‘We’re trying to figure that out.’
Another guest came and thanked Shirley for the party. They were beginning to leave.
Karim approached Tamara. ‘Your gift suggestion was a big success!’ he said. ‘Thank you for your advice.’
‘You’re welcome. Everyone was so excited when the General arrived.’
‘I’ll see you later in the week. We have a date for coffee.’
He was leaving, but she stopped him. ‘Karim, you know everything that happens in this town.’
He was flattered. ‘Perhaps not everything . . .’
‘The General won’t vote for President Green’s UN resolution, and we can’t figure out why. He supported us at first. Do you know why he changed his mind?’
‘I do,’ said Karim, but he did not volunteer the explanation.
‘It would be so helpful to Nick to know.’
‘You should ask the Chinese ambassador.’
That was a clue. Karim had weakened a little. Tamara pressed the point. ‘I realize that the Chinese are against our resolution, of course. But what kind of pressure could China bring to make a loyal friend switch sides?’
Karim rubbed the thumb of his right hand across the fingertips in the international gesture for money.
Tamara said: ‘They bribed him?’
Karim shook his head.
‘What, then?’
Karim had to say something now, otherwise it would look as if he had only been pretending to know. ‘For more than a year now,’ he said carefully and quietly, ‘the Chinese have been working on a plan for a canal from the Congo River to Lake Chad. It will be the biggest infrastructure project in the history of the world.’
‘I’ve heard of it. And . . .?’
‘If we vote for the American resolution they will immediately drop the canal project.’
‘Ah,’ Tamara breathed. ‘That explains it.’
Karim said: ‘The General is very keen on the canal.’
As he should be, Tamara thought. It would save millions of lives and transform Chad.
But such projects could be used for political pressure. There was nothing wicked or even unusual about that. Other countries, including the US, would use their aid projects and foreign investments to strengthen their influence: it was part of the game.
But the ambassador needed to know.
‘Don’t say I told you.’ Karim winked at Tamara and walked away.
She looked around for Dexter or any of the senior CIA people she could report this to, but they had left.
Tab came up. ‘Thank you for a lovely party,’ he said loudly, then in a quieter voice: ‘Do you remember what you said to me an hour ago?’
‘What?’
‘You said: “I adore you, but fuck off now.”’
She was embarrassed. ‘I’m really sorry. I was tense about the party.’ And about you.
‘Don’t apologize. Can we have dinner?’
‘I’d love to, but we can’t leave together.’
‘Where shall I meet you?’
‘Could you pick me up at the Bar Bisous? I’ve been invited there by Drew and Annette.’
‘Of course.’
‘Don’t come in. Phone me from outside and I’ll leave right away.’
‘Good plan. That way we’re less likely to be seen.’
‘Right.’ She smiled and left.
Tamara needed to pass on the news she had learned from Karim. She could go in search of Dexter, but Nick appeared so downhearted that she felt she should tell him right away.
When she approached him he said: ‘Thank you for your help this afternoon. The party was a huge success.’ He was sincere, but Tamara could tell he had a weight on his mind.
‘I’m glad,’ she said briskly, and went on: ‘I’ve just been told something you may want to hear.’
‘Do tell.’
‘I’ve been wondering what made the General change his mind about our UN resolution.’
‘So have I.’ Nick passed his hand through his hair, ruffling it untidily.
‘The Chinese have been dangling the possibility of a multi-billion-dollar canal from the River Congo to Lake Chad.’
‘I know,’ said Nick. ‘Oh, I get it – they’ll pull out if Chad votes for the resolution.’
‘That’s what I heard.’
‘It sounds right to me. Well, I’m glad we know, at least. I’m not sure if we can do anything about it. They’ve got us up against the wall.’ He drifted away.
The room was emptying and the waiters were clearing up. Tamara left Nick to brood. She felt she had done well to provide intelligence on the General’s U-turn so quickly; the problem of what to do about it belonged to Nick and President Green, not her.