In the silence that followed, Gabe felt much of his anger at being deceived and much of his zeal to take immediate action deflate. He didn't have the statistics that Lattimore and the president had cited, but he did know that there was a spirit of hope and optimism in the country that hadn't existed for a generation or more. And best of all, there were no American soldiers losing their lives on foreign soil. Drew Stoddard, scholar, intellectual, war hero, humanist, populist, was the real deal.

"I need some time," Gabe heard himself say. "I need some time to sort things out. That was a very frightening scene in here."

"I'm sure it was, Gabe. Take all the time you need."

"And I need Jim Ferendelli's records about his findings and his conclusions so far."

"Wherever they are," Lattimore said, "we can't find them, except for some very thin records at Bethesda Naval. The FBI and the investigative arm of the Secret Service have gone over every inch of the medical office, Jim's house in Georgetown, and his home in North Carolina. Dozens of agents are still on the job. Maybe a couple of hundred."

"Well, I want access to his place."

"No problem."

"And if I decide to go along with what you're asking, I need at least one other doctor to be my assistant in this case and to be close to you when I can't be."

"Do we have to tell him everything?" Carol asked.

"I need to decide that. First, though, I have to feel more certain that this is a secret I want to keep."

"Just tell me what you need," Stoddard said. "Tell me what you want me to do."

"Stay close to home. Here or Camp David. I want to know precisely where you are every minute until I've made my decision."

"What about Texas?" Lattimore asked the president.

"Cancel it," Stoddard ordered brusquely.

"Finally, I want your word, Drew, and yours, too, Carol and Magnus, that if I opt to bail on this whole deal and involve Vice President Cooper, you won't try anymore to convince me otherwise."

"You have our word," the president said.

The other two hesitated, then reluctantly nodded in assent.

"In that case," Gabe said, "get ready for bed and then crawl back under the covers. I'm going to be here tonight for as long as it takes to convince myself you're stable."

"Fine. The Lincoln Bedroom is right down the hall if you want to rest there," Carol said. "I can get you a robe and pajamas. Griz will arrange for some food if you're hungry."

"That's all right. A few quiet hours and I'll go home. For now, after I check you over again, Mr. President, I want to do some reading. You have a library up here, yes?"

"Not a huge one, but yes, yes, we do. And Griz can get you into the main library in the East Wing."

"Good."