She started to stand. August helped her up. As he did, she looked up at him.
'I'm sorry about your people.'
'Thank you.' he replied.
'But be consoled,' she said.
'Their death in the service of our people will earn them a place in Paradise. The steadfast who do good works, forgiveness and a rich reward await them,'
' Sharab assured him.
The American smiled tightly. He left the woman supporting herself against the rock while he retrieved his radio.
Sharab winced as she put weight back on her swollen feet.
She began hobbling back toward the ledge. But at least now she knew one thing that she did not know a few minutes ago.
The pain would end very soon.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR.
Washington, D. C. Thursday, 10:30 a. m.
It had been a grueling ninety minutes for Paul Hood. But then, suffering was relative, he told himself. He was in no physical danger.
His children were safe. That helped him to keep his situation in perspective.
After his disagreement with Bob Herbert, Paul Hood had asked Liz Gordon, Lowell Coffey, Ann Fan-is, and political liaison Ron Plummer to come to his office. Hood had wanted to tell them what had happened to Striker. He also needed to mobilize them at once. Liz would have to put together grief counselors for Op-Center personnel as well as family members of the fallen Strikers. Coffey would have to be prepared to deal with any legal ramifications that might arise from recovering the bodies. And for the first time in years Ann would have to do nothing.
As far as domestic officials and foreign governments were concerned, Op-Center would stand by the original mission profile. The team had been sent into Kashmir at the request of the Indian government to search for nuclear missile sites. Striker had been shot accidentally by Indian soldiers who were looking for the Pakistani terrorists. If Ann owed anyone at one of the major news outlets any favors she could tell them what Op-Center was saying to government officials. That, and nothing more. Ann was thoroughly professional and supportive. If she suspected there was anything wrong between her and Hood she did not show it.
Only the president had been told the truth. Lawrence and Hood had spoken briefly before the others had come to Hood's office. The president seemed neither shaken nor pleased by what Hood told him.
Lawrence said only that he supported the plan from this point forward.
The president's 'no comment' did not surprise Hood. It would give him the room to praise or lambaste the NCMC at the end of the day, depending upon how things went.
President Lawrence did suggest, however, that the Pakistani ambassador to Washington be told the truth at once. He did not want Islamabad or Ambassador Simathna issuing statements about America's anti-Muslim activities or pro India bias. If Mike were to show up with the cell after that it would taint the validity of the operation. It would seem as if America had forced Nanda to lie to repair bridges with Pakistan and the Muslim world.
Hood gave that job to Ron Plummer. He also wanted Plummer to stay with the ambassador, ostensibly to brief him on all the latest developments.
In fact. Hood wanted to make certain the truth did not leak out prematurely. He was afraid that India might respond with a massive strike in the region.
Since the terrorists were still on the run, and still being blamed for all the bombings. New Delhi would have the moral high road and world opinion on their side.
As the meeting was ending Hood received a call from Bob Herbert.
'I just spoke with Brett August and I've got some good news,' Herbert informed him.
'He's linked up with the cell.'
Hood motioned for Ron Plummer not to leave and to shut the door. The small, slender political liaison closed the door behind Lowell Coffey.
Plummer remained standing.
'Thank God for that,' Hood said.
'Bob, Ron's in here with me. I'm putting you on speakerphone.'
'Okay,' Herbert said.
'Anyway, we were right,' he went on.
'The Pakistanis did spin off another group. Nanda Kumar and her grandfather are part of it. along with Ron Friday and one Pakistani.
And you were correct, Paul. They're headed across the Siachin Glacier.' 'Did Brett talk to Mike?' Hood asked.
'Not yet,' Herbert replied.
'They've got electrostatic interference from an ice storm on the plateau. Brett says the ice comes in waves. He's going to keep trying for a window.'
Hood suddenly felt very guilty about his warm office and fully functional telephone.
