The Hostage (Presidential Agent 2)

"How are you, General?" Fernando asked.

"Very well, Fernando, for an old man, with all these terrible responsibilities heavily weighing upon my overburdened shoulders. Could you use some sustenance?"

"Yes, sir, I could."

"I'll have it towed to Base Ops," General Winters said.

"Thank you, sir," Torine said.

"Thank you, Oscar," General McNab said, and gestured to Castillo, Torine, and Lopez that they should get into the Humvee. There was still a small line waiting to be fed at what the Army now called the "dining facility"-formerly "mess hall"-of the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment when McNab's Humvee pulled up outside. Everyone in the Humvee piled out and went to the end of the line.

One of the principles of leadership Castillo had learned while he had been Second Lieutenant Castillo, aide-de-camp to Brigadier General McNab, was that the quality of food served was one of the most important factors in troop morale, and that a very good way to ensure that high-quality food was served at all times was for senior officers to drop in unannounced at a randomly selected mess hall and eat what was being served to the privates.

General McNab took out his wallet and paid for breakfast for everybody but his driver, an unmarried sergeant living in barracks who was not drawing a rations and quarters allowance, and they went through the line watched by a visibly nervous mess sergeant, who was aware both of McNab's legendary temper and that it was often triggered when food did not measure up to his expectations.

The food-and there was a wide array of choices- was good. McNab waited until they were through, poured himself another cup of coffee, and then handed Castillo a sheet of Teletype paper.

"If you have trouble with the big words, Charley, I will be happy to explain them to you," he said.

Castillo took the message and read it.

TOP SECRET-PRESIDENTIAL

OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE

0205 27 JULY 2005

FROM: COMMANDER IN CHIEF

CENTCOM

MACDILL AF BASE

TAMPA FLA

TO: COMMANDING GENERAL

XVIII AIRBORNE CORPS/SPECIAL

OPERATIONS COMMAND

FORT BRAGG NC

EYES ONLY LT GEN B. J. MCNAB

COPIES TO:

SECDEFENSE WASHINGTON DC

EYES ONLY SEC BEIDERMAN

SECSTATE WASHINGTON DC

EYES ONLY SEC COHEN

SECHOMELANDSEC WASHINGTON DC

EYES ONLY SEC HALL