The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

and 'dumb' in the same sentence.
'Well, I mean, is it really necessary?' Goodley asked. 'Sounds like an
anachronism to me.'
'You have car insurance, Ben?' Jack asked.
'Yes, sure.'
'Ever have an auto accident?'
'Not one that was my fault,' Goodley replied.
'Then why bother with insurance?' Jack answered the question: 'Because it's
insurance, right? You don't expect to need it, you never want to need it, but
because you might need it, you spend the money – or time, in this case – to have
it.'
The Presidential Scholar made a dismissive gesture. 'Come on, it's a different
thing altogether.'
'That's right. In a car, it's just your ass.' Ryan stopped the sermon. 'Okay,
Director, I'm off for the rest of the day.'
'Your objections and recommendations are noted, Jack. I will bring them up at my
first opportunity – oh, before you leave, about NIITAKA . . .'
Ryan stopped in his tracks and stared down at Cabot. 'Sir, Mr Goodley is not
cleared for that word, much less that file.'
'We are not discussing the substance of the case. When will the people
downstairs' – Ryan was grateful he didn't say MERCURY – 'be ready for the, uh,
modified operations? I want to improve data-transfer.'
'Six weeks. Until then we have to use the other methods we discussed.'
The Director of Central Intelligence nodded. 'Very well. The White House is very
interested in that, Jack. Good job to all concerned.'
'Glad to hear that, sir. See you tomorrow.' Jack walked out.
'NIITAKA?' Goodley asked after the door closed. 'Sounds Japanese.'
'Sorry, Goodley. You can forget that word at your earliest opportunity.' Cabot
had only spoken it to remind Ryan of his place, and the honorable part of the
man already regretted having done so.
'Yes, sir. May I ask an unrelated question?'
'Sure.'
'Is Ryan as good as people say?'
Cabot stubbed out the remains of his cigar, to the relief of his visitor. 'He's
got quite a record.'
'Really? I've heard that. You know, that's the whole reason I'm here, to examine
the personality types that really make a difference. I mean, how does someone
grow into the job? Ryan's skyrocketed up the ladder here. I'd be very interested
in seeing how he managed to do that.'
'He's done it by being right a lot more often than he's wrong, by making some
tough calls, and with some field jobs that even I can hardly believe,' Cabot
said, after a moment's consideration. 'And you can never, ever reveal that to
anyone, Dr Goodley.'
'I understand, sir. Could I see his record, his personnel file?'
The DCI's eyebrows arched. 'Everything you see in there is classified. Anything
you try to write about it – '
'Excuse me, but I know that, sir. Everything I write is subject to security