Executive orders - Tom Clancy [342]
The worst thing that can happen-
You have Mr. Altman here to take care of that, don't you? Alexandre looked him over. I imagine you're big enough to stand in the way of the bullet. The Secret Service agent didn't reply, but his look at Alex told the tale. Yes, he'd stop one for his principal. You guys can't talk about this sort of thing, can you?
Yes, sir, we can, if you ask. Altman had wanted to say this all day. He'd seen the TV special, too, and as had often happened before, there was light talk in the Detail this morning about popping a cap on the reporter in question. The Secret Service had a fantasy life, too. Dr. Ryan, we like your family a lot, and I'm not just saying that to be polite, okay? We don't always like our principals. But we like all of you.
Hey, Cathy. It was Dean James, passing by with a smile and a wave.
Hi, Dave. Then she noted a few waves from faculty friends. So, she wasn't as alone as she thought.
Okay, Cathy, are you married to James Bond or what? In a different context the question might have set her off, but Alexandre's Creole eyes were twinkling at her.
I know a little. I got briefed in on some of it when President Durling asked Jack to be Vice President, but I can't-
He held up his hand. I know. I still have a security clearance because I still drive up to Fort Detrick once in a while.
It isn't like the movies. You don't do stuff like that and have a drink, kiss the girl, and drive away. He used to have nightmares and I-well, I'd hug him in his sleep and usually that calmed him down, then when he wakes up, he pretends it never happened at all. I know some of it, not all. When we were in Moscow last year, a Russian comes up and says that he had a gun to Jack's head once-Altman's head turned at that one-but he said it like a joke or something, then he said the gun wasn't loaded. Then we had dinner together, like we were pals or something, and I met his wife-pediatrician, would you believe it? She's a doc and her husband is the head Russian spy and-
It does sound a little far-fetched, Dr. Alexandre agreed with a judiciously raised eyebrow, and then a real laugh happened on the other side of the table.
It's all so crazy, she concluded.
You want crazy? We have two Ebola cases reported in Sudan. Now that her mood had changed, he could talk about his problems.
Funny place for that virus to turn up. Did they come in from Zaire?
Gus Lorenz is checking that out. I'm waiting for him to get back to me, Professor Alexandra reported. It can't be a local outbreak.
Why's that? Altman asked.
Worst possible environment, Cathy explained, finally picking at her lunch. Hot, dry, lots of direct sun. The UV from the sunlight kills it.
Like a flamethrower, Alex agreed. And no jungle for a host animal to live in.
Only two cases? Cathy asked with a mouthful of salad. At least, Alexandre thought, he'd gotten her to eat. Yep, he still had a good bedside manner, even in a cafeteria.
He nodded. Adult male and a little girl, that's all I know right now. Gus is supposed to run the tests today, probably already has.
Damn, that's a nasty little bug. And you still don't know the host.
Twenty years of looking, Alex confirmed. Never found one sick animal-well, the host wouldn't be sick, but you know what I mean.
Like a criminal case, eh? Altman asked. Poking around for physical evidence?
Pretty much, Alex agreed. Just we're trying to search a whole country, and we've never figured exactly what we're looking for.
DON RUSSELL WATCHED as the cots went out. After lunch-today it was ham-and-cheese sandwiches on wheat bread, glass of milk, and an apple-the kids all went down for their afternoon nap. An altogether good idea, all the adults thought. Mrs. Daggett was a superb organizer, and the kids all knew the routine. The beds came out of the storage room, and the kids knew their spaces. SANDBOX was getting along well