Free White by Ted Dekker Page B

paces and pulled up at the door. The voices were from the room beyond.
    â€œThey’ve killed half the fish off our coast with these two detonations, but they won’t target our cities!”
    They were talking about nuclear detonations? Someone had launched nuclear weapons!
    â€œThen you don’t know the Israelis. They know we have no intention of delivering the antivirus, and they have nothing to lose.”
    â€œThey’re still principled. They won’t take innocents down with them. Please, I beg you, the Negev desert was bad enough. We can’t target Tel Aviv. A power play to realign powers is one thing. Detonating nuclear weapons over densely populated targets is another. They’re bluffing. They know the world would turn against them if they targeted civilians. As it would turn against us if we did the same.”
    â€œYou think that world opinion is still an element in this equation? Then you’re more naive than I imagined, Henri.” So the man protesting was Paul Henri Gaetan, the French president. “The only language that the Israelis understand is brute force.”
    A third voice spoke. “Give them the antivirus.”
    Armand Fortier.
    â€œPardon me, sir, but I thought—”
    â€œThe plan must be flexible,” Fortier said. “We’ve shown the world our resolve to use whatever force is required to enforce our terms. We’ve blown two massive holes in their desert, and they’ve blown two holes in our ocean. So what? The Israelis are snakes. Utterly unpredictable except in the defense of their land. If we fire again, they will retaliate. Two-thirds of the world’s combined nuclear arsenal is presently loaded on ships, steaming to our shores. Now isn’t the time to accelerate the conflict.”
    â€œYou will leave Israel intact?”
    â€œWe will give them the antivirus,” Fortier repeated. “In exchange for their weapons.”
    â€œWhat proof will you offer them?” President Gaetan again.
    â€œA mutual exchange on the seas, five days from today.”
    The room went silent for a few moments. The next voice that spoke was one that Thomas recognized at the first word.
    â€œBut you will destroy Israel,” Carlos Missirian said softly.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd the Americans?”
    â€œThe Americans don’t have the Israelis’ backbone. They have no choice but to deliver their weapons, regardless of all their noise. We’re listening to everything they say. They’re acting out of total confusion now, but our contact assures us they won’t have a choice but to comply in the end.”
    â€œThey might demand an open exchange as well,” the French president said.
    â€œThen we will call their bluff. I can afford to make Israel wait until the time of our choosing. The United States will no longer play a role in world politics.”
    Thomas felt his heart pound. He pulled his ear from the door. He’d heard enough.
    â€œAnd if Israel does launch in ten minutes as they’ve promised?”
    Thomas stopped. A long pause.
    â€œThen we take out Tel Aviv,” Fortier said.

    Thomas sprinted back down the hall toward the root cellar. The plan had changed. He had to get word to the United States before Israel had a chance to launch again. He needed a phone. But in searching for a phone, he might find a pen.
    Dangerous, Justin had said. Everything was dangerous now.
    Thomas ran for the cell door and twisted the knob. Locked.
    Locked? He’d opened it just a few minutes ago from this side. He cranked down on the handle. Heat spread down his neck. He stepped back, panicked. Carlos must have engaged the lock when he left.
    Thomas ran his hand through his hair and paced. This wasn’t good.
    He needed a phone!
    The meeting was still underway. Thomas sprinted up the stairs, took the steps two at a time, and burst through the door at the top. A single startled guard stared at him.