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Chapters (83)
  1. Cover
  2. ALSO BY TOM CLANCY
  3. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
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  27. 24
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  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
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  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
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  60. 57
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  76. 73
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  78. 75
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  80. 77
  81. 78
  82. 79
  83. What’s next onyour reading list?

As the meal progressed and the liquor began to take hold, Dr. Fairchild opened up the conversation.

“How well do you know the history of Singapore, gentlemen?”

“Only what I read coming over,” Jack said. “It’s an amazing place.”

“If you want to know the history of the island, just look at my family.” He beamed with pride, lifting his hands like a blessing pope.

“Let’s take our dessert and coffee in the library,” Dr. Fairchild suggested. “Or do any of you take tea?”

“Tea would be fine, thank you,” Paul said. “Chamomile, if you have it.”

“Certainly.”

Dr. Fairchild stood and led the group into a two-story library with floor-to-ceiling mahogany bookcases. Jack stopped in front of one unit and scanned it. The shelves in front of him were full of history texts and war biographies. Other shelves featured science, engineering, and technical works. Around the room on display tables or on shelves Jack spotted black-and-white photographs of English soldiers from the two world wars as well as the Korean War.

Jack stepped over to a display case featuring a well-worn Webley revolver—standard issue in the British Army for decades. Prominently featured high on the far wall in a display case was a captured Imperial Japanese Army battle flag, bullet-ridden and burned on the edges. Jack was something of a World War II buff, his grandfather having served in the 101st Airborne at the Battle of the Bulge.

“You have an amazing collection of books,” Paul said.

Dr. Fairchild shook his head with mock embarrassment. “You should see my Kindle! It’s even worse. Father was an avid reader. I’m afraid I picked up the habit myself.”

Jack and the others took their seats on plush leather couches and rattan chairs as the servers brought hot coffee and tea services along with plates and bowls of exotic desserts, setting them on the low tables in front of them.

“These are two popular local desserts, durian mousse with gula melaka and pandan chiffon cake. I hope they’re not too sweet,” Dr. Fairchild said, sipping a cup of strong black coffee.

Jack was already overstuffed but didn’t feel comfortable refusing the colorful offerings. He tried both. The pandan cake was moist and delicious. It tasted like hazelnut, one of his favorites. But he wasn’t as crazy about the durian mousse, with its strange textures and odd flavors—almost like buttermilk and almonds. The coffee was a smooth, dark-roasted Sumatran. He’d never tasted better.