"Well, I can understand that—it must be quite a scoop. Hostages, freed from the notorious prisons of Bamako." He fiddled with his pipe avuncularly. "It’ll certainly be the talk of Azania. One of our own, returned to us from bondage. Quite a boost for our morale—especially in the midst of this crisis." The director was talking over and through her for the benefit of his own people. It was working, too—he was cheering them up. She felt better about him.