"Another victim for the Imperial sword." I looked up at the starry sky,
a mosaic of silver and black as the Milky Way floated above us. The
night air was symphonic with the sound of crickets. "How many more?"
Then she retrieved the _Post_ and we finished the item. After Noda's
prepared statement there'd been a Q&A--during which he reaffirmed his
intention to use all available means to block Senator O'Donnell's
subpoena of DNI's remaining records, an action he declared confiscatory
and groundless. Privileged information, etc.
He did, however, manage to wrap things up on a forward- looking note.
Today's unfortunate, indeed tragic, accidental fire should be
understood as merely a momentary setback. Nothing that had happened
would in any way diminish his program of capital infusion and open-
market acquisition in America's high-tech sector. Wall Street need not
worry; Senator O'Donnell's "harassment" notwithstanding, Dai Nippon's
money was here to stay. We were now partners. His grand new alliance,
Nipponica, would shape the world to come.
"That's what he thinks." She laughed. "Wait till he wakes up tomorrow
and discovers he just donated all his high-tech acquisitions to their
employees. Don't think that fits the big strategy. One thing, though,
America's overpaid, golf-playing senior executives could have some wild
and woolly board meetings ahead."
"Life's full of surprises." I pulled her over and slipped my arm
around.
"And the biggest one for me, this week at least, has been you." She
turned and kissed me softly on the mouth, then again. My heart skipped.
Whereupon she abruptly rose and dove headfirst into the pool. Without
her suit.
Looked to be a second chance coming up this year, for us all.