Funny, there had been a time when building things was what America did. From massive dams to towering skyscrapers, from mechanized factories to moon rockets, the nation had created, had viewed that as part of the national identity. Being an engineer or an architect had once been high aspirations.
Now everybody wanted to be musicians and basketball players, and America didn’t build squat.
But out here, in the least hospitable place, the Epsteins had. The NCH was a dream made real. A beautiful place that he would very much like not to see obliterated, both for its own sake and for what would happen to the country afterward.
“You want our support.” Erik crossed his leg at the knee. The richest man in the world wore threadbare Chuck Taylors. “For the NCH to join forces with the government. Against the Children of Darwin.”
“Against every terrorist. Against John Smith. He’s behind the COD, isn’t he?”
“The data is inconclusive—”
“You’re lying,” Millie said. “I hate it when you lie.”
Erik Epstein winced. It wasn’t, Cooper realized, because she had contradicted him. It was because of what she had said. Clearly, he cared for Millie. Understood her.
“Yes,” Jakob said. “Smith is behind the COD. He set up the organization years ago as sleeper cells with a very specific set of instructions. They were to activate once he was cleared of the charges against him.”
Cooper stared. His legs felt wobbly, and he steadied himself on a chair. On one level, he’d known it since he and Bobby Quinn had confronted John Smith. But it felt different to have it confirmed—and to learn that his actions had been the trigger for everything. All those people. All that chaos.
All your fault.
He took a deep breath, blew it out. “Okay. You said there’s a 93 percent chance of a military attack in the next two weeks.”
“93.2 percent. Not enough time. Not enough time.”
“For what? There’s no magic potion that will fix this.”
Abruptly, Millie started laughing. It was an eerie sound, like she had only heard laughter described to her. Cooper stared, a little creeped out. After a moment, she stopped as abruptly as she had begun.
Unsettled, he said, “If you want to know if I would make the same choices now, I honestly don’t know. And frankly, if your crystal ball is so goddamn clear, then you should have been making other plans. You shouldn’t have gone all-in on one angle.”
There was a half second hesitation before Jakob—
You’re missing something.
These are very smart people, with enormous resources.
What are the chances that they bet their entire survival on you? A rogue agent working as an assassin in a situation he didn’t, couldn’t, fully comprehend?
They do have other plans. There’s something else.
And why did Millie start laughing just then?
—replied, “You’re right. Erik?”
“Fluid situation. Too many variables. The patterns are indefinite.”
“That’s why we need to act,” Cooper said. “I understand how awkward this is for you. But if you don’t come out right now in defense of the government, if you don’t denounce the Children of Darwin and dedicate the full resources of the Holdfast to ending terrorism, you’re slitting your own throat. I’m not posturing here.” He glanced at Millie, who said nothing, just continued playing a game on her d-pad. “This is what I believe. Something I believe in so strongly that I came here myself, with my family. If we work together, right now, we have a chance to save everything.”
Jakob cleared his throat. “We can see the advantages to President Clay. And to your country.”
“My country?”
“But like Erik said, the situation is fluid.”
“What does that mean?”
“You want me to put it bluntly?” Jakob shrugged. “We’re no longer sure that the United States of America will survive.”
“That the—what are you talking about? Are you saying that—”
“We don’t want to back the losing side.”
Cooper barked a half laugh, involuntary and not funny. “You’re considering siding with the terrorists?”
“An appellation,” Erik said to his lap. “A name given to a vector. There is no morality in the data.”
“What my brother means is that John Smith would call himself a freedom fighter. And unlike your government, he has a plan. Allying with him might be better for the NCH.”
Cooper couldn’t believe it. He could not fucking believe what he was hearing. How could this be happening everywhere? All of them: President Clay and his staff running electoral math; John Smith trying to start a war; the Epsteins caring only about their own interests. Could it really be that everyone in power, on every side, was blind to the larger stakes?
The Civil War had been the bloodiest conflict in America’s history. Three-quarters of a million dead, cities burned, infrastructure destroyed, disease run rampant—and that was all before Seraphim drones and Avenger missiles. Could positions be so hard-line, so intractably personal, that the people who held them were willing to risk the entire world?
“Yes,” Millie said.
Erik looked at her. “Yes what?”
She shook her head.
All right. If they won’t listen to reason, if terror of the consequences won’t work, maybe something else will. “You said the data was unclear.”
“Fluid.”
“There must be something that would help solidify it.” Cooper paused. “Something that we can offer you.”
Erik and Jakob shared a look. To a normal person, it might have seemed they were considering his words. But to Cooper, the meaning was clear. They had already decided what they needed. There was a price for their help.
And it took all of three seconds for him to work it out.
CHAPTER 24
Soren read.
Cooper:
Sovereignty. They want sovereignty for the NCH.
Clay:
The hell you say.
Cooper:
In return for which they’ll denounce the COD and all other terrorist organizations, and dedicate the full resources of the Holdfast to eliminating them.
Clay:
I will not go down in history as the president who allowed half of Wyoming to secede.
Cooper:
Sir, we need to consider this. Erik and Jakob confirm that John Smith is behind the Children of Darwin. We can’t act on that information without proof. But with their help, we could capture the COD and the most dangerous man alive in one move.
Clay:
In trade for which we have to create a new nation within our own borders and accord them diplomatic rights and privileges. Not only that, but a nation of gifted, the first in the world. That’s a deal with the devil, Nick.
Cooper:
When the devil is the only one dealing, sir, you look at his wares.
Clay:
I know you disagree with Secretary Leahy’s approach, but the Monitoring Oversight Initiative, combined with targeted arrests, may offer a chance—
Cooper:
Excuse me, sir, but it’s not that simple. If we don’t allow the NCH to secede, I believe that they’ll join the terrorists.
Clay:
They wouldn’t dare. Epstein knows we can reduce the Holdfast to rubble.
<2.9 seconds of silence>
Cooper: