Alien Diplomacy

was,” Olga said, giving us a very wide-eyed, innocent look. “At least, that is what I will say, and you will be able to say it, too, since it is true.”
    “What are you afraid of?” I asked.
    “Or who?” Chuckie added.
    Olga shrugged, gently jiggling Jamie and making goo-goo faces at her, while Jamie giggled. “Afraid? I am not afraid so much. For myself, at least. For others? For them I am quite afraid.”
    “Why tell us about it?”
    She looked up at me. “Because you are the only ones who can stop it.”



CHAPTER 62
    “S TOP WHAT?” CHUCKIE ASKED, voice carefully neutral.
    “There are a lot of ‘its’ going on right now,” I added. I doubted I’d achieved the same neutrality in my tone, but I wasn’t Mr. C.I.A., so I cut myself a break on that one.
    Olga looked out the window. “I like it here. The medical care is very good. I would not be doing so well if I were back home.”
    “What are you suffering from?” White asked. He didn’t sound impatient or anything. I figured I’d been going to all those classes for something, and if Olga wanted to extend the visit by getting around to the pertinent facts slowly, so be it. Diplomacy was going to be my middle name, at least for as long as I could manage it.
    “Multiple Sclerosis. I can move without the chair less and less these days.” She sighed and looked back to us. “Therefore, I have a different view about many things.” She kissed Jamie on the head. “Because I sit here most days and watch the world outside, I see things. Many things.”
    “Things of interest to us?” Chuckie asked.
    “Oh, I’m sure.” She smiled and looked back out the window. “I know American Centaurion is…different. Sometimes I take pictures, so my Andrei can tell me who it is I’m seeing.” She chuckled. “He said your little party was quite the event. I would have enjoyed it greatly when I was younger.”
    “It was a disaster, but I’m really glad you’re not holding a grudge.”
    She laughed. “Oh, my dear, we all make mistakes. You’re all so young. You’ll learn.” She gave White a conspiratorial smile. “As those of us who have lived longer already know.”
    “I’d appreciate learning what it is you want to tell us,” Chuckie said politely while White chuckled. “We’re on a schedule of a sort.”
    “Oh, yes. The President’s Ball. I won’t be attending.”
    “It’s handicapped accessible.”
    Olga looked up at me. “Yes, it is. And the President sent a personal message, asking me to consider attending, especially under the circumstances.”
    “Circumstances?”
    “Our president is coming for the event. That is why only Adriana and I are here right now. The rest of our mission is with him on a tour of the city. He would like me to attend as well. But it’s hard to escape if you’re in a wheelchair. And I cannot be certain an Alpha Centaurion will be near enough to me when disaster strikes.”
    I looked at Chuckie. “Does everyone in the world know?”
    He shot me the “shut up, shut up” look. “I’m sorry, Ambassadress. I think you meant American Centaurion.”
    Olga was clearly too well-bred to roll her eyes, but I was pretty sure she wanted to. “Mister Reynolds, please. Let us drop the pretense. As I said, it’s only Adriana and myself here. We know, she and I. Only we two. Andrei suspects, I believe, but it’s difficult to believe. Unless you spend your days watching.”
    “What conclusions have you drawn?” White asked.
    She shrugged. “You’re here to protect and serve. Most of you, anyway. I know you must feel you’re not doing well right now.”
    “The Party from Hell was a tip-off, yeah.”
    She shook her head. “You were genuinely trying. Andrei told me how devastated everyone seemed when things went…awry. I understand there were tears.”
    “Doreen’s very pregnant, and Amy was really expecting better results.” Hey, I’d managed not to burst into tears in front of people. I’d saved that for when I was alone with Jeff. I was a good wife and ambassador that way.
    “I can tell you truthfully that the people who had your mission before you would have thrown a perfect gathering.”
    “Great, good to know.”
    I got the Severe Mother Look. Wow, I hadn’t realized my mom hadn’t made that one up on her own. “Their party would have been perfect. And only some would have been invited—only those whose influence they were courting.”
    “Our new Concierge Majordomo says we didn’t invite