of the United States. I do not seek war against America.”
“Then why did you sign an accord with China to attack us?” Anna dared ask, surprising herself at her boldness.
The plastic eyes seemed to shine eerily. “We will speak plainly. The Americans like plain speaking, or so it was once said.”
“Yes.”
“Yes,” Kleist said. “We signed the accord because we thought America was much weaker than it now appears to be. The fighting in California impressed my generals. Now we have achieved a secondary goal. Greater China with its Pan-Asian Alliance has becomes the world’s strongest power. We wish to see them weakened, badly weakened. What better way than to spend their military power against you. However, my generals and strategists inform me that you have been caught short, or by surprise, by the sheer volume of Asian power. It is more than conceivable that China shall win and split the United States in two. If they do, we wish to be poised to take premier American land.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We could grab Florida now,” Kleist said. “Bah,” he snapped his fingers. “Germany—the German Dominion wants prime agricultural territory, not the Florida swamps and orange groves. You Americans still have powerful concentrations of troops on the Eastern and Gulf coasts. It would be a bitter fight with what we have in place. A year from now, it would be much different. If we did invade, however, America would be stretched to the breaking point.”
“What is your proposal?” Anna asked.
“We are not in need of prime agricultural land at present,” he said. “For now, we wish to right an injustice. Therefore, we desire Quebec.”
“Excuse me?”
“I propose the United States agree to Quebec joining the German Dominion. We would send troops to secure their national integrity, but otherwise, we will stay out of the present fray.”
Anna tried to wrap her mind around what he was saying. “You want our help to invade Quebec?”
Kleist frowned. “Quebecers are foaming at the mouth once again. They wish to leave Canada. The Canadian Government has sent troops it can ill afford to try to keep the lid on for now. I propose the obvious. The Quebecers trust the French, who in turn trust me. Quebec will join the German Dominion and thereby keep its uniqueness as a French land. They can see that in the German Dominion Wales is for the Welsh, Bavaria is for the Bavarians and Quebec will be for the Quebecers. As you Americans say, it is a win-win-win situation.”
“How does that help America?” Anna asked, dumbfounded.
“Is it not obvious? By agreeing to this, the German troops in Cuba will transfer to Quebec. Those troops will no longer be poised to invade your coasts.”
“You’ll also get your soldiers on the continent without having to fight for it,” Anna said.
“Yes. There is that, too.”
“From Quebec, German soldiers could invade the New England territories or Michigan.”
“We could, but we won’t. Besides, such a transfer will take time. During that time, you gain the use of the Americans soldiers guarding your coastlines. You can transfer those coastal troops and possibly halt the Chinese thrusts into the Midwest.”
“If you’re betraying the Chinese,” Anna said, “how can we trust you to keep your word to us?”
Kleist smiled, and for the first time it seemed genuine. “Ms. Chen, the reason is clear. If we help China now, they will grab the lion’s share of the prime agricultural land in America. How does that benefit the German Dominion? Instead, we gain Quebec, a land with many mineral resources. We encourage you to continue your struggle with Greater China, thereby weakening both of you. We also gain your good will because we have done you a favor.”
“By getting a firm foothold in North America?” Anna asked.
Kleist shrugged. “That is the cost, as you must make our neutrality worth our while.”
“What if instead of that we give Germany—?”
Kleist held up a pudgy hand.
Anna fell silent.
“I am not here to bargain, Ms. Chen. I am telling you our price for neutrality.”
“But America doesn’t own Quebec. How can we give away what isn’t ours?”
“Come, come,” Kleist said, “the Great Powers often divide up the weaker countries at times like this. It has happened throughout history. Just ask the Poles or the Czechs. You must convince the Canadians to free the Quebecers from their enforced union.”
“The Canadians won’t like it.”
“You’re no doubt right,” Kleist said. “But that isn’t our problem. It is yours. Are you interested in the proposal?”
Anna sat in her chair spellbound. She was unsuited