Golden finished and began to stow away his first-aid materials. “Just cuts and bruises, Captain. Nothing major. But I do advise that you get some rest.”
“I will, Doctor. I had to do it … ”
The slight rise in her voice drew the attention of them all.
Arkady sat forward on the couch, and Christine Rendino took a quick step forward. Amanda Garrett’s eyes refocused on the real world and she looked around at each of them.
“I couldn’t leave them out there!” Her words were a plea for understanding. “I put the ship at risk. I got our people injured. I got one of them killed. But I just couldn’t leave them out there. I guess it doesn’t make much sense … “
“It makes perfect sense to me,” Golden replied quietly, “and I expect it does to Mr. Arkady here, and Miss. Rendino, and just about every other man and woman aboard this ship as well.”
He rocked back on his heels, thinking carefully for a moment. He was prescribing for a patient just now.
“Captain, I am not a real military officer. I can’t do what you do, or make the kind of decisions you make. Nor, speaking frankly, would I want to. However, as a doctor. I do have a certain nodding acquaintance with matters of mortality.
“Last night, it cost you one life to get two back. That’s a rather tragic kind of mathematics. However, that still puts you one up on death. And anytime you can manage that, Captain, you are doing pretty damn good.”
58
Digger Graves awoke in one of the upper berths in the cramped little ward compartment. He was bucking a massive dose of sedation, but he vaguely realized that there was something that he had to do, something that he had to say.
“Bub? Hey, Bub?”
“I’m here,” a blurry voice responded from the curtained berth beneath him.
“How you doing?”
“If you must know, I feel like shit.”
Unsteadily, Graves lifted his arm over the bunk-edge rail and extended it down toward Bubbles’s voice. After a moment, a smaller hand clasped his with a brief, tight grip.
“We made it, Bub.”
“Yeah.”
“Know what else?”
“What?”
“I’m staying in.”
“I knew you would.”
“Yeah.” The haze was closing in again, and Graves struggled to keep the words put together. Woozily, he grinned up at the overhead. “It only makes sense, Bub … I mean, if I get out, where am I going to find this kind of job security again?”
“Digger.”
“Yeah.”
“Will you please shut the hell up.”
59
“This was a flagrant act of war!” The bland exactitude of the English issuing from the translator earphone did not match the pale-faced rage being displayed by Vice Premier Chang. That rage was the key point at the moment. Harrison Van Lynden stayed focused on the Chinese statesman.
“We prefer the term ‘ action,’ Mr. Premier,” the secretary of state replied levelly.
“We are not interested in your sophistry, Mr. Secretary,” Chang nearly shouted. “Call it what you will. You admit before the world that the United States is now taking active part in this criminal aggression against the People’s Republic of China!”
The crisis talks were in full session, the national delegations spaced out around the great O-shaped assembly of tables. However, this day, the majority of the diplomats were there only as the witnesses to the confrontation between the United States and Red China.
“I admit that the United States has acted on behalf of the other Pacific Rim nations gathered here at this conference. We were seeking to end the threat of the nuclear holocaust that was being held over us all.”
“This was purely an internal matter of China!”
“No, Mr. Premier!” Van Lynden’s hand slapped down on the white tablecloth in front of him. “The utilization of weapons of mass destruction, be they chemical, biological, or nuclear, can be the affair of no single nation in the world today. We all live on the same planet, sir!”
“And you believe that this gives you the right to conduct acts of gangsterism against my nation!”
Lucena Sagada sat quietly at Van Lynden’s side, her attention focused soberly on the secretary of state. Across the room, General Ho sat at his station beside the Vice Premier, his gaze fixed impassively on the center of the room.
“We believe that it gave us the responsibility to act on behalf of our allies who would have been caught downwind of your holocaust, Mr. Premier. No non-Chinese state here has ever interfered in China’s current internal conflict. Nor has any state here had any desire to do so, until you threatened to spread your devastation beyond your own borders.”
“The United States will be held responsible. I promise you that, Mr. Secretary.”
Van Lynden leaned in over the table. “Mr. Premier, my government believes that the imminent threat of the Chinese civil war going nuclear has been eliminated,” he stated with almost ironic calmness. “am authorized by my president to assure you that the United States plans to initiate no further military actions against the People’s Republic of China.
“However, I am also authorized to inform you that the United States now has over three hundred armed strike aircraft and an equal number of cruise missiles within range of key targets within PRC territory. We are also prepared, if necessary, to initiate a full naval blockade of the Red Chinese coast, as well as an immediate airlift of military equipment and supplies to the Nationalist and UDFC factions.
“If the People’s Republic desires to expand its conflict with the United States, that will be your choice. However, Mr. Premier, I believe that your nation has enough on its plate at the moment. Anything more would not be advisable.”
The stocky Chinese statesman could find no further words. Abruptly he rose to his feet, obviously intent on stalking out of the conference room, General Ho silently following suit.
“Premier Chang!” Van Lynden’s voice rang like a pistol shot, freezing the man in place.
“I am also authorized to inform you of one thing further. In the event that the People’s Republic should consider any further ‘extraordinary actions’ in this matter, be advised that a number of major military installations within PRC territory have been targeted by American ICBMs. This targeting will remain in effect until the conflict in your nation has ended … one way or another.”
The conference was adjourned. The crisis that had brought them together had been resolved. The talks had been an aspect of that resolution, although not quite in the way Van Lynden had expected. Nonetheless, he’d call it a win. This phase, anyway.
“It’s been a great pleasure working with you, sir,” Lucena Sagada said, securing her final page of notes in her briefcase. “I’ve learned a great deal. I appreciate this opportunity.”
“What in the world makes you think it’s over, Lucena?”
“Isn’t it?”
“For us, it’s just beginning. Come on. We need to talk to some people.”
The Nationalist/UDFC delegates were still seated at the master table, Secretary Ho and Professor Yi speaking quietly together. At the approach of Van Lynden and his assistant, the two Chinese rose, smiling.
“Mr. Secretary,” Ho said, “the people of China can only express their thanks at the moment. Someday, perhaps, we will be able to return your assistance in kind.”
“Perhaps,” Van Lynden replied, coming to stand across the table from the two men.