Choosers of the Slain

51

"I suppose we won," Dr. Towers said, glancing at the glowing television screen across the embassy dining room from the table she shared with Harrison Van Lynden.

"Apparently," the Secretary of State replied, buttering his last piece of toast. "There's been no official word from the Ministry of State yet beyond Sparza's press release, but I think it's only a matter of time."

Dr. Towers shook her head. "We've still lost, though. Antarctica was special in that the only lives that had ever been lost there had been lost in the quest for knowledge. It was the one place on Earth where man had never slain man. Now it's just another piece of ground to fight over. It will never be the same."

"All the more reason to ensure that the fighting never starts again. That brings up the topic I've been meaning to speak to you about, Doctor. Would you be interested in taking a sabbatical from the National Science Foundation?"

"A sabbatical? To do what?"

"As a result of this incident, the President has instructed the State Department to form a special task force to resolve the remaining questions concerning Antarctic territoriality and to oversee United States participation in the international park project. We'd like for you to head that task force."

"Me?"

"Most definitely. Some might say that this is locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen, but I think you'll agree that there's still a lot of work to be done."

"I do agree, Mr. Secretary, but I'm a scientist, not a diplomat."

"You've done good work with us here and you know the area and its problems inside and out. That's more than a number of our ambassadorial cadre can claim. Believe me, Doctor, I think you're the right person for this job. I wouldn't have asked you otherwise."

"First Ambassador to Antarctica?" she mused with a frown. "Well, there are definitely some things I'd like to see get done. Some of us in the scientific community have had a tendency to sit up in our ivory towers and sneer at the politico-diplomatic process. Maybe that's been part of the problem."

"So?"

"How much time do I have to decide?"

"We'll be heading back to Washington in the next day or two. I'll need to know by then."

"You will, Mr. Secretary."

Steven Rosario entered the dining room and paused at their table. "We've just received a call from the Argentine Ministry of State, sir. President Sparza is requesting a meeting with you at your convenience."

Van Lynden tossed his napkin across his plate. "Very good, Steve. Return my compliments to President Sparza and inform him that I will be available to meet with him at ten this morning."

Rising from his chair, Van Lynden inquired, "Would you care to join us, Doctor?"

"Yes, I would. Very much so." She glanced again at the television screen. "Do you think he's going to be able to survive this?"

"I don't know. They won't pull him down easily. He's an able politician and a fighter. I think that he's also basically a good man. It's just that his dreams didn't quite match up with the rest of the world's."

Across the room, the CNN newscaster droned on."… In the release issued by his Ministry of State, Argentina President Antonio Sparza is quoted as saying, 'We have brought our justifiable concerns over the fate of the San Martin Peninsula to the attention of the world community. Accordingly, we will now withdraw our forces and seek to resolve these questions via diplomatic means.'

"This statement comes, however, amid growing rumors of a clash or series of clashes between the naval and air forces of the United States and Argentina in the icy, mist-shrouded waters beyond the Antarctic Circle…."