Black Ops (Presidential Agent 5)

"An inspiration to all of us," Berezovsky said.

An Internet inquiry of Air France revealed that flight 434, nonstop Airbus service from Brussels to Dar Es Salaam, had arrived on time.

And they watched the monitors and talked a little about what exactly would be the best format for the data Castillo would lay before the President, and Two-Gun said he'd start making up a dummy to be filled in as the data arrived and was digested.

And they waited.

[FOUR]

1310 11 January 2006

"Colonel Hamilton for Colonel Castillo, Encryption Level One," the sultry voice of the AFC announced. Castillo looked at the monitors. The one showing Sub-Saharan Africa showed a now-flashing lightning bolt in Bujumbura, Burundi. It also indicated the local date and time beside the flashing lightning bolt: It was now 0110 12 January 2006 in Bujumbura.

Castillo pushed the SPEAKERPHONE button.

"C. G. Castillo."

"I have Colonel Castillo for you, Colonel Hamilton. Encryption Level One confirmed."

"Thank you very much," Hamilton said.

"You don't have to thank her, sir," Castillo said. "She's a computer."

"I'm aware of that, of course. Force of habit."

"Yes, sir."

"It's ten past one in the morning here, Castillo. I'm in the Hotel du Lac in Bujumbura."

Castillo looked at another of the monitors. It showed a three-dimensional picture of the Hotel du Lac.

"Yes, sir, I know."

"In Washington and on our way here, I discussed a number of things with Mr. DeWitt and I must say I was very impressed with him."

"He's a very impressive man, sir."

"Among the things we discussed was our mode of operations. I also discussed this with Colonel Torine when DeWitt and I got to the Kilimanjaro airfield. And a third time, with Mr. Leverette, when we finally arrived here in Bujumbura."

"Yes, sir?"

"I thought we had resolved, once and for all, the command structure of this operation. I am of course in overall command. Colonel Torine will handle the transportation and logistics outside the Congo. Inside the Congo, Mr. Leverette and Mr. DeWitt will be responsible for transportation and security, and I will be responsible for the investigation."

"That seems to be a practical solution for your situation, sir."

"So I would have thought. When I went to bed tonight, I thought it had been agreed between us that we would get some rest tonight. Not only was it a long flight, but we have passed through--I don't know precisely how many but a number of time zones. . . ."

"Six, sir," Castillo furnished.

"And the natural clock of the body has been disturbed. Rest obviously was called for. Tomorrow morning, I thought it was agreed, when fresh from our rest, we would plan our incursion of the Congo."

"I awoke about fifteen minutes ago, Castillo. I had trouble sleeping, and with the thought that perhaps Mr. Leverette and/or Mr. DeWitt were having the same problem, I decided I would see if they did, and if so, we could perhaps get a jump on our morning planning session."

"Uh-oh," Jack Davidson said.

"What was that, Castillo?"

"Nothing, sir. One of my men came in the room."