“It also likes to keep American nationals alive. The State Department believes that any U.S.-identified intervention right now would endanger the lives of dozens of American citizens who are now in rebeloccupied territory.”

Janson was silent. He knew how such calculations were arrived at; he had been part of the process often enough.

“As they explained, there are also other … complications .” Márta spoke the word with obvious distaste. “America’s Saudi allies, for example, have been quiet supporters of the KLF over the years. They’re not particularly enthusiastic about their approach, but if they don’t support oppressed Muslims in that Muslim lake called the Indian Ocean, they lose face with the rest of the Islamic world. And then there’s the matter of Donna Hedderman.”

Janson nodded. “A Columbia grad student in anthropology. Doing fieldwork in northeast Anura. Which was both foolish and brave. Captured by the Kagama rebels, who accused her of being a CIA agent. Which was both foolish and evil.”

“She’s been held by them for two months, incommunicado. Lip service aside, the United States hasn’t done a damn thing. Didn’t want to ‘complicate an already complicated situation.’”

“I’m getting the picture. If the United States refuses to intervene on behalf of an American national—”

“—how will it look if it turns around and sends a rescue team for the Hungarian billionaire? Yes. They didn’t put it so bluntly, but that’s the point they made. The phrase ‘politically untenable’ got a real workout.”

“And then you made all the obvious counterarguments … .”

“And some not-so-obvious ones. We pulled out all the stops. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I have to say that we usually get our way. Not this time. Then the other shoe dropped.”

“Let me guess. You had what they call the ‘terribly quiet chat,’” Janson said. “And my name came up.”

“Repeatedly. Several highly placed officials in State and Central Intelligence all strongly recommended you. You’re not part of the government anymore. You’re a free agent with international connections to others in your line of work, or what used to be your line of work. According to your former colleagues at Consular Operations, Paul Janson is ‘the best there is at what he does.’ I believe those were the exact words.”

“The present tense is misleading. They told you I retired. I wonder whether they told you why.”

“The point is, you’re a free agent now,” she said. “You parted ways with Consular Operations five years ago.”

Janson tilted his head. “With the awkwardness of saying good-bye to somebody on the street and then discovering you’re walking in the same direction.”