Shepherd One by Rick Jones

that, if the truth be known, would jeopardize our standing
in the world community.”
    “You’re wasting your breath. I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”
    The Man never wavered. “If it was known that Russia is willing to sell nuclear weapons to insurgent groups, we will lose face and fall
to worldwide condemnation and sanctions, which will kill us as a nation.”
    “Mother Russia died when Communism fell.”
    “Mother Russia still lives, but is moving towards a new and
bolder direction. You failed to see that. Mother Russia will be greater than
she ever was.”
    “Mother Russia has become a weak bitch that has allowed the United States to win.”
    The Man slowly fell back in his seat, his shoulder slumping
in defeat.
    In the darkness Perchenko could see The Man shaking his head
in dismay. “What?”
    “You were a god to me,” he said. “You were a god to all of
us.”
     “Were?”
     “Everyone looked at Yorgi Perchenko as the man nobody
challenged; a true man within the ranks of the establishment.”
    “True.”
    “And until yesterday you continued to be held in high regard
for your commitment to the organization and for your service to your country.”
    Perchenko creased his brow, which was a mistake on his part.
The facial read now gave The Man leverage.
    “Now you are known as the man who will single-handedly
destroy Russia and make her the pariah of the world. Every nation will cast a
stone against us.”
    “What are you talking about?”
     “Economic sanctions placed on us will no doubt destroy
whatever progress we have made over the last decade, financial surpluses will
be lost, every semblance that once made Russia a proud nation will be gone and
we will be hurled back into third-world status.”
    Perchenko appeared dumbfounded. “I’m not a traitor. For what
I have done for this country . . . How could anybody believe I was a traitor?”
    “Do you not see the position you have placed us in?”
    “What position are you talking about?”
    “Those weapons you sold to al-Khatib Hakam have made their
way onto American soil. And they are holding this country indirectly
responsible for allowing this to happen.”
    “It’s something that should have happened a long time ago.”
    “America is no longer our enemy! Times have changed,
Perchenko.”
    Perchenko leaned forward. “I assume you are SVR?”
    The Man said nothing.
    “Now you listen to me,” said Perchenko. “I am a big reason
why Russia was a major power.” He fell back into his chair and pumped his fist
high in the air. “ A powerhouse ! I have never betrayed my country!”
    Over The Man’s earpiece, which Perchenko could not see, came
an audible warning: “ It looks like you got company. Either take him and
move, or get what you need. But hurry.”
    The Man spoke with more insistence. “That’s not the way the SVR sees it,” he told him.  “Because of what’s happening, your picture has been removed from The
Hall of Heroes.”
    This was almost too much for Perchenko to bear. He had loved
Russia more than his own family. In fact, Russia was more of his bloodline
than the actual blood that ran through the veins of his children.
    He shook his head. His voice was no longer strong or
confident, but detached and distant as his eyes slowly scanned the landscape of
Minsk, one of his country’s truly great cities. “But I’m not a traitor,” he
whispered.
    “Do you want to be a hero again? Do you want your picture in
its rightful spot?”
    Perchenko just stared. The Man was losing him. He had pushed
Perchenko too far.
    “Hurry! A team just entered the Madison”
    “Do the right thing,” said The Man. “Tell us how many units
you sold, so we can contact our sources to stop this. Become that hero for Russia once again.”
    The old agent’s lips moved, but nothing came forth.
    “Perchenko! How many units?”
    “Three,” he finally said. And then more boldly, “Three.”
    The Man immediately lifted the sleeve of