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"What did you say your class was? At the Academy?"
" 'Ninety, sir."
"Then I can't believe you said what you just said. You're a West Pointer."
"Yes, sir. I am."
"Well, Colonel, unless the course of instruction at our alma mater has dramatically changed since you and I last marched across our beloved plain above the Hudson, they are still teaching that he who is senior is in command."
No shit, Hamilton!
And no one is more senior than the commander in chief.
And the President is my senior--but I damn well can't say that.
I've got to somehow beat this sonofabitch at his own game . . . but how?
"Sir, with respect, I don't think that applies when one of the officers is of the combat arms and the other in the medical corps. In that situation, the senior combat arms officer is in command."
"Good God, Castillo! You didn't think I was going to go into the Congo wearing a Red Cross and caduceus--caduci? Is that the plural? I never seem to remember--and claiming the protection of the Geneva and other applicable conventions, did you? I'm not out of my mind. I'm going in armed as heavily as I can arrange. Mr. D'Allessando is taking me out and teaching me to fire the Mini Uzi as soon as we finish this conversation."
Berezovsky saw the look on Castillo's face.
He first laid a gentle hand on Castillo's wrist, and when Castillo looked at him, Berezovsky signaled Slow down, calm down, take it easy all with one motion of his hand and a gentle, understanding smile.
"That's very good of Mr. D'Allessando, sir."
D'Allessando's voice, his tone very serious, came over the speaker: "I always try to be helpful, Colonel Castillo. You know that."
Hamilton went on: "So let's clear the air between us, Castillo. My view of our relationship is this: When my people . . ."
You can stick "your people" up your ass, Hamilton!
I've had enough of your secret "protectors"!
". . . authorized my participation in this operation, it was understood between us that General McNab was in command. Now that the other calls upon his time have taken him out of the picture, command thus falls to the next senior officer, which happens to be me. I will, of course, defer to your judgment in those areas of your expertise and seek your counsel. Now, Colonel, do you have any trouble with that?"
Berezovsky touched Castillo's wrist again and shook his head.
"No, sir, I do not."
Berezovsky gave Charley a thumbs-up.
Charley looked at Svetlana. He couldn't tell if she felt sorry for him or thought what was going on was just short of hilarious.
"Fine, Colonel Castillo. On reflection, I'm glad this came up when it did, rather than later. Now, as to what has to be done."
"Yes, sir."
"Mr. DeWitt and I have to go to Washington. My people have arranged for visas for us--it usually takes weeks, I was told--for not only Tanzania but for Rwanda and Burundi, and--this should please you, Castillo--for the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well. But they cannot get around the requirement that the passport must be presented by the holder--or is that the holdee?--personally.
"Then I have to go to Fort Dietrich to pick up my equipment."
"Your equipment, sir?"
"Yes. It will be taken, Mr. D'Allessando assures me, to Africa aboard your airplane with the 'shooters.' I had never heard that term before, but, especially after what I saw at Camp Mackall just now, I'm rather assured by what it connotes."
