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I’ll just sit here quietly until my time comes. I can’t think of a better way for a worn-out old soldier to go out. Give’em hell, Crazy Horse.” He hung up.
    Travee stood for a precious moment, his thoughts flung back over the years, his memories of a wild young Ranger named the Bull—the most decorated man in the history of America.
    â€œIt sounded to me, General,” Logan said, “as though you were genuinely glad to speak with that traitor.”
    Travee glared at him. “Shut your goddamned liberal mouth, you prick! Bull Dean is ten times the man you’ll ever be. Now sit down, shut up, and stay out of the way, or I’ll tear your head off and hand it to you.”
    Logan sat down in a corner, crossed his legs primly, and closed his mouth.
    â€œVP Mills’ wife is dead,” General Hyde said, walking into the room. “California Highway Patrol just found her body.”
    â€œHow did she die?” Rees asked. “And why? Killing Ruth was an unnecessary act of violence.”
    â€œShe was shot in the head.” General Hyde shrugged. “As to who killed her, we’ll probably never know. We don’t have that much time left us.”
    â€œSir.” An aide spoke to President Rees, his face white with strain and exhaustion. “The Russians have just formally broken off diplomatic relationships with the United States. Their embassy is closed and they are boarding planes to go home.”
    â€œTheir UN ambassador?”
    â€œHe is airborne. Most of the ambassadors from the Soviet bloc countries are gone as well.”
    â€œDo we have contact with our embassy in Moscow?”
    â€œNo, sir. Everything is being jammed by the Russians.”
    â€œDamn,” Rees cursed. “Have you spoken with the Chinese?”
    â€œYes, sir. The Chinese were unusually blunt. They said to pick a side and do it quickly.”
    â€œDid you give them our reply?”
    â€œYes, sir. They seemed pleased.”
    Brady limped into the room. “We have reports of massive riots in Turkey, India, Iran, a dozen other countries. Three embassies have been burned to the ground, our ambassadors killed.”
    â€œMy men?” General Dowling asked.
    â€œAll dead, sir. This time they died fighting.”
    â€œGood,” Dowling said, clenching his fists. He and General Travee locked eyes for a few seconds. “It’s time, C.H.,” the Marine Corps commandant said. Travee nodded. Dowling turned to an aide. “Tim, order all marines on full alert. Battle gear. Tell them to stand by. I’ll be goddamned if I’m going out with my thumb stuck up my ass.”
    Each man of the Joint Chiefs followed suit with his branch. Rees was not consulted, and his face mirrored his immense relief. Senator Logan jumped to his feet.
    â€œNone of you can give those orders without first consulting Congress.” Hilton Logan was scared. The military scared him. Guns frightened him. Violence made him nauseous.
    He was ignored.
    General Travee spoke to his president. “Sir, I am declaring a national state of emergency—martial law. The Constitution of the United States is hereby suspended. I am assuming full control.”

PART TWO

ONE
    War is a contagion.
    â€”Franklin Roosevelt.
    Â 
    Midnight—twelve hours before launch
    Â 
    Shooting, faint and far away, drifted to the men sitting on the park bench in New York’s Central Park. A hard burst of gunfire followed, from automatic weapons. There were cars and trucks backed up for miles on the expressways around the city: a mass exodus.
    â€œIt’s no longer safe in the city.” The Albanian grinned, and the Chinese laughed at him.
    â€œHow many warheads and what kind?” the Chinese asked. “Not that it will do my country any good. I can’t get through to them.”
    â€œToo many warheads. The gas is a form of Tabun, highly refined now, in a mist form. A half-drop on bare