Executive orders - Tom Clancy [503]
Aside from the trip to Kansas City?
Nothing really, the voice replied, as though from the bottom of a grave. Working at my desk, getting ready for the fall orders. Went to the housewares show at McCormick Center two days.
There were some more questions, none of which turned up any immediately useful information. The woman in the agent wanted to reach out, touch her hand, provide some measure of comfort and sympathy-but no. The agent had just learned the previous week that she was pregnant with her first child. She had custody of two lives now, not just her own, and it was all she could do to keep her hand from shaking.
Thank you. We'll be back to you, the agent said, rising from her metal chair and moving to the door. Opening it, she pulled her shoulders in so as not to touch the door frame, and proceeded to the next room down the hall for the next interview. Klein was in the corridor, discussing something with another staffer-doc or nurse, the agent couldn't tell.
How'd it go? the professor asked.
What are her chances? the agent asked.
Essentially zero, Mark Klein replied. For diseases like this one, Patient Zero was just that.
COMPENSATION? THEY ASK us for compensation! the Defense Minister demanded before the Foreign Minister could speak.
Minister, I merely convey the words of others, Adler reminded his hosts.
We have had two officers from your Air Force examine the missile fragments. Their judgment confirms our own. It is a Pen-Lung-13, their new heat-seeker with the range, a development of a Russian weapon. It's definite now, in addition to the RADAR evidence developed from your ships, Defense added. The shooting of the airliner was a deliberate act. You know that. So do we. So, tell me, Mr. Adler, where does America stand in this dispute?
We wish nothing more than the restoration of peace, SecState replied, confirming his own predictions. I would also point out that the PRC, in allowing my direct flights between their capital and yours, are showing a measure of goodwill.
Quite so, the Foreign Minister replied. Or so it might seem to the casual observer, but tell me, Mr. Adler, what do they really want?
So much, the American Secretary of State told himself, for settling the situation down. These two were as smart as he was, and even more angry. Then that changed.
A secretary knocked, then entered, annoying his boss until they exchanged a few words in Mandarin. A telex was passed over and read. Then another was given directly to the American.
It seems that there is a serious problem in your country, Mr. Secretary.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE was cut off. Ryan left the room, returned to the Oval Office and sat on the couch with his wife.
How did it go?
Didn't you watch? Jack asked.
We were talking over some things, Cathy explained. Then Arnie came in.
Not bad, boss, the chief of staff opined. You will have to meet with people from the Senate this evening. I just worked that out with the leadership on both sides. This will make the elections today a little interesting and-
Arnie, until further notice we will not discuss politics in this building. Politics is about ideology and theory. We have to deal with cold facts now, SWORDSMAN said.
You can't get away from it, Jack. Politics is real, and if this is the deliberate attack the general here says it is, then it's war, and war is a political act. You're leading the government. You have to lead the Congress, and that is a political act. You're not a philosopher king. You're the President of a democratic country, van Damm reminded him.