From the beginning your instructions were clear. Would you prefer we
deal with the Americans? Or the French? The Germans, perhaps?”
The silence was abrupt. There was a cruelty to it, a blunt execution of
pain. Alexander watched as the two enemies exchanged stares. He saw
the gradual, painful cognizance in Hammond’s eyes.
“Then you know,” said the Englishman softly.
“We know,” replied Daniel simply.
Hammond remained silent and looked out the window.
The Minister of the Halidon turned to McAuliff. “The global mendacity,
Doctor. Commander Hammond is the finest Intelligence officer in the
British service. The unit he directs is a coordinated effort between
the aforementioned governments. It is, however, coordinated in name
only. For M.l. Five-as the prime investigatory agency-does to apprise
its fellow signatories of its progress.”
“There are good and sufficient reasons for our actions,” sai Hammond,
still looking out the window.
“Reduced to one, is that not right, Commander? … Security. You
cannot trust your allies.”
“Our counterparts are leak-prone. Experience has confirmed this.” The
agent did not take his eyes off the water.
“So you mislead them,” said Daniel. “You give false information, tell
them you are concentrating in the Mediterranean, then South
America-Argentina, Nicaragua. Even nearby Haiti … but never
Jamaica.” The minister paused for emphasis. “No, never Jamaica.”
“Standard procedure,” answered Hammond, allowing Daniel a brief, wary
look.
“Then it will not surprise you to learn that this mistrust is shared by
your foreign confederates. They have sent out teams, their best men.
They are presently tracking down every scrap of information MI-6 has
made available.
They are working furiously.”
Hammond snapped his head back to Daniel. “That is contrary to our
agreement,” he said in an angry monotone.
The minister did not smile. “I do not think you are in a position to be
sanctimonious, Commander.” Daniel shifted his eyes again to Alexander.
“You see, McAuliff, since Dunstone, Limited, was a London-based
conglomerate, it was agreed to give the first-level assignment to
British Intelligence. It was understandable; M.I. Five and Six are the
finest in the West; the Commander is their finest. On the theory that
the fewer clandestine services operating, the less likely were breaches
of security, the British agreed to fumction alone and keep everyone
current. Instead, they continuously furnished erroneous data.” Daniel
now permitted himself a minor smile. “In a sense, they were justified.
The Americans, the French, and the Germans were all breaking the
agreement, none had any intention of keeping it. Each was going after
Dunstone, while claiming to leave the field to the English…. Dunstone
has to be dismantled. Taken apart economic brick by economic brick. The
world markets can accept no less. But there are so many bricks. Each
government believes that if only it can get there first-get the Dunstone
list before the others-well, arrangements can be made, assets
transferred”
Hammond could not remain silent. “I submit-whoever you are-that we are
the logical … executors.”
“The term ‘logic’ being interchangeable with ‘deserving.” I will say
this for your cause. God, Queen, and Empire have paid heavily in recent
decades. Somewhat out of proportion to their relative sins, but that is
not our concern, Commander. As I said, your instructions were clear at
the outset, Get the Dunstone list at all costs. The cost is now clear.
We will give you the list. You will get out of Jamaica. That is the
price.”
Again, the silence; once more, the exchange of analyzing stares. A
cloud passed over the Montego moon, causing a dark shadow to fall over
the faces. Hammond spoke.
“How can be we be sure of its authenticity?”
Can you doubt us after the events of the day? Remember, it is in our
mutual interest that Dunstone be eliminated.”
“What guarantees do you expect from us?”
Daniel laughed. A laugh formed in humor. “We do not need guarantees,
Commander. We will know. Can you not understand that? Our island is
not a continent; we know every liaison, conduit, and contact with whom
you function.” The smile from the laugh formed in humor disappeared.
“These operations will stop. Make whatever settlements you must, but
then no more. Give-really give-Jamaica to its rightful owners.
Struggles, chaos, and all.”
“And the Englishman spoke softly-“if these decisions are outside my
control-”
“Make no mistake, Commander Hammond!” Daniel’s voice rose, cutting off
the agent. “The executions that took place today began at noon London
time. And each day, the chimes in Parliament’s clocktower ring out
another noon.
When you hear them, remember. What we were capable of today, we are
capable of tomorrow. And we will add the truth of our motives. England
will be a pariah in the community of nations. You cannot afford that.”
“Your threat is ludicrous!” countered Hammond, with equal fever. “As
you said, this island is not a continent.
We’d go in and destroy you.”
Daniel nodded and replied quietly. “Quite possible. And you should
know that we are prepared for that eventuality.
We have been for over two hundred years. Remarkable, isn’t it? … By
all you believe holy, pay the price, Hammond; take the list and salvage
what you can from Dunstone. You do deserve that. Not that you’ll
salvage much; the vultures will fly in from their various geographies
and dive for the carrion. We offer you time, perhaps only a few days.
Make the best of it!”
A red light on the panel beneath the dashboard lit up, throwing a glow
over the front seat. There were the sharp, staccato repeats of a
high-pitched buzzer. The driver reached for the telephone and pulled it
to his ear, held it there for several seconds, and then handed the
instrument to Daniel.
The Minister of the Halidon listened. Alexander saw his face in the
rearview mirror. Daniel could not conceal his alarm.
And then his anger.
“Do what you can but risk no lives. Our men are to pull out. No one is
to leave the community. That is final. Irreversible!” He replaced the
telephone in its upright recess firmly and turned his eyes on the
Englishman as he spoke sarcastically. “British expertise, Commander.
John Bull know-how. The West Indian specialists, M.I. Six, Caribbean,
have just received their orders from Dunstone. They are to go into the
Cock Pit and intercept the survey. They are to make sure it does not
come out.”
“Oh, my God!” McAuliff pitched forward on the seat, “Can they reach
them?”
“Ask the eminent authority,” said Daniel bitingly, his eyes wide on
Hammond. “They are his men.”
The agent was rigid, as though he had stopped breathing.
Yet it was,obvious his mind was operating swiftly, silently.
“They are in contact with the radio receivers … the signals
transmitted from the campsite. The location can be pinpointed-”
“Within a thousand yards,” cut in Alexander, completing Hammond’s
statement.
“Yes.
“You’ve got to stop them!”
“I’m not sure there’s a way–2’ “Find one. For Christ’s sake, Hammond,
they’re going to be killed!” McAuliff grabbed Hammond by the lapels of
his jacket, yanking him forward viciously. “You move, mister. Or I’ll
kill you!”
“Take your hands—-” Before the agent could finish the obvious,
Alexander whipped his right hand across Hammond’s face, breaking the
skin on the Englishman’s lips. “There isn’t anything more, Commander! I
want those guarantees! Now!”
The agent spoke through rivulets of blood. “I’ll do MY best. All I’ve
ever given you was … our best efforts.”
“You son of a bitch!” McAuliff brought his hand back once again. The
driver and Daniel grabbed his arm.
“McAuliffl You’ll accomplish nothing!” roared the minister.
“You tell him to start accomplishing!” Then Alexander stopped and turned
to Daniel, releasing the Englishman.
“You’ve got people there.” And then McAuliff remembered the terrible
words Daniel had spoken into the telephone: Risk no lives. Our men …
pull back. No one is to leave the community. “You’ve got to get on
that phone. Take back what you said. Protect them!”
The minister spoke quietly. “You must try to understand.
There were traditions, revelations … a way of life extending over two
hundred years. We cannot jeopardize these things.”
Alexander stared at the black man. “You’d watch them die? My God, you
can’t!”
“I am afraid we could. And would. And we would then be faced with the
taking of your life. It would be taken as swiftly . . .” Daniel
turned up the collar of his shirt, revealing a tiny bulge in the cloth.
Tablets, sewn into the fabric. “. . . as I would bite into these,
should I ever find myself in a position where it was necessary. I would
not think twice about it.”
“For God’s sake, that’s you! They’re not you; they’re no part of you.
They don’t know you. Why should they pay with their lives?”
Hammond’s voice was startling in its quiet incisiveness.
“Priorities, McAuliff. I told you. For them … for us.”
“The accidents of war, Doctor. Combat’s slaughter of innocents,
perhaps.” Daniel spoke simply, denying the implication of his words.