cc.goldenbuddha-第67部分

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　〃Correct；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃Lucky　break；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃but　then；　by　looking　at　this　list；　the　Dalai　Lama　is　a　lucky　one　too。　If　this　had　been　scheduled　last　year；　I　don't　know　if　we　could　have　pulled　it　off。〃　
　〃Isn't　that　the　truth？〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃Here's　how　I　see　it；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Of　the　fifteen　members　of　the　United　Nations　Security　Council；　we　have　three　of　the　five　permanent　members：　the　United　States；　the　United　Kingdom　and　Russia。　China　is　obviously　not　going　to　vote　our　way；　and　France　is　currently　trying　to　sell　whatever　they　can　to　the　Chinese；　so　they'll　probably　vote　with　them　so　as　not　to　upset　any　deals　they　have　in　progress。　The　remaining　ten　will　be　trickywe　need　to　pull　six　out　of　the　ten　to　give　us　the　nine　we　need　for　the　resolution。　Let　me　go　over　it　with　you。　Afghanistan　we're　not　going　to　geteven　with　the　U。S。　involvement　a　few　years　ago；　there　are　still　too　many　pockets　of　anti…Buddhist　revolutionaries　for　their　leaders　to　risk　voting　with　us。　Sweden　is　and　will　always　be　pacifistic；　at　least　at　the　start；　as　will　Canada。　Cuba　receives　too　much　aid　from　China　to　risk　voting　our　way；　not　to　mention　they　almost　always　vote　the　opposite　of　the　U。S。〃　
　〃Sounds　about　right；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃That　leaves　us　Brunei；　Laos；　Qatar；　Andorra；　Kiribati　and　Tuvalu。〃
　〃Correct；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃It's　blind　luck　that　we　have　two　tiny　South　Pacific　nations　on　the　Security　Council　at　the　same　time；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　〃It's　like　a　couple　of　years　ago；　when　Cameroon　and　Guinea　were　both　members　at　the　same　time；〃　Hanley　said。　〃It　happens。〃　
　〃Each　country　in　the　United　Nations　has　one　vote；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃but　this　is　the　first　time　I　really　considered　the　impact。〃
　〃Same　here；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Cabrillo　thought　for　a　moment。　〃I　know　the　emir　of　Qatar；〃　he　said。　〃If　we　offer　him　a　favor　later；　he'll　order　his　people　to　vote　the　way　we　want。　What　have　we　got　ing　up？〃　
　Hanley　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Nothing　right　now；　but　that　can　change。　The　last　time　he　went　in　with　us；　he　made　something　like　eighty　million。　If　we　call　in　the　past　favor　and　dangle　something　ahead；　you　got　the　vote。〃　
　〃You're　right；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃I'll　take　care　of　dealing　with　him。〃
　〃Good；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Laos　should　be　easy。　They're　Buddhist；　and　the　general　wants　his　car。〃　
　〃Offer　him　several；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　〃Where　are　we　funding　this　from？〃　Hanley　asked。　
　〃We're　going　to　try　to　use　around　half　of　the　hundred　million　windfall　for　everything。〃　
　〃Easy　e　easy　go；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Brunei　should　be　ours。　The　country　is　fifteen　percent　Buddhist　and　the　sultan　can't　risk　alienating　his　constituents。〃　
　〃Plus　we　saved　his　brother's　life　a　couple　of　years　ago；〃　Cabrillo　added。　
　〃Andorra；〃　Hanley　said；　〃what　about　them？〃　
　〃Good　thing　Halpert　set　up　the　new　pany　there；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃What's　their　GDP？〃　
　Hanley　scanned　through　an　almanac　and　found　the　information。　〃It's　around　one　point　two　billion。〃　
　〃Once　the　oil　es　online；〃　Cabrillo　noted；　〃we'll　be　bringing　another　twenty　percent　to　the　table。　If　someone　explains　that　to　their　ambassador；　he'd　be　stupid　not　to　see　his　way　to　giving　us　their　vote。　Money　talksplus　this　is　the　right　thing　to　do；　anyway。〃　
　〃I　agree；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃That　just　leaves　the　little　guys；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Kiribati　and　Tuvalu。〃　
　〃Kiribati's　GDP　is　sixty　million；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Tuvalu's　is　even　less。　It's　something　like　eight　million　split　up　over　ten　thousand　citizens。　Put　two　to　a　room；　and　one　of　the　major　Las　Vegas　hotels　could　house　the　entire　country。〃　
　Cabrillo　was　silent　for　a　moment。　
　〃Call　Lowden　in　Colorado　and　have　him　start　buying　cars　for　the　general。　Next；　send　Halpert　to　Andorra　to　explain　the　impact　our　pany　will　have　on　their　economy。　I'll　take　care　of　the　emir　of　Qatar　and　the　sultan　of　Brunei。〃　
　〃And　the　little　guys？〃　
　〃Truitt's　free；　isn't　he？〃　asked　Cabrillo。　
　GOLDEN　BUDDHA　〃Yes；　he　is。〃　
　〃Get　him　on　a　jet　with　a　stack　of　bearer　bonds。〃
　〃You　want　him　to　buy　the　votes？〃　Hanley　asked　〃Exactly。〃　
　
　THE　STORM　THAT　brought　the　torrential　rains　to　Macau　had　turned　into　spring　snow　by　the　time　it　crossed　Russia。　Had　it　not　been　night；　Cabrillo　would　have　seen　that　Moscow　was　covered　in　a　wet　blanket　of　white　that　rounded　the　edges　of　buildings　and　quieted　the　sounds。　Peering　from　the　windows　of　the　Gulfstream　as　the　pilots　shut　down　the　engines；　he　could　see　a　trio　of　black　Zil　limousines　with　police　escorts　front　and　rear。　Holding　a　fax　that　had　arrived　from　Overholt　only　minutes　before；　he　slid　the　document　into　the　file　and　then　unbuckled　his　seat　belt　and　rose。　The　copilot　was　unlatching　the　door　as　he　walked　forward。　
　〃Do　you　men　need　anything？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃I　think　we're　okay；　boss；〃　the　copilot　said。　〃We'll　just　refuel　and　await　your　return。〃　
　Cabrillo　nodded　and　waited　as　the　step　was　lowered。　〃Wish　me　luck；〃　he　said　as　he　stepped　down　onto　the　snow…covered　tarmac。　
　A　tall　man　in　a　thick；　dark　blue　wool　coat　was　standing　a　few　feet　from　the　Gulfstream。　His　head　was　covered　by　a　fur　Cossack　cap　and　his　breath　made　puffs　of　mist　as　he　exhaled。　He　approached　Cabrillo　while　removing　a　glove　and　offered　his　hand。　Cabrillo　shook　it；　then　the　man　motioned　to　the　middle　limousine。　
　〃I'm　Sergei　Makelikov；〃　the　man　said　as　the　driver　opened　the　door；　〃special　assistant　to　President　Putin。〃　
　Cabrillo　followed　the　man　into　the　rear　of　the　limousine。　〃Juan　Cabrillo；　chairman　of　the　Corporation。〃　
　The　door　was　closed；　and　a　few　seconds　later　the　police　cars　started　away　from　the　Gulfstream　followed　by　the　trio　of　limousines。　〃The　president　is　very　interested　in　hearing　what　you　have　to　say；〃　Makelikov　noted。　〃May　I　offer　you　a　drink；　perhaps　vodka；　or　some　coffee？〃　
　〃Coffee；　please；〃　Cabrillo　said。　
　Makelikov　reached　for　a　silver…plated　thermal　carafe　and　poured　the　contents　into　a　red　mug　with　the　crest　of　the　Russian　republic　on　the　side。　He　handed　it　to　Cabrillo。　
　〃How　was　your　flight？〃　
　The　streets　were　deserted　at　this　late　hour。　The　procession　roared　down　the　road　toward　central　Moscow；　followed　by　a　cloud　of　snowflakes。　Cabrillo　sipped　the　coffee。　
　〃No　problems；〃　Cabrillo　said；　smiling。　
　〃Cuban　cigar？〃　Makelikov　asked。　
　〃Don't　mind　if　I　do；〃　Cabrillo　said　as　he　selected　one　from　the　box　Makelikov　held。　
　Trimming　the　end　with　a　tool　from　inside　the　box；　Cabrillo　leaned　over　for　a　light　from　Makelikov。　〃We'll　be　there　shortly；〃　the　Russian　noted。　〃In　the　meantime；　perhaps　you　would　like　to　hear　some　music。〃　
　He　motioned　to　a　CD　player　and　a　stack　of　discs。　They　were　all　jazz。　
　〃I　see　you　know　my　taste　in　music；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃We　know　a　lot　about　you；〃　Makelikov　said　easily；　〃and　that　is　why　President　Putin　is　staying　up　late　to　see　you。〃　
　Cabrillo　nodded　and　smiled。　〃Great　cigar。〃　
　Makelikov　lit　one　and　puffed。　〃It　is；　isn't　it？〃　
　Cabrillo　slid　a　CD　into　the　player　and　the　men　relaxed　and　listened。　
　Fourteen　minutes　later　the　procession　slid　to　a　stop　in　front　of　a　row　of　town　houses　near　Gorky　Park。　Makelikov　waited　until　the　driver　opened　the　door；　then　he　stepped　out　onto　the　snow…covered　sidewalk。　
　〃One　of　the　president's　hideaways；〃　he　said　as　Cabrillo　climbed　out。　〃We　can　talk　here　in　private。〃　
　The　two　men　headed　up　the　walkway　to　the　steps　and　climbed　up　to　the　door；　where　Makelikov　nodded　at　a　Russian　army　sergeant。　He　saluted　and　swung　the　door　open。　Makelikov　and　Cabrillo　walked　inside。　
　〃Mr。　President；〃　Makelikov　said　loudly；　〃your　visitor　has　arrived。〃　
　〃I'm　in　the　living　room；〃　a　voice　said　from　a　room　to　the　right。　
　〃Let　me　take　your　coat；〃　Makelikov　said；　helping　Cabrillo　out　of　his　overcoat。　〃Go　on　inI'll　join　you　in　a　few　minutes。〃　
　Cabrillo　walked　into　the　living　room。　The　room　was　fitted　and　furnished　like　the　library　of　an　expensive　gentleman's　club。　Dark　wood　paneling；　the　walls　were　covered　with　paintings　of　hunting　scenes　and　birds。　Along　the　right　wall　was　a　fireplace　containing　a　roaring　wood　fire。　A　pair　of　high…backed　red　leather　chairs　framed　the　fireplace；　with　a　couch　just　behind　them　closer　to　the　door。　A　thick　red　carpet　atop　the　inlaid　wood　floors　led　almost　to　the　fireplace　hearth。　Two　brass　lamps　on　each　side　of　the　c