General Pak had an adopted son and daughter. They’re now grown. They have been sent to a labor camp within North Korea in retaliation for what Pak did.”
He stopped talking for a moment as the others stared pointedly at him.
Cassion looked first at Reel and then at Robie. “You were sent to France to kill Pak. I know this. You didn’t have to carry out that assignment because he committed suicide, in your presence.”
“That’s correct, sir,” said Robie.
“And his last words were to tell me to go to hell?”
Reel nodded but said nothing.
“And to save his family,” added the president.
“Yes,” said Robie. “It’s all in our report.”
The president sat back with a resigned air. “The fact of the matter is I’m thoroughly ashamed of myself for what happened. I sat in this very room and gave General Pak my word that I would not abandon him, no matter what happened. I did not keep my word. On the contrary, I authorized his death.”
“Conditions change, Mr. President,” said Blue Man. “Nothing is inviolate in the world anymore, unfortunately.”
Cassion said heatedly, “Well, a person’s word should be. A president’s word should be.” He bit down on his thumb and seemed lost in thought. None of the others interrupted this.
He finally said, “This may seem like a sudden inspiration on my part, but it’s really not. It’s something I’ve been kicking around in my head for some time now.” He sat forward, his features filled with determination.
“I want a team to liberate Pak’s family and bring them back here, where we will grant them full asylum.”
A full minute of silence went by as Robie and Reel stared back at their commander in chief. When Robie glanced at Blue Man, he looked stunned.
Robie stared back at the president. “What sort of team?”
“I don’t think I can send in the United States Army without doing more harm than good,” replied Cassion, staring fixedly back at him. “So, a small team.”
Blue Man said, “Do we even know which labor camp they’re in? There are quite a few.”
“That’s why we have the best intelligence agencies in the world. I’ve asked for and been given a preliminary report. It seems likely that they would be sent to Bukchang, also known as Camp 18.”
“Why is that?” asked Reel.
Blue Man answered. “Bukchang is operated by the Interior Ministry rather than the national security people. It’s less brutal and prisoners there have more privileges. Some can even be reeducated and given their freedom.”
Robie said, “But why do you think they would be sent there, then? Pak was a traitor. I’m sure they will want to take that out on his family. No second chances for them.”
“Honor and loyalty run deep over there, especially in the military,” replied Blue Man. “Pak undoubtedly had friends of high rank.”
The president nodded. “I can see that.”
“And it’s not simply being kind to the children of a fallen friend,” added Blue Man. “It’s for their own sakes.”
“How do you mean?” asked Reel.
“Some of the generals probably believe he was railroaded. They might worry that they might be next. Thus they want to establish a precedent that will allow their families, or themselves, to be sent to Bukchang if they find themselves on the wrong end of a treason charge. In North Korea you have to think five steps ahead if you want to survive, particularly at that level because alliances change swiftly.”
Cassion mulled this over and nodded. “I think you’re right. But we need to verify that they are indeed in this Bukchang place.”
He glanced at Blue Man, who said, “That will be difficult, but we will get every resource on it, sir.” He paused. “So you really want to extract Pak’s children from the camp?”
Cassion drew a long breath and wouldn’t meet Blue Man’s eye. “I think that’s what I said,” he replied brusquely.
A minute of silence went by.
Finally, Blue Man said, “That has never been before, sir. Never.”
“I’m aware of that,” replied Cassion, now looking directly at him. “Any ideas?”
Surprisingly, it was Reel who answered. “Well, I think we might turn to the handful of folks who have escaped from North Korean labor camps and who are in this country. I think one or more of them might have gotten out of Bukchang. If so, they can tell us how they did it. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel if we don’t have to.”
Cassion looked impressed. “An excellent suggestion.” He looked at Blue Man. “What sort of team would be required?”