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.She seemed to spend hours chatting about how the world was run and what the President was doing on matters such as the building up of Russian troops on the Pakistan border.She gained most of her information from the Washington Post and envied Ralph Brooks's real involvement as Secretary of State.Although she kept herself well informed on what was going on in the world at large, for only the second time in her life she was bored.She longed for 1996, fearing her years as Vice President would yield very few positive results.Once Ah Force H had landed back at Andrews, Florentyna returned to tier work and spent the rest of the week checking through the State and CIA traffic that had piled up in her absence abroad.She rested over the weekend even though CBS informed tho public that the dollar had suffered as a result of the intemational crisis.The Russians were massing more forces on the Paki,,tan border, a fact that the President had dismissed in his weekly press conference as "not of great importance." The Russians, he assured the assembled journalists, were not interested in crossing any borders into countries that had treaties with the United States.During the following week the panic seemed to subside and the dollar recovered."It's a cosmetic recovery," Florentyna pointed out to Janet, "caused by the Russians.The international brokers are reporting that the Bank of Moscow is selling gold, which was exactly what they did before invading Afghanistan.I do wish bankers would not treat history on a week-to-week basis." Although several politicians and journalists contacted Florentyna to express their fears, she could only placate them as she watched proceedings from the wings.She even considered making an appointment to see the President, but by Friday evening most Americans were on their way home for a peaceful weekend convinced the immediate danger had passed.Florentyna remained in her office in the west wing that Friday evening and read through the cables from ambassadors and agents on the Indian subcontinent.The more she read, the more she felt unable to share the President's relaxed stance.As there was very little ~;he could do about it, she neatly stacked tip the papers, put them into a special red folder and prepared to go390THE PRODIGAL DAUC;HnRhome.She checked her watch.6:32.Edward had flown down from New York and would be joining her for dinner at 7:30.She was laughing about the thought of filing her own papers when Janet iushed into the office."There's an intelligence report that the Russians are mobilizing." "Where's the President?" was Florentyna's immediate reaction."I've no idea.I saw him leaving the White House by helicopter about three hours ago." Florentyria reopened her file and stared back down at the cables while Janet remained standing in front of her desk."Well, who will know where he is." "You can be sure Ralph Brooks does," Janet said."Get me the Secretary of State on the line." Janet left for her own office while Horentyna checked through the reports again.She quickly went over the sal ient points raised by the American ambassador in Islamabad before re-reading the assessment of General Pierce Dixon, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.The Russians, it was reliably documented now, had ten divisions of troops on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and their forces had been multiplying over the past few days.It was known that half their Pacific fleet was sailing toward Karachi, while two battle groups were carrying out "exercises" in the Indian Ocean.General Dixon had directed an increased intelligence watch when it was confirmed that fifty MIG 25s and SU 7s had landed at Kabul military airport at six that evening.Florentyna checked her watch: 7:09."Where is the bloody man?" she said out loud.Her phone buzzed."The Secretary of State on the line for you," said Janet.Florentyna waited for several seconds."What can I do for you?" asked Ralph Brooks, sounding as if Florentyna had interrupted him."Where is the President?" she asked for a third time."At this moment he's on Air Force I, " said Brooks quickly."Stop lying, Ralph.It's transparent, even on the phone.Now, tell me where the President is." "Halfway to California." "If we have an increased intelligence watch because the Soviets are on the move, why hasn't he been advised to return?" "We have advised him, but he had to land to refuel."The Future: 1982-1995 391"As you well know, Air Force I doesn't need to refuel for that length of journey." "He isn't on Air Force 1."Why the hell not?" No reply came."I suggest you level with me, Ralph, even if it's only to save your own skin." There was a further pause."He was on his way to see a friend in California when the crisis broke." "I don't believe it," said Florentyna."Who does he think he is? The President of France?" "I have everything under control," said Brooks, ignoring her comment."His plane will touch down at the Colorado airport in a few minutes' time.The President will immediately transfer to an air force F15 and will be back in Washington within two hours." "What type of aircraft is he on at this moment?" asked Florentyna."A private 737 owned by Marvin Snyder of Blade Oil." "Can the President enter the secure National Command Network from the plane?" asked Florentyna.No reply was forthcoming."Did you hear what I said?" she rapped out."Yes," said Ralph."The truth is that the plane doesn't have complete security.We have the same problem George Bush had when he had no choice but to return to Washington in a private plane at the time Reagan was shot." "Are you telling me that over the next two hours any ham radio operator could tune in to a conversation between the -President and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff?" "Yes," admitted Ralph."I'll see you in the Situation Room," said Florentyna, and slammed down the phone.3he came out of her office almost on the run.Two surprised Secret Service officers quickly followed her as she headed down the narrow staircase past small portraits of former Presidents.Washington faced her at the bottom of the stairs before she turned into the wide corridor that led to the Situation Room.The security guard already had the door open that led into the secretarial section.She passed through a room of buzzing Telexes and noisy typewriters while yet another security man opened the oak-paneled door of the Situation Room for her.Her Secret Service men remained outside as she marched in.392THE PRODICAL DAUGHTERRalph Brooks was seated in the President's chair giving orders to a bevy of military personnel.Four of the remaining nine seats werc already occupied-around a table that almost took up the whole room.Immediately to the right of Brooks sat the Secretary of Defense, Charles Lee, and on his right the director of the CIA, Paul Rowe.Opposite them sat the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Dixon, and the national security adviser, Michael Brewer.The door at the end of the room that led into the communications area was wide open.Brooks swung around to face her.Florentyna had never seen him with his coat off and a shirt button undone."No panic," he said."I'm on top of everything.I'm confident the Rus,,ians wvn't make any move before the President returns
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