see, we kill; we find, we kill."
"There is something else, and I consider it totally irrelevant, for Claude Moreau was my mentor, my instructor father in so many things, but it is a fact. By the order of the President of France, I am the temporary director of the Deuxieme and must return to Paris."
"I know you never wanted it this way, Jacques," said Latham, "but congratulations. You wouldn't have been chosen if you weren't the best. Your mentor trained you well."
"It doesn't matter. Regardless of what happens in the next sixteen hours, I will resign and find other work."
"Why?" asked Karin.
"You could be made the permanent director. Who else is there?"
"You're very kind, but I know myself. I am a follower, a very good follower, but I am not a leader. One must be honest with oneself."
"I hate what's happened," said Latham, "but we've got to go back to work. You owe it to Claude and I owe it to Harry. Start from the beginning, General," he went on.
"We temporarily lost YOU."
"I must return to Paris," repeated Bergeron.
"I don't want to, but those are my orders-orders from the President-and I must obey them. Orders must be obeyed."
"Then do so," said Karin gently.
"We'll do our best, Jacques."
"Right. You go down to Paris and stay in touch with London and Washington," said Latham firmly.
"But, Jacques-keep us informed."
"Au revoir, mes amis." The [email protected] officer turned and walked disconsolately -out of the room.
"Where were we, General?" asked Drew, leaning over the table, Dietz and Anthony on either side, Karin across from them.
"These are the armed personnel I've dispersed throughout the area," began the old soldier, pointing at the huge map of the reservoir and its surrounding woods.
"From long years of experience, including in Southeast Asia, where the enemy's guerrilla forces presented similar concerns for penetration, I cannot think of any additional defenses we haven't considered. A squadron of fighter planes is on an alert at an air base thirty kilometers from here, and they are fully armed. We have over twelve hundred troops throughout the woods and the roads, all units in constant contact with one another, as well as twenty antiaircraft emplacements with instant trajectory guidances. Seventeen bomb squads have been working without rest, studying the banks, searching for time-set explosives. There is also a patrol boat with chemical-analysis equipment crisscrossing the areas nearest the major flows. At the first signs of toxicity, the sluice gates will send signals, the valves on alert for alternative sources from other districts.
"If that's necessary," asked Drew, "how long will it take for the alternative sources to start flowing?"
"According to the manager, who will be back shortly, the longest time on record was four hours and seven minutes in the middle thirties-due to machinery failure. However, the first major problem is a drastic lowering of water pressure everywhere, followed by initial massive impurities from the unused flows."
"Impurities?" Karin broke in.
"Nothing like toxic poisoning; some dirt or mud, or pipe residue.
Perhaps enough to cause upset stomachs, vomit i ing, diarrhea, but not fatal. The potential real danger is with the underground hydrants; the pressure might r is w"
prelude their use in case of fires."
Then the potential crisis has geometric proportions," said De Vries.
"Because if Water Lightning somehow, some way does succeed, and your solutions are activated, the pressure still goes down and fires could be set all over Paris. Gunter [email protected] used the phrase 'fire and lightning' fire and lightning. It could be significant.
If I remember my history, Hitler's last order to his evacuating commanders was "Burn Paris down!"
"All too true, madame, but I ask you, and I'll ask you again after we take a tour of our defenses, can you really believe this Water Lightning can succeed?"
"I don't want to, General."
"What about London and Washington?" said Latham.
"Moreau . Moreau told me you were in touch with both."
"You see the bald man at the desk over there with the red telephone?" The old soldier gestured at an army major across the room, a red telephone at his ear.
"He is not only my most trusted adjutant, he is my son. The baldness comes from his mother's side, poor fellow."
"Your son?"
"Oui, Monsieur Latham," replied the general, smiling.
"When the Socialists took over the Quai d'Orsay, many of us in the military practiced nepotism for our own protection until we discovered that they weren't such bad fellows."
"How very Gallic," said Karin.
"Again, too true, madame. La famille est t4ernelle. However, my hairless son is an exceptional officer, for which I thank my