"The attack came at about eleven-thirty, local time," Aideen replied.
"After we called Kline," Rodgers said.
"That's right," Aideen said. "Seronga had left the priest and several men behind as decoys. The Spaniards went for it. I have serial numbers for the weapons they were carrying as proof."
Aideen gave Rodgers the serial numbers. He wrote them down. Rodgers immediately recognized the PK prefix as belonging to the Star pistols carried by the Spanish military. He confirmed to Aideen that, apparently, they had gone in. Rodgers covered the mouthpiece. He asked Hood to get Edgar Kline on the line.
"What is it?" Herbert pressed.
Hood held up a finger as Aideen continued.
"The Vodunists will allow the Botswana military or the VSO to talk to Father Bradbury, to prove that they have him," Aideen went on. "We are very much trying to find.^ nonviolent way out of this."
"Do you need to be involved in that?" Rodgers asked.
"I don't think Seronga can do it alone," Aideen said. "If the Botswana military shows up, my sense is that they'll shoot first and justify it later. But if they know that Father Bradbury is here and we are here-"
"Understood. How much time do you need?" Rodgers asked.
"About two hours," Aideen replied.
"I'll try to get that for you," Rodgers assured her.
"We should be linking up with Dhamballa in less than an hour," Aideen said. "Father Bradbury will arrive shortly after that. We will call you on this phone. You'll have to put him through to the authorities, convince them that he is well. If we can delay the attack, we can also prove that the Brush Vipers had nothing to do with the death of Bishop Max."
"I like it," Rodgers said. "What we don't know is whether that will satisfy Gaborone's needs."
"I'm hoping we can also get the Brush Vipers to disband," Aideen said. "I spoke with Seronga. I think they've had enough."
"All right," Rodgers said. "We'll work it on this end. Meanwhile, is everyone all right?"
"So far," she replied.
"Good," Rodgers said. "Hang in. I'll get word to Kline. And Aideen?"
"Yes?"
"If we can't pull this off and it gets hairy, you bail," Rodgers said. "All of you."
"We will," she promised.
Rodgers clicked off. He looked at McCaskey. "They're all right," Rodgers told him.
The former FBI agent eased visibly.
Rodgers looked at Hood. "Have you got him on the line?"
"He's coming," Hood said.
Rodgers asked Hood to put the phone on speaker. Rodgers briefed the others while he waited. He was just finishing when Kline picked up.
"What is it, Paul?" Kline said.
"No, this is Mike Rodgers. Mr. Kline, about forty-five minutes ago, two members of the Unidad Especial tried to take Father Bradbury by force," Rodgers told him.
"Are you sure?" Kline asked.
"Yes," Rodgers replied. "They were killed. So were two Brush Vipers."
"Bloody hell," Kline said.
"It must have been," Rodgers agreed.
"General Rodgers, you must believe me; I had no knowledge about the Spanish soldiers," Kline said. "They were ordered to stand down. The message we sent was received and acknowledged. I don't know what happened in the field. Perhaps the Brush Vipers were the aggressors."
"That isn't the story I was told, but it is not important at this moment," Rodgers said. "What I need you to do is keep the Spanish and the Botswana military away. You know we have people on site. They need two hours. They think the Brush Vipers can be persuaded to disband."
"General, I obviously didn't have a lot of pull with our people. I certainly don't have a lot of sway with Gaborone," Kline said. "None of us does. That was why we had to go to Spain in the first place. I also don't know if the Botswana government will accept a delay or even the surrender of Dhamballa. This isn't only about justice anymore. It's about seeming to appear weak. They can't afford that, especially if the Brush Vipers did in fact kill those Spanish soldiers."
"I understand," Rodgers said. "Which is why you have to convince Gaborone that if they attack, Father Bradbury will die. So will my people. Maybe it will help if you tell them that they are three American tourists who were picked up by the Brush Vipers."
Herbert shook his head vigorously. "Gaborone could use that kind of standoff for publicity," the intelligence chief said. "They may want to show off their hostage negotiating skills."
"At least it will hold off the attack," McCaskey said, "give our people a chance to get out."
"Maybe," Herbert said. "I agree with Edgar. Ayhis point, I think the Botswana government feels it needs a show of force. A hostage situation will also cause questions to be asked about who the Americans are and how they got in. We can't risk that."
"Then call our team and tell them to cut loose," McCaskey said. "What else is there to do?"
"Running through the wilderness while Botswana pilots are looking for people running through the wilderness may not be the best course of action," Rodgers said.
"That is probably true," Kline said, "though I don't think they'll shoot at people who don't fit the profile of Brush Vipers."
"Aideen will concoct some story about being out on safari," Herbert said.
"They'll have a Jeep to prove it."
"Gentlemen, without saying anything about your people, I'll do what I can to settle the situation," Kline said. "I'll call you as soon as I have an answer."
"And try to make this order stick," Herbert said.
Hood had moved to kill the call as soon as Kline finished. He obviously expected Herbert to say something. Rodgers did not think the VSO officer heard. Not that he cared one way or the other. Kline had not proved to be a particularly effective partner.
"So this is where we've ended up," McCaskey said. He was not so much angry now as resigned. "They go forward, whatever the price."
"For now," Rodgers said. "Just for now."
"We just have to acknowledge that at this moment there are risks in flight," Herbert said.
"Darrell, you know what my orders are to Aideen," Rodgers said quietly. "If anything goes wrong, they will pull out. I'm sure they can find a place to hole up until the crisis passes."
"Maybe," McCaskey said. "And maybe Aideen and Bat tat will do that. I'm not so sure about Maria."
"They all will," Rodgers said. "If it comes to that, I will order it."
"More forcefully than you did before?" McCaskey asked.
"Yes," Rodgers replied. "I deferred to the judgment of the individual running the mission in the field. The situation is different now. Anyway, you're forgetting something important, Darrell."
"What's that?"
"Maria loves you," Rodgers said. "She's committed to you. She wants to come back to you. If this thing goes south, she's not going to stay there just for the hell of it."
"No," McCaskey admitted. "She's not suicidal."
"She hasn't been married 10 you long enough," Herbert said.
Hood made a face. Herbert shrugged it off. But Darrell smiled for the first time in two days.
"I'll tell you what I'm afraid of," McCaskey went on. "We don't know what they're thinking in Gaborone. Father Bradbury may mean more to the Botswanans dead than alive. The air force can say they struck after he was killed. And Gaborone will use his death as an excuse to come down hard on any dissent in the future. If that's the case, they won't care who is with Dhamballa. The air force will go in and wipe them all out."
"I'll let Aideen know your concerns," Rodgers said. "We can prepare for that. Maybe put some distance between our group and Seronga."
"Mike, I'd like to do something else," McCaskey said.
"What's that?" Rodgers asked.
"I'd like to talk to Maria," he said.
"I don't think you should," Rodgers said. "Every time we speak with them, there's a chance we can be traced. We don't want to give the Botswana Air Force a map to where our people are."