Page 82 of V-Day
Roberts didn’t move. “Ma’am, this isn’t a country at the moment. It’s a disaster area. Have patience. Keep working with your man over there—you’re needed. We’ll let you know when you can speak to General Peña…although there is a long list of people in front of you, including the President of the United States.”
Carmen stalked back to the double row of folding beds where Garrett worked with six nurse orderlies in uniform and a whole pallet of drugs and equipment. She got to work, because Roberts was right. She was needed.
*
DUARDO DIDN’T LIE ON THEbed because he didn’t feel the need to. He sat, his legs crossed. He stared at the Colonel standing at the foot of his bed, processing what he had just said. The man was in uniform. He wasn’t wearing a hazmat suit. He was the first person Duardo had seen without a shield of plastic between them since being put in the helicopter on the Palace lawn. “Run that by me again,” Duardo said.
“Is your English the problem, or do you want me to explain the science, sir?” Roberts asked politely. “I can get a translator—”
“My English is just fine,” Duardo said. “I’m having trouble with empirical evidence, if you must know. I saw the cloud, Colonel. I can still see it if I crane my head and look through the plastic walls of this tent. How can there be no radiation, if there was a mushroom cloud?”
Roberts nodded. “It’s a common misconception that only nuclear explosions have mushroom clouds. Any sufficiently energetic detonation or deflagration will produce the same effect. This was, by all accounts, a monster of a bomb.”
Duardo stared at him. “The drone…it was leaking radiation,” he said, feeling stupid.
“I believe the President will want to explain that to you himself. There’s been developments over the last twelve hours. If you’re up to it, the call can be put through now.”
Me?
Duardo didn’t voice the question. Instead, he said, “Has Nicolás Escobedo been found? He was in the Palace when it blew. If by some miracle he survived…” He trailed off, because Roberts was nodding.
“Señor Escobedodidsurvive. They’re talking to him now, although it will take a while to dig him out.”
“They’retalkingto him?”
“They were drawn by metal banging and found a coal chute, I’m told. They slid a phone down to him through the chute. Señor Escobedo directed everyone to speak to you about official matters, as you are the Presidentpro tem.” Roberts hesitated. “Right now, you are the only known official of the Loyalist republic of Vistaria. There are many people who need to speak to you rather urgently, now you’ve been cleared. Including President Collins.”
Duardo rubbed the back of his neck. “Can you bring the phone to me, or do I need to go somewhere to take the call?”
*
NICK AND CALLI WERE PULLEDfrom the wreckage, with a smiling Maria Roldán beside them, twenty-eight hours later. They were airlifted to the emergency hospital which had sprung up in the Freonegro pass.
Duardo demanded access to the three and was given it with a speed which made him uncomfortable. He was escorted to Nick’s bedside.
Nick was scratched and bruised—all of them were—and suffering mild dehydration and exhaustion. The doctor had seemed willing to share any information about Nick’s condition with Duardo, whether it was personal, privileged, or not. He also expressed his amazement that all three survived.
Duardo pulled up a chair beside Nick’s bed and glanced around. There were doctors and nurses, and an orderly with a cellphone, taking pictures.
“Give us the room please,” Duardo told them.
Instantly, the sectioned-off portion of the tent emptied of people.
Nick raised his brow. “You’re getting the hang of this.” His voice was scratchy.
Duardo shook his head. “I’m still a green lieutenant in here.” He touched his chest.
“Any leader whothinkshe’s a good leader, isn’t,” Nick replied. “Doubt keeps you humble.”
“Then I’m more than humble,” Duardo replied. He hesitated. “I don’t know what they’ve told you yet about your condition.”
“That it wasn’t a dirty bomb?” Nick winced as he shifted on the bed. “We knew that before they hauled us out. There was a military aide…I think his sole job was to stay on the end of the phone for us. He got very chatty, passing the gossip along. He just couldn’t fill in the blank bits.” He looked at Duardo. “Can you?”
“I can, now I’ve spoken with Collins.”
Nick hesitated. “President Collins?” Then he smiled and shook his head. “Go on. Can you tell me?”
“For crissake, Nick, you deserve to know more than anyone.”
