"William W Johnstone - Ashes 32 - Destiny in the Ashes (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

speech."

The general gave a tiny smile, as if he doubted that very much, but he
nodded. "All right, Herb, but don't forget I offered our help."

"Oh, I won't forget, Max," Herb said scornfully, "you can bet on that."

"Now, gentlemen," Claire said, "let's don't argue. The important thing
is for us to get the right message across to the voters."

"I think you ought to go with the usual," Gerald Boykin said. "Put the
blame for everything on Ben Raines and those SUSA assholes."

"But Claire," Harlan argued, "we can't do that. Raines and his medical
people are the ones who developed the vaccine and his medical teams are
over here working as hard as they can to save United States citizens'
lives."

Claire pursed her lips. "For once, you are probably right, Harlan. I
think it wise to hold off on attacking Raines, at least until his
doctors and nurses have finished their work here."

"There's always the UN.," General Goddard said slowly.

"The UN.?" Claire asked.

"Sure. How about trying to lay the blame on them for not keeping a
closer eye on Bottger and Perro Loco? After all,

20

you can argue, if the U.N. had prevented them from building up their
forces in the first place, there never would have been a war."

"That's a brilliant idea, Max," Claire said.

"And the added benefit," Boykin said, suddenly coming awake, "is if we
stir the people up against the U.N., the UN. will be less likely to
intervene in our election."

"And even if they do, no one will listen to what they say," Claire
added, rubbing her hands together, a broad smile on her face.

She turned her gaze to Ainsworth, her smile fading. He was leaning back
in his chair, his eyes closed and his forehead wrinkled in pain.
"Are you all right, Cliff?" she asked, though there was no real warmth
in her voice.

"Got a bitch of a headache, Claire," he answered shortly.