Chapter 12: Problems
Everything was off after break, and although Cas was convinced it was only his own state of mind first, he soon realized it was a general disquiet and edginess. When he finally found the courage to go upstairs, after whole minutes had gone by, he passed the Japanese companies´ leaders gathered together, Dean among them, talking fast and, as far as he could tell, pretty agitatedly. Someone was approaching Dean, and he recognized one of the assistants who´d left earlier; he gave him an envelope which Dean rippeed open impatiently. Cas strolled by, saw Dean read, frown briefly, and return to the group of businessmen. They fell silent when he joined them, waiting for his opinion.
He heard him talk in Japanese in a low voice, but couldn´t understand what, and didn´t want to.
He entered the large room, and was immediately spotted by McGee, who waved at him.
„Where´ve you been? We´ve got a bit of a situation here...Washington thinks we´ve been too generous towards our friends here and wants us to re-negotiate the three most important points, the ones that were most difficult to fix in the first place. Which means we can practically start from scratch, as all the other agreements depend on them."
He shoved his hand through his hair. „Don´t know how we shall bring the Japanese to agree to any change at all. Why should they...Washington doesn´t exactly want us to improve things for their side."
Cas looked over at the door, where the Japanese delegations were filing into the room now. Dean was bent down to his assistant, talking fast, and didn´t look up; he stopped two more times at the other companies´ places to talk, and listen; Cas noticed McGee was following him with his eyes, too.
„They´ll never agree", he murmured. „We´re screwed. We need something to offer them...and not the ridiculous so called leverage the Chamber of Commerce has in mind."
Cas looked at him questioningly.
„I can´t even make an official offer without offending the other side", McGee sighed. „I mean – do they think we´re negotiating with fools here? Damn politicians..." He seemed to forget that he, too, was a politician in his own way. Cas watched the Japanese delegations. The room was humming with voices. McGee was summoned away by someone, and Cas just stood there in the middle of all the busyness, feeling strangely lost. All of a sudden, he missed Sam.
He saw Dean approach McGee, and talk to him; McGee nodded, and went to the ambassador, while Dean returned to his chair. The bell was sounded to sign the end of break (far later than scheduled, Cas noticed), and everyone took their seats and went quiet.
„In the light of the new ... events ... we will give all delegations time to re-evaluate their positions. We will meet again in two hours´ time here." McGee looked at Dean, Cas noticed, who nodded back at him. So that was what they´d talked about...
The following two hours, he was head over ears covered with work, as the US side wanted an official written translation of the new requests made by Washington; and a prepared short version of the offers they´d make. Cas´ head was spinning by the time they returned to the room; the Japanese delegations were already waiting in the hall outside. Automatically, Cas scanned the crowd for Dean (he was a good few inches taller than most of the other men, so it was easy to spot him); but he was nowhere to be seen.
Well, he appeared soon enough, when everyrone was already inside... and Cas felt this little pang seeing his elegant figure move through the room, a feeling he ´d have to get used to as it seemed.
The kiss we´ve shared ... what exactly does it mean?, he asked himself. And why does it frighten me? Am I afraid of ... falling for a bad guy?
But deep down, he knew it wasn´t the fact that Dean belonged to a huge and extremely dangerous criminal organisation whose power was ever growing. Well, he feared them, of course.
But what you are really afraid of is... falling in love.
McGee announced the new positions in English, and Cas had the doubtful pleasure of reading the Japanese version aloud (although the translation had been hectographed and was handed out by a secretary). He was uncomfortably aware of the eyes on him, and looked up when McGee had explained the next part of the new points, and signalled to him to go on translating.
It was a mistake, of course, because his eyes found the green ones like they were drawn to them by an invisible force; and this time, he found Dean looking at him, too. He faltered, and lost his thread for a moment; cheeks burning, he stammered himself back into the prepared statements. McGee shot him a sightly annoyed look and raised his
eyebrows. Stop making a fool of yourself, Cas told himself, teeth clenched.
He got through the rest without further incidents.
It was the Japanese side´s turn to present their positions, and of course it was Dean who got up from his chair, and bowed.
I´ll never get tired of watching him do this, Cas thought.
Dean hesitated for a moment, as if unsure how to address an unpleasant topic, or sweeten up a bitter truth. Seemed like he went for the unmasked and painful approach.
„The US have generously offered a magnitude of economic assistance to Japan so far, easing our way into G.A.T.T., and the transfer of technologies to Japan so our economy can evolve as fast as it does at the moment."
He says `our´..`us´..., Cas thought.
„Yet, Japan´s large trade deficit is a point of dangerous vulnerability ... and it might easily harm the strategic alliance between Japan and the United States."
When he looked directly at McGee and the ambassador, his eyes were the sea´s cool green on a cloudy day in March. Cas shivered.
„I don´t have to explain how such ... instability ... can threaten an alliance crucial to the balance of power in times of conflicted global relationships."
Cas felt the whole US delegation stir. You´ve hit the sore point, Cas thought, they are definitely getting nervous...
„The US have always proclaimed to support the principles of free, open, and liberal trade in the post-war world economy. We would like to remind you that domestic protectionist demands, as are currently brought forth by your Congress, are against such principles."
Dean looked at his Japanese colleagues, than back at the US side.
„Nevertheless, we are ready to accept the program in the altered version you presented."
A ripple went through the people in front of Cas. They actually straightened in their chairs. He could practically feel their surprise. He saw McGee exchange a look with the ambassador. Looking back at Dean, he found a faint smile playing around his lips. Ah – here we go, he thought.
„We would have a few suggestions to make such an agreement acceptible for both sides", Dean went on. „We absolutely need more access to the US market guaranteed. The trade restrictions imposed on Japan with the Peoples´ Republic of China would make a further opening of the large US market crucial to a complete integration of Japan into the Western bloc." Again, his words, spoken calmly, sent a wave of disquiet through Cas´ employers.
„I´m sure you know there are alternatives to the current alliances..."
Cas was almost sure he saw the ambassador´s face blanch.
So, that was the card Dean was playing – the ace up his sleeve. The ultimate leverage ... the Japanese side knew damn well America would go the extra mile to keep them away from the Communist bloc. The extra-extra mile, Cas thought. In fact, there were few things the US would NOT do to strengthen the ties between America and Japan, as it was one of the prospering economies in the Asian region.
„To a US based institution, or company, Japanese economy might seem managed. You might even call it an economy of semi-cartels, with tight relationships between businesses and the government. And you would be right."
He had surprised them again ... God, he plays them like a professional poker player, Cas thought. They won´t even know what they agreed to in the end...or why.
„But this is the way our trade, and business in general are organized. America may have a different approach, celebrating the free market and liberal principles from its early days... but it is a question of different systems, not of an evaluation as to which one is better or worse..."
Dean raised his voice just a tiny little bit.
God he looks gorgeous, Cas thought, admiring the broad shoulders, the slender waist ... the beautiful face...full lips...their touch, so soft, so gentle...
„Let me assure you – Japanese trading companies, as represented here in this room, want a tight alliance with the United States. And we are willing to accept the alterations in the VER treaty you asked for – in exchange for further possibilities to penetrate the largest market available to our businesses, which is the US market. We are absolutely sure such agreement would be to the benefit of both parties, and all our citizens."
Dean bowed again, and sat down.
The ambassador seemed out of words for the moment. McGee got up from his chair.
„You will understand, Mr. Winchester, that we cannot give you any further concessions without confering with our government. But we will do so immediately...if you agree, I´d say we meet again tomorrow morning to talk about your offer. Both our offers", he added hastily.
Dean looked at his colleagues from the Japanese trading association, got their almost imperceptible nods, and turned back to McGee.
„It will be our pleasure", he said, his voice silky.
He knows he´s got them at the short and curlies, Cas thought.
As Sam would put it...
It was late when he finally left the metro station, glad to escape the presence of other human beings after this long, challenging day...challenging in so many ways. Alistair had gathered the whole delegation for an emergency meeting, and they´d discussed further steps, someone high up in Washington on the telephone all the time, and both Alistair and the ambassador on edge and touchy. They all went on their ways exhausted, and, in Cas´ case, with a nasty headache building fast.
He walked down the almost deserted street. Clouds had taken over the sky while they were inside the ambassy, darkness had fallen early, and the first drops were already falling when Cas hasted to reach the last metro; now, it was raining steadily, not too hard, but soaking his coat and jacket and trousers within minutes nevertheless. The market place in front of his building looked eery, like the stage for some mystery play, whisps of steam danced elegantly between the empty stands, the rain´s constant downfall washing away the edges, the few streetlamps highlighting only details, little islands in a pool of blurred darkness. Cas shivered. The water had reached his skin, and feet, and he realized only then that he hadn´t eaten much all day. Hot soup, he thought. A pot of steaming, hot soup, and some tea... his mother´s chicken soup came to his mind, the one she used to make when someone in the family was sick. He could almost taste it, and the ginger tea that always went with being sick, too. I haven´t thought about that in years, he thought.
He had almost reached the entrance, when he noticed the car. It wasn´t exceptional in any way, just ... it made Cas´ skin prickle. There were only few cars to be seen around here, mostly it was small lorries and those ridiculous three-wheeler mini trucks, bringing merchandise for the market. He couldn´t lay the finger on why this one made him feel so uncomfortable...instinct, he told himself. Maybe a case of ... survival skill? Comes with the new demands of the job.
He stopped at the entrance to his house for a moment, and stared at the dark car deliberately. If someone´s watching me – whatever party – they should at least know I´ve made them. He went inside, and closed the door firmly behind him, leaning against the smooth wooden surface. All the way up to his flat, and while he was hanging his soaked clothes above the bathtub, one question turned around and around in his head though. If he was right, and not going crazy, he was being watched; and either his pursuers took him for a complete fool, or...they WANTED to be made. But why would they want me to know they are following me?
Is it some sort of protection detail? Unlikely.
Does someone want to scare me? Threaten me? Play games with me?
Much more probable, considering what kind of epic mess he was currently in.
Or is it a warning?
And if yes...a friend´s warning, or a foe´s...