State of Siege - Tom Clancy [95]
If that didn't happen, August was going to have to take down one or both officers. He didn't relish attacking men who were on the same team, but he was prepared to do it. He shifted to a confrontational mind-set, with his focus on the goal and not the means. The colonel moved quickly through the shadows un der the highway, then put his radio down beside the curb. He made sure the volume was turned all the way up. Then, with just seconds remaining, he ducked into a darkened doorway across from the garage. He was approximately thirty feet from the corner and roughly the same distance from the garage. August slipped off his shoes.
Less than five seconds later, a piercing screech ripped through the night. August watched as the officers looked over. One drew his gun and flashlight and started toward the street while the other radioed in the 10-59, which identified it as a non crime-related noise.
"Sounds like a radio," said the officer who was reporting the incident. "We have anyone else on the block?" "Negative," said the dispatcher.
"I copy that," said the officer. "I'm going over with Orlando." The first police officer approached cautiously with his flashlight turned toward the side of the building on the northeast corner. The second officer stayed slightly to the side, his gun drawn and his radio on. He was betting that these men would shoot him on sight if they saw him. He had to make certain that they did not. While the radio continued to crackle loudly, August watched the officers. When they reacted the corner, he ducked low and ran across the street in his stocking feet. He made no sound, did not feel anything he stepped on. The goal was all that mattered. And as he entered the garage and saw the elevator ahead, he had only one goal. To win.
New York, New York Sunday, 12:06 A.M.
The secretary-general was still standing in the corridor outside the Security Council. Little had changed since the siege began. A few of the delegates had left, and others had come up. Security personnel were more agitated than before, especially those who had taken part in the aborted assault. Young Lieutenant Mailman, a British officer who had come here after helping to plan Desert Fox, was the most restless of all. After Chatterjee had phoned the terrorists to relay Hood's message, the officer walked over. "Ma'am?" he said.
The silence was oppressive. Though he was whispering, his voice sounded very loud.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Ma'am, Colonel Mott's plan was a good one," he insisted. "We couldn't have anticipated the variable, the other gunmen." "What are you asking?" she said.
"There are only three terrorists left now," he told her, "and I have a plan that might work."
"No," she said adamantly. "How do you know there won't be other variables?"
"I don't," he admitted. "Soldiering isn't about pre dicting the future. It's about fighting wars. And you can't do that standing on the sidelines."
There were sounds from behind the door of the Security Council. Whimpering, knocking, snarls. Something was happening. "I've given you my answer," she replied.
A moment later, Paul Hood called back. Enzo Donati handed her the cell phone.
"Yes?" Chatterjee said anxiously. "She turned on us," Hood said. "God, no," Chatterjee said. "Then that's what's happening inside." "What's happening?" Hood said.
"A struggle," she said. "They're going to execute the hostage." "Not necessarily," Hood said. "One of my men is on the way up. He's dressed in civilian clothes-was "No!" the secretary-general said. "Madam Secretary, you've got to let us handle this," Hood said. "You don't have a plan. We do-was
"You had a plan, and we tried it," she said. "It failed." "This one won't-was
"No, Mr. Hood!" Chatterjee said as she cut him off. She felt like screaming. The phone beeped again. She shut it off and handed it to Donati. She told her assistant to leave.
It was as though someone had spun the world like a top. She was dizzy, electrified, and exhausted at, the same time. Is this what war was like? A white-water river that carried you to places where the best