Page 281 of Never

Tamara said: ‘I never imagined I could be this happy.’

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Pippa said: ‘Mom, you told me you had three conditions for using nuclear weapons.’

Pauline found Pippa’s questions helpful. They made her focus on the basics. ‘I remember, of course.’

‘Tell me again what they are.’

‘First, we’ve tried all peaceful means of solving the problem – but they have failed.’

‘And you seem to have done that now.’

Had she? She thought hard. ‘Yes, we have.’

‘And second?’

‘We can’t solve the problem with conventional, non-nuclear weapons.’

‘Was that true in North Korea?’

‘I believe it was.’ Again Pauline paused and reconsidered, but she came to the same conclusion. ‘After the rebels devastated two cities with nuclear bombs, we had to be sure of completely closing down the rebels’ firepower, so that they couldn’t ever do it again. No amount of conventional weaponry could have guaranteed that.’

‘I guess not.’

‘And third, Americans are being killed or are about to be killed by enemy action.’

‘And Americans were being killed in South Korea.’

‘Correct.’

‘Will you do it again? Launch more nuclear missiles?’

‘If I have to, honey; if Americans are killed or threatened, yes.’

‘But you’ll try not to.’

‘With all my strength.’ Pauline looked at her watch. ‘Which is what I’m going to do now. We have a meeting scheduled, and they’re just waking up in Beijing.’

‘Good luck, Mommy.’

Heading for the Situation Room, Pauline passed a door markedNational Security Advisor, and on impulse she knocked.

She heard Gus’s voice. ‘Yeah?’

‘It’s me, are you ready?’

He opened the door. ‘I’m putting my tie on. Would you like to step inside for a moment?’

While she watched him knotting a sombre dark-grey necktie she said: ‘Whatever the Chinese are going to do, they’ll do it in the next twelve hours, I think. If they leave it to another day, it will seem like an afterthought.’

Gus nodded. ‘So much of this is about looking strong, to your allies as well as to your enemies.’

‘And that’s not just a matter of vanity. If you look strong, you’re less likely to be attacked, in international affairs as in the school playground.’

He turned to her. ‘My tie okay?’

She adjusted it, though no adjustment was necessary. She smelled woodsmoke and lavender. With her hands on his chest she looked up at him. Something she was not planning to say came out of her mouth unbidden. ‘We can’t wait five years.’