R Patterson - The Shadow Hunter

“Sir, did you read my proposal?” Wheeler asked. “I think it outlines some important ideas that we can act upon to squelch this threat.”

“I read it,” Miller began, “and I don’t think—”

Norris held up his hand. “That’s enough, General. We all know how you feel. And we all know how Secretary Wheeler feels. What I want to know is how the rest of you feel—and if you think those feelings match up with the gravity of the situation we’re facing. We’re talking about the possibility of a conflict that will require great sacrifice from the American people, including the loss of life. Is this something people are willing to get behind to snuff out Kim Yong-ju and his regime? Will it be worth it to assist getting someone in power who can actually do something to lift that nation out of abject poverty and totalitarian rule?”

“That’s not our job, sir,” Admiral Brent Gaston said. “We spread democracy by modeling it, not by forcing it upon other nations.”

“Agreed,” Norris said. “But that ultimately doesn’t change the situation we’re facing here. We don’t engage North Korea to help install a democratic government, but we certainly shouldn’t ignore an opportunity to do so through a conflict.”

“Is this what you want your legacy to be, sir?” Miller asked. “Because I think that’d be a great one.”

“An even better one would be to bring peace through negotiations,” Wheeler chimed in.

“Okay, enough,” Norris said. “I can see this isn’t headed anywhere. Let me mull this over before announcing my decision to this cabinet. And if you have any Hail Marys, say them now because we need all the help we can get.”

Norris didn’t move as the room emptied out. He spread out the documents in front of them, his eyes bouncing from one to the other as he considered his next move. A peaceful resolution was ideal, but it was also unlikely given Kim Yong-ju’s penchant for abruptly leaving summits after everyone believed significant progress was being made.

The more Norris looked at the poll numbers, the more he was inclined not to engage the North Koreans. But would that decision be based off his desire to achieve peace by other means or his White House ambitions? He couldn’t be sure—and his inability to discern the difference ate at him.

TWO HOURS AFTER the meeting, no one on the Joint Chiefs of Staff had heard from the president. And waiting longer put the U.S. in a defensive position instead an offensive one.

And Admiral Brent Gaston wasn’t interested in waiting.

He picked up a phone and called the captain in charge of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan patrolling in the Pacific along with the U.S.S. Roosevelt.

“It’s time,” Gaston said. “Move to Phase One.”

Khasan, Russia

HAWK EYED TYSON AS he pulled off the road less than two kilometers from the border of North Korea. Just ahead of them, a sign notified them that they were approaching the Most Druzhby , or the Friendship Bridge, which spanned the Tumen River separating North Korea and Russia.

“I need to make sure I have all my papers in order,” Tyson said.

“Are you sure you have to do this?” Hawk asked.

“If I don’t, they’ll just send someone else who will.”

“But think about it, T-Bone. You don’t really know what’s inside there, but I can tell you that the drumbeats of war are creating quite the rhythm these days. And if the Russians are trying to start a war by proxy, giving the North Koreans nuclear weapons, you can’t guarantee that you’re keeping your family safe by doing what you’re doing.”

“What am I supposed to do? I’m out of options.”

“Work with me here. Maybe we can get in there and sabotage this mission for both the North Koreans and the Russians.”

“That’s a suicide mission, and you know it. And I have a feeling that those urges you had to rush into danger have subsided since you got married and had a kid, right?”

Hawk sighed. “I have more people to think about these days than just myself. But my ultimate goal in doing this job is to help others, not assuage my insatiable desire to get another adrenaline fix. As long as I keep things in perspective, I’ll always do the right thing.”

“Then maybe you can help me out here,” Tyson said, “because I don’t know what to do. If I go home, they’ll find me and either kill me or harm my family. If I don’t do this, the Russians will kill me and still help the North Koreans launch a nuclear war.”

“We still have a chance to do something if you’re willing,” Hawk said. “You just need to understand that the odds would be very low.”

Tyson chuckled. “You’ve never been one to care about the odds.”

“And look where it’s gotten me? I’m sitting on the border of Russia and North Korea with no plan to get out and no way to warn my family that there’s danger crouching at the door.”

“If you’re trying to convince me to join you on one of your damned fool missions, you’re failing miserably.”

“I had to try,” Hawk said.

“Look, I don’t know how this is going to go,” Tyson said. “According to my assignment, I have to take this package to the North Korean military harbor in Sonbong, which is another half-hour from here.”

“You honestly think they’re going to let you in with me riding shotgun?”

Tyson shook his head. “Not a chance in hell. But they know I’m coming, so why don’t you hide in the back and we’ll hope everything works out. Once we get to Sonbong, you do what you feel needs to be done, if the opportunity arises.”

“I can live with that,” Hawk said.

“And if you can’t find a way out of here, you’ll be accompanying me back to Yakutsk.”

“That’s definitely not going to happen, no matter what.”

Tyson shrugged. “It’s not so bad.”

“Your face looks like it’s been rearranged several times since you’ve been here. And I’m pretty sure your nose is still broken.”

Hawk reached for Tyson’s nose and barely made contact with it before he winced.

“Okay, okay,” Tyson said, swatting at Hawk’s hand. “You’ve made your point. There are a million other places I’d rather live than the middle of Siberia, okay? You happy?”

“T-Bone, I’ll only be happy when you’re back with Sheila and your kids.”

“Then you may never be happy. But just take care of them for me, will you?”

Hawk scowled. “You’re starting to sound like you don’t think you’ll survive.”

“We’re deep in enemy territory, and these people are ruthless. If you think you’re going to make it out of here, I suggest you lower your expectations.”

“I’ve faced worse odds. And I always think the glass is half full.”

“If you want to believe there’s even a drop left in the glass, I suggest you climb in the back and pull that blanket over you.”

“Roger that,” Hawk said and then followed Tyson’s suggestion.

HAWK REMAINED STILL as Tyson came to a stop at the North Korean checkpoint. While Hawk was concerned there would be a thorough search of the vehicle, his fears were allayed by the brief conversation between Tyson and the guard. No more than thirty seconds passed—though it felt longer to Hawk—before Tyson was permitted to enter the country.

After a couple of minutes, Hawk, still tucked away in his hiding spot, spoke. “Your Russian accent is very convincing, especially when you use it to speak Korean.”

“I’ve been on several missions here,” Tyson said. “It’s a necessary skill if you want to live here.”

“Well, I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be. We’re not out of the country yet, and I’ve found that getting out of North Korea is more challenging than getting in.”