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"And what did you do when you were given an order you knew you were not equipped to carry out?"
"Sir, I told him I didn't know how to do what he was ordering me to do."
"And then?"
"And then I tried to do it."
"Were you successful in carrying out the order?"
"No, sir. I wasn't. But I tried."
"That's the situation here, Lorimer. We have been given an order that is in our judgment beyond our ability to carry out. But we are going to try very hard to obey that order. You have absolutely no reason, therefore, to thank me. Clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"So long as you remain useful-and, more important, cause me and OOA no trouble of any kind-I am going to permit you to participate in this operation."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
"To say this is probationary would be an understatement. There will be no second chances. Phrased another way, Lieutenant, you fuck up once and you're dead meat. Clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"We are going to Chicago just as soon as I can change into uniform. Our mission, at the personal order of the President, is to assure Timmons's family that everything possible is being done to get him back. Since I don't have a clue about how to get him back, that's probably going to be difficult. One thing we can do, however, is produce you."
"Sir?"
"With a little bit of luck, they'll know who you are, that you were Timmons's buddy."
"Timmons's family knows who I am, sir."
"Then they'll probably believe you when you tell them what happened down there."
"I think they will, sir."
"On the other hand, they may suspect we're blowing smoke. 'What's this guy doing up here when he should be in Asuncion looking for…'"
"Byron, sir," Lorimer furnished. "His name is Byron Timmons, same as his father."
"In any event, while you are delivering the after-action report, you will look at me every two seconds. If I shake my head slightly, or if you think I'm shaking my head, you will stop in midsentence and change subjects. Clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Timmons's family will certainly have questions. Before you answer any question, you will look at me to see if I shake my head or nod. If I shake my head, your answer to that question will be something intended to assure them. It doesn't have to be true. You understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"If you cannot carry out this instruction satisfactorily, Lorimer, I will conclude that you will not be of any value to this operation and we'll drop you off at Fort Bragg on our way back here. Clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you packed?"
"No, sir. I sort of thought I'd be staying here."
"Go pack. You may well not be coming back here. When you're packed, put your bag in my Denali and wait there."
"Yes, sir," Lorimer said. He stood up and walked-with a just-noticeable limp-out of the living room, closing the door after himself.
