Several people nodded agreement.
This made it awkward, but she could still deliver her message. ‘I believe the people of the United States and the people of China can find a way to end the killing.’
‘The People’s Republic of China will, of course, give careful consideration to what you say.’
‘Thank you. I want a ceasefire.’
There was a long silence.
Pauline added: ‘I would be grateful if you would pass that message to your comrades in Pyongyang.’
Once again there was no immediate reply, and Pauline imagined Chen holding his hand over the phone and talking to the old Communists who were with him in his lakeside palace at Zhongnanhai. What were they saying? No one in the Beijing government could possibly want this war. North Korea could not win it – the events of last night had proved that – and China did not want to embroil itself in armed conflict with the US.
Chen, playing for time, said: ‘And can you assure us that this proposal will be accepted by President No in Seoul?’
‘Of course not,’ Pauline said immediately. ‘South Korea is a free country. But I’ll do my damnedest to persuade her.’
After another long pause, Chen said: ‘We will discuss this with Pyongyang.’
Pauline decided to push him. ‘When?’
This time his answer came without hesitation. ‘Immediately.’ That was Chen talking, Pauline guessed, not his minders.
She said: ‘Thank you, Mr President.’
‘Thank you, Madam President.’
They hung up. Pauline said: ‘There’s been a change in Beijing.’
Gus said: ‘Once the shooting starts, the military assert themselves – and the Chinese military is run by hardliners.’
Pauline glanced at Bill and reflected that most soldiers were hardliners.
Pauline said: ‘All right, let’s talk to Seoul.’
Jacqueline said: ‘I’ll get President No on the line.’
The switchboard got through to Seoul and she picked up. She said: ‘This has been a terrible day for you, Madam President, but South Korean troops have fought bravely and have defeated the aggressors.’
She pictured President No, her grey hair pulled severely back from a high forehead, her dark eyes piercing, the lines around her mouth suggesting a history of conflict.
President No replied: ‘The Supreme Leader has learned that he cannot attack South Koreans with impunity.’ The note of profound satisfaction in her voice suggested, to Pauline, that No was thinking of the assassination attempt that had killed her lover as well as the bombardment of the last few hours. No added: ‘We thank the brave and generous American people for their invaluable help.’
That was enough of that, Pauline thought. ‘Now we must talk about what to do next.’
‘It’s getting dark here, and the exchange of missiles has tailed off, but it will start again in the morning.’
Pauline did not like the sound of that. ‘Unless we prevent it,’ she said.
‘How would we do that, Madam President?’
‘I’m proposing a ceasefire.’
There was a silence at the other end.
To fill it, Pauline said: ‘My Secretary of State and the Chinese foreign minister will be arriving in Sri Lanka in the next few hours to meet with your foreign minister and his North Korean counterpart. They should discuss the details of the ceasefire immediately, then move on to negotiate a peace settlement.’
President No said: ‘A ceasefire would leave the Supreme Leader in power in Pyongyang and in possession of what remains of his weapons – so he would still menace us.’
That was true, of course. Pauline said: ‘No purpose is served by continuing the killing.’
The reply shocked her. No said: ‘I cannot agree.’
Pauline frowned. This was more opposition than she had anticipated. What did No mean? ‘You have defeated North Korea,’ Pauline said. ‘What more do you want?’
‘Supreme Leader Kang started this war,’ No said. ‘I’m going to finish it.’
Oh, Christ, Pauline thought; she wants unconditional surrender.
Pauline said: ‘A ceasefire is the first step in ending the war.’
‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to free our countrymen in the north from a murderous tyranny.’
Pauline’s heart sank. The Supreme Leader was, indeed, a murderous tyrant, but President No did not have the power to overthrow him against the wishes of the Chinese. ‘What are you planning?’
‘The complete destruction of the army of North Korea and a new, non-aggressive regime in Pyongyang.’