Bill said: ‘Thirty seconds. Submarine confirmed as Chinese by infra-red satellite surveillance.’
Pauline knew what she had to do. Her heart was full and she could hardly speak. She managed to say: ‘Tell the Pentagon to be ready to execute the China Plan on my word.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
Gus said quietly: ‘Are you sure?’
‘Not yet,’ said Pauline. ‘If this missile is armed with conventional explosives, we may be able to avoid nuclear war.’
‘But not otherwise.’
‘No.’
‘I agree.’
‘Twenty seconds,’ said Bill.
Pauline realized she was on her feet, and so was everyone else in the room. She could not remember standing up.
The drone pictures kept changing, moment by moment, showing the vapour trail over forest and cultivated fields, then a highway busy with cars and trucks, all serene in the sunshine. Pauline’s heart was breaking. Her mind said: my fault, this is my fault.
‘Ten seconds.’
Suddenly there were half a dozen new vapour trails as defensive missiles were launched from Pearl Harbor. ‘Surely one must hit!’ she cried.
Then a picture showed the dreadfully familiar orange-red circle of death appearing in the town, east of the harbour and north of the airport.
The circles of fire engulfed people and buildings, then turned into pillars of smoke with mushroom tops. In the harbour a huge wave entirely swamped Ford Island. All the airport buildings were suddenly flat, and the planes at the gates were ablaze. The city of Honolulu was on fire as petrol tanks exploded in every car and bus.
Pauline wanted to collapse, to bury her head in her hands, and to weep, but she forced herself back under control. ‘Put the Pentagon War Room on the speaker, please,’ she said with only the slightest tremor in her voice.
She took out the Biscuit. She had broken the plastic case this morning: was this really the same day?
On the speaker a voice said: ‘This is General Evers in the Pentagon War Room, Madam President.’
The room was silent. Everyone stared at Pauline.
‘General Evers, when you have heard me read the correct authentication code, you will execute the China Plan. Is that clear?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Any questions?’
‘No, ma’am.’
Pauline looked again at the satellite images. They showed a picture of humanity’s nightmare. Half America will look like that inferno if I don’t read out these numbers, she thought.
And perhaps also if I do.
She said: ‘Oscar November three seven three. I say again, Oscar November three seven three.’
The general said: ‘I have given the order to execute the plan.’
‘Thank you, general.’
‘Thank you, Madam President.’
Very slowly, Pauline sat down. She put her arms on the table and lowered her head. She thought of the dead and dying in Hawaii, and those who would soon be dying in China, and soon afterwards in the great cities of the continental United States. She squeezed her eyes shut but she could still see them. All her poise and self-confidence drained out of her like blood from an arterial wound. She was possessed by a helpless grief so overwhelming that her whole body shook. She felt that her heart would burst and she would die.
And then, at last, she began to weep.
THE END