"Can't they land?" Aideen asked.
"Not if they think we are still in the swamp," Battat said. "There's nowhere to set down."
"What if they know Dhamballa has left?" Aideen asked.
"We can still scatter and hide if we have to," Seronga told her. "And we can fire back. My soldiers are accustomed to working in small groups as well as independently."
"Something just occurred to me," Maria said. "What if the Spaniards are going in first?"
Seronga looked at her. So did Aideen.
"Explain yourself," Seronga said.
"We have to assume the Spanish soldiers were also given this information," Maria said. "In that case, they may not be coming here. They might have been picked up at the Maun airfield."
"You're right. The Spaniards could have leapfrogged over us," Aideen said. "By now they might have reached the camp, infiltrated it, and rescued Father Bradbury."
"Wouldn't Mike have told us if something like that were going on?" Battat asked.
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"Probably, if he knew," Aideen said.
"The Spanish are not very open about the conducting of military maneuvers," Maria told him. "In Spain, separatist factions could use that information to plan acts of terror."
Seronga came toward Maria with the gun. "Get in the Jeep, all of you," he said urgently.
"Why?" Battat asked.
"We are going to join my group," Seronga said.
"Like hell-" Battat said.
"Now!" Seronga yelled. "I don't care whether you three are here officially or not. You are now my hostages. Your government will be informed. That will buy us time."
"I have a better idea," Aideen said.
"I don't have time to debate!" Seronga said.
"You're doing all the talking," Aideen yelled back. "Mr. Seronga, I need my phone."
"What are you going to do?" the Brush Viper asked.
"I'm going to call my people and ask them to put out fake Intel," Aideen replied. "Something that will stall the Botswanans."
"What kind of information?" Seronga asked.
"I don't know," Aideen told him. "I'll figure it out. Look, you're wasting time. Whatever I do cannot be worse than what's already happening," the woman pointed out.
Seronga hesitated, but only for a moment. He handed her the phone. "Make your call from the Jeep. I'm returning to the truck. I want to be with my people as soon as possible."
Aideen looked at Battat. She could not see him well. But she could see him shifting his weight slightly from foot to foot. She could not decide if he were going to go along with this or try to disarm Seronga.
But there was one decision Aideen could make. She turned and strode toward the Jeep. "I'm going to join the Vodunists," she announced.
Battat hesitated.
So did Maria, but only for a moment. She followed Aideen. She stopped as she passed Battat.
"Aideen is right," Maria said. "If Op-Center c3h delay the
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attack, we might find a way to stop this. If we leave, many will die." She cocked her head toward the sniper on the truck. "Including us, perhaps."
Maria continued toward the Jeep. She grabbed the roll bar, hopped over the door, and sat in the backseat. "Are you corning?" she asked Battat.
Battat glared at the truck.
Aideen had already reached the Jeep. She punched in the number of the embassy in Gaborone and was looking back. She saw Seronga lower his pistol and walk toward the truck. It was a gesture, nothing more, since the man in the truck still probably had his rifle trained on them. But it was a smart move.
Battat finally turned and walked toward the Jeep. Maria sat on the back passenger's-side seat, her head on the roll bar support. Her eyes were shut. Aideen was holding the phone to her ear. The night operator at the embassy had answered. Aideen had asked to be put through to Terminal 82401. While the woman waited to be connected, Battat climbed behind the wheel.
"It needed to be said," Battat told her defensively.
"You needed to say it," Aideen replied.
"All right. I needed it," Battat said in a harsh whisper. "I don't know if I agree with what you're doing. If we do stay with Seronga, we cannot afford to be identified. You understand that."
"I do," Aideen told him.
"Then why don't you stay out here?" Maria asked. "We'll send someone to get you."
"Because it isn't a question of my own security," Battat snapped. "We're in this deeper than we were ever supposed to be. We don't have the approval of the Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committee. Or the president. We're cornpletely exposed, and the repercussions for Op-Center could be disastrous. Especially if we're caught helping rebels."
"You are right," Maria replied. "But this work, our work, is about risk. I don't mean just physical danger but political fallout. The United States will survive whatever we do. My
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primary concern is about the people who may not survive if we abandon them."
"That's why I'm going with you," Battat said. "If I'm going to do the wrong thing, I want to do it for the right reasons."
Aideen was not sure she agreed this was wrong. But she did not have time to think about it.
A moment later, Mike Rodgers was on the line.
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Washington, D.C. Friday, 3:13 P.M.
Not long after Bob Herbert got off the phone with Hotchkiss at the Vatican mission bookstore, Edgar Kline called Paul Hood. Kline did so not because Bob Herbert had effectively threatened to kill him. He did it, he said, because he did not want to do what Hood and Herbert had done. Edgar Kline said that he wanted to tell the truth.
Mike Rodgers, Bob Herbert, and Paul Hood had remained in Hood's office after contacting the Vatican mission. They were seated around the desk when the call came through. The Op-Center director put Kline on speakerphone.
"Edgar-it's Paul," Hood said. "Bob and Mike are here as well."
"I got your message, Bob," Kline said.
"Good, you prick."
"Edgar, we all seem to be pressed for time," Hood said. "What's going on?"
"I'm sorry, but I was not at liberty to reveal what was happening," he said. "We did not want it to get back to Seronga. Someone there might have told one of your field personnel-"
"My feelings aren't hurt, and explanations don't matter now," Hood said. "Just tell me where we are."
"Father Bradbury managed to get a cell phone and call the archdiocese in Cape Town," he said. "During the brief call, Bradbury described the general direction and duration of their trip, as well as descriptions of the site itself. There was enough detail to give the Botswana military a good idea where Dhamballa is located. He was afraid to stay on the phone any longer for fear that Dhamballa would notice the phone was missing
or see the on light on the console. The decision to go in after him was that of the Botswanans, not ours," Kline added.
"What if Dhamballa was not responsible for the death of the bishop?" Hood asked.
"Dhamballa cannot prove he wasn't involved in that," Kline said.
"Buy us the time to check," Hood suggested.
"Paul, I wish I could," Kline said. "If it were up to us, we would let the Unidod Especial handle this. All we want from this is the safe return of Father Bradbury and a restoration of order in Botswana."
"Edgar," Herbert interjected, "while you're busy coming clean, where are the Spanish soldiers?"
"I can't tell you that," Kline said.
"So much for trust," Herbert said.
"I'm being truthful," Kline said. "But that doesn't mean I'm at liberty to reveal everything."
"Do you know where they are?" Hood pressed.
"Yes," Kline replied. "But under the circumstances, I cannot share that information. In fact, that is part of why I did not call to tell you about Father Bradbury
's message. I did not want information reaching Leon Seronga, either by accident or design."
"That would not have happened," Hood said. "We have had the same goal from the start. We sent our people in there to help you."
"Well, things change quickly in our world," Kline said.
"Not loyalties," Rodgers said. "Not ours."
"The only thing that changed is our agents went from being spies to being targets in the middle of a shit storm," Herbert said.
"Then withdraw them," Kline said.
"We may," Herbert said.
"Gentlemen, let's stay on issue," Hood said. "The point of this conversation is that we all want to rescue the priest and get our people out safely. We also should be trying to save lives. Is there some way we can keep the air force from hammering the Brush Vipers?" "*
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"At this point, I very much doubt it," Kline said. "They are going to make an object lesson of the Vodunists."
"But what if that isn't necessary?" Hood said. "What if we can help get the priest out without any violence?"
"How?" Kline asked.
"Let me talk to my people over there. You talk to Gaborone," Hood said. "Ask for a delay."
"And what happens if the Brush Vipers use a period of detente to get away or to attack another compound?" Kline asked. "What happens if people die this time, Paul? What happens if the Brush Vipers decide to take hostages? Or kill other priests and deacons?"
"I can't guarantee they won't," Hood admitted. "But it isn't likely. Especially if they know what's being sent against them."
"All we're saying is give our people a shot," Herbert said. "Damnit, Edgar, forget all the shit that's gone on between us. Try to delay the attack. That's just basic statesmanship and something else the Church stands for."
"Which is?"
"Humanitarianism," Herbert said.
Kline sighed. "I wish it were that simple."
"It can be," Hood said.
"What happened to turning the other cheek?" Herbert asked.
"It went out when slaps became gunshots," Kline said. "Besides, we're not talking about bearing an insult. We're talking about the abduction and killing of priests. Never mind by whom. The survival of the Church in Botswana, in Africa, is being challenged. It has to take a stand. And the Botswanans have to show that they are in power. Don't forget, my friends. We did not ask for this war. The Vodunists chose this course."
"Perhaps," Hood said. "But someone else killed Bishop Max to escalate the situation. By doing the same thing, by escalating the war against the Vodunists, you are abetting the ones who attacked you."
"That will come out in time," Kline said. "First things first. We deal with the Vodunists and the kidnapping of Father
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Bradbury. Then we find out who attacked the Church and Botswana."
Just then, Rodgers's cell phone beeped. He checked the number. It was the embassy in Gaborone. That meant the clock was running. There was no time to leave the room. If the call were being relayed from Aideen, it could be pinpointed within two minutes. Rodgers looked at Hood and dragged a finger across his own throat to kill the speaker. Hood did more than that. He asked Kline if he could hold the line for a few minutes.
Kline agreed. Hood hit the Mute button.
"I'm surprised he agreed, the bastard SOB," Herbert said.
"It's worth the wait for him," Hood said. "I might decide to share whatever information is incoming."
Meanwhile, Mike Rodgers accepted the patch-through. Hood and Herbert fell silent.
"Yes?" Rodgers said. He did not use his name in case Aideen had dropped the phone and someone had discovered it.
"We need help," the caller said.
It was Aideen. Her words were urgent, but her voice was calm.
"Go ahead," Rodgers said.
"We've linked up with Seronga and are headed toward a rendezvous with Dhamballa," she informed him.
"You're staying?" Hood said.
"We have to," Aideen said. "The Vodunists are changing their destination to meet us. Father Bradbury will be with them. We will try to obtain his release. We should be with them in about two hours. Do you know where the Spanish soldiers are?"
"No," Rodgers said. "But we believe they are trying to reach Father Bradbury."
"That was our conclusion," Aideen said. "General, we need time. Seronga seems inclined to support us. We believe it's possible to end this peaceably. Can you sell Gaborone on that idea?"
"I don't know," Rodgers said. "They appear set on ending this situation in a very public way." "*
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"What if you tell them that we have already obtained the release of the priest?" Aideen asked.
"That would make things worse," Rodgers said. "The air force would still go in to mop things up."
"Then we have to find another way to delay them," Aideen said.
"Look, I'll talk this over with Bob and Paul," Rodgers said. "We'll try to work out something."
"Thank you," Aideen replied.
"I understand," Rodgers told her. "Proceed under the assumption that you're a go for a peaceful resolution. If there's a problem, I'll let you know. You've done very good work."
Aideen thanked him. Rodgers clicked off. The call had taken just over one minute.
"What have we got?" Hood asked. "Hold on," he added. He clicked on the speakerphone. "Edgar? Are you still there?"
"I am."
"Mike Rodgers just got a call from one of our agents who is with Seronga," Hood informed him. "You will be hearing the briefing from Mike the same time we do."
"Thanks, but I don't see what good this will do," Kline said.
"Can you be any less goddamn hopeful, you South African misery?" Herbert snapped.
"Enough, Bob," Hood snapped. "Edgar, if nothing else, it will renew the partnership we were supposed to have in this operation," Hood said.
"Fair enough," Kline replied.
"Mike?" Hood said.
Rodgers liked what Hood had done. It was a no-lose situation for Op-Center. It accomplished three things. It neutralized Kline's charges that Hood had not been forthcoming. It reinvigorated the idea of an alliance between Op-Center and the Vatican Security Office. And most importantly, it put the next move on the shoulders of Edgar Kline.
"Gentlemen, our three operatives are with Leon Seronga," Rodgers said. "The word is that Seronga seems tired. From the sound of it, this whole movement is suddenly tired, or at the very least scared. Our group is meeting with Dhamballa
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and the Brush Vipers in under two hours. Our people believe they can obtain freedom for Father Bradbury and perhaps even get the Brush Vipers to disband. They have asked us to find a way to give them that opportunity. They have asked us to buy them those two hours."
Hood waited a moment. Then he looked at the speakerphone. "Edgar? Any thoughts?"
Kline was silent.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it now. We started this as a mission to save lives," Hood said. "We can't sit here and do nothing, just say this is out of our control."
"And I've told you, the Brush Vipers chose their own path," Kline said. "We are not responsible for what happens to them."
"Edgar, we are," Hood insisted. "This information just made us responsible. We have options. We have a duty. Our job is to manage crises, not sit on the bench and watch them explode. Your job, if I may, is to restore normalcy. We can do that. It's not impossible."
"The crime of kidnapping Father Bradbury does not call for a response of mass murder," Rodgers said. "It was wrong, it was illegal, but let's deal with it in those terms."
"And there's something else that just occurred to me," Hood said. "Edgar, we don't know who is traveling with Dhamballa. What if there are children at the camp who had nothing to do with any of this? Should they be punished, too?"
Hood let that thought so
ak in before continuing.
"Edgar, we don't have enough information to allow an air strike to take place," Hood concluded. "At least-at the very least-give our people the time to finish what they were sent to do."
"Paul, I don't know," Kline said. "Even if I wanted to, I don't know if I can make that happen."
"Try," Herbert said.
"Your say-so will get the Spanish soldiers to delay entering the camp," Hood said. "If they don't go in, the Botswana choppers won't strike for fear of killing Father Bradbury."
"You can tell them the camp is moving," Rodgers^aid. "It's true. They might miss it altogether."
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"Paul, they may be in there already, with the Brush Vipers," Kline said.
"Then, Edgar, we can't afford to waste any more time," Hood pressed.
The silence that followed was tense, exaggerated. The hum of the computer fan sounded like a turbine.
Finally, Kline spoke. "I will do what I can. I'll ask them to hold," he said. "But I cannot answer for the Botswana military."
"They may not attack without knowing that Father Bradbury is out of danger," Rodgers said.
"I pray you're right," Kline replied.
The Vatican officer hung up.
"Well. All it took was three of us beating him with morality to get him to budge," Herbert said.
"I've had to use more than that to get you to move sometimes," Hood said.
"Yeah, but I'm usually right," Herbert said.
Calmer now, Herbert left the office to see what Darrell McCaskey might have discovered about the Japanese connection. Rodgers looked at Hood.
"I pray we're right, too," Hood said.
"Yeah," Rodgers said. "You want to make that official?"
Hood smiled. "Are you serious?"
Rodgers nodded.
"It's been a long time," Hood said.
"Then I'll lead," Rodgers replied.
The general slid off his chair and lowered himself to one knee. Hood did the same. Rodgers said something about God looking after the people in the field, especially those who were risking themselves for others. Rodgers knew from countless missions that the words themselves did not matter as much as the sentiment. His heart and soul were definitely in this. Not just because he felt they were right but because he understood the political crisis Botswana was facing. And he believed that only divine intervention could save Dhamballa and the Brush Vipers from being slaughtered.
Clancy, Tom - Op Center 09 - Mission of Honor Page 35
