The instant Ri Su-mi identified the subject of the photo, she opened the door wider and took the picture from the man’s hand. It was her brother, Ri Kyong-su, standing in his camouflage Army uniform — a broad grin on his face. Su-mi felt herself begin to smile automatically in return, before the general anxiety of her situation reasserted itself.
Even more puzzled now, she looked back to the man in the hall. He still had one hand over his mouth, but his free hand was motioning toward the photo in a twisting gesture.
Ri Su-mi turned the photograph over. On the back, in her brother’s confident pen strokes, was a message. ‘Trust this man, Happy Little Pig. He will bring you to join me in freedom.’
The nickname, Happy Little Pig, brought Su-mi another tremulous smile. It had been Kyong-su’s favorite name for her in their childhood. A reference to the plump cheeks of her ever-smiling face.
But join Kyong-su in freedom? What did that mean?
The stranger in the hall gestured for Su-mi to open the door and let him in.
She hesitated only a second, then motioned him inside.
When he was in with the door closed behind him, the stranger lowered the hand from his mouth and brought his lips close to Su-mi’s ear. His voice was scarcely louder than a breath. “Your brother is in America. He wants you to join him there.”
Su-mi brought her own lips close to the stranger’s ear. “What about his wife and daughter?”
“Someone else is taking care of them,” breathed the stranger.
“But they are going?”
“Yes,” whispered the man. “They are going. Will you come?”
Ri Su-mi didn’t know this man. She had never seen his face, and knew nothing about his history, his personality, or his trustworthiness.
“Is it dangerous?”
“Very dangerous. Gravely dangerous. If we’re caught, we’ll be lucky if they shoot us.”
“Can you do it?” Su-mi asked. “Can you get us to America?”
“We will try,” said the man. “If everything goes to plan, we will get out. Otherwise…”
He didn’t have to explain what would happen otherwise.
Ri Su-mi looked again at the photo of her brother’s smiling face. If this stranger was an agent of the party, it would be suicide to go with him. Even if this man was honestly here to help, there might be no escape from the Democratic People’s Republic. She might be going to her death, or something worse.
She handed the photo to the stranger. “Hold this for me. I need to get dressed.”
EPILOGUE
In unison, the warning light on every camera toggled to green, and the president began his address to the nation. His tone was somber, but a little of the old Chaz Bradley twinkle had returned to his eyes.
“Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world, that the threat of North Korean nuclear attacks against the United States has been eliminated.
“In the pre-dawn hours of this morning, acting under my orders, ships and submarines of the U.S. Navy conducted precision cruise missile strikes against the North Korean nuclear launch sites on the island nation of Cuba. Post mission battle damage assessment confirms that all twenty-four nuclear missiles were destroyed, along with the launch crews assigned to guard and operate the weapons.
“The second Cuban Missile Crisis is ended. A lot of people — in and out of government — worked diligently to bring this emergency to a successful conclusion, but the real credit must go to the men and women of our armed forces. As they have done throughout the history of this great country, they have once again placed themselves in the path of danger to protect their fellow Americans from harm. Too many of them, I’m sorry to say, have paid the ultimate price to end this threat to our nation.
“No words that I can speak will bring back even one of the heroes who perished at the hands of our North Korean attackers. Just as no power on Earth can restore the lives lost during the unprovoked attack on the city of Franklin, Tennessee. We cannot soothe the grief suffered by the families who have lost loved ones during the crisis, nor can we fully heal the wounds of those injured in this ignoble assault upon our nation and our very way of life.
“But we can remind the enemies of freedom and democracy that acts of aggression against the United States do not come without consequences. We can punish those responsible, and we have done so.
“Our naval forces have engaged and destroyed the North Korean submarine operating in the Caribbean Sea. It can no longer threaten our warships or disrupt peaceful commercial shipping in the area.
“Also on my orders, at noon Eastern Standard Time today, U.S. ships, submarines, and aircraft launched coordinated missile strikes and bombing attacks against fourteen separate facilities in North Korea. The targets included military command and control installations, as well as all residences known to belong to the Supreme Leader of that country.
“Let there be no mistake. My intent was to kill Kim Yong-nam, and I believe there’s an excellence chance that we succeeded in the goal. If it turns out that Mr. Kim somehow survived our initial attempts, we will redouble our efforts until I am satisfied that the job is complete.
“The United States does not have diplomatic relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, so Kim Yong-nam has no entitlement to the protections of diplomatic immunity. Moreover, this man is responsible for the slaughter of thousands of innocent Americans. He has threatened our cities and our citizens with weapons of mass destruction. And he has issued an ultimatum which can only be described as nuclear blackmail.
“His actions can be construed as terrorism, or as an act of war. There is no third interpretation. In either case, he is a legitimate military target, and we will take him down — if we haven’t done so already.
“The world now bears witness to America’s response to Kim Yong-nam’s failed attempt at international extortion. In the unlikely and unhappy event that this barbaric tyrant remains alive, I give you my personal assurance that his reprieve is only temporary.
“To the people of North Korea, I say this… Your so-called Supreme Leader has led you into the greatest peril that your country has ever faced. If you turn away from his foolish and criminal path, you will find that the United States can be merciful and forgiving even to our past enemies. But if you persist in attempting to harm our citizens, our country, or our national assets, you will find out what it truly means to be the enemy of the United States.
“Do not mistake our benevolence for weakness. Do not mistake our tolerance for indecisiveness. Do not mistake our love of peace for an inability to make war.
“What you have seen today is barely the tip of the sword. If you give us any further provocation, we will bring down the blade of that sword with a power and a fury that you have not imagined in your darkest nightmares.
“You have been warned. I urge you to choose carefully.
“To my fellow Americans, I say that we will rebuild that which has been broken. We will tighten our defenses, strengthen our alliances with friendly nations, and keep a closer watch on our potential adversaries. We will examine our mistakes, and learn the painful lessons they have to teach. And in so doing, we will emerge from this ordeal stronger, wiser, and more resolute than ever.
“Goodnight. God bless you all. And may God bless these United States of America.”
General Garriga jammed the power button of the remote control, and the television went dark.