Page 152 of Cry Havoc

“Probably their vice president, Hubert Humphrey, now that Robert Kennedy is dead. Killed by a Palestinian just weeks ago,” Penkovsky said.

“It was initially reported that he was a Muslim.”

“That was an assumption. We have a source reporting him to be a Palestinian Christian.”

“Motive?” Lavrinenko asked.

“Unknown. He was born in Jerusalem. Kennedy supported Israel, which could be a motive, but it’s also possible he was a failure in life and saw this as a chance to be remembered by history. Like Herostratus.”

“Who?”

“The Greek who burned the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus to the ground. It was one of the wonders of the ancient world.”

“What’s the connection?”

“Herostratus did it to be remembered.”

“Ah yes, I remember now. How the world can turn on the aspirations of those who are otherwise ‘nobodys’ is infinitely intriguing. Our own poet Semyon Nadson had something to say about it, if memory serves.”

“That he did,” Penkovsky said. “Nadson wrote that Herostratus was seekingkleos.”

“Notoriety?”

“And infamy.”

“Let me see if I can remember,” Lavrinenko said, setting his drink down and clearing his throat. “Nadson wrote that Herostratus was a ‘maggot squashed by destiny, in the midst of the countless hordes.’?”

“Impressive, Director.”

“You are not the only one who reads,” Lavrinenko replied, clearly pleased with himself. “A report stated that something was written on the wall of the kitchen where Senator Kennedy was shot.”

“Yes, ‘The Once and Future King.’?”

“Fairy tales,” Lavrinenko said dismissively.

“Their country is in shock. First, President Kennedy and now his brother.”

“Perhaps that family should stay out of politics,” Lavrinenko observed.

“Yes, perhaps. They are still reeling from riots in the wake of Martin Luther King’s assassination in April. America is falling apart. They need a savior. Their candidates will seize upon the chaos and promise stability. It could be Eugene McCarthy, one of their senators.”

“What about Richard Nixon?”

“Doubtful. He does not have a history of winning.”

Appetizers ofpkhali—a colorful plate of spinach, leeks, beets, bell peppers, and green beans flavored with garlic, walnuts, and vinegar—and another plate of cheeses, including smoked sulguni and chechil, arrived. Lavrinenko dug in immediately.

“Nineteen sixty-eight could be the beginning of the end for the Decaying West,” he said, between mouthfuls.

“Nixon, though I doubt he will be president, has promised what he calls an ‘honorable end to the war,’?” Penkovsky continued.

“Whatever that means.”

“It’s quite clever. It says just enough without really saying anything at all. Both sides can use it to support their positions. It is important to remember that a vast majority of the American public supports the war regardless of what is said by their media and how much attention their news outlets give to the antiwar protests.”

“Thanks to that media and a select few presidential advisors, they fail to see that their strategy is working,” Lavrinenko said. “They could even be victorious if they continued bombing and moved full-scale ground combat operations into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam. It is so clear to me. I wonder why they can’t see it.”

“President Johnson believes that a withdrawal will embolden us.”