Will wandered on to other subjects, but when they arrived at the hospital, Burke was still mulling over the Korean-Americans who had taken their knowledge of U.S. missile design and manufacturing to South Korea. Men who had undoubtedly received scholarships from Dr. Kim Vickers' Korean-American Education Foundation.
Will directed Burke to the obstetrics wing, where they found Maggie Arnold standing outside the door to Lori's room. Maggie's face gleamed like a four-carat diamond brooch when she saw Burke.
"They're just about to roll her into the delivery room," Maggie said. "She's been in labor off and on for the better part of the day. Dr. Brackin gave her a mild sedative to help her through."
A gurney was wheeled through the doorway just then, steered by a nurse in green surgical garb, her hair hidden by what looked to Burke like a white shower cap. Lori was obviouslyfeeling giddy.
"Burke!" she cried out when she saw him.
The nurse stopped for Burke to take her hand and lean down to kiss her. "Hi, doll," he said with a grin. It was Chloe's favorite expression. "I love you."
"I love you," she said, smiling. Then she looked back at the nurse. "My husband's here, driver. Let's go."
Burke had opted to leave the birthing to Lori and Chloe. He didn't deal too well with gore. He joined Will and Maggie in the waiting room and took advantage of the lull to call the office.
"Thanks for setting up the arrangements for somebody to meet me," he told Evelyn Tilson.
"Hey, surely you didn't think I'd leave you stranded out there at Dulles. That's halfway to Korea, boss. Are you a daddy yet?"
"She's in the Delivery Room now. I'll keep you posted. Do you know if Nate is in?"
"I think so. I'll switch you to Toni. Be sure you let me know the minute you hear from Dr. Brackin."
Toni Carlucci welcomed him and told him to hold for Nate.
"Burke, great to have you back. Sorry you couldn't reach me last night. We were at a concert. I understand you're waiting to hear the news."
"Right. It shouldn't be long. Did Jerry fill you in on everything?"
"He relayed what you told him. He said you would go into all the details when you got here. I presume you'll be at the hospital for awhile?"
"Until I'm sure the babies are okay and Lori's settled down."
"Good," Nate said. "I'm about finished up here. I'll see you over there shortly."
Burke wasn't sure whether Nate was coming to hear about the strange developments in Seoul or to see the new babies. He thought it was probably some of both. He chatted with Will and Maggie about the striking contrasts he had found between the way some things are done in America and Korea. He was starting to tell them about eating in a Korean home when Dr. Brackin came through the door wearing a big smile, a surgical mask hanging about her neck like an amulet from some strange order of cloth worshippers.
"What kind of names did you pick?" she asked Burke.
"A boy and a girl."
"Then you picked right, love. A beautiful little guy and his lovely sister."
Burke grabbed her and kissed her.
"Hey, watch it!" she said. "I haven't cleaned up too well yet." The dark skin of her face glistened with perspiration.
"Who cares?" he said. "When can I see 'em?"
"Their godmother will display them for you. Go on over to the nursery window and I'll bring them around."
Will and Maggie joined him in the trek over to the window. In a few moments Chloe walked up with first one tiny infant and then the other. Burke beamed. It had been so many years since his son was born that he had forgotten the feelings that it spawned, first an immense pride, tempered by a deep sense of gratitude that God had permitted him to be the father of these precious little beings, and finally an awesome feeling of responsibility. As he looked at them, he couldn't help wondering what kind of world they would have to grow up in? A world at peace, or an uneasy planet living under the continued threat of nuclear holocaust? He hadn't really thought about what he'd been doing these past six weeks in those terms, but that's what it really came down to, wasn't it? He had been involved in an effort to assure that these little ones, his and Lori's son and daughter, would have the opportunity to reach their full potential without the threat of annihilation hanging over their heads.
The Arnolds left, promising to return later to take Burke home. He went to the recovery room and held Lori's hand as she lay resting in silence, all the effort of child-bearing having completely drained her. She had just drifted off to sleep when a nurse came to tell him that Mr. Highsmith was in the waiting room.
"Is everybody all right?" Nate asked.
Burke smiled. "Super."
"Evelyn said you had a boy and a girl. Have you named them?"
"Lori wanted to name the boy for her two fathers, Cameron Quinn and Istvan Szabo. So he's Cameron Istvan Hill. She let me come up with the girl's name. I chose Elizabeth, after my mother, and Margit for Lori's Hungarian grandmother. She'll pop a bunch of buttons when she hears there's a great-granddaughter named for her."
"I'm really happy for both of you, Burke. I understand our boy Jerry Chan may be tying the knot before long."
"He told you, too, huh? He was afraid we might not approve. She seems like a really nice girl." Burke looked around. "Would you like to go to the coffee shop? We can talk there."
They sat at a table in the small restaurant, which appeared about as antiseptic as the rest of the hospital. The coffee wasn't bad, but not as good as Evelyn's.
"I talked to Kingsley Marshall and General Thatcher about the situation in Seoul," said Nate. "Marshall had just gotten a report from his station chief on the unrest among the military. The President's really concerned. If Kwak has sold out to the Japanese, it would cause a major power shift in the region."
Burke told him what he had learned from Captain Yun, adding that the detective was now in Pyongyang looking for the information that had resulted in Dr. Lee's slaying.
"You'll have an opportunity to brief the President," Nate said finally.
"Really?"
"He's invited a small group of business leaders with interests in the Far East to a luncheon at Camp David Saturday. You and I are included."
"That's the day after tomorrow."
Nate grinned. "He's aware of your situation. You won't have to be there for long. General Thatcher and Kingsley Marshall will be in on the luncheon. They plan to give an overview of the area's status. There might be some questions for you, since you've just returned. After the luncheon, while the others are on a little tour of the area, the President will meet with us, along with Thatcher and Marshall, to get a first-hand report on HANGOVER.'
Chapter 47
The delegates from South Korea were impressed by the sincere interest of their counterparts from the Democratic People's Republic in finding common ground for cooperation. Although the North Korean capital was still a drab, colorless city in comparison to the glitter and glare of ultramodern Seoul, they sensed a dramatic change in the attitude of the people. There was open talk of past misdeeds by the DPRK government, and few kind words could be heard for the late Kim Il-sung and his son, Kim Jong-il.