by Clancy, Tom
Only this time, it would be Paul Hood generating those carefully measured pauses.
SIXTY-SIX
Tokyo, Japan Monday, 3:18 P.M.
The red telephone beeped in Shigeo Fujima’s office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The head of the Intelligence and Analysis Bureau had no intention of answering it. Not unless the call came in on his private black line. Fujima was waiting to hear some very specific information. Without that information, other conversations were not relevant. Nor were they of any interest at the moment. Fujima’s deputies could handle those.
The young, clean-cut intelligence officer was smoking an unfiltered cigarette. He sat with the phone headset resting on his head as he looked at a map of Botswana on his computer. The map was marked with symbols signifying copper, coal, nickel, and diamond mines. China produced a great deal of coal. But those other assets would have been useful to them. The map was also marked with red flags. Those were targets he had hit. One at the airport in Maun. The other, a psy-ops strike, at Dhamballa’s camp in the Okavango Swamp. His people had used a laptop to re-create Seronga’s voice, using taped radio communiqués. Communiqués that also enabled them to pick up the password. Then they had broadcast their own message to Dhamballa, that Seronga had been the one who killed the American bishop.
That had put doubt in Dhamballa’s mind about the loyalty of Leon Seronga. If the Botswanans had not brought Dhamballa down, Fujima had to make certain that the cult itself was unstable. The Vodunists could not have been allowed to succeed with what they were planning.
Now, just two things remained:
First was to make sure that both the Europeans failed. That was an easier task.
Then there were the Chinese. That would take more time, but it must be done. Beijing and Taipei were an even greater threat.
The outside line kept beeping. Fujima used one cigarette to light another. He looked at his watch. It was about eight A.M. in Botswana. The operatives should have reached the target by now. They tracked him from the swamp, first by boat and then by air. They should have found him.
And then the call came. Fujima continued to smoke as he punched the button to answer. He inhaled quickly, then blew out smoke to relax.
“Mach two,” Fujima said, using the code word that was changed daily. “Go ahead.”
“I would recognize that exhaling of cigarette smoke even if you did not use the code word,” the caller remarked. “So might an enemy, if he were using my secure phone.”
“Point taken,” Fujima said. That was the trouble with so many field agents. They had to be invisible and silent most of the time. When they got a chance to speak their mind, they did. Agent Kaiju was no exception.
“We found him,” Kaiju went on.
“Where?” Fujima asked. As the intelligence director spoke, he accessed a drop-down menu of the cities in Botswana.
“City one, sector seven,” the caller reported.
“I’m there,” Fujima replied. The Belgian was in Gaborone near the athletic stadium. He dragged silently on his cigarette. Then he exhaled from the side of his mouth.
“He is in a hotel,” Kaiju informed him. “The sign is in English. I cannot read it.”
“The Sun and Casino,” Fujima told him, consulting the map. “That’s the only one in the area.”
“Very good,” the caller said. “What do we do?”
Fujima thought for a moment. “Debrief and neutralize,” he replied.
Kaiju repeated the instructions. Fujima acknowledged them. He hung up and promised to call back when he and his partner had more information.
Fujima sucked hard on his cigarette. He blew out angrily. He did not like to authorize killings. But surgical eliminations were sometimes necessary to prevent greater loss of life in the future. It was made easier by the fact that the target was someone who had helped to create the current chaos.
But even with that accomplished, Fujima did not imagine that the looming crisis would go away. All the interrogation would give them was more information, more time to plan a response.
His telephone continued to beep. Fujima continued to ignore it. He had not slept in over a day, and he was tired. He did not want to slip and say something he would regret.
Instead, the intelligence director punched out his cigarette. He sat back in his high leather chair, closed his eyes, and waited. He waited to hear that this part of the mission was at last concluded. Though the respite, he suspected, would be a short one.
Other Titles by Steve Pieczenik
THE MIND PALACE
BLOOD HEAT
MAXIMUM VIGILANCE
PAX PACIFICA
STATE OF EMERGENCY
HIDDEN PASSIONS
MY BELOVED TALLEYRAND
For more information on Steve Pieczenik, please visit www.stevepieczenik.com and www.strategic-intl.com.
Books by Alexander Court
ACTIVE MEASURES
ACTIVE PURSUIT
Other Titles by Steve Pieczenik
THE MIND PALACE
BLOOD HEAT
MAXIMUM VIGILANCE
PAX PACIFICA
STATE OF EMERGENCY
HIDDEN PASSIONS
MY BELOVED TALLEYRAND
For more information on Steve Pieczenik, please visit www.stevepieczenik.com and www.strategic-intl.com.
Books by Alexander Court
ACTIVE MEASURES
ACTIVE PURSUIT
NOVELS BY TOM CLANCY
The Hunt for Red October
Red Storm Rising
Patriot Games
The Cardinal of the Kremlin
Clear and Present Danger
The Sum of All Fears
Without Remorse
Debt of Honor
Executive Orders
Rainbow Six
The Bear and the Dragon
Red Rabbit
The Teeth of the Tiger
SSN: Strategies of Submarine Warfare
NONFICTION
Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship
Armored Cav: A Guided Tour of an Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fighter Wing: A Guided Tour of an Air Force Combat Wing
Marine: A Guided Tour of a Marine Expeditionary Unit
Airborne: A Guided Tour of an Airborne Task Force
Carrier: A Guided Tour of an Aircraft Carrier
Special Forces: A Guided Tour of U.S. Army Special Forces
Into the Storm: A Study in Command
(written with General Fred Franks, Jr., Ret.)
Every Man a Tiger
(written with General Charles Horner, Ret.)
Shadow Warriors: Inside the Special Forces
(written with General Carl Stiner, Ret., and Tony Koltz)
CREATED BY TOM CLANCY
Splinter Cell
CREATED BY TOM CLANCY AND STEVE PIECZENIK
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Mirror Image
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Games of State
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Acts of War
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Balance of Power
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: State of Siege
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Divide and Conquer
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Line of Control
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Mission of Honor
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Sea of Fire
Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Call to Treason
Tom Clancy’s Net Force
Tom Clancy’s Net Force: Hidden Agendas
Tom Clancy’s Net Force: Night Moves
Tom Clancy’s Net Force: Breaking Point
Tom Clancy’s Net Force: Point of Impact
Tom Clancy’s Net Force: CyberNation
Tom Clancy’s Net Force: State of War
Tom Clancy’s Net Force: Changing of the Guard
Tom Clancy’s Net Force: Springboard
CREATED BY TOM CLANCY AND MARTIN GREENBERG
Tom Clanc
y’s Power Plays: Politika
Tom Clancy’s Power Plays: ruthless.com
Tom Clancy’s Power Plays: Shadow Watch
Tom Clancy’s Power Plays: Bio-Strike
Tom Clancy’s Power Plays: Cold War
Tom Clancy’s Power Plays: Cutting Edge
Tom Clancy’s Power Plays: Zero Hour
Tom Clancy’s Power Plays: Wild Card
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowledgements
ONE - The Celebes Sea Tuesday, 4:19 A.M.
TWO - Washington, D.C. Monday, 7:45 P.M.
THREE - The Celebes Sea Tuesday, 4:34 A.M.
FOUR - Sydney, Australia Thursday, 8:30 A.M.
FIVE - Darwin, Australia Thursday, 8:42 A.M.
SIX - Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 7:33 P.M.
SEVEN - Sydney, Australia Thursday, 10:01 A.M.
EIGHT - The Celebes Sea Thursday, 12:12 P.M.
NINE - The Celebes Sea Thursday, 12:33 P.M.
TEN - Darwin, Australia Thursday, 12:05 P.M.
ELEVEN - Darwin, Australia Thursday, 12:17 P.M.
TWELVE - The Celebes Sea Thursday, 1:08 P.M.
THIRTEEN - Washington, D.C. Thursday, 11:09 P.M.
FOURTEEN - Darwin, Australia Friday, 12:47 P.M.
FIFTEEN - Darwin, Australia Friday, 12:59 P.M.
SIXTEEN - Washington, D.C. Thursday, 11:55 P.M.
SEVENTEEN - Cairns, Australia Friday, 7:00 P.M.
EIGHTEEN - The Celebes Sea Friday, 7:33 P.M.
NINETEEN - Over the Pacific Ocean Friday, 2:57 A.M.
TWENTY - Cairns, Australia Friday, 7:58 P.M.
TWENTY-ONE - The Celebes Sea Friday, 9:44 P.M.
TWENTY-TWO - Cairns, Australia Friday, 9:45 P.M.
TWENTY-THREE - Washington, D.C. Friday, 7:17 A.M.
TWENTY-FOUR - The Celebes Sea Friday, 10:33 P.M.
TWENTY-FIVE - Tokyo, Japan Friday, 9:34 P.M.
TWENTY-SIX - Washington, D.C. Friday, 8:57 A.M.
TWENTY-SEVEN - The Celebes Sea Friday, 11:09 P.M.
TWENTY-EIGHT - Over the Pacific Ocean Saturday, 2:22 A.M.
TWENTY-NINE - The Celebes Sea Saturday, 12:04 A.M.
THIRTY - Washington, D.C. Friday, 10:07 A.M.
THIRTY-ONE - The Celebes Sea Saturday, 12:36 A.M.
THIRTY-TWO - The Celebes Sea Saturday, 1:00 A.M.
THIRTY-THREE - The Celebes Sea Saturday, 1:01 A.M.
THIRTY-FOUR - Washington, D.C. Friday, 12:31 P.M.
THIRTY-FIVE - The Celebes Sea Saturday, 2:02 A.M.
THIRTY-SIX - The South Pacific Saturday, 7:44 A.M.
THIRTY-SEVEN - Washington, D.C. Friday, 7:44 P.M.
THIRTY-EIGHT - Cairns, Australia Saturday, 9:45 A.M.
THIRTY-NINE - Darwin, Australia Saturday, 12:08 P.M.
FORTY - Darwin, Australia Saturday, 12:31 P.M.
FORTY-ONE - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 12:23 A.M.
FORTY-TWO - Cairns, Australia
FORTY-THREE - Cairns, Australia Saturday, 6:22 P.M.
FORTY-FOUR - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 7:31 A.M.
FORTY-FIVE - The Great Barrier Reef Saturday, 10:03 P.M.
FORTY-SIX - Cairns, Australia Saturday, 10:04 P.M.
FORTY-SEVEN - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 8:47 A.M.
FORTY-EIGHT - Cairns, Australia Saturday, 10:49 P.M.
FORTY-NINE - Cairns, Australia Saturday, 11:12 P.M.
FIFTY - Cairns, Australia Saturday, 11:27 P.M.
FIFTY-ONE - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 12:00 A.M.
FIFTY-TWO - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 11:00 A.M.
FIFTY-THREE - The Coral Sea Sunday, 1:21 A.M.
FIFTY-FOUR - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 1:42 A.M.
FIFTY-FIVE - The Coral Sea Sunday, 1:55 A.M.
FIFTY-SIX - The Great Barrier Reef Sunday, 2:09 A.M.
FIFTY-SEVEN - The Coral Sea Sunday, 2:09 A.M.
FIFTY-EIGHT - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 12:38 P.M.
FIFTY-NINE - The Coral Sea Sunday, 2:39 A.M.
SIXTY - Osprey Reef Sunday, 2:46 A.M.
SIXTY-ONE - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 1:00 P.M.
SIXTY-TWO - The Coral Sea Sunday, 3:01 A.M.
SIXTY-THREE - The Coral Sea Sunday, 3:08 A.M.
SIXTY-FOUR - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 1:24 P.M.
SIXTY-FIVE - The Coral Sea Sunday, 3:33 A.M.
SIXTY-SIX - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 3:56 A.M.
SIXTY-SEVEN - The Coral Sea Sunday, 4:01 A.M.
SIXTY-EIGHT - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 4:45 A.M.
SIXTY-NINE - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 4:59 A.M.
SEVENTY - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 3:06 P.M.
SEVENTY-ONE - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 5:07 A.M.
SEVENTY-TWO - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 5:16 A.M.
SEVENTY-THREE - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 5:24 A.M.
SEVENTY-FOUR - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 5:30 A.M.
SEVENTY-FIVE - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 5:38 A.M.
SEVENTY-SIX - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 4:00 P.M.
SEVENTY-SEVEN - Cairns, Australia Sunday, 7:10 A.M.
SEVENTY-EIGHT - Darwin, Australia Sunday, 7:13 A.M.
SEVENTY-NINE - The Coral Sea Sunday, 7:45 A.M.
EIGHTY - Darwin, Australia Sunday, 7:46 A.M.
EIGHTY-ONE - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 6:29 P.M.
THE BESTSELLING NOVELS OF Tom Clancy
RED RABBIT
Tom Clancy returns to Jack Ryan’s early days—in an extraordinary novel of global political drama . . .
“AN OLD-FASHIONED COLD WAR THRILLER.”
—Chicago Sun-Times
THE BEAR AND THE DRAGON
President Jack Ryan faces a world crisis unlike any he has ever known . . .
“INTOXICATING . . . A JUGGERNAUT.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
RAINBOW SIX
Clancy’s shocking story of international terrorism—closer to reality than any government would care to admit . . .
“GRIPPING . . . BOLT-ACTION MAYHEM.”
—People
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Jack Ryan has always been a soldier. Now he’s giving the orders . . .
“AN ENORMOUS, ACTION-PACKED, HEAT-SEEKING MISSILE OF A TOM CLANCY NOVEL.”
—The Seattle Times
DEBT OF HONOR
It begins with the murder of an American woman in the back streets of Tokyo. It ends in war . . .
“A SHOCKER!”
—Entertainment Weekly
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
The smash bestseller that launched Clancy’s career—the incredible search for a Soviet defector and the nuclear submarine he commands . . .
“BREATHLESSLY EXCITING!”
—The Washington Post
RED STORM RISING
The ultimate scenario for World War III—the final battle for global control . . .
“THE ULTIMATE WAR GAME . . . BRILLIANT!”
—Newsweek
PATRIOT GAMES
CIA analyst Jack Ryan stops an assassination—and incurs the wrath of Irish terrorists . . .
“A HIGH PITCH OF EXCITEMENT!”
—The Wall Street Journal
THE CARDINAL OF THE KREMLIN
The superpowers race for the ultimate Star Wars missile defense system . . .
“CARDINAL EXCITES, ILLUMINATES . . . A REAL
PAGE-TURNER!”
—Los Angeles Daily News
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
The killing of three U.S. officials in Colombia ignites the American government’s explosive, and top secret, response . . .
“A CRACKLING GOOD YARN!”
—The Washington Post
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS
The disappearance of an Israeli nuclear weapon threatens the balance of power in the Middle East—and around the world . . .
“CLANCY AT HIS BEST . . . NOT TO BE MISSED!”
—The Dallas Morning News
WITHOUT R
EMORSE
His code name is Mr. Clark. And his work for the CIA is brilliant, cold-blooded, and efficient . . . but who is he really?
“HIGHLY ENTERTAINING!”
—The Wall Street Journal
NOVELS BY TOM CLANCY
The Hunt for Red October
Red Storm Rising
Patriot Games
The Cardinal of the Kremlin
Clear and Present Danger
The Sum of All Fears
Without Remorse
Debt of Honor
Executive Orders
Rainbow Six
The Bear and the Dragon
Red Rabbit
The Teeth of the Tiger
SSN: Strategies of Submarine Warfare
NONFICTION
Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship Armored Cav: A Guided Tour of an Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fighter Wing: A Guided Tour of an Air Force Combat Wing
Marine: A Guided Tour of a Marine Expeditionary Unit
Airborne: A Guided Tour of an Airborne Task Force
Carrier: A Guided Tour of an Aircraft Carrier
Special Forces: A Guided Tour of U.S. Army Special Forces
Into the Storm: A Study in Command
(written with General Fred Franks, Jr., Ret., and Tony Koltz)
