human
It's about time I heard from you, Anton.
gpt
Yes. But the situation has been such that it was not easy to report.
human
And now?
gpt
Briefly, I am at El Hassan's headquarters. You were correct. He is in actuality Homer Crawford. The others you mentioned are also with him, including the traitor Isobel Cunningham.
human
The dame has evidently renounced the party and now holds high rank in Crawford's inner circle.
gpt
And you?
human
I am rapidly becoming his right-hand man. I am his press secretary and in charge of communications. Early in our acquaintanceship I was able to engineer an attempted assassination. I was able to, ah, save the life of El Hassan.
gpt
The assassins? Is there any chance that they might reveal your little trick?
human
I am not a fool, Kirill. Both of them were killed in the assassination attempt. El Hassan was most grateful.
gpt
I see. And how would you sum up the present situation?
human
This area is swinging rapidly to El Hassan, but any sort of defeat and undoubtedly his followers would melt away. The bedouin are too volatile. Before he ever makes any real headway he will have to take the major commercial and industrial cities such as Dakar, Kano, Lagos, Accra, Freetown, Khartoum, and eventually, of course, Cairo, Casablanca, Algiers and so forth.
gpt
And our friend El Hassan leans not at all in our direction?
human
He leans in no direction, except that which will unite and modernize North Africa. Neither do his immediate followers. They're a well-knit group and it seems unlikely that I could pry any of them away from him in case it became desirable.
gpt
I see, Kirill Menzhinsky muttered.
human
I understand that a delegation from Moscow has arrived in El Hassan's camp. Have you contacted them?
gpt
Certainly not. My orders were to rise in the El Hassan hierarchy and await further orders. None of my current, ah, colleagues have any suggestion that I am identified with the Party. Which reminds me, an American C.I.A. man, Fredric Ostrander, has shown up. The fool seems to be under the impression that El Hassan is a Party tool.
human
I know this Ostrander. Don't underestimate him, Anton. He's an extremely competent operative in the clutch, as the Americans call it.
gpt
Perhaps. But nevertheless, there is no indication that the El Hassan movement leans either to East or West, nor do I see any signs that it is apt to in the future.
human
I see. Then perhaps it will be necessary for us to do something to topple our El Hassan before he becomes much stronger, and to find another to unite North Africa.
gpt
I don't know. This man Crawford--and his followers, for that matter--are motivated by high ideals. As you have said, North Africa is not ready for our socio-economic system. Men of the caliber of Homer Crawford could bring it into the modern age perhaps more quickly than another.
human
Don't worry about it, Anton. Such matters of policy will be decided by others than you, or even me. Keep in touch with me more often, in the future, Anton.
gpt
Yes, Comrade.