The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

'So, you are telling me that you have no information, and that you can find no
sensible hypothesis to explain the events of this morning?'
'That is the case, Comrade President. I wish I could report something else, but
I cannot.'
'What sort of advice is Fowler getting?'
'I don't know,' Golovko admitted. 'Secretaries Talbot and Bunker are both dead.
Both were watching the football match – Defense Secretary Bunker was the owner
of one of the teams, in fact. The Director of CIA is either still in Japan or on
his way back from there.'
'The Deputy Director is Ryan, correct?'
'That is true.'
'I know him. He is not a fool.'
'No, he is not, but he is also being dismissed. Fowler dislikes him, and we have
learned that Ryan has been asked to resign. Therefore, I cannot say who is
advising President Fowler, except for Elizabeth Elliot, the National Security
Advisor, with whom our ambassador is not impressed.'
'You tell me, then, that this weak, vain man is probably not getting good advice
from anyone?'
'Yes.'
'That explains much.' Narmonov leaned back and closed his eyes. 'So, I am the
only one who can give him good advice, but he probably thinks I am the one who
killed his city. Splendid.' It was perhaps the most penetrating analysis of the
night, but wrong.
***
PRESIDENT FOWLER:
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH MY MILITARY COMMANDERS
AND HAVE
BEEN ASSURED THAT NO SOVIET ATOMIC WARHEAD IS MISSING.
SECOND, WE HAVE MET, YOU AND I, AND I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT I WOULD NEVER
HAVE
GIVEN SUCH A CRIMINAL ORDER AS THIS.
THIRD, ALL OF OUR ORDERS TO OUR MILITARY FORCES HAVE BEEN OF A DEFENSIVE
NATURE.
I HAVE AUTHORIZED NO OFFENSIVE ACTION WHATEVER.
FOURTH, I HAVE ALSO MADE INQUIRIES WITH OUR INTELLIGENCE SERVICES, AND I
REGRET
TO INFORM YOU THAT WE TOO HAVE NO IDEA WHO COULD HAVE COMMITTED THIS
INHUMAN
ACT. WE WILL WORK TO CHANGE THAT, AND ANY INFORMATION WE DEVELOP WILL
BE SENT TO
YOU AT ONCE.
MR PRESIDENT, I WILL GIVE NO FURTHER ORDERS TO MY FORCES OF ANY KIND
UNLESS
PROVOKED. THE SOVIET MILITARY IS IN A DEFENSIVE POSTURE AND WILL REMAIN SO.
***
'Oh, God,' Elliot rasped. 'How many lies do we have here?' Her finger traced
down the computer screen.