“Where did you serve?” Reacher asked him.
Ray shrugged.
“Here and there,” he said.
“Like where and where?” Reacher asked.
“I was in Germany twice,” Ray said. “And I was in Desert Storm.”
“Driver?” Reacher asked.
“Loader,” Ray answered.
Reacher nodded.
“You boys did a good job,” he said. “I was in Desert Storm. I saw what you boys did.”
Ray nodded. He took the opening, like Reacher knew he would. If you can’t let them beat you, you let them join you. Ray moved casually to his left and sat down on the floor, back against the door, Glock resting against his thigh. He nodded again.
“We whupped them,” he said.
“You sure did,” Reacher said. “You whupped them real good. So, Germany and the desert. You liked it there?”
“Not much,” Ray said.
“You liked their systems?” Reacher asked.
“What systems?” Ray asked back.
“Their governments,” Reacher said. “Their laws, their liberties, all that stuff.”
Ray looked mystified.
“Never noticed,” he said. “Never paid any attention.”
“So how do you know they’re better than ours?” Reacher asked.
“Who says they’re better?” Ray said.
“You do,” Reacher said. “Last night you were telling me how bad it is here in America. Got to be better everywhere else, right?”
Ray shook his head.
“I never told you that,” he said.
“So is it or isn’t it?” Reacher asked.
“I don’t know,” Ray said. “Probably. Lot of things wrong with America.”
Reacher nodded.
“Lot of things,” he said. “I agree with you. But I’ll tell you something. It’s better in America than everyplace else. I know, because I’ve been everyplace else. Everyplace else is worse. A lot worse. Lot of things wrong in America, but plenty more things wrong everyplace else. You guys should think about that.”
Ray looked across through the gloom.
“You think we’re wrong?” he asked.
Reacher nodded.
“I know you’re wrong,” he said. “For certain. All that stuff you were telling me is bullshit. All of it. It’s not happening.”
“It is happening,” Ray said. “Beau says so.”
“Think about it, Joe,” Reacher said. “You were in the service. You saw how it all operated. You think those guys could organize all that stuff and keep it a secret? They ever even give you a pair of boots the right size?”
Ray laughed.
“Not hardly,” he said.
“Right,” Reacher said. “So if they can’t organize your damn boots, how can they organize all this other stuff Beau is talking about? What about these transmitters hidden in all the new cars? You think Detroit can do all that stuff? They’d be recalling them all because they didn’t work right. You a gambling man, Joe?”
“Why?” he asked.
“What are the odds?” Reacher said. “Against they could organize a huge massive conspiracy like that and keep it all a secret for years and years?”
A slow smile spread across Ray’s face and Reacher saw that he was losing. Like talking to the wall. Like teaching a chimpanzee to read.
“But they haven’t kept it a secret,” Ray said triumphantly. “We found out about it. I told you, Beau’s got the proof. He’s got the documents. It’s not a secret at all. That’s why we’re here. Beau’s right, no doubt about it. He’s a smart guy.”
Reacher closed his eyes and sighed.
“You better hope so,” he said. “He’s going to need to be.”
“He’s a smart guy,” Ray said again. “And he’s got staying power. He’s putting us all together. There were a dozen groups up here. Their leaders quit and left. All their people came and joined Beau, because they trust him. He’s a smart guy, Reacher, and he’s our only hope left. You won’t change anybody’s mind about him. You can forget about that. Far as we’re concerned, we love him, and we trust him to do right.”
“What about Jackson?” Reacher asked. “You think he did right about that?”
Ray shrugged.
“Jackson was a spy,” he said. “Shit like that happens. Beau’s studied the history. It happened in 1776, right? Redcoats had spies all over. We hanged them then, just the same. Plenty of old ladies back east got old oak trees in their front yards, famous for being where they strung up the redcoat spies. Some of them charge you a buck and a half just to take a look at them. I know, I went there once.”
“What time is lights-out here?” Reacher asked.
“Ten o’clock,” Ray said. “Why?”
Reacher paused. Stared at him. Thought back over their conversation. Gazed at his lean, mobile face. Looked into his crazy eyes, burning deep under his brow.
“I got to be someplace else after lights-out,” Reacher said.
Ray laughed again.
“And you think I’m going to let you?” he said.
Reacher nodded.
“If you want to live,” he said.
Ray lifted the pistol off his thigh and pointed it one-handed at Reacher’s head.
“I’m the one got the gun here,” he said.
“You wouldn’t live to pull the trigger,” Reacher said.
“Trigger’s right here,” Ray said. “You’re all the way over there.”
Reacher waved him a listen-up gesture. Leaned forward and spoke quietly.
“I’m not really supposed to tell you this,” he said. “But we were warned we’d meet a few guys smarter than the average, and we’re authorized to explain a couple of things to them, if the operational circumstances make it advisable.”
“What circumstances?” Ray asked. “What things?”
“You were right,” Reacher said. “Most of the things you’ve said are correct. A couple of inaccuracies, but we spread a little disinformation here and there.”
“What are you talking about?” Ray asked.
Reacher lowered his voice to a whisper.
“I’m World Army,” he said. “Commander of the advance party. I’ve got five thousand UN troops in the forest. Russians, mostly, a few Chinese. We’ve been watching you on the satellite surveillance. Right now, we’ve got an X-ray camera on this hut. There’s a laser beam pointed at your head. Part of the SDI technology.”
“You’re kidding,” Ray said.
Reacher shook his head. Deadly serious.
“You were right about the microchips,” he said. “Look at this.”
He stood up slowly and pulled his shirt up to his chest. Turned slightly so Ray could see the huge scar on his stomach.
“Bigger than the modern ones,” he said. “The latest ones go in with no mess at all. The ones we put in the babies? But these old ones work just the same. The satellites know where I am at all times, like you said. You start to pull that trigger, the laser blows your head off.”
