them that on the advice of their lawyer the two young men had refused to talk.
Oddblood Gray said incredulously, 'There's a nuclear device planted in New York City? I don't believe it. All this shit can't be happening at once.'
Dazzy said, 'Are you sure they really did plant a nuclear device?'
Christian said, 'I think there is only a ten percent chance.' He believed that there was more than a ninety percent chance but he was not willing to tell them that.
'What are you going to do about it?' Dazzy said.
'We've got the nuclear search teams out,' Christian said. 'But there's a time element.' He spoke directly to Kennedy. 'I still need your signature to activate the medical interrogation team for the PVT test.' He explained Section IX of the Atomic Weapons Control Act.
'No,' Francis Kennedy said.
They were all astonished by the President's refusal.
'We can't take a chance,' Dazzy said. 'Sign the order.'
Kennedy smiled and said, 'The invading of an individual's brain by government officials is a dangerous action.' He paused for a moment and said, 'We can't sacrifice a citizen's individual rights just on suspicion.
Especially such potentially valuable citizens as those two young men.
Chris, when you have more confirmation, ask again.' Then Kennedy said to Oddblood Gray, 'Otto, brief Christian and Dazzy on the Congress.'
Gray said, 'Here is their game plan. They know now that the Vice President will not sign the declaration to impeach you under the Twenty-fifth Amendment. But enough of the Cabinet members have signed so that they can still take action. They will designate Congress as the other body to determine your fitness. They will convene late Thursday and then vote to impeach. Just to cancel you from the negotiations for the release of the hostages. Their argument is that you are under too much stress because of the death of your daughter.
'When you're removed, the Secretary of Defense will countermand your orders to bomb Dak. They are counting on Bert Audick to convince the Sultan to release the hostages during that thirty-day period. The Sultan will almost certainly comply.'
Kennedy turned to Dazzy. 'Put out a directive. No member of this government will contact Sherhaben. Doing so will be regarded as treason.'
Dazzy said softly, 'With most of your Cabinet against you, there is no possibility your orders will be carried out. At this moment you have no power.'
Kennedy turned to Christian Klee. 'Chris,' he said, 'they need a two-thirds vote to remove me from office, right?'
'Yes,' Christian said. 'But without the Vice President's signature, it's basically illegal.'
Kennedy looked into his eyes. 'Isn't there anything you can do?'
In that moment Christian Klee's mind made another leap. Francis thought he could do something, but what was it? Christian said tentatively, 'We can call on the Supreme Court and say that the Congress is acting against the Constitution. The language is vague in the Twenty-fifth Amendment.
Or we can argue that Congress is acting contrary to the spirit of the amendment by substituting itself as the instigating party after the Vice President has refused to sign. I can contact the Court so they can rule right after the Congress votes.'
He saw the look of disappointment in Kennedy's eyes and he racked his brain furiously. He was missing something.
Oddblood Gray said worriedly, 'The Congress is going to attack your mental capacity. They keep bringing up the week you disappeared. Just before your inauguration.'
Kennedy said, 'That's nobody's business.'
Christian became aware that the others were waiting for him to speak.
They knew he had been with the President that mysterious week. He said,
'What happened in that week won't damage us.'
Francis Kennedy said, 'Euge, prepare the papers for firing the whole Cabinet except for Theodore Tappey. Prepare them as soon as possible and I'll sign right away. Have the press secretary give it to the media before Congress meets.'
Eugene Dazzy made notes, then asked, 'What about the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Fire him too?'
'No,' Francis Kennedy said. 'Basically he's with us, the others ruled against him. Congress couldn't do this if it weren't for those bastards in the Socrates Club.'
Christian said, 'I've been handling the interrogation of the two young kids. They choose to remain silent. And if their lawyer has it his way, they will be released on bail tomorrow.'
Dazzy said sharply, 'There's a section in the Atomic Security Act that enables you to hold them. It suspends the right of habeas corpus, civil liberties. You must know that, Christian.'
'Number one,' Christian said, 'what's the point of holding them if
Francis refuses to sign the medical interrogation order? Their lawyer applies for bail, and if we refuse them we still must have the President's signature to suspend habeas corpus in this case. Francis, are you willing to sign an order for a suspension of habeas corpus?'
Kennedy smiled at him. 'No, Congress will use that against me.'
Christian was confident now. Still, for a moment, he felt a little sick and bile rose in his mouth. Then it passed and he knew what Kennedy wanted, he knew what he had to do.
Kennedy sipped his coffee; they had finished their meal, but none of them had taken more than a few bites. Kennedy said, 'Let's discuss the real crisis. Am I still going to be President in forty-eight hours?'
Oddblood Gray said, 'Rescind the order to bomb Dak, turn over the negotiations to a special team, and no action to remove you will be taken by the Congress.'
'Who gave you that deal?' Kennedy asked.
'Senator Lambertino and Congressman Jintz,' Otto Gray said. 'Lambertino is a genuine good guy and Jintz is responsible in a political affair like this. They wouldn't double-cross
'OK, that's another option,' Kennedy said. 'That and going to the Supreme Court. What else?'
Dazzy said, 'Go on TV tomorrow before Congress convenes and appeal to the nation. The people will be for you, and that may give Congress pause.'
'OK,' Kennedy said. 'Euge, clear it with the TV people for me to go on over all the networks. Just fifteen minutes is what we need.'
Dazzy said softly, 'Francis, it's an awful big step we're taking. The
President and the Congress in such a direct confrontation and then calling upon the masses to take action. It could get very messy.'
Gray said, 'That guy Yabril will string us out for weeks and make this country look like a big lump of shit.'
Christian said, 'There's a rumor that one of the staff in this room or Arthur Wix is going to sign that declaration to remove the President. Whoever it is should speak now.'
Kennedy said impatiently, 'That rumor is nonsense. If one of you were going to do that, you would have resigned beforehand. I know all of you too well-none of you would betray me.'
After dinner they went from the Yellow Room to the little movie theater on the other side of the White House. Kennedy had told Dazzy that he wanted all of them to see the TV footage of the murder of his daughter.
In the darkness the nervous voice of Eugene Dazzy said, 'The TV coverage starts now.' For a few seconds the movie screen was streaked with black lines that seemed to scramble from top to bottom.
Then the screen lit up with brilliant colors, the TV cameras focusing on the huge aircraft squatting on the desert sand. Next the cameras zoomed to the figure of Yabril presenting Theresa Kennedy in the doorway. Kennedy watched again how his daughter smiled slightly and waved to the camera. It was an odd wave, a wave of reassurance yet of subjugation. Yabril was beside her, then slightly behind her. And then there was the movement of the right arm, the gun not visible, and the flat report of the shot and then the billowing ghostly pink mist and the body of Theresa Kennedy falling. Kennedy heard the wail of the crowd and recognized it as grief and not triumph. Then the figure of Yabril appeared in the doorway. He held his gun aloft, an oily gleaming tube of black metal. He
