Tom Clancy's Op-center Balance of Power - Tom Clancy [126]
August's right hand shot up, the fingers splayed. That was the sign for the Strikers not to fire.
Neither of the other Strikers fired. August stared over his gunsight at a priest, gagging terribly. There was an automatic weapon jutting from under his right armpit, pointing toward the door. Behind him was a general wearing a gas filter and goggles. From his size and hair coloring, August knew that it was Amadori. The general's left hand was around the priest's throat. Behind the general was another officer-a major general, August determined through the yellow haze. There were six other officers in the room, all of them high-ranking, all of them sprawled on the floor or leaning across a conference table in the center.
The general motioned up and down with the gun. He was telling the Strikers to stand. August shook his head. If Amadori fired, he might get one of them. But he wouldn't get all of them. And if the general shot the priest, then he had to know that he himself was dead.
It was a standoff. But the one running out of time now was Amadori. He had no way of knowing whether Striker was a SAT-a stand-alone team-or the first wave of a larger force. If it was the latter, then Amadori couldn't afford to be trapped here.
The general obviously made up his mind quickly, as August had expected him to. Amadori began walking the priest forward slowly. The older clergyman was having difficulty standing. But pressure from Amadori's fingers around his throat brought him upright each time he threatened to stumble. The major general walked with them, tight against Amadori's back. As they approached, August could see that the major general had a handgun. He suspected that the only reason these men hadn't fired was because they didn't know who or what was waiting for them outside the throne room.
August watched as the three men came forward. There was no doubt that the Strikers could take Amadori. The question was the pricetag for both sides. In situations like these, the decision was up to the commanding officer. For August, the question was the same as it was in chess: whether an exchange of high ranked pieces was worth it. For him, the answer had always been no. Depending upon who was sharper and better prepared, it was better to keep the game going and wait for the other player to make a mistake.
August held out his right hand, palm down. That meant to do nothing unless provoked. Outside the door, Scott passed the signal to the other Strikers. Scott wriggled back as Amadori approached. He didn't take his gun off him. As he stepped through the doorway into the Hall of the Halberdiers, the other Strikers also took aim at the general. The exception was Corporal Prementine, who was helping Private DeVonne.
The gas in the throne room was beginning to wear off. At August's signal, Scott threw another grenade to cover their retreat. They rose and exited after the general. Scott walked with his back pressed to August's back. The private was facing into the throne room, watching to make sure that none of the choking soldiers attempted to get off a shot. None did.
August couldn't afford to feel frustrated as Amadori walked toward the corridor. The general had had a gas filter with him: that was a reasonable precaution. The President of the United States had one in the Oval Office. They were kept in most rooms at 10 Downing Street. Boris Yeltsin had one in his desk and one in each of his cars. The surprise was that Amadori had had a hostage. The killing or even wounding of a hostage was always unfortunate; the killing or wounding of a Roman Catholic priest in Spain would be a disaster.
August considered the situation carefully. If they let Amadori out into the open, the general's army