Out of the Ashes by William W. Johnstone Read Free Book Online Page B

pointed it at the man’s head. “You have five seconds to obey my orders.”
    â€œYes, sir,” the secret service man said, walking stiffly to the phone.
    Travee looked at Benning. “Where is Mrs. Fayers?”
    â€œIn California, sir. Speaking engagement.”
    â€œAll right. Get the White House doctor in here.” He used another line to call the Pentagon. “This is General Travee. The code word is Blue Tango. I’m going to say this only once, so you’d better listen. I want these orders sent out immediately, top priority, scrambled. They are as follows: every military base in this country is to be shut down tight. Tight! Every leave is hereby canceled. Get those personnel back to base. You understand me?”
    â€œBlue Tango, sir?” the rustle of paper. “Blue Tango! That’s . . . hell, that’s insurrection within our borders, sir. ”
    â€œI am fully aware of that, Colonel. Just do it.”
    â€œI can’t, sir. I need more code designation.”
    â€œRed Fox!”
    â€œThat has to come from the president, sir.”
    â€œGoddamn it, I know that. The president is ... incapacitated.”
    â€œThe VP, then, sir.”
    â€œThe VP is out of the country. Do what I tell you to do!”
    â€œSir,” the colonel protested, “I’m only following orders—the chain of command.”
    â€œGoddamn you, Colonel—I am giving you a direct order!”
    The phone buzzed in Travee’s ear. He looked around in astonishment.
    â€œThat son of a bitch hung up on me,” Travee said.

FIVE
    Monday evening
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    â€œI cannot believe the Americans are doing this,” the Russian ambassador said. “Unless ... unless those rumors within our country have some validity to them. Yes. That must be it.” The Russian agent sat before him in the embassy.
    â€œI have seen the Thunder-strike with my own eyes. By now it is on its way to mainland China. To join the several hundred others they have.”
    â€œAimed at Russia,” the ambassador said. “Things were going so well—we thought.” His hands were shaking.
    His secretary buzzed him. “Sir, President Fayers has just been rushed to Bethesda Hospital. He’s had a massive stroke. Not expected to live. The vice president cannot be located. His plane and everyone on board have vanished somewhere in the Mideast. There are fears that Fayers’ wife has been kidnapped.”
    â€œThank you. Keep me informed. Send a message of regret and sympathy to the White House.” He told the agent what had just been relayed to him. He lit a cigarette with trembling hands. “Too much is happening too quickly for it to be mere coincidence. I think the world is about to explode in our faces. We have much to do, Fyodor. So let’s get busy doing it.”

    Premier Su listened to the colonel from Chinese Intelligence. His face remained impassive as the colonel talked . . . and talked. Finally, Su interrupted.
    â€œYou have seen these missiles?”
    â€œWith my own eyes, Premier.”
    Su sighed. “With who else’s eyes—a goat? We have nothing in our arsenal that would stop them?”
    â€œNo, Premier. Nothing.”
    â€œThe Russians were going to assassinate me at Fuchin?”
    â€œAnd your wife.”
    â€œBarbarians! What of the Americans?”
    â€œOur intelligence reports they have nothing to do with it. The Thunder-strike is theirs, true, but the plans were stolen from them—by the Russians. Of course, neither side could mention any of this at the SALT talks.”
    â€œNaturally. Some deviousness was to be expected. From both sides of the table.”
    â€œThe fox does not tell the hound of its exit,” the colonel said.
    Premier Su sighed heavily. “Colonel, please spare me your pearls from the Orient. I was never an admirer of Charlie Chan.”
    â€œYes, sir. There is also something going on within