Six Bloody Summer Days
Page 17
"General, I'm not going to waste my time chatting with you. I've got a chopper to catch. You're as responsible for what nearly happened here as any of your dead friends. Whereas Mertens and his boys were psycho, you're no such thing. You've got all your buttons. You played along to get what you wanted. Well, there's something we want. You can give it to us or that's all." I picked up Wilhelmina.
He licked his lips. "What… what do you want?"
"Two things. Shema Mendanike as the new P.M., and your plans to let the Soviet navy take over Lamana. Either you defect, and Washington will make the official announcement, or Madam Mendanike will have a new death to announce."
"I… I need some time to think."
"You have none." I stood up. "We go out that door together or I go alone."
We went out together, just as the fan on the command chopper began to rotate.
I rode with Paula. She was sedated and groggy but glad to see me. I sat holding her good hand beside the litter on which she had been bundled. "You know," she said, "a hundred years or so ago you said you'd come and sit on my patio and drink gin and tonic and tell me what this was all about. I guess we can't do that now."
"Not here. Too noisy. But I know a place outside of Athens, in Voulagmini, full of roses beside the sea where the wine is dry and the telling is good."
She sighed groggily, "Oh, that sounds nice. I'd like that." Then she giggled, "I wonder what Henry will think?"
"We'll send him a card," I said. I was thinking that I'd send one to Hawk, too.