Milwaukee Deep

The phone rang as Sam sat quietly in the lounge room reading an out of date magazine He walked over to the table by the door and picked it up - it was Phillip Jensen.

“Phil, how’s it going?” he asked

“Average - you?”

“What’s the matter?”

“Well there’re delays,” Jensen replied

“Delays?”

“It took almost an hour to check him into an M.I.R and now I’ve been waiting two hours for the results.”

“Why so long? Where are you?”

“I made the mistake of going to a hospital where I don’t reside – the facilities here are not what I’m used to.”

“So where are you?” Sam asked again

“I’m at the Queens Hospital Centre,” answered Jensen

“Queens?”

“Like I said, I wanted to get away from where I normally reside.”

Sam slumped into a seat.

“So when will you get the results?”

“Hopefully within the next hour.”

“How about Dr Durham, has she turned up yet?”

“She just called me – she’s due to arrive any minute.”

There was a pause.

“So are you coming?” Jensen asked.

Sam leapt to his feet and grabbed the car keys that sat by the phone.

“I’m walking out the door as we speak.”

“Are you sure that’s wise? I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to hide him.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got an idea – they won’t find me,” Sam said, “by the way who do I ask for?”

“Ask for a Peter Yale – they’ll tell you where to go at reception.”

“Fine, I’ll see you as soon as I can.””

General White walked down the east wing of the White House looking for General Conwrey. He saw a secret service agent standing post outside a locked door.

“Have you seen General Conwrey?” White asked.

“I believe he was in briefing room 3b on the third floor, Sir. If you take the lift and exit to your right it’s the third door down.”

“Do you know if he’s alone?”

“I’m sorry General, I cannot answer that. I can page him if you want.”

“No that’s fine. Thank you for your time.”

The General turned away and headed for the elevator.

His cell phone rang.

“General White,” he stated as he entered the corridor and headed for the elevator.

“Sir, it’s me. Have you met with the Joint Chiefs yet?”

“No I’m heading there now – here’s hoping they’re alone,” the General replied as he entered the lift and pressed the third floor button.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Do I have a choice? I need backing from the other Joint Chiefs otherwise I’ll struggle to pull this off myself.”

The elevator doors opened on the third floor. White headed right, third door down.

“Listen, I have to go. I’ll call you as soon as I find out.”

“Good luck, Sir,” came the reply as the General ended the call.

White opened the door and saw Conwrey sitting across from Admiral Tyser. Both men were silent as White entered the room.

White stood there – he didn’t say a word.

“Is there a problem, General?” asked Admiral Tyser.

The General took in a deep breath.

“Gentlemen, I was wondering if I could have a minute of your time.”

White closed the door behind him and sat down next to both men.

“Have you delivered the weapon?” asked General Conwrey

“Well that’s what I’m here to talk to you about.”

Conwrey and Tyser looked across at each other.

General White noticed a jug of water sitting at the end of the boardroom table.

He stood up, walked over and poured himself a glass.

With one hand leaning on the table, the other clasping the glass, the General gulped the water, betraying his nerves by spilling it down the side of his mouth as he drank.

“General, is something the matter?” asked Admiral Tyser

White looked down the boardroom table at both men.

“Matter? Other than the fact that I’m about to perform an act of treason - no.”

There was silence.

The General found the courage to continue.

“Gentlemen, I know what I’m about to say will more than likely get me killed, but I can’t stand by and allow this to continue any longer. We cannot undertake what Crane wants us to do – I certainly won’t.”

“You know what happened to Peterson,” Tyser said, “are you willing to take that risk?”

“The more important question is, Admiral, General, are you?”

Both men turned to each other – neither of them saying a word.

“Well then let me ask you this – can both of you live with yourselves if we attack our own cities and kill millions of American citizens – the same citizens you swore an oath to defend – to protect.”

“If it’s not us, Crane will just find someone else – you do know that don’t you?” asked Conwrey.

“Let him – that’s if he finds out that we’re not with him.”

“But that will only be a matter of time,” replied Tyser

“Well not necessarily. You see Crane does not need to know a thing. We just delay the arrival of the weapon. I can do that – General, you can do that.”

“Me?” Conwrey asked

“The weapon has to be delivered by air and I know you know everybody and anybody in our Air Force. You can delay the delivery.”

“But Crane will find out,” replied Conwrey.

“He won’t – there are delays in life, it happens all the time.”

“How long a delay will we need?” asked Tyser

“However long we need to find Burton.”

The two men were unsure of what next to say.

“What happens if Crane’s right? What happens if we do nothing and the virus is released?” Conwrey asked

Admiral Tyser looked across at White – he wanted an answer.

“We’ll find Burton in time – it won’t be an option.”

“That sounds very optimistic, wouldn’t you say, General?” Tyser asked.

“At the moment, Admiral, optimism is all I have – it’s all that everyone in New York City has. We’ll find Burton – we must.”

Tyser looked across at Conwrey.

White asked for the final time…

“So will you help me – can I count on both of you?”

The silence was deafening - both men contemplated their decision – their future.

“No one else finds out, do you understand,” Conwrey finally said, “I’ll call the men – men I can trust to put in the delay.”

White closed his eyes and took in a deep breath…

“Thank you, General.”

White then turned to the Admiral.

“May I ask one question, General White? Why suggest the weapon in the first place if this was your intention – why put it into Crane’s head at all?” Tyser asked.

“What other choice did I have, Admiral? Without any other viable solution, Crane’s crazy enough to use nuclear force – besides, by suggesting the weapon I took control of the situation – now we can do what we need to save New York.”

Tyser sat silent.

“Will you help me – help us?” General White asked again

The Admiral looked at his shoes and then back up at White.

“I’m in,” he said, “I never liked Crane anyway.”

The General smiled.

“Thank you, Gentlemen, thank you both. Today you’ve both saved a nation.”

Conwrey interrupted…

“And God willing, tomorrow we can save the world.”