Shock of War

his pocket. “Cubans.”

America still had a ban against certain Cuban exports — including cigars. Technically, Jackson was violating the law by smoking one.

The things one was forced to do in the name of national security.

“I suppose I might,” said Jackson, taking the long Figurado.

Goldenachov turned to the women. “If you would excuse me for a moment, we are going to pollute the air.”

* * *

President Greene was sitting up in bed, one eye on the television, the other on a briefing paper relating to suggested changes in the upcoming health care legislation. It was almost 11:30. He’d switched off the Lakers game — they were being pummeled — and was waiting for Jon Stewart to come on. Even though Stewart rode him unmercifully, his show was a secret pleasure.

A top-secret pleasure. But damn, the guy was just funny. And Greene’s wife was away, which meant she wouldn’t needle him for watching it.

The phone rang. The White House operator told him Jackson was calling.

“Put him through.”

His National Security adviser’s voice boomed in his ear a second later. He sounded out of breath.

“Good evening, Mr. President. I’m just on my way back from the reception.”

“Walter, how did we do?”

“It’s set. We’ll use the arrangements we used in Malaysia. The sales will appear to come from Georgia through Syria. The agency can go ahead.”

“Were there complications?”

“The only serious ones were to my lungs,” said Jackson.

“To your lungs?”

“I’ll explain tomorrow.” Jackson started to say something, then stopped.

“What is it?” asked Greene.

“I don’t know that this is a good idea.”

“Stopping China?”

“Working with the Russians.”

“It’s a terrible idea, Walter. But at the moment, it’s the best one we have,” said Greene. “Excellent. I’ll call Frost at the CIA in the morning and have him make the arrangements. Good work, Walter. Have a good sleep.”

“I’ll try,” said Jackson. “First, I’m taking the world’s longest and hottest shower. I may even douse myself with disinfectant.”

26

Hanoi

It was Anna who moved first. Everyone else in the small hospital room was frozen in place. She took a step back from the man she’d just been working to save, turned, and walked from the room.

Zeus had trouble getting his legs to work. He’d seen plenty of deaths before, had killed more than his share of men. It was a necessity, a duty, a job in war.

This was different.

He pushed his feet to move, shuffling at first, then striding, moving purposely. He went out of the room and turned into the hall, looking for Anna.

She’d disappeared. He walked quickly to the large ward room and looked inside. She wasn’t there. His eyes met the gaze of a nurse, who was looking at him for an explanation: What had the shot been about?

He broke her gaze quickly and hurried down the hall, looking in each ward. He went to the end of the hall, where the woman who had given him clothes the day before looked at him with a blank, shocked expression.

“Where did Anna go?” he demanded. “Dr. Anway?”

But of course the woman didn’t speak English. She could only stare, uncomprehending, speechless. Zeus turned and went up the stairs, trotting, then running.

He caught up to her on the sidewalk outside, near the end of the block. She was still wearing the gloves she’d had on in the hospital room. Blood had splattered on her.

Spots stained her face.

Zeus reached to wipe them off, and she collapsed in his arms.

* * *

He found her apartment without difficulty. She didn’t have her keys, but the lock was easily forced with the help of Zeus’s identity card.

He carried her into her room and put her on the bed. Then he went to her kitchen and looked for the kettle to make some tea.

There was no running water. Zeus opened the refrigerator, and found there was no light — the electricity was off as well.

A jug of water sat on the counter. He poured some into the teapot, then went to the stove. There was still gas, and there matches at the side. The burner lit with a loud pul-ufff.

The sound was odd — Zeus’s ears were still shocked from the sound of the gun.

God, why had they had killed the man? Because he was Chinese?

I should have stopped him. But how? It was over before I realized what was happening. I never expected it.

The kettle began to shake. Zeus started looking for tea.

He found a canister on the counter filled with loose tea leaves. He looked through the drawer for something to hold them in, but all he could find was a strainer in the sink washboard. Examining it, he vaguely remembered what Anna had done the other night — the loose tea went directly into the kettle, and was strained when the liquid was poured into the cups.

How much should he use?

Zeus poured water into two cups, then dumped what was left into the sink. Belatedly, he realized he should have poured it into another pot, saving the water — who knew if it would come back on? But it was too late for that now.

He poured the hot water back into the kettle, measured out two spoonfuls of tea, and dumped it in. He stirred it around, and watched it steep.

The result looked too weak. He added a third spoonful.

Zeus maneuvered the pot and strainer carefully, filling the cups.

Anna met him at the door to the bedroom. She wasn’t wearing any clothes.

“I — ” The words died on his tongue. She took his arm and tugged him toward the bed, wordlessly asking him to join her there.

Zeus put the cups down on the floor, and did as she asked.

27

American embassy, Hanoi

The phone seemed to weigh twenty pounds. General Perry pressed it harder against his ear as he spoke.

“Mr. President, if we’re not all the way in, we should be all the way out. As I’ve said.”