At first she said no. Then she said, "Italy sounds exiting!" When I mentioned Venice, the 'no' became a 'maybe.' When I finally explained the importance of the project to both the United States and the Soviet Union, she was with us one hundred percent. I added that the matter is so highly sensitive that it takes sensitive persons like her and Steve, to handle it.

      She looked at me and shook her head. "This goes one step too far!" she protested. "I'm honored, but I can't accept. The responsibility is too tremendous. What if I fail?"

      "What if someone else tried and failed more miserably?" I asked in return. "Can you think of anyone better qualified than you and Steve to do the right thing when there is no way of telling what the right thing is?"

      She shook her head. Some tears came. Then I told her our submarine story, how close the cruise missile had come to Washington D.C. and that this happened less than three days ago.

      "OK, but Steve won't go along with this," she said. "He never misses a semester opening. It's important to him to be there. He says that the first weeks are critical."

      "The future of humanity is a stake," I said quietly. "Steve will adjust his priorities."

      "Ok, I'll ask him for you, Peter."



      We walked arm in arm into the restaurant. Ushi's eyes were still wet.

      Steve was already there. He waved us to his table.

      "Pete needs you in Italy tomorrow," she said to him bluntly and without a comment as if none was needed.

      Steve looked stunned. "Another nudist beach project?" he asked jokingly.

      I shook my head. "Something much bigger, Steve! The beach isn't important at the moment. Something much bigger is happening."

      "Didn't I tell you, you blew those 90,000 bucks?" Steve said and began to laugh.

      "Steve, hundreds of billions are at stake. It's that big a project. It could be a turning point in history. The future existence of mankind may hang in the balance! You had told me once to invite you to my opening show. I am inviting you now. We are about to stage the opening show for a new future for mankind."

      Steve laughed, but immediately his smile faded. "You are not joking?"

      Of course I had to repeat the whole long cruise missile story all over again.



      "Venice," he repeated, "the SDI is being scrapped there!" He shook his head. "What a coincidence! Did you know that Venice killed Dante?"

      "There is no connection," said Ross. "The project that we need your help with might open a whole new horizon that will resurrect Dante. The Venetian won't shut this one down."

      "I hope you realize what this means to the Soviet Union," said Steve. "They feel terribly pressured by the SDI."

      "Who has the SDI first, controls the world," said Ross.

      I explained to Steve that the cancellation was perceived as a first step towards better relations, a sign of respect, and hopefully also a step closer to the end of the nuclear arms race. "My boss Fred invited you to become involved, because of your network of contacts that is reaching deep into the Soviet Union. He thinks it is of utmost importance that this gift to the Soviet Union is not being perceived as a trick of some sort, but is seen as an honest gesture, which it is."

      "They may see it as a political ploy," commented Steve.

      "Exactly! That's why Fred invited you to become a part of the team," said Ross. "You are respected as someone who plays no games, a scientist of absolute honesty and integrity."

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Stories about  Love from novels by Rolf A. F. Witzsche