’m sorry to say it needs mowing again. This will probably be the last time, though. The weather has definitely been getting colder and I expect we’ll have frost by the first of November.”
“That’s hard to believe. We’ve just come from temperatures in the nineties. It’s making me rethink the plan to get to southern climes in the winter if it will be that much of a shock when we get home,” Ronda said.
“Please, just take us with you,” Anna said. “I’d love a week with temperatures in the 90s this winter.”
“We’ll have to find out where we’re going and if it’s safe,” I said. “And I’m not going out again until I know exactly what’s expected of me. We got raked across the coals because I called my friend Rohan from the class in England in January. They were sure I was passing secrets to some separatist organization—as if I had any secrets to pass.”
“Which he did have when we left Bombay. The Consul General gave him an unmarked envelope to hand privately to the Ambassador in New Delhi.”
“And if that wasn’t enough, we had to photograph an ambassadorial dinner one night and simply give the exposed film to the ambassador’s secretary.”
“You guys! You’re just supposed to be popping in to train people on how to use the new equipment. What’s going on?” Patricia asked with a little alarm.
“Going on!” Toni shouted. We quickly decided the car with our daughter in it was not the place to have this discussion.
It turned out that the discussion was pretty much already ended. There wasn’t much more we could add to it. Once I’d danced with Toni and we’d had dinner, we had some nice family time. Eventually, we managed to get to bed and I got to cuddle with Patricia and put my hand on her tummy.
“Seventeen weeks, as close as I can figure,” she whispered. “I’m actually feeling pregnant.”
“Just now?”
“At least I’m not having morning sickness anymore. But yeah. I can feel my body changing. I’m a little more relaxed this time than I was when I found out about Toni. So, I’m letting myself be more in touch with my body. I’m… enjoying it. I was really too panicked to enjoy it the first time.”
“I’m so glad we can all enjoy it this time. I didn’t have any idea how much my life would change when Toni was born. Now, at least I have a clue.”
“I’ve kind of missed having you make love to me the past couple of weeks. I know it’s not the longest we’ve gone, but I still missed you.”
I guess that was my cue to move my hand down from her tummy and begin getting my lover worked up a little. Behind me, I could hear Anna getting worked up as Ronda went down on her.
Sunday through Wednesday were homemaking days. Anna was working for Jordan Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays, but Monday morning, we all went to Toni’s school and got introduced to her teacher, Miss Thompson. Miss Thompson was, indeed, as pretty as Toni had described her. This was her first year teaching out of college, so we were about the same age.
“Good morning, Toni! Who did you bring to school with you today?”
“Mommy and Daddy,” Toni began. Then she continued right down the line. “And Mom Anna and Mom Ronna.” Then she turned to Patricia and patted her tummy. “Baby sister. She’s not borned yet.”
“Hello. It’s so nice to meet Toni’s family,” Miss Thompson said. “I’m Miss Lisa. It’s too hard for some of the kids to get Thompson out.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lisa,” I said as she took my offered hand. She went on to Anna and Ronda.
“I absolutely love having an unusual family for one of my kids. I want you to know that Toni has actually helped other kids open up about their families. Some are rather complex with a divorce and remarriage and step siblings in the mix. Kids are just at the stage where they learn not everyone is the same,” Miss Lisa said.
“I like this already,” I said. I strolled around the room and Toni pointed out what things were and a painting she’d done.
“Toni is very bright,” Lisa whispered to Patricia and me. “I think she could easily be in kindergarten instead of Head Start, but they’re encouraging us to keep bright children with the class for better socialization. I hope that is okay with you. I would really miss her if she jumped ahead.”
Patricia and I nodded to each other.
“I think this is good. She’s learning to help others,” I said.
“I hope you stay here as a teacher long enough to have the next one in your class,” Patricia said.
“I hope so, too,” Lisa said. “Oops! Gotta greet my other kidlets. Excuse me.” The other children were arriving in the classroom and we slipped out after giving Toni a hug.
“She’s pretty damn cute,” Ronda said when we had finished in the school office to get all four of us registered as able to pick up Toni after school.
“No,” I said. “Don’t even think about it. No pictures and no anything else. She’s our daughter’s teacher.”
“I know you’re right,” Ronda laughed. “But if you want to take me home now and strip me naked while you imagine you’re playing with that cute little nursery school teacher, I’d be okay with that.”
“I’m okay with that,” Anna said, “but I’d just as soon we all go home and strip naked while we play with each other for a while. I haven’t caught up on my loving with my wife and husband yet.”
We decided the yard could wait until afternoon and followed Anna’s suggestion.
Thursday came all too soon. Ronda, Anna, and I were on the train into town and we were clocked in at the office by eight o’clock. It was cool to walk through the hall and see an ID badge hanging from every neck. Those up front getting ready for passport appointments looked a lot more comfortable and less suspicious than the first time I’d walked through the office.
Josie met us at our office with cups of coffee and settled down to go over the day’s agenda.
“I did as you asked, Miss May. Mr. Hart is expected at the Plaza Monday evening, just a block from the Truman Building where the training sessions will be held. He should report to the building between eight and eight-thirty. The first training session is planned to start at nine o’clock.”
“Good. And flights?”
“As you said, mid-afternoon, so he will arrive in plenty of time to get settled in and have dinner. There is an excellent restaurant in the hotel, but numerous restaurants and bars are within a couple of blocks. He’s just five hundred yards from Georgetown University, so there is a decidedly young vibe.”
“Josie, I’d like you to help me go over the list of next assignments as soon as Mr. Martin meets with us. I want to make sure we’ve been thoroughly briefed on each location and that we have a specific contact and schedule. Also, transportation to our hotels and the embassies.”
“Yes, ma’am. You’re expected in Mr. Martin’s office at nine o’clock. I’ll let you know if there’s a change.” Josie left and I took a sip of the coffee. It seemed a bit better than any I’d had in the past two weeks, but we’d been in India.
“I feel rather useless if I’m not actually in a classroom or traveling,” I said. “I’ve assembled and disassembled equipment so many times in the past month that I think I could do it blindfolded.”
“That’s a good goal. How is your camera equipment? Any wear and tear from the trip?”
“No, but I’m definitely going to take time after our meeting to give it a thorough cleaning. The dust in Hyderabad was really nasty. I might need to go to Levi’s and get some cleaners.”
We headed down to Mr. Martin’s office so we were standing outside a few minutes before nine. I expected he’d be late, but I was not planning to be. He surprised me and opened the door a minute before our meeting.
“Nate and Ronda, come in. I’ve been going over the reports from your first five locations,” he said.
“There are reports?” I asked.
“Oh, yes. This is a new project and I’m trying to keep track of everything I can to be sure it is successful. I haven’t seen anything negative. Tell me about your first impressions.”
“It was not what I was expecting,” I said. “But I’m not a seasoned international traveler. I felt somewhat disconnected when we arrived in Calcutta, partly due to the time change, I think. I wouldn’t have found the hotel without Ronda navigating.”
“I’m glad to know that part worked,” he chuckled. “Most of the time you’ll travel together so that there are two heads instead of one when you’re jetlagged. Ronda, I understand you were an important part of the process in the classroom as well.”
“Thank you, sir. Most of our trainees were familiar with the template into which information is typed, but this is a new template and keeping the data input separate from the passport output emerged as critical.”
“Yes, quite. That was a good suggestion and it is now included in the manual. The equipment was on site in each location?”
“It was. I believe we need to plan a little better with training supplies. The blank forms we used for training ran out in New Delhi. We had to ration them because there were so many people being trained. I don’t believe there should be any actual passport blanks opened during training.”
“Good. Let’s double the supplies we’re sending to Washington for next week’s training. Keep tabs on it and see if we can get it narrowed down to a more accurate count of what is needed per trainee. New Delhi was upset that they were getting only one setup of equipment for all the people they wanted trained. They will have one of the busiest offices in the world. We only expect there to be more and more traffic between the US and India. Now, what went wrong and what went right?”
“I believe we were supposed to have a driver meet us at the airport in Calcutta,” Ronda said. “The whole process worked much better when we landed in Madras, Hyderabad, Bombay, and New Delhi. I don’t remember anything we ate that evening because we couldn’t make a decision about anything as simple as food.”
“Yes, you are right. That was a definite mix-up in the signals regarding the Calcutta Consulate and the Dacca Embassy. They are supposed to cooperate on everything during this transitional time, but… They are responsible for different countries. They really don’t know how to work together.”
“Meeting the chief of mission and the consul general the first time as I was being raked over the coals for having dinner with a friend wasn’t exactly a great way to improve the relations,” I said. “Am I going to run into this every time I want to see a friend where we’re traveling?”
“I don’t think so, but we didn’t really think about someone as young as you having friends scattered around the world. It would be helpful if you compiled a list of names and contact information for each country you have been assigned. That way it wouldn’t be a surprise. We might even find it useful.”
“I can do that. It’s not like I have that many, but I’m sure I’ll eventually head to England, Australia, Germany, Italy, Greece, and France.”
“Well, that’s a good list to start with. Greece might be a little touchy with the political atmosphere there at the moment. The others shouldn’t pose much of a problem. Go through your address book and see that I have the list.”
“Yes, sir. We also ran into a situation and I want to know what to expect. We had lunch with the consul general in Bombay. That in itself was unexpected as I don’t think my paygrade would typically mean hobnobbing at that level. But he handed me an envelope. Sealed. No name on it. He asked me to pass it privately to the ambassador in New Delhi. The ambassador seemed to be expecting it. When I handed it to him, he told me it didn’t exist as he put it in his own pocket. Are we expected to be couriers of secret materials?”
“Ah. Hmm. Normally, I’d have to say no.”
“The Bombay Consul General even suggested that I get a handbag, and described exactly what it should look like,” Ronda said. “Not what I would normally carry.”
“Okay. Communications in several countries are unreliable. And call times and places are all monitored. For example, if you had waited to make the call to your friend in Calcutta until you were in the hotel, we would likely never have known of the meeting. You made the call from within the consulate and it was immediately flagged. We don’t actually spy on each other, but occasionally, we need to have something untraceable. Is it your job to carry messages? No. Will you be asked to do it? Undoubtedly. I would suggest the handbag, or as we usually call it, a messenger bag or dispatch case, is a good idea, but you should not always depend on it. Just because you are carrying the handbag shouldn’t mean you are carrying secret correspondence. Share with each other.”
“That is a little more than we expected in this job,” I said.
“It’s in the category of ‘other tasks as may be assigned.’ Don’t expect it to happen on every trip. But you are two of the few people in our department who have a reason to travel from one consulate or embassy to another. That reason should disguise any courier duties you might also have.”
“What about the photography assignment in New Delhi,” Ronda asked. “Nate wasn’t really prepared to take photos of an ambassadorial dinner.”
“Yes. That. I only found out about that after you had returned. If you need the State Department to supply you with a specific camera and equipment that would make you prepared for such an eventuality, I will sign a requisition. If it is only film, I’ll sign a requisition for that so you won’t be taking it out of your personal supply. I’m sure that in most instances, the situation will be strictly one of convenience, much like being a courier. You happened to be there at a time when they needed the service.”
“They said their current photographer was indisposed,” I said.
“Yes. He was actually under suspicion. The ambassador didn’t want him near that dinner because he might have leaked information. The meeting was arranged to be at a time when there would be an alternate photographer available. I don’t anticipate it will be a requirement everywhere you go, but there might well be places to put your photographic skills to use,” Martin said.
“I guess that’s all.”
“We won’t be able to have these debriefs after every assignment, but I want to have them often, and if you sense something is not right or that you are asked to do something unusual, request a meeting at any time. I definitely want to know when your services are employed as a photographer or as a courier. Now, let’s talk about your assignment next week. And we’ll talk about what trip you can take your family on.”
“Well, that sucks,” I said when Ronda and I got back to our office.
“It’s going to be a hard week with all the training sessions.”
“But you won’t be with me,” I sighed. “A reception dinner that I could bring a date to and you can’t travel with me.”
Martin had given us the details of my training week. It would definitely be a tough one. I’d have two classes a day for three days. Each class would have a dozen installation units, but fifteen to twenty people involved in each. I was pretty sure I could handle the training if there weren’t more than two on any given setup. It would be exhausting, but I could do it. Then, Wednesday evening, there would be a reception dinner for all the trainees who had come to Washington from around the country. Many were bringing their spouses and all were welcome at the dinner. But I would be in DC alone. Oh, poor me.
“We can ask Anna and Patricia if either of them wants to go. You know, we’ll have to pay expenses for them, like taking them anyplace else.”
“And that can affect whether they go with us to the Caribbean over the holidays,” I said.
“I think he tossed that one in there to assuage the bad feelings about this trip,” Ronda laughed. “It’s going to be another tough two weeks, even with the whole family together.”
“I understand Puerto Rico is really nice,” I said looking at our huge wall map. “Then Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.”
“While we do that shuttle, Anna, Patricia, and Toni will stay in Puerto Rico. We do Trinidad and Barbados, then have a nice long holiday weekend on the beach in Nassau before we fly back to Chicago.”
“I still think it’s sneaky, making it look like we’re having a vacation while we’re still working five days a week and traveling.”
The evening went about the way I expected. Everyone upset that they couldn’t join me for the party in Washington, DC and excited that we’d go to the Caribbean in December. We also talked about Ronda and me being tapped occasionally to carry something from one office to another or to need to take photos at any location. I might start carrying more equipment with me, but Martin said he’d put out word that if my services as a photographer were required, it had to be arranged in advance in order to make travel arrangements and be sure I had the proper equipment.
There wasn’t a strong need for passport equipment at our Canadian offices. The week after I got home from Washington, Ronda and I would fly to Ottawa and install at the embassy, then cross-country to Vancouver to the consulate there. Since there was no border restriction with Canada, there just wasn’t a need for equipment at each of the seven consulates. The next week, though, we’d have another two-week jaunt to Mexico. The first week would be in Mexico City at the embassy. The consulates south of there would send their people in for training. But some of the consulates were scattered north of Mexico City and we’d be flying short hops between them, doing the training, and hopping to the next.
“I have an idea,” Anna said. “I don’t think you should miss the opportunity of having a sexy date at the reception dinner next Wednesday. There’s always an alternative date for you, just waiting for the opportunity to serve you. Call Adrienne. She’d knock them all out at the dinner.”
Hmm. I needed to clear that with Mr. Martin. But a week in DC with Adrienne? She would definitely turn heads.
“You know, you will be training some single women who will be unaccompanied at the dinner,” Martin said. He kind of laughed at my request. “I’m not trying to set you up with any, but I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t need to spend the night alone.”
“Intra-office affairs are always messy,” I said. “Besides, Adrienne is one of a kind. She manages my relationship with the movie company in LA.”
“Well, in that case, I don’t see any difficulties. Let me run her name to be sure she’s clean and then you’re clear to invite her. I’ll look forward to meeting her in Washington.”
“You’ll be there, sir?”
“Only on Wednesday for the reception. Most of those people report to me, at least indirectly.”
“Oh, of course. I didn’t think about that.”
“Master! You called. Fifi is so happy! Are you coming to LA?”
“Oh, my sweet girl, no. Having a job is much worse than being in school. I can’t even cut class one day!”
“How terrible. Perhaps Fifi can pay you a visit to alleviate the pain.”
“I was just thinking about that, dear. How would you like to meet me in Washington, DC next week? I’m going to be there all week, but there is a reception dinner that I’d like you to accompany me to. I think all the State Department people should know what a classy mistress I have.”
“Master! The whole State Department?”
“No. There are around 20,000 of those. These are just the people I’m training from around the country in the passport services group. About a hundred or so, I guess. Including my boss,” I said.
“Do you need your tuxedo?”
“No, nothing quite so formal as that. Cocktail dress is what I was told. Why don’t I have you talk with Ronda. She has all the arrangements and dress code. You don’t need to be there all week just because I am. I’m afraid you might be bored while I’m working eight hours a day. Or more, depending on how it progresses,” I said.
“I would not miss an opportunity to be with you for however little time you have available. I am very excited to see you.”
“Hmm. Perhaps we’ll even find a subject to photograph. I’ll bring the Hasselblad with me. It has been too long since I last took your photo.”
“I will bring something to show you,” she said. “Um… will you have time to go over the shooting progress for the movie?”
“We should be able to squeeze that in. I’m looking forward to seeing you, my dear. Now here’s Ronda.”
My week in Washington was sounding better all the time.
Please feel free to send comments to the author at devon@devonlayne.com.
