Chapter Ten

“Holy fuck, this guy’s got balls.” Cheney was aiming for pigeons now. He used his fingers as cross hairs and flicked popcorn at their heads. He was unsuccessful so far. The pigeons didn’t care.

“He’s got an ‘emergency’ list of leaks, just in case he or any of his staff is harmed,” Karl sneered. “He’s quite paranoid.” Cheney watched him. It felt weird. Karl was normally plain-faced and he was the one with a snarl. His Mom had been right. Keep making up your face that way and it’ll stay. A stroke he had a few years ago insured that, even though the doctors had done their best. He blamed W.

“He’s gotta be bluffing. He wouldn’t send out the encryption device to 100,000 people. That would be more for us to intercept.” Cheney waited.

“Stratfor wants to water board him for it.” Karl grinned. “Oh, the irony…that would make our circle complete.”

“Careful, if you strike him down now, you will make him more powerful than you can ever imagine Darth.” Cheney tried to smile and sneered. “It felt good to cow the president on ‘his’ torture policy, but I don’t know if we can use the same strategy here. Assange is a ‘clear and present danger’ according to Tom Clancy, but he’s civilized and accessible. His fan base is expanding too. The Brits are playing with us more than I’d like. Have we spent all our pressure over there yet?”

“Assange has more friends than we’d hoped. The Vaughan Smith safety haven was completely unexpected. He’s that guy who bluffed his way into an active-duty unit while disguised as a British Army officer to get the only uncontrolled footage from the Gulf War.”

“What an asshole.” Cheney twitched.

“Another folk hero, but it can’t last forever. We’ve got his family blacklisted, so it’s only a matter of time before his wife threatens divorce. Carl Bildt is working on the extradition from Sweden to the US as soon as his last appeal fails. He won’t even make it to trial. He’ll be met at customs by our people. Media won’t be allowed anywhere near the transaction.”

“The sooner the better. His calm is unnerving to me.” Cheney lined up another pigeon with a kernel. POW. He nailed it right between the eyes. The pigeon flew away. Another took it’s place.

“We’ve got another problem.” Karl waited.

“Go on.”

“FOX NEWS was doing great when the story broke. They had more anti-Assange statements than any other network. We even got a couple kill orders in…however…Murdoch is pissed at the President.”

Cheney rolled his eyes. “And?”

“Between some obvious editing mistakes FOX made and some bad press from the Daily Show and Colbert, his ratings have fallen off the map, so he figured he’d get some digs in on the current administration. Instead of crapping on Manning and Assange, he’s letting Judge Napolitano try their cases on his segment, and he’s calling them ‘heroes’ and ‘patriots’ based on the way the government is treating them for being ‘whistle blowers.’

Cheney shook his head. “Murdoch, you panicky bitch. Talk about ass-backwards. Is it that simple, or are there deeper developments?”

Karl took a breath. “When Judge Sam Kent ruled against Halliburton, we were able to expose his affairs pretty easily, but Napolitano is different. He’s got staying power, and the People are digging on him. If he decides to go on a crusade, it’s going to get obvious if we have to take him down.”

“He’s a ranter and a raver,” said Cheney, “I think he’s fit to ride the crazy train if necessary. Besides, ‘obvious’ doesn’t mean much anymore. The public is still too lethargic. They like to think they know what’s up, but never in my lifetime have they had the luxury. Why should I worry now?” He blasted another pigeon. “Right between the eyes.”

The pigeon flew away. Another took it’s place.