Meanwhile, Paul Hood got back on the line with Ambassador Simathna.
Hood turned off the speakerphone so his conversation would not interfere with Herbert's call.
'Mr. Ambassador?' Hood said.
'I am here,' Simathna replied.
'Thank you for holding, sir,' Hood said.
'We agree that your proposal should be pursued.'
'Pursued,'
' the ambassador replied.
'Does that mean you are also considering other courses of action?'
'Not at the moment,' Hood said.
'But you might,' the ambassador pressed.
'It's possible,' Hood agreed.
'Right now we're not even certain we can contact General Rodgers, let alone get him to the silo. We also don't know the condition of his party.'
'I appreciate your uncertainty but you must understand my concern,' the ambassador said.
'We do not wish to give out the location of our defensive silo unless your officer is going to use it.'
The conversation was becoming an exercise in hedging, not cooperation.
Hood needed to change that, especially if he were going to trust Mike Rodgers's fate to this man.
'I do understand, Mr. Ambassador,' Hood said.
Suddenly, Herbert turned. He shook his head.
'Hold on, Mr. Ambassador,' Hood said urgently. He jabbed the mute button.
'What is it. Bob?'
'Brett can't raise Mike,' Herbert told him.
Hood swore.
'All he gets on the radio is heavy static,' Herbert went on.
'Sharab tells him the winds won't cut out for another five or six hours.'
'That doesn't help us,' Hood said.
Hood thought for a moment. They had thousands of satellites in the air and outposts throughout the region. There had to be some way to get a message to Mike Rodgers.
Or someone with him. Hood thought suddenly.
'Bob, we may be able to do something,' Hood said.
'Tell Brett we'll get back to him in a few minutes. Then put in a call to Hank Lewis.'
'Will do,' Herbert said.
Hood deactivated the mute.
'Mr. Ambassador, can you stay on the line?'
'The security of my nation is at risk,' Simathna said.
'Is that a 'yes,' sir?' Hood pressed. He did not have time for speeches.
'It was an emphatic yes, Mr. Hood.'
'Is Mr. Plummer still with you?' Hood asked.
'I'm here, Paul,' Plummer said.
'Good. I may need your help,' Hood said.
'I understand,' Plummer replied.
'I'm putting you on speaker so you can both be a part of what's going on,' Hood said.
The ambassador thanked him.
Simathna sounded sincere. Hood hoped he was. Because if Simathna did anything to jeopardize Rodgers or the mission, Hood would know about it immediately.
Ron Plummer would make sure of that.
CHAPTER FIFTY.
The Siachin Glacier Thursday, 11:40 p. m.
It was the last thing Ron Friday expected to feel.
As he neared the kneeling body of Apu Kumar, Friday felt the cell phone begin to vibrate in his vest pocket. It
