Your abilities are undervalued...
Your abilities are undervalued and
under-rewarded, for there is deadwood above you
The small crowd’s reaction was now somewhat more audible, definitely less constrained
“Compared to similar departments in the governments of our adversaries,” went on Carlos, “we
here in Moscow have lagged far behind when we should be ahead, and we are behind because your
talents have been suppressed by entrenched officeholders who care more for their office privileges
than they do for the functions of their departments!”
The response was immediate, even electric, with the three women openly if softly applauding
“It is for that reason, these reasons, that I and my associate comrades here in Moscow have sought
you outFurther, it is why I have sent you funds—to be used totally at your discretion—for the
money you’ve received is the approximate value of the privileges your superiors enjoyWhy
should you not receive them and enjoy them as they do?”
The rumble of why not? and he’s right rippled through the audience, now actually looking at one
another, eyes locked, and heads nodding firmlyThe Jackal then began to reel off the eight major
departments in question, and as each was named successively, there was an enthusiastic nodding of
heads“The ministries of Transport, Information, Finance, Import/Export, Legal Procedures,
Military Supply, Scientific Research and hardly the least, coco chanel jewelry Presidium AppointmentsThese are
your domains, but you have been cut out from all final decisionsThat is no longer acceptable—
changes must be made!”
The assembled listeners rose almost as one, no longer strangers but, instead, people united in a
causeThen one, the obviously cautious bureaucrat who had closed the door, spoke“You appear to
know our situations well, sir, but what can change them?”
“These,” announced Carlos, gesturing dramatically at the file folders spread out across the low
tableSlowly the small group sat down, singly and in couples, looking at one another when not
staring at the folders“On this table are secretly gathered confidential dossiers of your superiors in
each of the departments represented hereThey contain such injurious information that when
presented by you individually will guarantee your immediate promotions, and in several cases your
succession to those high officesYour superiors will have no choice, for these files are daggers
aimed at their throats—exposure would result in disgrace and execution
“Sir?” A middle-aged woman in a neat but nondescript plain blue dress cautiously stood upHer
blond-gray hair was swept back into a stern bun; she touched it briefly, self-consciously, as she
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spoke“I evaluate personnel files on a daily basis and frequently discover errors how can you
be hermes birkins certain these dossiers are accurate? For if they are not accurate, we could be placed in extremely
dangerous situations, is that not so?”
“That you should even question their accuracy is an affront, madame,” replied the Jackal coldly
“I am the monseigneur from ParisI have accurately described your individual situations and
accurately depicted the inferiority of your superiorsFurther, and at great expense and risk to
myself and my associates here in Moscow, I have covertly funneled monies to you so as to make
your lives more comfortable
“Speaking for myself,” interrupted a gaunt man wearing glasses and a brown business suit, “I
appreciate the money—I assigned mine to our collective fund and expect a moderate return—but
does one have anything to do with the other? I am with the Ministry of Finance, of course, and
having admitted that, I absolve myself of complicity for being clear about my status
“Whatever that means, accountant, you’re about as clear as your paralyzed ministry,” interrupted
an obese man in a black suit too small for his girth“You also cast doubt on your ability to
recognize a decent return! Naturally, I’m with Military Supply, and you consistently shortchange
us
“As you do constantly with Scientific Research!” exclaimed a short, tweedy professorial
member of the audience, the irregularity of his clipped beard due, no doubt, to poor vision, cartier santos 100 xl men watch despite
the thick spectacles bridging his nose“Returns, indeed! What about allocations?”
“More than sufficient for your grade-school scientists! The money is better spent stealing from
the West!”
“Stop it!” cried the priest-assassin, raising his arms like a messiah“We are not here to discuss
interdepartmental conflicts, for they will all be resolved with the emergence of our new elite
Remember! I am the monseigneur from Paris, and together we will bring about a new, cleansed
order for our great revolution! Complacency is over
“It is a thrilling concept, sir,” said a second woman, a female in her early thirties, her skirt
expensively pleated, her compact features obviously recognized by the others as a popular
newscaster on television“However, may we return to the issue of accuracy?”
“It is settled, “said the dark-eyed Carlos, staring in turn at each person“How else would I know
all about you?”
“I do not doubt you, sir,” continued the newscaster“But as a journalist I must always seek a
second source of verification unless the ministry determines otherwiseSince you are not with the
Ministry of Information, sir, and knowing that whatever you say will remain confidential, can you
give us a secondary source?”
“Am I to be hounded by manipulated journalists when I speak the truth?” The assassin caught
his breath in anger“Everything I’ve told you is the truth and you balenciaga whistle bag know it
“So were the crimes of Stalin, sir, and they were’ buried along with twenty million corpses for
thirty years
“You want proof, journalist? I’ll give you proofI have the eyes and the ears of the leaders of
the KGB—namely, the great General Grigorie Rodchenko himselfHe is my eyes and my ears, and
if you care to know a harsher truth, he is beholden to me! For I am his monseigneur from Paris as
well
There was a rustling among the captive audience, a collective hesitancy, a wave of quiet throat
clearingThe television newscaster spoke again, now softly, her wide brown eyes riveted on the
man in priest’s clothes
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“You may be whatever you say you are, sir,” she began, “but you do not listen to Radio
Moscow’s all-night stationIt was reported over an hour ago that General Rodchenko was shot to
death this morning by foreign criminalsIt was also reported that all high officers of the Komitet
have been called into an emergency session to evaluate the circumstances of the general’s murder
The speculation is that there had to be extraordinary reasons for a man of General Rodchenko’s
experience to be lured into a trap by these foreign criminals
“They will tear apart his files,” added the cautious bureaucrat, stiffly getting to his feet“They
will put everything under a KGB microscope, searching for those “extraordinary buy replica louis vuitton reason