VANGUARD(31)

But the other column had marks in it too. Raj reported that ten more patients had died of the pneumonia during the night, and another six were unlikely to live out the day. Twenty-seven new cases had come in overnight, and the day had just begun.

Twelve more hours until they had the cultures.

Jim’s search teams turned up half a dozen new cases before lunch, most among the elderly. Many of these patients resisted being taken to the infirmary, convinced that the Soviets would find a way to kill them there. It made Sophie think of Signe and her bitter hatred of the Soviet Republic. To add insult to injury, it had snowed nearly six inches overnight.

Jaros observed Sophie with great interest. “You remain confident.”

“Of course,” she replied. “We’re taking the right steps. I have faith in my teams. We will succeed.” Most of this was true. They were doing the right things, and she had total faith in the people on this mission. She just wished she knew for sure they could get this thing stopped. But damned if she would show any weakness to this bastard.

“Now what will you do?”

She turned in her chair and smiled. “Now, Commandant?” Don’t let him see how much effort this takes! “I think I will take lunch. Will you join me?”

He eyed her for a moment, then laughed. “I’m impressed,” he chortled. “Not only cool headed and confident in a crisis, but firmly in the seat of power. Many would not be able to resist being in the thick of things by now. You are wiser.” He called to his guards and ordered them to bring food. “It is truly a shame that you were not born a Soviet man, Sophie. I would have you for my second-in-command myself.”





-





Commandant Jaros and Sophie sat across from each other as usual when lunch arrived.

“Tell me, Sophie,” the Commandant said, “is this your first visit to the Soviet Republic?” It drove her nuts that Jaros referred to this camp – which was on the Orlisian side of the border – as Soviet territory, but she ignored it.

“I spent two weeks in your country at the age of seventeen.”

Jaros pressed her for details of her visit, which she provided freely, although she deliberately glossed over any references to the Global Youth Leadership program. While she didn’t doubt Jaros had done research into her, Sophie wanted nothing to do with a topic that could connect the dots between her and Michael Nariovsky-Trent. Especially if he happened to turn up in Jaros’ camp in the near future.

The conversation had reached a lull when her walkie crackled. Jim’s voice sounded scratchily over the wire. “Will, you there?”

“Yeah, Jim. What’s the story?” Will’s voice floated back.

“I’ve got a bad case of pneumonia in section Tango 29. Male patient, hard to judge his age. These guys all look pretty weathered to me. Maybe in his thirties. Wondering if you could send a Jeep over right away.”

The Commandant’s eyes narrowed. “You seem to have a larger problem on your hands than anticipated,” he said coldly. “I’m displeased to hear the disease is gaining a foothold among the adult male population.”

“A larger problem, Commandant? Or a greater opportunity?”

They locked eyes in silence for a long moment.

Jim’s voice issued eerily from the walkie on the table between them. “He’s sharing a shelter with about ten other lads, so we’d better get some meds into them, too. Otherwise, this fellow will end up leading all of them into the fray.”

Leading all of them into the fray…

Sophie’s heart started to pound. Does Jim realize what that means?

“Say, while I’ve got you, Will, maybe you can help me out with something. I’ve got a crossword puzzle clue that I’m stuck on.”

Code word is Vanguard. Remember that our walkie signals will be monitored, so try to be imaginative. Screaming that you’ve found Vanguard is not imaginative.

“It’s an eight-letter word. Clue is ‘the leading units moving at the head of an army.’ Any idea what that might be?”

Jim was being ridiculously imaginative.

Without taking her gaze away from the Commandant’s, she picked up the radio and activated the priority override function. The frequency went quiet, ready for her to speak. Her heart thundered in her chest, every nerve in her body stretched taut.

Remember, confidence. Never show fear.

“Vanguard,” Sophie said into the radio. “The answer is Vanguard.”