Tatiana’s let them get on with business over the past year since she took over from Bernie, and anyone who lets you get on with business is all right by Roxy.Still, you’d think she could throw a better party than this.Someone had told her that Tatiana Moskalev went around this castle with her own blooming pet leopard on a chain.That’s the disappointment Roxy can’t really get over.No blooming leopard anywhere.The President seems to have only the dimmest understanding of who Roxy is at all.Roxy thinks she’s drunk.Don’t you know, I’m the woman shifting five hundred kilos across your borders every day?Roxy necks some more of the champagne.She doesn’t even hear Mother Eve approaching her until the woman is at her elbow.Five of my drivers have quit.They’re all saying the war’s going to push south.Do you remember what we did at the convent?With the waterfall?Roxy smiles and gives a little laugh.That’s a good memory.Simpler, happier times.That’s teamwork, she says.Your undeniable strength.I’ve always felt that there were great things ahead of you, Roxanne.Am I really pissed, says Roxy, or are you making even less sense than usual?We can’t talk here. Mother Eve lowers her voice to a whisper.But I think that Tatiana Moskalev will soon have outlived her usefulness.To the Holy Mother.Ohhhhhhhh.You kidding?Mother Eve shakes her head minutely.I think in a few months’ time the country will be ready for a new leadership.And the people here trust me.You’ve met me, haven’t you, Evie?Stranger things have happened, says Mother Eve.You’re already a leader of a great multitude.Come and see me tomorrow.We’ll talk it through.It’s your funeral, says Roxy.She’s taken with what Mother Eve’s said.It’s a nice thought.A very nice thought.She does like this country.Especially if she were President.She mutters it under her breath.President Monke. And then laughs at herself for it.In any case, she can’t think about it too hard tonight.Still, to finish the deal it has to be Roxy herself.The roads are winding and dark.It’s more than ninety minutes out of the city, but Darrell’s sent her good instructions.She finds the turnoff easily enough, drives down an unlit track, parks the car in front of another one of these spiky castles.