That got him a decent round of claps. He waited for the noise to subside and then explained how the bombing during the Gulf War in 1991 had been utterly devastating for southern Iraq, so why would you expect a different result twelve years later? The invasion had led to total national devastation. He said, ‘Add to that the fact it was purportedly an aspect of the war on terror, except the State Department analysis said going into Iraq would just lead to increased conflict in the region. As it was, those assessments were wrong, and actually vastly underestimated the level of sectarian violence that arose. And then you consider the fact that the invasion was predicated on the existence of weapons of mass destruction, which we didn’t find, and the whole episode in hindsight just looks like a hideous waste—principally in lives, but economically, too. And in fact that seemed to be the conclusion of the Chilcot report in the United Kingdom—that the invasion was unjustified, and non-military options hadn’t been exhausted.’

From the intensity of the applause, Vincent thought the guy was in for a standing ovation. Erin waited for the noise to die away and said, ‘Well, that round of applause seemed to be coming from the left—was that the case?’

More applause, and some cheering to back it up.

Erin said, ‘Well, then. I have to admit I find it remarkable that people who are apparently committed to freedom and dignity and equality don’t think those values count for people on the other side of the world. Here I was thinking they were universal rights.’

Quiet for her now.

She said, ‘I shouldn’t have to point out that Saddam Hussein for a brief while actually annexed Kuwait, and then went on to murder about two hundred thousand people—many of them with chemical nerve agent—and then for the next twelve years administered Iraq as a private enterprise for him and his repulsive children. It’s an international disgrace that that arrangement was permitted to endure for as long as it did. And I think the Chilcot report’s conclusion was completely wrong. Its subtext was that the only justification for invasion was an imminent nuclear threat against another country. Just consider that: the famine and the brutal internal repression and the mass murder and the aggression against foreign states weren’t enough. I think that is a disgrace. There is no higher form of social liberalism than protecting people against state-run murder and despotism …’

Vincent’s phone buzzed, and he checked the screen.

Unknown number.

It would be that cop again, Blaine. He moved away from the stage and out beyond the audience seating.

‘Yes?’

‘How long can you keep her safe?’

The voice was distorted, run through a digital filter.

‘Vincent? How long can you keep her safe? How long do you think you can do it?’