Ioneseu gave it a careless glance. “Thank you. I accept it on behalf of the ]Remanian government. You are now officially the American ambassador to my country.” He beamed at her. “I have arranged a reception this evening for you. You will meet some of our people who will be working with you.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Mary said.
He took her hand in his again and said, “I hope you will grow to love our country, Madam Ambassador.” He massaged her hand.
“I’m sure I will.” He thinks i’m just another pretty face, Mary thought grimly. I’ll have to do something about that.
MARY returned to the embassy and spent the rest of the day sifting through the blizzard of white paper on her desk. There were the English translations of Remanian newspaper and magazine articles, the wireless file and the summary of news developments reported in the United States, a thick report on arms-control negotiations, and an update on the United Slates economy. There’s enough reading material in one day, Mary thought, to keep me busy for a week, and I’m going to get this every day.
But the problem that disturbed Mary more was the feeling of antagonism from her staff. That had to be handled immediately. She sent for Harriet Kruger, her protocol officer. “How long have you worked here at the embassy?” Mary asked.
“Four years before our break with Remania, and now three glorious months.” There was a note of irony in her voice. “May we have an off-the-record conversation?”
“No, ma’am.”
Mary had forgotten. “Why don’t we adjourn to the bubble room?” she suggested.
When Mary and Harriet Kruger were seated in the bubble room, Mary said, “Something just occurred to me. Our meeting this morning was held in the conference room. Isn’t that bugged?”
“Probably,” Harriet said cheerfully. “But it doesn’t matter.
Mike Slade wouldn’t let anything be discussed that the Romanians aren’t already aware of.”
Mike Slade. “What do you think of Slade?” Mary asked.
“He’s the best.”
Mary decided not to express her opinion. “I got the feeling today that morale around here isn’t good. Is it because of me, or has it always been that way?”
Harriet studied her a moment. “It’s a combination of both. The Americans working here are in a pressure cooker. We’re afraid to make friends with Remanians, because they probably belong to the Securitate, so we stick together. We’re a small group, so pretty soon that gets claustrophobic.” She shrugged. “The pay is small, .the food is lousy,, and the weather is bad.” She studied Mary. “None of that is your fault, Ambassador Ashley. You have two problems. The first is that you’re a political appointee in charge of an embassy manned by career diplomats.” She stopped. “Am I coming on too strong?”
“No. Please go on.”
“Most of them were against you before you even got here. Career workers in an embassy tend not to rock the boat. Political appointees like to change things. To them, you’re an.amateur telling professionals how to run their business. The second problem is that you’re a woman. The men in the embassy’don’t like taking orders from a woman.”
“I see.”
Harriet Kruger smiled. “But you sure have a great publicity agent. I’ve never seen so many magazine cover stories in my life. How do you do it?”
Mary had no answer to that. She was, in fact, disturbed by the comments she kept hearing about the amount of publicity she and the children were getting. There had even been an article in Pravda, with a picture of the three of them.
Harriet Kruger glanced at her watch. “oops! You’re going to be late. Florian’s waiting to take you home so you can change. Aside from President Ionescu’s reception you have three parties tonight.”
Mary was staring at her. “That’s impossible. I have too-“
“It goes with the territory. There are seventy-five embassies in Bucharest, and on any given night some of them are celebrating something.”
“Can’t I say no?”
“That would be the United States saying no to them. They would be offended.”
Mary sighed. “I guess I’d better go change.”
As SOON as Mary arrived at the reception, President Ionescu walked over to her. He kissed her hand and said, “I have been looking forward to seeing you again.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency. I too.”
She had a feeling he had been drinking heavily. She recalled the dossier on him: Mained. One son, fourteen-the heir apparentand three daughters. Is a womanizer. Drinks a lot. A shrewd peasant mentality. Charming when it suits him. Generous to his friends. Dangerous and ruthless to his enemies.
Ioescu took Mary’s arm and led her off to a deserted corner. “You will find us Remanians interesting.” He squeezed her arm. “We are a very passionate people.” He looked at her for a reaction, and when he got none, he went on. “We are descendants of the ancient Dacians and their conquerors, the Romans. For centuries we have been Europe’s doormat. The.Huns, Goths, Avars, Slays, and Mongols wiped their feet on us, but Remania has survived. And do you know how?” He leaned closer to her. “By giving our people a strong, firm leadership. They trust me, and I rule them well.”
Mary thought of some of the stories she had heard. The arrests in the middle of the night, the atrocities, the disappearances.
Ioneseu was about to continue talking when a man came up to him and whispered in his ear. Ionescu’s expression turned cold. He hissed something in Remanian, and the man hurried off. The dictator turned back to Mary, oozing charm again. “I must leave you now. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”