Executive orders - Tom Clancy [515]
And we have a plague, Ryan added. He leaned forward on the cheap desk in Signals. He couldn't sleep, but that didn't mean he was fully awake, either. Coincidences?
Maybe. Maybe the Indian Prime Minister is pissed at us because we rattled their cage a while back. Maybe she just wants to show us that we can't push her around. Maybe it's petty bullshit, Mr. President. But maybe it ain't.
Options?
We have a surface-action group in the Eastern Med, two Aegis cruisers, a Burke-class 'can, and three figs. The Med's quiet. I suggest that we consider moving that group through Suez to back up the Anzio group. I further suggest that we consider moving a carrier from WestLant to the Med. That will take a while, Jack. It's six thousand miles; even with a speed of advance of twenty-five knots that's almost nine days just to get a carrier close. We have more than a third of the world without a carrier handy, and the part that isn't covered is starting to make me nervous. If we have to do something, Jack, I'm not sure we can.
HELLO, SISTER, CLARK said, taking her hand gently. He hadn't seen a nun in quite a few years.
Welcome, Colonel Clark. Major. She nodded to Chavez.
Afternoon, ma'am.
What brings you to our hospital? Sister Mary Charles's English was excellent, almost as though she taught it, with a Belgian accent that sounded just like French to the two Americans.
Sister, we're here to ask about the death of one of your colleagues, Sister Jean Baptiste, Clark told her.
I see. She waved to the chairs. Please sit down.
Thank you, Sister, Clark said politely.
You are Catholic? she asked. It was important to her.
Yes, ma'am, we both are. Chavez nodded agreement with the colonel.
Your education?
Actually all Catholic schools for me, Clark said, indulging her. Grade school was the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and Jesuits after that.
Ah. She smiled, pleased at the news. I have heard of the sickness that has broken out in your country. This is very sad. And so you are here to ask about poor Benedict Mkusa, Sister Jean, and Sister Maria Magdalena. But I fear we cannot be of much help to you.
Why is that, Sister?
Benedict died and his body was cremated on government order, Sister Mary Charles explained. Jean was taken ill, yes, but she left for Paris on a medical evacuation flight, you see, to visit the Pasteur Institute. The airplane crashed into the sea, however, and all were lost.
All? Clark asked.
Sister Maria Magdalena flew off also, and Dr. Moudi, of course.
Who was he? John inquired next.
He was part of the World Health Organization mission to this area. Some of his colleagues are in the next building. She pointed.
Moudi, you said, ma'am? Chavez asked, taking his notes.
Yes. She spelled it for him. Mohammed Moudi. A good doctor, she added. It was very sad to lose them all.
Mohammed Moudi, you said. Any idea where he was from? It was Chavez again.
Iran-no, that's just changed, hasn't it? He was educated in Europe, a fine young physician, and very respectful of us.
I see. Clark adjusted himself in his seat. Could we talk with his colleagues?
I THINK THE President's gone much too far, the doctor said on TV. He had to be interviewed in a local affiliate since he was unable to drive from Connecticut to New York this morning.
Why is that, Bob? the host asked. He'd come in from his home in New Jersey to the New York studio off Central Park West, just before the bridges and tunnels had been closed, and was sleeping in his office now. Understandably, he wasn't very happy about it.
Ebola is a nasty one. There's no doubt of that, said the network's medical correspondent. He was a physician who didn't practice, though he spoke the language quite well. He mainly presented medical news, in the morning concentrating on the benefits of jogging and good diet. But it's never been here, and the reason is that the virus can't