Page 278 of Never

Ting said: ‘When will you get out of there?’

Never, Kai thought, if the old Communists fire a nuclear weapon at the US. But he said: ‘If you and my mother put pressure on my father, it might not be too long.’

Ting sniffed noisily and managed to stop crying. ‘What’s it like in there? Are you cold? Are you hungry?’

‘It’s a lot better than the average prison,’ Kai said. ‘Don’t worry about my comfort.’

‘What’s the bed like? Will you be able to sleep?’

Right now Kai could not imagine sleeping, but he supposed nature would take its course sooner or later. ‘The only thing wrong with my bed is that you’re not in it.’

That made her cry again.

Liang stopped admiring his watch and said: ‘Not much longer. The other guards will wonder what I’m doing.’

Kai nodded. ‘Darling, I have to hang up.’

‘I’m going to put your photo on the pillow next to me so that I can still look at you.’

‘Just lie still and think about the good times we’ve had together. That will help you sleep.’

‘I’m going to see your father first thing in the morning.’

‘That’s a good idea.’ Ting in person could be very persuasive.

‘I’ll do everything I can to get you out of there.’

‘We can hope.’

‘We must think positively. I’m going to say goodnight, and see you tomorrow.’

‘Sleep well,’ said Kai. ‘Goodbye, my love.’

***

For the first time, Pauline held a meeting in the Situation Room at Munchkin Country. It was a replica of the one in the White House. The key people were there: Gus, Chess, Luis, Bill, Jacqueline and Sophia. Tension was high but they still did not know what China was going to do. It was the middle of the night in Beijing and perhaps the government there would make its decision in the morning. Until then there was little the US could do but fight off cyberattacks, which, so far, had been a nuisance but not crippling.

Pauline returned to her quarters to have lunch with Pippa. They ordered hamburgers from the canteen. Then Pippa said it:

‘When will Daddy get here?’

Pauline had been expecting this. She had been trying to reach Gerry but he was not answering his phone. Now she had to tell Pippa the truth. So be it, she thought.

She said: ‘Daddy and I have a problem.’

Pippa was puzzled but also troubled. She could guess that this would be bad. ‘What do you mean?’

Pauline hesitated. How much would Pippa understand? How much would Pauline herself have understood at the age of fourteen? She was not sure: it was too long ago and, anyway, her parents had never split up. She swallowed and said: ‘Daddy’s fallen in love with someone else.’

Pippa looked bewildered. Clearly she had never imagined this. Like most children, she unthinkingly regarded her parents’ marriage as eternal.

She said: ‘He’s not leaving us, is he?’

Pippa would see this as Gerry abandoning her as well as her mother. But Gerry had not said he was moving out. ‘I don’t know what he’s going to do,’ Pauline said truthfully, though she might have added that she could guess. ‘All I know is that right now he wants to be with her.’

‘What’s wrong with us?’

‘I don’t know, honey.’ Pauline asked herself the question. Was it her job? Was the sex dull? Or did he simply fancy something different? ‘Maybe nothing,’ she said. ‘Maybe some men just need change.’