(no subject)
Cally had managed to make her way out of the building and into the chaotic street below amid much jostling.
Only a few minutes watching the ambulances and the polizia di stato running around giving first aid, blankets, drinks, and taking names and statements and the Carabinieri forming a team just inside the gated lawn to storm the building before Segal came running through the throng, throwing down her cigarette before crushing Cally in a hug. "My god! I thought I'd lost you!"
She lets go and looks at Cally. "Are you alright?"
Cally nods automatically. She was fine physically, it was her thoughts, her world views, that had taken a serious blow. And if she seems a little distracted, a little disorganized, well, who could blame her after what had just taken place inside the state building?
"Come along. Aida's trying to track down everyone from the British embassy," she pauses, both in walking and speaking to light a new cigarette, "and from all the visiting countries as well--you know Aida--though Matt and I tried to convince her that tracking us Brits is going to be enough of a job."
"Is the ambassador still inside? Any of them?"
Segal blew out some smoke, "I think so. 'S why the Cabinieri are forming up. Pity none of our boys are here to help out."
They went a little further down the street, then Segal was saying, "Aida, look who I've found."
"Oh thank god! Are you alright, Cally, dear?" Then looking down at her notebook, "At least that's all you interns accounted for, now. The last thing I wanted to was to call home and tell someone their precious baby was being held by a group of terrorists." She writes something vindictively in her notebook and then smiles tightly at Cally. "I'm glad you're safe."
Julian and Matthew stand a few yards off, smoking and talking low and intense. Cally and Segal walk over and join them, both the men giving Cally a pat on the shoulder, happy to see her outside and safe.
"I'm impressed Matt and I managed to get out before you," Julian observes, looking at Cally keenly before blowing smoke over his shoulder.
Cally's left elbow twitches and she rubs her hands together before crossing her arms. "I think I was easier to toss about in the crowd than either you or Matt," she says dryly.
"What do you think this means for the peace talks?" Segal interjects, tapping ash off the end of her cigarette.
Matt exhales. "It's a group of terrorists. Fringe fanatics. Won't mean a thing. I mean, it's not great PR for this meeting, but it shouldn't affect the decisions of the politicians much. If anything it will push peace; clearly these countries need stability."
Segal looks questioningly at Julian, who takes a drag on his cigarette and then chuckles. "What, me? What about you?"
"I asked first."
Julian shrugs. "I think it matters. This points to problems in the Soviet government that may be taken pretty seriously. Especially if what the these blokes claim is happening is true. Could make an impression on the U.N. or human rights watch groups. Stir up problems about making deals with governments who support what sounds like genocide...."
Genocide. Cally shivers slightly. There've been rumors....
Facts. She needed cold hard facts. Her normally organized thoughts were in chaos and she needed to do some research to help search things out. Unfortunately she is stuck where she is in a conversation she isn't sure she could spare thought for.
"Cally? Cal?" Segal interrupts Cally's delirious thoughts.
Cally focuses in once more. "Sorry, I was trying to settle my thoughts." The interns wait patiently while she pauses a moment more, head tilted slightly to one side.
"I," she begins, stops, and then starts again. "I think the grievances that have been expressed by this group merit attention, although using violence hardly helps their cause." Another pause. "I think it will possibly have an effect," she nods her head, "as Julian said. On some level I think it definitely merits attention; certainly investigation into the claims this group has made."
"And the peace process?" Segal exhales smoke.
Cally shakes her head, brow furrowed. "I don't know. I don't know." Does that matter quite as much when groups of people are 'disappearing' on a regular basis? Is one related to the other? Information. Cally needs information like Matthew, Julian, and Segal needed their cigarettes.
Segal gives Cally a look of concern, Matt one of mild surprised, while Julian continues to smoke impassively.
After a moment Cally speaks quietly. "I don't feel like I have enough information about the situation to go into further detail. I know you three will be the first to argue every point." A faint smile appears on her lips.
Matthew and Segal exchange glances. Julian drops his cigarette, steps on it, and says, "Segal?"
Segal launches into her own view of the matter, waving her cigarette around as she speaks. Soon, Julian and Matthew break in to argue various and Cally is left standing, unusually quiet, her thoughts a million miles away. She is thinking of a boy she used to know who held her hand down a dark stairway and the young man she met yesterday that held a gun, and that her heart says it knows, but her mind does not.
Only a few minutes watching the ambulances and the polizia di stato running around giving first aid, blankets, drinks, and taking names and statements and the Carabinieri forming a team just inside the gated lawn to storm the building before Segal came running through the throng, throwing down her cigarette before crushing Cally in a hug. "My god! I thought I'd lost you!"
She lets go and looks at Cally. "Are you alright?"
Cally nods automatically. She was fine physically, it was her thoughts, her world views, that had taken a serious blow. And if she seems a little distracted, a little disorganized, well, who could blame her after what had just taken place inside the state building?
"Come along. Aida's trying to track down everyone from the British embassy," she pauses, both in walking and speaking to light a new cigarette, "and from all the visiting countries as well--you know Aida--though Matt and I tried to convince her that tracking us Brits is going to be enough of a job."
"Is the ambassador still inside? Any of them?"
Segal blew out some smoke, "I think so. 'S why the Cabinieri are forming up. Pity none of our boys are here to help out."
They went a little further down the street, then Segal was saying, "Aida, look who I've found."
"Oh thank god! Are you alright, Cally, dear?" Then looking down at her notebook, "At least that's all you interns accounted for, now. The last thing I wanted to was to call home and tell someone their precious baby was being held by a group of terrorists." She writes something vindictively in her notebook and then smiles tightly at Cally. "I'm glad you're safe."
Julian and Matthew stand a few yards off, smoking and talking low and intense. Cally and Segal walk over and join them, both the men giving Cally a pat on the shoulder, happy to see her outside and safe.
"I'm impressed Matt and I managed to get out before you," Julian observes, looking at Cally keenly before blowing smoke over his shoulder.
Cally's left elbow twitches and she rubs her hands together before crossing her arms. "I think I was easier to toss about in the crowd than either you or Matt," she says dryly.
"What do you think this means for the peace talks?" Segal interjects, tapping ash off the end of her cigarette.
Matt exhales. "It's a group of terrorists. Fringe fanatics. Won't mean a thing. I mean, it's not great PR for this meeting, but it shouldn't affect the decisions of the politicians much. If anything it will push peace; clearly these countries need stability."
Segal looks questioningly at Julian, who takes a drag on his cigarette and then chuckles. "What, me? What about you?"
"I asked first."
Julian shrugs. "I think it matters. This points to problems in the Soviet government that may be taken pretty seriously. Especially if what the these blokes claim is happening is true. Could make an impression on the U.N. or human rights watch groups. Stir up problems about making deals with governments who support what sounds like genocide...."
Genocide. Cally shivers slightly. There've been rumors....
Facts. She needed cold hard facts. Her normally organized thoughts were in chaos and she needed to do some research to help search things out. Unfortunately she is stuck where she is in a conversation she isn't sure she could spare thought for.
"Cally? Cal?" Segal interrupts Cally's delirious thoughts.
Cally focuses in once more. "Sorry, I was trying to settle my thoughts." The interns wait patiently while she pauses a moment more, head tilted slightly to one side.
"I," she begins, stops, and then starts again. "I think the grievances that have been expressed by this group merit attention, although using violence hardly helps their cause." Another pause. "I think it will possibly have an effect," she nods her head, "as Julian said. On some level I think it definitely merits attention; certainly investigation into the claims this group has made."
"And the peace process?" Segal exhales smoke.
Cally shakes her head, brow furrowed. "I don't know. I don't know." Does that matter quite as much when groups of people are 'disappearing' on a regular basis? Is one related to the other? Information. Cally needs information like Matthew, Julian, and Segal needed their cigarettes.
Segal gives Cally a look of concern, Matt one of mild surprised, while Julian continues to smoke impassively.
After a moment Cally speaks quietly. "I don't feel like I have enough information about the situation to go into further detail. I know you three will be the first to argue every point." A faint smile appears on her lips.
Matthew and Segal exchange glances. Julian drops his cigarette, steps on it, and says, "Segal?"
Segal launches into her own view of the matter, waving her cigarette around as she speaks. Soon, Julian and Matthew break in to argue various and Cally is left standing, unusually quiet, her thoughts a million miles away. She is thinking of a boy she used to know who held her hand down a dark stairway and the young man she met yesterday that held a gun, and that her heart says it knows, but her mind does not.