CHAPTER 19

Sammy pounded back the last of the scotch in his glass, smacked his lips, and then let out a loud sigh. He saluted Nate Drummond with the empty. “Ya owe me, Nate. Big time!”

“Sammy, you owe your political existence to me. You managed to serve two terms when you probably didn’t deserve one. I’m not going to appoint you president of the board of Drumdat, and that’s final. And asking for a salary of fifty million? That’s outrageous.”

“Fifty mill is peanuts to ya.” Sammy poured himself a liberal dose of scotch from Nate’s private bar.

“Help yourself. It’s only $200.00 an ounce.”

He broke into one of his wide, toothy grins. “Nate, baby, you’re too tense. Look, my term of office is just about up. I need something to do, and after all the things I got passed your way, the least you could do….”

“Is what? Give you a job for which you have no qualifications? The shareholders would eat me alive.”

Sammy closed the gap and draped an arm over Nate’s shoulder. “Naw, they’d accept me. I’m a president, remember? I’m used to being in charge. I ran the country. I can run Drumdat. No prob.”

Nate purpled for a moment. “You’re insufferable!” He moved out from under Sammy’s arm and pressed a button on the intercom. “Send Alban in here, will you?”

“Right away, Mr. Drummond.”

Nate turned on the large wall monitor.

Alban strolled in. “You looking for me, Nate? If you’re wondering about the report from that Barnaby fellow, I got it.”

“Yes, I am, Al. But not on that issue. Who do you have working on the Mars biology program? I want you to bring President Davidson here up to date.”

Alban had a comp pad in his hand and after hitting a few keys managed to bring the view screen to life and post a report on it. “Here’s the latest. Our lab boys say the methanogens are practically useless. The difference in the DNA structure is so variant as to be incompatible with life on Earth. Their only hope is they show a strong propensity to populate in our warmer climate. Who knows, in a number of years they might actually generate enough methane to be commercially viable. As a heating fuel, and with absorption, a number of commercial applications, there are some significant long-term prospects.”

Nate waved at the screen without taking his eyes off Sammy. “At what point would you expect the payback to occur for the over ten billion dollars spent on the Mars mission?

Alban chuckled. “I don’t think you’ll live long enough to see it.”

Nate walked over, hit a button, turned off the screen, then folded his arms, and grimaced. “So, you see, Sammy, that little stunt you pulled to get re-elected has got a long way to go to recompense me. And you want a board position to retire with.”

He pursed his lips and made a snicking sound out of one side of his mouth. Time to play hardball. “Listen Nate, Don’t start pulling that crap with me. Who set ya up with the exclusive deal for the Helium 3? Me. Who signed off on all those expropriations so ya could build your reactors where ya wanted? Me. Ya been making a lot of hay as a result, and I think I’m entitled to a piece.”

“Entitled…entitled? The only reason you’re in office is because I bought every delegate on the floor. Did you really think you got the party nomination on your own? Ha! You’re a jock. That’s all. In my mind, at best, we’re even.”

His mouth open to retort, Sammy stopped and smiled again. Play it cool, Sammy. Play it cool. “Hey Nate, how’s about ya have a drink with me? Ya need to relax, unwind. You’re letting this whole thing stress ya out. I’ve got a couple of Cubans in my pocket, want one?” He pulled cigars from inside his jacket as he tried to determine from Nate’s body posture whether the old guy would calm down.

Nate shook his head. “Sammy, one of these days you’re going to push me too far. I’m working. I don’t have time for a drink and a cigar. Besides, my doctor says I’ve got to quit. They’re not good for my health. Now, if we’re finished here, then perhaps it’s time you get going.”

He replaced the cigars. “Okay, Nate. I get the message. I’m outta here. But before I go, I just want to make sure we have an understanding.”

“Huh? What understanding?”

He held out his hand. “That we’re even. So if I bring you one more sweetheart of a deal, the position’s mine.”

Nate hesitated then shook. “It better be one hell of a deal. Don’t try and fool me with some low-end thing.”

Sammy chuckled. “Would I try and con you? Nate, you’re the man. I would never try to pull the wool over them eyes.” He headed for the door. “Okay, I’m gone.” Opening it, he found Janice standing nearby, talking with Alban. “You been listening at the keyhole all this time, kiddo?”

Janice smiled and matched his stride as he continued down the hall. “Of course. If I didn’t try and stay ahead of your antics, I wouldn’t be doing my job.”

Sammy pulled her into a quick hug. “That’s my gal, always looking out for me. Come on, the limo’s waiting.” They made their wait out to the waiting car, the security guys falling in behind.

Once they climbed in and the car began to move, Janice kicked him in the shin. “Are you nuts? You can’t go promising Nate anything else. You’re already under investigation over the land deals, and half of Congress is upset with the way you handled the Mars mission.”

He chuckled. “Hey, but it got me re-elected, didn’t it? I mean, the people still love me, and that’s what counts.”

“Obviously you haven’t been looking at your approval ratings lately. You’re dropping like a stone. As more and more of this stuff leaks out, people are starting to question your motives.”

He let loose a short raspberry. “Huh, ain’t no matter. I can’t get elected for a third term anyways. My time’s almost up, Jay baby. I gotta prepare for my future.”

“Not if that future’s in jail. No more deals with Drumdat. That’s final.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll think of something else.”

He sat in silence the rest of the way and stared out the window. There’s gotta be another angle for me. I just know it.