'But who will get them out now the British have surrendered?'
'I'm afraid that may be us, Diana. The U.S. had some serious oil and gas interests in those islands, and no one's very thrilled the Argentinians have seen fit to grab it all.'
'Gosh, you're not talking about a new invasion, are you — by the Americans?'
'Quite the opposite. But we may send a small team of Special Forces down there and take a careful look at what's happening. Since I talked to Rick, I more or less decided we'd hook up with Douglas and his guys and perhaps they could all leave together. U.S. submarine.'
'Oh, that would be marvelous. I can't tell you how worried I've been. I've hardly slept since I heard he was posted as missing in action.'
'Yeah, it's a kind of sinister phrase,' replied John Bergstrom. 'And in this case, I consider it unnecessary. There's no evidence whatsoever that Douglas is even missing, never mind in action. But the Brits' principal radio satellite hookup is on the bottom of the Atlantic, so they can't talk to him.'
Diana had really warmed to the SEAL chief and his reassuring words. But in the back of her mind she wondered what he could possibly be doing here in the middle of Kentucky, in the middle of the foaling season, having arrived in a private U.S. Navy jet, to speak to her long-retired husband. And a tiny warning bell was ringing in her mind.
Long used to making firm decisions in the purchase of racehorses that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, Diana Hunter decided on a direct approach. She went into the kitchen and collected a tray bearing a large, engraved silver coffeepot, a breeder's prize Rick's father, Bart, had been awarded after a Hunter Valley — bred colt had won the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
There was a fine framed oil painting of the colt on the wall behind the Admiral. And out beyond the west- facing portico, in the stallion barns, the same hard-knocking racehorse was trying to make a name for himself in the less strenuous career bestowed only upon those who could
'Admiral,' she said as she poured the coffee, 'why have you come to see us? What do you want Rick to do for you?'
John Bergstrom knew that to hedge or evade would be absolutely fatal. This very smart English girl would pick up those vibes in a split second. 'Diana, I want him to come to Coronado with me and help with this mission.
'Rick has a vested interest. He wants success as much as I do. Partly for me, for old times' sake, but mostly for you. He wants to get Douglas out of there, and my command has the people, the backup, and the necessary power to achieve that.'
He smiled at her and added, 'By the way, I have not really asked him yes or no. Perhaps you'd like to do that for me.'
Diana Hunter had to sit down. But before she could gather herself to speak, John Bergstrom added, 'If Rick accepts, we'll get Douglas out. If he declines, I hope we'll get Douglas out. That's the difference.
'You're married to a Special Forces Commander who's one of the best there's ever been. They didn't give him that Distinguished Service Cross for nothing.'
Lamely, Diana said, 'What Distinguished Service Cross?'
'It's the second-highest decoration in the United States armed services, right up there with the Medal of Honor. Rick has it, bestowed upon him by the President. I don't just want him, Diana, I need him…and so, in a way, do you.'
'Rick,' said his wife, 'do you want to go? Do you think you ought to go?'
'How can I not go?' said the big ex — SEAL Team Leader. 'How could I live with myself if somehow Douglas died? I'd always think I could have saved him. And, strangely, so would you.'
'But what about the farm? We're so busy.'
'Dad will come back to work for three weeks. He and Dan could manage. If necessary, Dan's father would step in. Hunter Valley and its staff would cope, like they always have. And anyway, I'd rather lose a couple of foals than Douglas…wouldn't you?'
Diana did not answer. But she turned again to Admiral Bergstrom. 'Do you mind if I call you John?' she said.
'Not a bit.'
'Then, John, will you please tell me, how dangerous is this?'
'It's like everything. The better you plan, the more you think about the problems and the solutions, the greater your chances of success. Frankly, I am not too bothered about my guys getting killed by the Argentinians, because it won't happen. They'll have a ton of backup, by air and, if necessary, by sea.
'If it came to a choice between flattening Argentina's Mount Pleasant garrison and everyone in it, or losing my guys in battle, there's only one answer to that. ‘Good-bye, Mount Pleasant.' This is a mission where we must be careful, but it's not nearly so dangerous as the last three operations Rick commanded.'
'Well, I seem to be in a bit of a spot,' said Diana. 'If I object, and Douglas dies, it's true, I'll always think it was my fault for stopping Rick going in to save him. But what if I lost them both? What if neither of them came back? Again, I would not forgive myself for letting him go…'
'Di, the issue is Douglas,' said Rick. 'And we've got to try. I can't just sit here and do nothing when I have the Commander of SPECWARCOM sitting right here damn near begging me to lead this mission. I think all three of us in the room understand that…especially you, Di…now tell me, do I go with your blessing?'
'Yes, Rick, you must go with my blessing. But God help you both.'
Commander Hunter then turned to face his CO. 'Sir, you must ask me formally.'
'I understand,' said Admiral Bergstrom. 'And I will do so. Will you, Rick Hunter, accept a new commission in the U.S. Navy, and, with all the privileges and responsibilities of your former rank of Commander, lead the U.S. Navy SEALs in the forthcoming operation to the Falkland Islands?'
'Affirmative, sir.'
'Hello, Admiral Morgan? Hi, John Bergstrom here. Just wanted to tell you Commander Hunter has agreed to return to the Navy for one single mission and lead the operation to the Falkland Islands.'
'Has he really? Hey, that's terrific, John. Well done. Silver-tongued bastard.'
'Wasn't much trouble, Arnie. He misses it all like hell.'
'Don't we all? Where is he now?'
'He's right here, and still as fit as anyone on the station. He slotted right in, just like he never left. Some of the guys who'll go with him still remember him pretty well. Some of 'em are still in awe.'
'So am I, John. How the hell he ever got out of that mess in Burma, I guess we'll never know.'
'I just felt so much better with him in charge. He has a way with the guys. They always feel that serving under Commander Hunter you got a darned good shot at getting out alive. They'll follow him into hell if they have to.'
'I know. By the way, how does he feel about the air drop into the ocean?'
'I'll tell you later, he's just starting a two-day airborne course right now.'
'You worked out an assault landing plan yet?'
'Sure have. The guys move out of the submarine and straight into Pebble Island. They fix bombs to every one of the fifteen fighter aircraft on the ground, with six-hour delayed fuses. Then they get out, by boat, back to East Falkland. That way they make the Args concentrate their search forces up there in the wrong place. Go in with a bang. Immediately get 'em off balance.'
'Commander Hunter okay with that?'
'It was Commander Hunter's plan.'
CHAPTER TEN
