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surprised when
Christopher took a pen out of his jacket pocket and began to sign his name on
some scraps of paper the boys handed him. "Autographs?" he asked, making no
attempt to hide his surprise.
Christopher nodded in answer to Decker's question. He spoke for a moment with
the boys in perfect
Italian, smiling broadly and shaking their hands as if they were important
dignitaries, before dismissing them. The boys walked a few steps, each showing
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the other the autograph he had received. Then waving their scraps of paper in
the
262 In His Image air like trophies, they broke into a run toward a lady
whom Decker took to be their mother, shouting, "// Principe di RomaV
For a moment Decker just looked at Christopher, who seemed a little
embarrassed by the whole thing. "So that's what all the attention was about at
the airport. You're a local celebrity."
Christopher shrugged.
"Don't be embarrassed. I think that's great. You must be doing quite a job
here."
"It's not really anything I've done: I've just gotten a lot of credit for some
of the United
Nations programs we've implemented. Popular programs make for a popular
administration."
The next morning Decker and Christopher arrived early at Christopher's office
at the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Jack Redmond's arrival time would
be dependent on
Rome's morning traffic. FAO headquarters occupied an immense building complex
covering more than four square blocks in the modern city of Rome and towering
well above all of the surrounding buildings. Located on Viale delle Terms di
Caracalla, the FAO employed more than 2500 professional administrative
personnel with a biannual budget of two and a half billion dollars.
At Christopher's office they were greeted by a young, attractive Italian
woman. "Buon giorno, Signore Goodman," the woman said.
"Good morning, Maria," Christopher answered in English. "This is my very good
friend, Mr. Decker
Hawthorne, Director of Public Affairs of the United Nations. Decker, this is
Maria Sabetini."
"Mr. Hawthorne, it's a pleasure to meet you. Mr. Goodman mentions you
frequently."
"The pleasure is all mine," Decker answered. "Are you any relation to
President Sabetini?" he
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she bore the same last name as Italy's president.
"Maria is the president's youngest daughter," Christopher answered.
"Oh.. . uh, well, then it's even more of a pleasure." Decker tried to not seem
too surprised, but the question about her name had just been small talk; he
never expected the answer he got.
The Prince of Rome 263
"Mr. Redmond will be arriving a little later," Christopher told Maria. "When
he gets here, please, show him in."
After Christopher closed the door behind them Decker blurted out, "Your
secretary is the Italian president's daughter?!"
Christopher shook his head, trying not to make too much of it. "She's not a
secretary, she's an administrative assistant," he said. "She wanted a job. And
I needed an administrative assistant."
"Yeah, but the president's daughter?"
"It was Secretary Milner's idea." Decker's expression requested an
explanation. "Secretary Milner was here on some business shortly after I
became Director-General of FAO. He and the president are old friends. I just
happened to mention to him in passing that I needed to find an administrative
assistant."
"I don't suppose it's hurt your relationship with the Italian government any,"
Decker said.
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"No, things have been very cordial."
Christopher's office was spacious and luxuriously decorated and furnished. On
the walls were pictures of Christopher with several members of the United
Nations Security Council; numerous
Italian government officials including the Italian Prime Minister, the Italian
Ambassador to the
U.N., and the Italian President; and with leaders of the Roman Catholic
Church, including three cardinals. Most prominent in the room were two
pictures displayed side by side, one of Christopher with Secretary-General Jon
Hansen, and the other of Christopher with Robert Milner and the Pope.
"You've been a very busy boy," Decker commented as he scanned the photos.
"To tell you the truth, most of this has been Secretary Milner's doing. He's
been here four or five times a year since I've been FAO Director-General,"
Christopher said. Milner, now ninety, seemingly had not aged a day since the
transfusion of Christopher's blood eight years before. If anything, he seemed
younger, far younger. "I had no idea Secretary Milner had so much business in
Italy."
"Hmm, neither did I," Decker responded. Decker was certain that Milner's
frequent trips were not a coincidence. He was obviously doing everything he
could to advance Christopher's position with those in power in Italy. It was
not that Decker objected in any way; still, there was a mystery here. He
didn't have long to think about it, though. His eye was caught by a familiar
face in another picture of
264 In His Image
Christopher with a very distinguished man in front of the Coliseum. "When was
David Bragford here?" Decker asked.
"Oh, that was last summer. He was here with Secretary Milner for a meeting of
world bankers." At that moment Maria announced Jack Redmond's arrival.
"All hail the Prince of Rome," Redmond said, addressing Christopher and bowing
in mock obeisance as he came in.
Decker had no idea what prompted Jack's greeting but assumed it to be a joke;
the look of mild annoyance on Christopher's face indicated there was more to
it than that. "Okay, I'll bite,"
Decker said. "What's going on? What's this 'Prince of Rome' stuff?"
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"Haven't you seen last week's issue of EpocaT Jack asked Decker, referring to
the Italian magazine that is the equivalent of Time or Newsweek.
"No," Decker answered, looking back and forth from Jack to Christopher, hoping
for an answer.
"Here," Jack said, as he opened his briefcase and handed the Italian magazine
to Decker. On the cover was a very complimentary picture of Christopher with
the words "Christopher Goodman, II
Trentenne, Principe di Roma" boldly displayed underneath.
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