Now I’m supposed to match wits with the modern Gaiseric. I think David miscalculated. Anna gripped the e-reader. You will remain calm. You will listen carefully and say as little as possible. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps his mouth shut.
“We’re almost there ma’am,” Demetrius told her. He rode with a walkie-talkie near his mouth and he scanned back and forth.
Anna looked up from her reader. The snow had stopped falling. Rain poured instead. The sedan’s wipers busily cleared the front windshield.
Ah, they approached Hotel Arnarson. It was a blocky, six-story building, with combat helicopters parked on the rooftop. Anna’s eyes widened. She spied armored soldiers on the sidewalks, cradling machine guns. They wore black helmets, some speaking into tiny microphones before their mouths.
Did Kleist fear assassins? That would be an interesting thing to know.
Anna recalled what David had told her. Like the country, the American President was desperate. Above all else, he needed to know the Chancellor’s intentions. Did the German Dominion plan to invade the U.S. or was there a way to buy them off?
How am I supposed to figure out Kleist’s intentions? Anna shook her head. David seemed to think she was good at getting under a foreign leader’s skin. Yes, she knew the Chinese, but the Germans…
What do I know about Germans, these New Germans? World War II had shown they made great soldiers, but they usually made foolish political blunders.
Is Kleist of that mold?
The sedan slowed as it approached Hotel Arnarson. Anna shuddered.
Calm, keep calm and keep your wits. Your country and your President is depending on you to produce a miracle.
* * *
Chancellor Kleist proved to be short and fat. At first blush, he looked like an old-style German burgher, with doughy cheeks. The eyes belied the image. There was something plastic about the dark orbs, something of an emotionless and predatory shark. He had sparse dark hair but wasn’t bald.
He wore a green suit and expensive Italian shoes. His chin was strong, his hands thick but small and he wore a single ring on his wedding finger. The silver band had a large diamond and that seemed strange and out of place.
They had been speaking together, the Chancellor and Anna. He had a rich voice, easy to hear. His eyes made her uncomfortable. They had undressed her several times already. It was an oily thing, making her feel like meat, a meal for this small, ruthless Gaiseric of a man.
She’d met his Naval and Army Ministers. They had been tall and imposing. Kleist had treated them like errand boys. What daunted Anna is how they reacted to him: with stark, ill-concealed fear. She had greeted several Home Ministers and noticed the same reaction. If Kleist told a joke, all his officials laughed loudly. Lastly, Anna met a tall Frenchman with silver hair. He spoke cordially, mentioning Lafayette, how maybe this time maybe America could aid France.
Anna found that a strange comment.
Shortly after that, Kleist said, “Shall we retire into the other room, Ms. Chen?” He had accented English, making his “W’s” sound like “V’s.”
Anna nodded.
One of the hard-faced men standing near the back wall strode toward them. The man reminded Anna of Agent Demetrius. With the click of ornate door handles, the bodyguard opened a set of baroque double doors. A fireplace roared comfortably within. Near it sat two huge stuffed chairs, facing the fire. On one of the walls rested a massive set of old books. Another wall featured ancient Viking swords and axes and large round shields.
“After you, please,” Kleist said.
Anna moved to one of the chairs by the fireplace and sat down. The heat felt good on her knees.
Kleist sat in the other chair and made a subtle gesture to the bodyguard. The man closed the doors, sealing the two of them alone in the room.
“At last,” Kleist said, turning his shark eyes to Anna, letting them rove over her body.
Somehow, Anna managed a smile and kept herself from shivering. It was crazy to think a head of state would attempt rape. Yet she thought it nevertheless.
Calm, Anna, keep calm. This is the most important moment of my life. I must serve my country to the very best of my ability.
Kleist smiled at her. It was a gloating thing, but only lasted a moment. He let the smile fade, and the small Gaiseric folded his thick hands on his stomach.
“Fraulein, why do you think your President chose you to speak to me as his representative?”
“I’m not sure I understand your question, Chancellor.”
“He should have sent the Defense Minister or possibly the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Instead, he sends you. I would like to know why.”
“For the simplest of reasons,” Anna said, “because he trusts me.” She was surprised at how calm her voice sounded. Maybe she could do this.
Don’t get over-confident. Just stay calm and try to say as little as possible. Think before you speak.
“He trusts you,” Kleist said, as if tasting the words. “You are his conscience perhaps?”
“No.”
Kleist watched her as if waiting for more.
It was hard, but Anna kept her mouth shut. Don’t say too much. Let him think I’m wise.
As he sat in the stuffed chair, Chancellor Kleist began to twirl his thumbs. “He trusts you. Good. Are you a clever woman, Fraulein?”
“Some call me smart.”
“You are Chinese?”
“I am an American.”
Kleist twirled his thumbs faster. “The Chinese and South Americans have driven into your heartland. They have smashed, encircled and captured many American formations.”
“Our soldiers have killed and wounded hundreds of thousands of enemy, and we shall continue to do so until we’ve driven them out of our land.”
“This is not the time and place for speeches,” Kleist said in an admonishing tone.
Anna turned away because her stomach twisted. She wasn’t suited for this at all. She tried to be calm and say little, yet here she’d made a short speech. Kleist was right about that.
She studied the axes on the walls. Why had David sent her? Was it true he trusted her judgment? If so, she should let herself act as naturally as possible. Maybe that was the correct way to handle this.
I must learn to be myself. I can be no other. Hmm. She would be foolish to try to outsmart Kleist. She couldn’t play Gaiseric games with the master. Maybe the best thing would be to lay all the cards on the table.
“Chancellor,” she said, turning back to him. “America’s fighting men are hard-pressed. But we have many millions more ready to take their place. If I may speak plainly with you, sir?” she asked.
“Please,” he said.
“We know the German Dominion sighed accords with Greater China. You have an army ready in Cuba. Your army has many hovercraft and airmobile brigades. We’re ready for your invasion, but for some reason, your formations haven’t hit our beaches yet.”
“No, they have not,” Kleist said, quietly.
“President Sims is curious why your army hasn’t moved.”
Kleist laughed, but there wasn’t anything humorous in it. “Fraulein, the reason why we’ve held back…” He turned away, staring up at the ceiling. Finally, he shook his head and faced her again. His gaze bored into hers, with all its shark-like emotionlessness. He was a predator always on the prowl. It’s who he was.
“The world is a harsh place, Fraulein. Bandits and killers abound. Thieves and plunderers wait for an opportunity to strike. Safety resides in strength. Strength is a matter of money, will and weapons. The Chinese with their Pan-Asian Alliance have more money, more will and far more weapons than anyone else does. They are a juggernaut, and they push their weight around, forcing others into line. You Americans have decided to thwart them. Now look where it has gotten you: in a massive land war, one you are losing.”
“I fail to see your point, Chancellor.”
“Several generations ago, Germany had weapons
and will, although we lacked enough numbers. Against our better judgment, one man led us to push our weight around, and we attempted to conquer Europe and Russia. Alas, the armies of the world united against us and ground us down. We lost millions. So did many others. During the latter part of the conflict, America entered that crusade. Wisely, they had allowed the Russians to do the heavy fighting and take the bitterest losses. Now it is quite different. This time around, Germany waits for the right moment to enter the war. Meanwhile, you and the Chinese ruthlessly grind each other down. If I recall my history correctly, after World War II, America was the supreme nation on Earth, partly because they had taken by far the fewest casualties of all the former Great Powers.”
“I see,” Anna said. He is a Gaiseric. “You plan to invade after everyone’s armies have taken horrendous losses, leaving you as the strongest.”
“That is one future path,” Kleist said. “But it isn’t the only possibility. I have other plans.”
“Would you care to tell me this other plan?”
“First, you must understand that the GD forces in Cuba could decisively tip the scales against America or for it.”
“Yes,” Anna said. It was the truth, so she might as well admit it.
“Excellent. We can speak to each other. You aren’t here to attempt to spin American fantasies about your former strength. In the old days, your country could have conquered the world. Those days have long passed. You squandered your glory on fruitless endeavors.”
“I suppose that’s a matter of opinion.”
“Yet, you Americans can still fight. In my study of the past, I have discovered a secret. Anglo-Saxon soldiers fight hardest when cornered. I know. Your country is a mongrel mismatch of nationalities and cultures. Yet its base is still Anglo-Saxon, the British root is still strong in your land. Your country is the most dangerous when its soldiers have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. I know it is going to be a slugfest to the finish. In that way, you are like old Russia.”
“We will fight,” Anna said.
“Yes, so why should German and other European soldiers die, especially if there is another way to achieve our desires?”
“What are your desires?”
Kleist’s thumbs stopped twirling. He lurched forward, with his thick hands on his knees. He must have been pressing them hard, as the fingertips turned white with pressure. There was nothing pudgy about his face now. The cunning was visible, the sheer ruthlessness.
Anna almost shrank back into her chair. She blinked several times—calm, stay calm. Listen to his words and remember your impressions. This is a very dangerous man.
“The German Dominion is a bulwark for states wishing to keep their unique identity in the world,” Kleist said. “The Pan-Asian Alliance on the other hand is merely a vehicle for China. The same is true of the South American Federation. The Brazilians think to emulate China. They hope to carve slaves states out of your country. They seek to stamp America into the dust bin of history.”
Anna waited.
“One land in North America is unique, a singular entity forced into a nation state it deplores. They have sought entrance into the German Dominion. I would like to see them enter our union. But I would like to achieve this peacefully, with the blessing of the United States. I do not seek war against America.”
“Then why did you sign an accord with China to attack us?” Anna dared ask, surprising herself at her boldness.
The plastic eyes seemed to shine eerily. “We will speak plainly. The Americans like plain speaking, or so it was once said.”
“Yes.”
“Yes,” Kleist said. “We signed the accord because we thought America was much weaker than it now appears to be. The fighting in California impressed my generals. Now we have achieved a secondary goal. Greater China with its Pan-Asian Alliance has becomes the world’s strongest power. We wish to see them weakened, badly weakened. What better way than to spend their military power against you. However, my generals and strategists inform me that you have been caught short, or by surprise, by the sheer volume of Asian power. It is more than conceivable that China shall win and split the United States in two. If they do, we wish to be poised to take premier American land.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We could grab Florida now,” Kleist said. “Bah,” he snapped his fingers. “Germany—the German Dominion wants prime agricultural territory, not the Florida swamps and orange groves. You Americans still have powerful concentrations of troops on the Eastern and Gulf coasts. It would be a bitter fight with what we have in place. A year from now, it would be much different. If we did invade, however, America would be stretched to the breaking point.”
“What is your proposal?” Anna asked.
“We are not in need of prime agricultural land at present,” he said. “For now, we wish to right an injustice. Therefore, we desire Quebec.”
“Excuse me?”
“I propose the United States agree to Quebec joining the German Dominion. We would send troops to secure their national integrity, but otherwise, we will stay out of the present fray.”
Anna tried to wrap her mind around what he was saying. “You want our help to invade Quebec?”
Kleist frowned. “Quebecers are foaming at the mouth once again. They wish to leave Canada. The Canadian Government has sent troops it can ill afford to try to keep the lid on for now. I propose the obvious. The Quebecers trust the French, who in turn trust me. Quebec will join the German Dominion and thereby keep its uniqueness as a French land. They can see that in the German Dominion Wales is for the Welsh, Bavaria is for the Bavarians and Quebec will be for the Quebecers. As you Americans say, it is a win-win-win situation.”
“How does that help America?” Anna asked, dumbfounded.
“Is it not obvious? By agreeing to this, the German troops in Cuba will transfer to Quebec. Those troops will no longer be poised to invade your coasts.”
“You’ll also get your soldiers on the continent without having to fight for it,” Anna said.
“Yes. There is that, too.”
“From Quebec, German soldiers could invade the New England territories or Michigan.”
“We could, but we won’t. Besides, such a transfer will take time. During that time, you gain the use of the Americans soldiers guarding your coastlines. You can transfer those coastal troops and possibly halt the Chinese thrusts into the Midwest.”
“If you’re betraying the Chinese,” Anna said, “how can we trust you to keep your word to us?”
Kleist smiled, and for the first time it seemed genuine. “Ms. Chen, the reason is clear. If we help China now, they will grab the lion’s share of the prime agricultural land in America. How does that benefit the German Dominion? Instead, we gain Quebec, a land with many mineral resources. We encourage you to continue your struggle with Greater China, thereby weakening both of you. We also gain your good will because we have done you a favor.”
“By getting a firm foothold in North America?” Anna asked.
Kleist shrugged. “That is the cost, as you must make our neutrality worth our while.”
“What if instead of that we give Germany—?”
Kleist held up a pudgy hand.
Anna fell silent.
“I am not here to bargain, Ms. Chen. I am telling you our price for neutrality.”
“But America doesn’t own Quebec. How can we give away what isn’t ours?”
“Come, come,” Kleist said, “the Great Powers often divide up the weaker countries at times like this. It has happened throughout history. Just ask the Poles or the Czechs. You must convince the Canadians to free the Quebecers from their enforced union.”
“The Canadians won’t like it.”
“You’re no doubt right,” Kleist said. “But that isn’t our problem. It is yours. Are you interested in the proposal?”
Anna sat in her chair spellbound. She was unsuited for this. She didn’t have the callousness to make such decisions.
&nb
sp; “I must speak with the President,” she said.
“Yes, you will do that. And do you know what, Ms. Chen. Your President will agree to the proposal. America is too hard-pressed to do otherwise.”
Anna didn’t know what else to say, so she said nothing, waiting. She would make the call, and she wondered what David was going to say? She didn’t like it, and she didn’t like the further weight of this on David. The situation was grinding him down. It was too much to shoulder, far too much.
Who in their right mind wants to be President?
“Let us adjourn while you make the call,” Kleist said.
Anna nodded.
Kleist clapped his pudgy hands, and soon the big double doors opened, with a hard-faced bodyguard staring at Anna Chen.
DENVER, COLORADO
Paul Kavanagh sat in a chair, looking at his blood brother Romo. The man sat up in bed, with plastic under his nose and little tubes sticking up his nostrils. The former assassin was in the hospital and had lost weight. He still had a fever, but not as high as earlier.
“I have news,” Romo said.
Paul had just come from having General Ochoa chew him out about Knowles, the man he’d picked up and brought to the city. Since the Chinese Army was between Knowles and his home, the man had no way of getting home other than an insertion. Paul had barely convinced Ochoa that would be a bad idea.
Because of the audio meeting, Paul only barely heard Romo. He was thinking about Knowles. The man had a job now in a processing plant as a forklift driver. He was a good worker, and Paul still felt bad about what he’d done. It didn’t seem as real as it had been that night in the farmhouse. His instinct about Knowles was fading.
Did I think that about him because I was tired?
“Are you listening to me?” Romo asked.
“Sorry,” Paul said. “What are you saying?”
Invasion: Colorado ia-3 Page 10
