Page 147 of Tom Clancy Line of Sight

“I’m still confused. You just said you were for stability in the region. So why oppose the Unity Referendum? That would promote peace and stability in Bosnia.”

“Bosnia is a historical miscarriage. These fools can’t govern themselves. The local Muslims are secularkuffarand the Christians are all drunken nihilists incapable of holding a decent thought. Only Turkey and the New Ottoman Empire can establish lasting peace and stability in this part of the world, as it had in the glorious past.”

“In other words, your plan was to destabilize the region in order to gain control over it.”

“In order to bring a lasting peace,” Topal corrected him. Heleaned forward. “You Americans should thank us. The next war between NATO and Russia will occur in the Balkans. We’re your best hope of preventing it.”

“But Turkey is part of NATO.”

“Not for long. NATO is doomed to break apart, sooner or later. The European experiment is dying in the icy winds of a demographic winter, even as a generation of Muslim leadership is rising up all over the continent. Who is more naturally suited to lead this new reality than us?”

Jack shook his head, incredulous. “You think this is an episode ofGame of Thrones, don’t you? These are people’s lives you’re playing with, you sick son of a bitch.”

“We’ve been playing this ‘game,’ as you call it, since the thirteenth century.”

“Answer me one more question. Are you Red Wing?”

Topal’s owlish face beamed with pride. “Yes. How did you get that name?”

“Aida’s laptop. We cracked it open before her BleachBit was scheduled to run and wipe the disk.”

Topal sighed. “‘For want of a nail,’ eh?” He pulled off his glasses and wiped them with a silk handkerchief, asking, “Have I satisfied your curiosity?”

“For now, yes. I’m sure the Bosnian government will want to ask you more questions.”

“I will gladly make myself available.”

Jack sat back, smiling. An uncomfortable moment passed.

“Anything else, Jack?”

Jack held up a finger, asking Topal to wait. He touched the Bluetooth in his ear. “Gavin? Yeah. Now? Good. I’ll tell him.” Jack rang off.

“You like social media, don’t you?”

“It has its uses,” Topal said.

Jack stood. “You might want to check your Twitter feed, and any other platform you like.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Try it.”

Topal reached into his pocket and pulled out his smartphone. He opened up his Twitter account. He frowned, then glanced up at Jack, frightened.

“Play it.”

Topal tapped a button. His own voice played over the speaker, then Jack’s.

“Truthfully? Yes, I was using Aida and Brkic, but only to disrupt the upcoming Unity Referendum... I supplied... resources to... foment civil strife.”

“You mean civil war.”

“Yes, I suppose that was the goal... But my government would have intervened before things got out of hand.”

Topal’s face turned ashen. “How?”

“My man Gavin. Did I tell you how good he was?”