Waypoint Kangaroo Read Online Free PDF

Whiskey-Breath didn’t die. That’s a relief.
    â€œI’ve got three different ambassadors yelling at my staff,” State says. “Once the President hears—”
    â€œLet me deal with the President,” Paul says.
    â€œOh, you will.” State glares out of the screen. “But this audit is happening, Paul. Kazakhstan was the straw that broke the camel’s back. NSC is taking a fine-toothed comb to anything tagged OUTBACK.”
    â€œI don’t have time for this.”
    â€œThen you’ll make time,” State snaps. “Really, Paul, how long did you think we were going to let you run your own private little op center without any oversight?”
    â€œI thought the subcommittee was more interested in overlooking.”
    â€œNot today, Paul. I’m not in the mood,” State says. “You’re going to get some visitors from Langley, and you’re going to cooperate fully. Do you understand?”
    â€œI understand.” Paul’s voice is cold.
    State sighs. “Get your house in order. That’s my advice. As a friend.”
    The screen image ripples and disappears, and the plexi sheet melts back into the flat, shiny desktop. Paul looks at me. He’s not smiling. I gulp down the rest of my water and put my glass on the desk.
    â€œDo you know why there was a group of Hungarian operators monitoring Russia–Kazakhstan border crossings?” he asks.
    I purse my lips. “Because they were following the chicken?”
    â€œBecause the actual State Department asked them to watch for black market arms smugglers,” Paul says.
    â€œKazakhstan needs more nukes? That seems unlikely.”
    â€œThis is serious,” he snaps. “Just in case your debriefing didn’t make that clear.”
    I stare at my empty water glass. “It did.”
    â€œIt’s going to take a lot of diplomacy to smooth this one over. You’ll have to stay benched for a while.”
    I nod. “I brought you a present.”
    Paul stares at me for a moment, then says, “All right.”
    I open the pocket above the surface of his desk, with the barrier in place. Paul should just see a wavy, partially reflective surface from his side of the phenomenon—that’s what Science Division found under laboratory conditions. From my side, the portal looks like a cloudy white disk suspended in midair, a filmy portal into darkness.
    I reach in, pull out the canteen, close the pocket, and start unlatching the canteen lid.
    â€œDidn’t you tell Oliver you lost that?” Paul asks.
    â€œI’m easily confused.” The airtight seal opens with a soft pop, and I pull out the glass jar. It’s cool, but not frozen. I set it down on the desk with the label facing Paul.
    I see his face light up for a split second. Of course he can’t approve of this. “Where did you get this?”
    â€œAtyrau, on the Caspian Sea.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.”
    â€œWhy do people peel the price tags off gifts before giving them?” I ask.
    Paul frowns, puts the caviar in a desk drawer, stares at it for a moment, then slides the drawer shut.
    Something’s going on. It can’t be a coincidence that Jessica seems so distracted today.
    â€œThank you,” Paul says.
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    He opens another drawer. “You’re going on vacation for a few weeks.”
    I nod. “I figured. Any research I can do while I’m at home?”
    He pulls out a small folder. “You’re going off-world.”
    I reach for the folder. “What’s the job?”
    Paul doesn’t give me the folder. He lays it flat on his desk, puts a hand over it, and waits for me to look at him again.
    â€œThis is not an operation,” he says. “You’re going on vacation.”
    I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say that word in my life. “I’m going where?”
    He pushes the canteen