The British ambassador turn to face her and she saw a puzzled look on his face, replaced immediately by warm smile. “Why, Ambassador Wexler. How pleasant to see you.”
She hurried up to him and caught his elbow. “I was wondering if you might be free for dinner this evening — in the executive dining room, of course. It’s so much more secure, isn’t it?”
“Of course, of course. I must say, my dear woman, we were all terribly horrified by your adventure yesterday. That a member of the diplomatic corps should be subjected to such things… well, it simply boggles the imagination, does it not?”
“It certainly does,” she agreed. “A simply horrifying experience, I assure you. But it’s over now, and I have decided to follow your example,” she said, cutting her eyes toward Brad and the security man. “So intrusive, but the things we do for our nations… Of course, you would know more about that than I would.”
She felt him stiffen slightly. “Of course, there are certain sacrifices that must be made,” he agreed. “But you seem to have something specific in mind, madam.”
Wexler laughed. “Oh, come now, my friend. You know exactly what I’m talking about. I must say, I’m flattered, and indeed, I was tempted to simply say nothing and see how matters progressed.” She leaned toward him until her chest brushed against his arm, her voice low, “The rumors I hear about you are simply astounding. In this country, we’d call you a stud. Actually, I was rather looking forward to—”
Ambassador Wells pulled away. “Madam! I certainly don’t know what has gotten into you today.”
She sniggered. “The question is what
The British ambassador turned a brilliant shade of red. He drew himself up to his full height, and threw a foul glance at Brad. Did everyone in the world know more about her aide than she did?
Suddenly, Wexler dropped all pretext. “Get rid of your people for a few moments, Wells. We’re safe here — they can go play patty-cake with mine for all I care.” There was a note of tempered steel in her voice as well as in the glare she leveled at him.
Drawing on some inner resource, the British ambassador composed himself, as British aristocracy had been able to do for centuries. He made a short, dismissive gesture with his hand, and his men drew back. “Now. Exactly what is this about?” All traces of the bumbling fool were gone, and she faced a man who had the blood of kings and queens running in his veins.
But her ancestors were just as illustrious, if for decidedly different reasons. They had fought their way up as immigrants, learning a new language with a new way of life in America, and building astounding lives in their adopted homeland. Just two generations ago, graduating from high school had been considered a major achievement.
And now, standing on the progress they’d made, Sarah Wexler walked these halls as though she owned them — which in fact, she did. So she met him on an equal footing, as fully confident of her background and heritage as he was.
“We both know what I’m talking about,” she said. “So let’s dropped all the nonsense, Wells. America and Britain stand together against the rest of the world. A small part of that relationship is built here — but not all of it. We go back centuries, sir. We have so much in common, a common view of the world — there is a strength to our alliance that is like no other. Even the Middle Eastern nations, which have so much in common, cannot rival the bond we have managed to forge across the oceans. So I ask you now — can we put aside the nonsense that has gone before and begin again? Because the issues that face us are far too serious for these games we play.”
He considered her for a moment, as though deciding who she really was. Finally, he held that his hand. “Very well, Madam Ambassador. Without admitting culpability in any acts that sparked your…
She took his hand and exerted firm pressure as she shook it. A smile crossed her face. “And I was serious about dinner,” she said. “Because there is something I desperately need to talk over with you, something I will need your help with. But I simply cannot abide the stuffy environment here one second longer. So how do you feel about pastrami sandwiches?”
THIRTY-ONE
Ambassador Wexler stood, glanced around the room, and met the gaze of Ambassador Wells. She nodded slightly. Everything would go as they discussed, no surprises. With a deep breath, she asked for recognition from the Secretary General.
“Mr. Secretary General, members of the assembly, Thank you for attending this weekend session. My aides are passing out briefing sheets to you as I speak, and I believe you will see the necessity for extending our work week. In the folders, you’ll find full and complete documentation of the charges I am bringing today. I hope to answer any questions you may have in the short address.
“Most of you have heard of the events of the previous days, of the unexpected adventure that the ambassador from China and I were subjected to. The perpetrators of the attacks have not yet been caught—” A slight lie, she realized, as she suspected that T’ing had taken care of them. “—but we have hopes that they soon will be. In any event, I level this charge now — the country of Iran is behind everything that has happened, both to me personally and to America’s military forces. I ask for immediate sanctions from the assembly, as well as a resolution condemning this. We expect reparations, both compensatory and punitive. And finally, we wish the leaders of Iran to understand that this is not how civilized nations conduct business. The despicable treatment of women inside your own borders is abhorrent to civilized nations. But when you attempt the political assassination of a diplomatic representative simply on the basis of gender, you have gone too far.”
She paused for a moment, and let the angry rumble in the assembly build. “You will apologize, on behalf of your country for this manner. Publicly and fully, accepting complete responsibility for both the attempted assassination and the attack on our forces. Or I shall promise you, sir,” she continued, stabbing one finger in the direction of the ambassador from Iran, “that your country will experience immediate and irrevocable consequences. Yes, we know what is behind the recent maneuvers. Let me assure you that the American battle group you intended to trap in international waters is no longer held captive. She remains in the Gulf under the president’s orders, acting on authority of a resolution from this very body, and she is poised to inflict a damaging surgical strike on key military installations.”
Wexler stopped, took a sip of water and for a brief, irrelevant moment wished that it were orange oolong tea. What she was about to say went against every fiber of her being, but there was no backing down now. “I’ve been given to understand that you station civilian women and children at key military installations for the very purpose of deterring retaliation. We cannot tell you how despicable this is, but the fact remains that should harm befall them, their blood will be on your hands. A country must care for her own individual citizens — that you have elected to use your citizens in this fashion does nothing but bring scorn from the international community down on you. And if you believe the sanctions you’ve experienced in the last five years have worked a hardship upon you, let me promise you that is nothing compared to what is to come. Now apologize, or face the consequences.”
All around the chamber, the delegates stirred, looking uneasily at one another. All, except those from the Middle East. They sat frozen in position, as though waiting for a signal. And Ambassador Sarah Wexler, representative of the most powerful nation on Earth, realized with a sinking heart that the lessons she’d learned so many years ago still held true. The floor of the UN was not the place to resolve these matters. No, the deals were always made in the back rooms. She resisted the impulse to glance across to T’ing.
The seconds ticked by, and Wexler fought to not let the tension show in her face or demeanor. She remained standing, projecting confidence and determination, waiting. Ambassador Wells made a movement as though to
