Police.'
'Right. I would like to know one thing, though. You do understand what we did, don't you?'
The marines arrived, and the admiral suddenly seemed like a different man. It was not uncertainty in his voice, or regret. Perhaps it was a hint of fear as the reality of his situation settled in.
'Why does it matter what I think?' the general asked.
'Things didn't exactly work out the way I planned,' Link replied. 'I've got one hell of a drop in front of me. A lonely drop.' He grinned uneasily. 'You're a scholar. Who was it who said that solitude is great if you're a wild beast or a god?'
'Francis Bacon said that,' Rodgers told him. The general moved in closer. 'Admiral, I understand what you did. I just don't agree. A nation is defined by its laws, not by vigilantes and rogue operations.
You hurt people to enforce your own vision of the greater good.'
'What about saving the nation from a tyrant? You don't think that was a worthwhile goal?'
'It has been one of the greatest goals of some of the greatest men in history,' Rodgers said. He was trying to give the admiral something.
'I just don't agree that the shortest path is always the best one. The singular thing about this nation is that we make mistakes but invariably correct them. Maybe Orr would have become a political force. He might even have become president. But the national mood would have shifted. We are a rough and impatient people, but we ultimately do the right thing.'
Link's grin turned knowing. 'So you would have ratted us out to Orr, wouldn't you? Talking instead of pushing is that what you would have preferred?'
Rodgers did not answer. He did not know.
'I am content, then,' Link said. 'I did the right thing.'
The Apache had landed in the clearing, and Rodgers told the marines to escort the admiral toward it. The general followed them. He thought about Link's question as he walked.
He had a feeling he would be thinking about it for quite some time.
FIFTY-SEVEN
San Diego, California Thursday, 8:33 a.m.
The Apache landed at Pendleton, where Link was handed over to the military police. They, in turn, made arrangements to have him transferred to the San Diego police. The charge, for now, was fraudulent claim of kidnapping. It was based entirely on Rodgers's report that Link had maintained the deception for roughly one minute after he had been rescued. It was a very minor charge, but it was all they had for now. More would follow after Eric Stone had seen an attorney and made his own statement. He and Kendra were also in custody of the SDPD.
After the admiral's arrest, Rodgers returned to Senator Orr's suite.
Kat and the senator were still there. The senator had recovered somewhat and was lucid enough to thank Rodgers for his quick action.
'I hope you don't believe any of Eric's ranting,' Kat said.
'Yes,' Orr added. 'I understand he was quite out of his head.'
Rodgers said no, of course not. This was obviously a plot created by Admiral Link, who had a long-standing grudge against the senator. They agreed that Senator Orr would not attempt to speak to the convention until the next day. Kat went down and, from the podium, told the attendees that the situation was still being investigated but that Link had been recovered and Senator Orr would speak to them the next day.
Rodgers went with her to make sure she did what she said she was going to do. While Orr rested, Kat went back to her suite to write Orr a speech. Hotel security was stationed outside their door to protect them against further attacks.
And to make sure they stayed in their rooms.
Meanwhile, Rodgers called Darrell McCaskey. Rodgers brought him up to speed and told him what he needed to tie this one up.
