Dragon Fire

The Oval Office, The White House, Washington, DC

‘Hamid Khan is on the line and wants to speak directly to you.’

John Hastings sipped from his cup of Chinese herbal tea, which he hoped would keep him alert, yet calm, throughout the night. In any other circumstances he would have refused the call. Ennio Barber would have warned against the President of the United States speaking directly to a military dictator who had just started a nuclear war. But as Hastings was learning fast, a nuclear war was like no other. The rules had not yet been written.

‘Unless you bring your powers to bear, Mr President, Pakistan may soon cease to exist as a nation,’ said Hamid Khan.

‘You forfeited that right by your actions last night.’

‘You are correct. I have forfeited my right to rule Pakistan and I will never again be accepted by the Western democratic nations. But you cannot condemn the people of Pakistan for my actions. They are being blasted by the full might of the Indian air force. They are threatened with a far more powerful nuclear strike. Muslims are being slaughtered in India and riots have begun here in Pakistan. Only the United States has the influence to call an immediate halt to the Indian offensive. Once there is a ceasefire, you have my guarantee that I will step down from office.’

‘And who will take over?’

‘An interim leader who has full international support.’

Hastings put Hamid Khan on hold and called Tom Bloodworth along to the office.

‘So far all the strikes are conventional,’ said Bloodworth. ‘Specifically against legitimate military targets. Far more than ours were in Serbia. If anything, India’s response has been remarkably measured.’

‘Will Dixit go nuclear?’

‘I sense not. Not if Pakistan doesn’t strike again.’

‘General Khan, are you still there?’ said Hastings.

‘Yes, Mr President.’

‘I want a statement from you right now on Pakistan radio and television that you will not use another nuclear weapon in this conflict. It must be short, unequivocal and in both English and the languages of Pakistan. When we hear that and have it translated, I will call on India for a complete ceasefire.’

‘But people are being killed—’

‘Then get a move on and make the statement.’