Edge of War

ground.

28

Bai Sau Airport

Jing Yo rose as the helicopter rose, emptying his gun at the fuselage. But the helicopter was charging away, up the runway and back toward the sea. He started to run, screaming at it in frustration.

And then, with the Seahawk banking hard to the southeast, he saw the body of his lover, prone in the field, hunched over the grenade launcher.

If he had been truly a man of duty, he would have scooped up the launcher at that moment and tried somehow to down the helicopter, even though it was out of range.

But he would have had to be a man of stone to do that.

Jing sank to his knees, bent over Hyuen Bo’s dead body, and wept.

Part 3

Greene Urges Patience on Economy

Washington (AP-Fox News) — Sounding a theme he has used since taking office, President Greene told a press conference today that he is confident the economy will rebound soon.

“Sooner, not later,” said Greene. “But we must be patient.”

Greene made the remarks during a press conference called specifically to discuss the situation in Southeast Asia, where Vietnam has attacked China in a dispute over borders. However, not one reporter asked a question about the conflict; the economy took center stage…

Solar Panel Blouses Turn Up Heat

Paris (NBC-Agence France-Presse) — With wearable solar panels all the rage, three French designers today unveiled a new line of shoulder-board blouses they say will power MP3s and cell phones for up to 12 hours.

They’ll turn up the heat as well, with plunging necklines and see-through fabric that leave little to the imagination…

1

Washington, D.C.

“Frost needs you right away,” said Dickson Theodore, sticking his head through the door of the Oval Office. “Line three.”

President Greene smiled at Cindy Metfort, the MSNBC reporter who’d been interviewing him. “I really do have to take this call.”

“I don’t mind.”

Greene kept smiling. He didn’t care much for MSNBC, but Cindy was… an impeachment waiting to happen, probably.

“I know it’s really late, but I’m afraid I’d like to take this one alone,” he said. “Maybe we can wrap this up tomorrow or sometime next week.”

He winked at his assistant press secretary, Debra Scacciaferro. Scacciaferro was already at the reporter’s side, ready to physically remove her if necessary.

That wasn’t necessary, probably to Scacciaferro’s chagrin. She wasn’t a big booster of the cable networks.

“Of course, Mr. President,” said Cindy, rising. “Tomorrow or next week will be fine. I hadn’t realized how late it was myself.”

Greene watched her leave. Ah, to be twenty years younger… then he’d only be old enough to be her father.

The president picked up the phone. “This is the president.”

“We have them,” said the head of the CIA. “They’re en route to the Philippines.”

“All of them? The little girl, too?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Great.”

“There’s one thing you should know, George,” said Frost. “Peter Lucas had his people set up something with the captain of USS McCampbell. The destroyer sailed past a pair of Chinese ships and sent a helo through the blockade. There was almost a collision, but no shots were fired. I stand behind Peter one hundred percent,” added Frost. “He did what I would have done.”

“Then congratulate him,” said Greene. “And get me the name of that destroyer captain. I want him promoted.”

2

Over the South China Sea

Josh felt as if a blanket had been thrown over him. His whole body vibrated, and not just from the rotating rotors above the Seahawk. He slipped back on the bench at the side of the helicopter, still stunned and unable to process everything that had happened.

A Navy corpsman was working over Kerfer on the floor. He had an IV bottle and was poking at his chest. He reached into a box and took out a syringe, then plunged it into the SEAL commander’s rump.

Mara stood over the corpsman, watching. Eric was next to her, his face white.

“What happened to Squeaky?” Josh asked.

No one answered.

“Squeaky,” he said. He looked at Mara.

“No, Josh,” she said. “He and Little Joe are dead.”

Josh exhaled slowly.

“We didn’t get them out of there,” said Stevens loudly. “We should have gotten them out of there.”

“We needed to get ourselves out,” said Mara.

“We should have gotten them the hell out of there.” Stevens whirled and put his fist into the frame of the helicopter. He punched it hard, then punched again. Tears streamed down the sides of his face.

Josh stomped his feet, sharing Stevens’s anger and frustration. He’d liked both of the SEALs, Squeaky especially — a big bear of a guy with a stupid little girl’s voice.

“Damn,” he said, pounding the floor.

M? grabbed his side in fright. The medic looked up at him. One of the Navy crewmen put his hand on his shoulder.

“Sir,” said the sailor. “Please. Calm down. You saved the chopper. You did your best.”

“I didn’t save the chopper. My friends — they died. They died for me.”

“You killed the gook with the grenade launcher,” said Eric. “You couldn’t’ve done any more.”