"So why don't you tell us what the real problem is, Madame President?" President Thorn asked. "Why is the president of Libya, this King Idris, threatening you?"
"The real issue is, Mr. President, that Zuwayy of Libya wants Salimah-and he's willing to kill everyone there with more neutron weapons if he doesn't get what he wants."
"What makes Zuwayy think he can have Salimah?" Robert Goff asked.
"You would have to ask Zuwayy that, Mr. Secretary."
"We're asking you, Mrs. Salaam."
"I'm sure I don't know, sir, except for the obvious reasons-money, power, influence."
"Is it possible that perhaps Zuwayy was promised a piece of Salimah?" the President asked.
"Salimah belongs to Egypt, Mr. President," Susan responded.
Thomas Thorn lowered his head briefly and tightened his interlaced fingers together. "Mrs. Salaam, I feel as if we're dancing around the issue here," he said with more than a hint of exasperation in his voice. "You requested this videoconference with us, Madame-why don't you just tell us what's happening here?"
"Sir?"
"What the President is saying, Mrs. Salaam," Kercheval interjected angrily, "is we think you promised Zuwayy something, and for some reason you can't or won't fulfill that promise, so he's threatening to attack Salimah. Why don't you just fill in the blanks for us, ma'am?"
Susan Bailey Salaam hesitated, lowered her head, then nodded. "You're right, Mr. Kercheval. I promised Zuwayy that I would grant him twenty percent of the ownership of the partnership that's developing Salimah."
"Very generous of you," Thorn said.
"However, Zuwayy was supposed to purchase ten percent of the outstanding shares from the Central African Petroleum Partners for nine hundred million dollars. Naturally, he reneged," Salaam went on. "He wanted the payments taken out of his royalties. I refused, and he got angry."
"Will you agree to do so now?"
"I don't know. It depends on what you say, Mr. President."
"Why should it matter what I say?" Thorn asked. "The United States is not part of this."
"Because Egypt is powerless to stop Zuwayy," Salaam said. "I believe he will use neutron weapons against Egypt, certainly against Salimah and most likely against a major Egyptian city or another military base, as he did against Mersa Matruh."
"Do you have evidence that Libya was behind that at-
tack, and that he used neutron weapons?" Goff asked. "I know he's the main suspect, and he would have the most to gain by slaughtering all those people at Mersa Matruh, but as far as I know, there's no direct evidence that Libya did it."
"I know he did it. He's crazy."
"Certifiable, I'd say," Goff said. "But that still doesn't mean he did it."
"If I got you your evidence, Mr. Secretary, then would you help me?" Salaam asked. "Would you send your stealth bombers and armored commandos in against him and shatter his military, destroy his weapons of mass destruction, and kill Zuwayy if possible so he won't threaten to do this again? What's your price to assure peace in Africa? Whatever it is, I'll pay it."
"President Salaam, first of alclass="underline" If you were briefed anything about this administration by General Baris or your intelligence staff, you'd know that the President will not order U.S. forces to get involved in squabbles between sovereign nations," Edward Kercheval said. "The United States's position has been that we will not interfere militarily with such matters unless it directly threatens the national security or vital national interests of the United States. That has been our policy since the beginning of this administration, and it has not changed. We will be happy to act as a disinterested third party in negotiations, but we will not commit American troops to help."
"Second, we have no idea what bombers or armored commandos you're talking about," Robert Goff added. "The United States has bombers, of course, but they have not been deployed or sent on any missions anywhere. And we have no armored commandos. None."
"What about Patrick McLanahan?"
There was a slight uncomfortable rustle of hands and shoulders; but, as if he were reading the words from a cue card, Robert Goff responded, "We have heard of Mr. McLanahan, and we know he has been linked with various organizations, none of which have any connection whatsoever with the U.S. government. Mr. McLanahan is under indictment in the United States for a variety of charges, the specifications of which are sealed by the Justice and Defense Departments. He is currently free on bond and awaiting a court hearing."
"You're lying," Susan said. "He helped me. He has saved Egypt from Zuwayy's attacks."
"If that's what he told you, I wouldn't believe it," Goff said.
"You're all lying," Susan repeated. "He's a hero. He's been here. He saved Egypt from a terrible assault from Libyan military forces."
"We may ask you to testify to that, Mrs. President," Kercheval said, "at McLanahan's trial."
"This is some kind of trick," Salaam said, the anguish apparent in her voice. "He saved us. He has powers… weapons.. "
"Any of which are either fabrications or stolen, ma'am," Goff said. "I'm sorry if he's bamboozled you. You may of course file charges against him in federal court, and the U.S. Attorney General will see to the matter personally. But I wouldn't place my trust, or the safety of my nation, in his hands."
"Why are you doing this to him?" Susan asked, almost pleading. "He's a wonderful man. He cares about his wife and his men. He loves the United States and he fights for justice. Why won't you support him?"
"We neither support nor try to hinder him, Mrs. Salaam," Kercheval said. "He hasn't violated any laws in the United States that we know of. He is under investigation, but I can't discuss that. He's a private citizen. If we have any knowledge or evidence of wrongdoing, we'll prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. Otherwise, he's free to do whatever he wishes as a free man. But he is not part of the U.S. government, and his actions are not under the direction of or sanctioned by the United States government in any way."
"Mr. President, gentlemen, I'm asking for your help in defending Egypt against probable attack from Libya," Susan said. "I know you have two aircraft carrier battle groups sailing in the Mediterranean Sea right now; I would like to offer you unlimited use of Egyptian ports and air bases for your crews."
"Frankly, Madame President, after the warning you just gave us, I don't think it would be prudent to send any of our warships near an Egyptian port right now," Robert Goff said.
"My warning is real enough so you won't send your ships anywhere near Egypt, but not real enough to assist us?"
"Mrs. Salaam, I will discuss your situation with my advisers," President Thorn said. "But at this point, I don't think we'll be in a position to help. If the Libyan president's threat is that great, perhaps you might be better served by letting him have what he wants."
"You're suggesting I give in to him?"
"I don't see that you have much choice, Madame President," Thorn said earnestly. "If the attack is as credible as you say, and if Idris is as unstable as Secretary Goff seems to think he is, then the presence of American warships in Egypt won't deter him-in fact, it might attract a heavier attack with an even larger loss of life. You can appeal to the United Nations or go in front of the world press, perhaps initiate an investigation on where Idris got those weapons and hope that exposing him and publicizing his threat will keep him from attacking-if you predict he'll use neutron weapons on Egypt, he might be less likely to do so."
"Perhaps an appeal before the Muslim Brotherhood might be the strongest deterrent," Kercheval suggested. "You seem to have been very successful in bringing the diverse factions of the Muslim Brotherhood together in Tripoli-they were even looking to you for leadership in a united Arab republic. You may be able to head him off."