fuzzy, either from concussion or from the painkillers they’d given her. She had sprained her wrist and torn ligaments in her knee during the ejection; she also had deep bruising to her sternum and back. But mostly she was just suffering from dehydration and exposure. The doctors had told Dog she’d be up and around in a day or so.
“CNN was saying India and China have agreed to a cease-fire,” said Danny, trying to change the subject. He laughed. “Of course, they also had unnamed sources claiming the Navy stopped a war. We did all the work, and they all get the credit.”
“Piranha has to remain secret,” said Dog. “And the Navy did do a lot.”
“Didn’t say they didn’t,” said Danny.
“I saw Chris die,” said Breanna. Her voice was weak and hoarse, but still the words seemed to shake the room. “He was my copilot. I couldn’t save him.”
Dog looked at her, unable to think of anything to say. “And Kevin. Did they find him?” she asked, referring to Fentress.
“We have to assume he’s dead, Bree.” Dog felt the words sticking to his throat, but he pushed them out, feeling it was his duty to tell her, not to sugarcoat anything, not to leave any doubt. “In that storm, with the rain and the wind, it probably took him under right away.”
“We made it,” she said.
Thank God, he thought, though all he could do was put his hand on hers.
Danny broke the awkward silence. “I have to get going. Bree, I’m really glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks.”
“Colonel, if I could just have a brief word? If you don’t mind, Bree.”
“Just give him back when you’re done,” she said.
Dog followed Danny outside and down the hall, around a corner.
“Thanks, Danny. You and your men did an incredible job.”
“Colonel, there’s just no good way to say this,” started Danny. His lower lip was trembling. “ I want to resign my commission. I want to leave the Air Force.”
“What?”
“It’s a lot of things.”
“Danny, you can’t leave now. Losing Sergeant Talcom, and the others — I know it was an incredible blow …”
“I’m not quitting because of that.” His voice wasn’t entirely convincing.
“I know it was — is — difficult,” said Dog. “For all of us, but you especially.”
Danny nodded. “It is. But I have an opportunity. It has nothing to do with Powder.”
“What kind of opportunity?”
“An election. Some people in New York want me to run for Congress. They think I can get the nomination. My wife’s pretty involved.”
“Congress? Really? Jesus — great,” said Dog sincerely. “Great. That is great.”
“You think so?”
“You’d be a hell of a Congressman — if you can deal with the bullshit.”
Danny smiled. Still, it was a nervous smile.
“What’s your timetable?” asked Dog.
“I’m not sure yet. I–I just decided this. Couple of months, I guess. The election isn’t until next year, but I’d need time to get around and meet people, raise money.”
The colonel nodded. “There is something I need you to do, or at least get a start on.”
“What’s that?”
Dog hesitated. “The disc you picked up from Captain Dolk — it’s a record of all the radar contacts.”
“Uh-huh?”
“There was a Flighthawk profile on the disk that we can’t explain.”
“I’m not following, Colonel.”
“Well, the scientists are still analyzing it.”
Dog heard footsteps coming down the hall. He took Danny down another corridor, turning and finding an even more secluded corridor.
“It looks like, or it may be, that someone was flying another Flighthawk. Not one of ours,” Dog told Danny.
“A Flighthawk?”
“Either a clone or something very, very similar. Some of the scientists think it’s just a reflection or a problem in the equipment; it’s at long range and the disc itself isn’t in the best shape, but Dr. Rubeo is convinced. That’s pretty convincing in and of itself. Given Dreamland’s history,” added Dog, “this will require thorough investigation.”
“If someone else has a Flighthawk,” said Danny, “they stole the technology from us.”
“Not necessarily,” said Dog. “Several countries have unmanned vehicle programs in the works. But we have to rile that out. Absolutely.”
“Agreed.”
“Don’t let this stand in your way,” Dog told him. “If there was a security breach, it would’ve been earlier than your assignment here. It’s no reflection on you. It wouldn’t have been on your watch. You should run for Congress. Do it.”
Danny nodded, then turned away. Dog watched him until he disappeared around the corner.
He’d make a damn fine Congressman. He’d have Dog’s vote, no hesitation.
Maybe he shouldn’t have told him at all. Let him start the paperwork, at least.
Dog was preoccupied second-guessing himself and missed Breanna’s door. As he turned back, he heard her laugh, then heard another woman’s voice as he entered.
A vaguely familiar, vaguely enticing voice.
“How are you, Tecumseh?” said his ex-wife, standing at their daughter’s bedside.
“I’m fine, Karen,” he said, letting the door close behind him.
“So what do you think of the news?” she added. She fingered her stethoscope — she was a doctor on staff, and had arranged for Breanna to be admitted here.
“What news?”
“I just got an offer as chief of the medical staff at St. Simon’s out in Las Vegas. We’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.” She curled her hand around his. “Maybe we can get Bree and her husband working on a new addition. What do you say?”
Dog shot a glance at Breanna. He thought he might actually have spotted fear in her eyes for the first time.
“Isn’t that a great idea?” said Karen.
“Peachy,” said Dog, glancing toward his daughter and trying to smile.
“Major Stockard?”
Zen spun his wheelchair around so quickly that he nearly knocker over the doctor.
“I’m Stockard.”
“Hi, I’m Dr. Johnson. You wanted to see Mr. Stoner?”
“I’ve been waiting nearly two hours now.”
“Relax, Major,” said the Navy doctor. “He’s just regaining consciousness. We have him on painkillers, but he really just needs rest. He has some deep bruises, the concussion, and he’s very dehydrated, but he should be walking around tomorrow.”
As the Doctor said the word
“Hello,” said Stoner from the bed.
“She’s mine, Stoner,” he told him. “Don’t fuck with me. You got that?”
