'We should probably table the political debate.'
'I agree,' Rodgers said. 'I just came by to thank Darrell and Bob for their help on this, and also Maria. She did great.'
'I'll tell her,' McCaskey said. He regarded Rodgers for a long moment.
'So. What are your immediate plans?'
'Professionally, I have none,' Rodgers said. 'Personally, there's something I have to do. A question I have to answer.'
'Need help?' Herbert asked.
'I thought you were short on wisdom,' Rodgers said.
'That was false modesty,' he replied.
'No,' Rodgers said. 'It was something the admiral asked me while the marines were taking him away. One of those lady-or-the-tiger things that I want to think about. Preferably while I'm rock climbing or baking on a coastline somewhere.'
'You earned those breaks,' Hood said. He was hurt by the fact that Rodgers had singled out the help of the others but not him. It seemed petty. But he let it pass. Hood was not in Rodgers's position and did not know how it felt.
The meeting broke up, McCaskey and Herbert leaving to help reboot Op-Center. Hood and Rodgers stood. The general faced his longtime associate.
'Have you spoken with the president about what went down?' Rodgers asked.
'Late last night,' Hood said. He hesitated. He wanted to say more about the new arrangement, solicit the input of a valued confederate.
He decided against it. 'The White House was happy and very appreciative.'
'That's good.' Rodgers said. 'Is that all?'
'What do you mean?'
'You looked like you wanted to say something else,' Rodgers said.
'No,' Hood assured him. 'No, I just remembered there's an intern who I need to check in with.'
'An intern? After all this, you're worrying about an intern. Can you say 'micromanage'?'
'It isn't that,' Hood told him. 'He's the son of Sharon's new squeeze.'
Rodgers made a face. 'And you're taking him on?'
Hood nodded. He felt like the high school nerd who had joined another club because they needed a chess player or debater.
'Always a difficult tightrope to walk, isn't it?'
Hood smiled. 'Hopefully, my low-yield form of diplomacy will work.'
'That wasn't a knock earlier, about talk ending in combat,' Rodgers said. 'It was a lament. I don't like war any more than you do. I've lost too many friends.'
'I know.'
The general's eyes softened and moistened. For a moment, he seemed to be near tears.
'I also didn't want you to think I was ignoring you before, when I thanked Bob and Darrell for their help. One of the things I was thinking on the flight back was some of the decisions Orr and Link made. It isn't like the military, where you have a target and a limited number of ways to reach it. Where everyone in your unit is identically armed and trained and you know pretty much how they're going to react. There is nothing predictable and no one reliable in politics.'
