They do accept certain practical limitations, but they are neither slaves nor indentured servants. Intelligence agents can quit or retire anytime. They just have to keep the secrets they've learned and return any government property they have. Which Madeline Fathom did. I have her letter of resignation, her Official Secrets certification, and all her equipment accounted for. She's now a private citizen and completely within her rights to take a job with anyone she likes." "But for a foreign power-" "The U.N. is not exactly a foreign power, in the normal sense of that term. Lots of Americans have worked for U.N. agencies over the decades. Besides, Nicholas Glendale is an American citizen. And he's the one who offered her the job." Jensen practically snarled. "Asecurity job-on Mars! Where she'll be on the inside of the U.N. installation and I'll bet will be doing her best to stonewall Keld-ah, our new agent." "Keldering, eh? A better choice than I might have expected, even if he is a major-league political ass-kisser. Madeline might actually have to think around him once in a while. But that's just as well. I wouldn't want her getting too bored out there." For a moment, as the implications sank in, Jensen just gaped at Hughes, open-mouthed. "You… youtold her to do this!" Hughes' expression became very lugubrious. "Mr. Jensen, how could you suggest such a thing? I've sent her just one message since that decision was made, and you were sitting right there with me when I sent it. In the most enthusiastic terms I could think of. Exactly, I will note, as you instructed me to." He managed to avoid the temptation to say anything further. Easily, even. Hughes was a veteran of decades of Washington's infighting and turf wars-a veritable Achilles, one might say-and he was far too smart to say openly what he felt. Thought they could jerk him and his top agents around, did they?

Damn fools.