RYONGSONG RESIDENCE
PYONGYANG
With Barrazza’s gun aimed at all times on Yong-sik, Dewey went to the door. He reached down and pulled the dead soldier into the sitting room, then shut the doors. He picked up the Kalashnikov and tucked the pistol beneath his armpit.
Dewey walked to Kim as Barrazza continued to train the MP7 at Yong-sik, still on his back on the floor.
“May I get up?” said Yong-sik.
“No.”
Dewey stood in front of Kim. He was slouched over, the side of his head destroyed, the chair covered in a riot of blood. Dewey took the phone and took a few photos.
“I’m sending photos of Kim,” said Dewey. “I need a RECON team in here immediately. We’re inside the palace. You should have my phone locked in. We’re in the living quarters somewhere. I don’t know how long I can hold the theater.”
A voice came through the phone.
“Dewey, this is General Krug. We’ll get a team there in about fifteen minutes, but you need to make sure they shut off air defenses.”
“Roger that,” said Dewey.
Dewey turned. He walked to Yong-sik.
“Get up,” he said.
He pointed with the gun at a sofa near the far wall.
“Over there.”
Dewey held Yong-sik’s wrist and guided him to the sofa. Dewey remained standing. He tapped his ear.
“CENCOM, I need a Korean translator on this call,” said Dewey.
“I speak Korean,” said Krug.
“Make sure he’s telling them to stand down,” said Dewey.
Dewey looked at Yong-sik. He handed him the KPA walkie-talkie.
“Tell them to expect inbound helicopters, General,” Dewey told Yong-sik. “They are not to be fired on.”
“How would I possibly explain that?” yelled Yong-sik.
“How the fuck should I know?” said Dewey. “You’re the boss. Figure it out.”
Yong-sik stared at the walkie-talkie. He looked at Dewey.
“Why are they coming?”
“We don’t want to run your country, General, if that’s what you’re thinking,” said Dewey. “But we are going to take your nukes. All we want is stability.”
“And Iraq?” shot Yong-sik. “Afghanistan? How about Vietnam?”
Dewey nodded.
“Those are the three primary reasons we don’t want to run your country,” said Dewey. “You’re in charge now. You wouldn’t have told us about Kim’s cancer if you didn’t give a damn about your country.”
“Where are they coming from?”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Dewey coldly. “Tell them to turn off the goddam air defenses.”
Yong-sik whispered so that nobody else would hear.
“So I can tell them they’re friendly?” Yong-sik asked.
“Sure,” said Dewey. “Just understand that if those choppers get fired on, you get a bullet in your kneecap.” Dewey paused. “It’s over, General. We don’t want to kill anyone and we don’t want to run your country. We just don’t feel like getting nuked.”
Yong-sik nodded. He lifted the walkie-talkie and hit the mike.
“This is General Yong-sik. The supreme leader is welcoming guests. They will be coming from multiple places and possibly both coasts. Expect several helicopters. They are not to be fired upon. I repeat: do not fire upon the helicopters. They are friends. I don’t have to tell you what will happen if any of the helicopters are shot at.”
Yong-sik handed Dewey the walkie-talkie.
“Sounded good,” said Krug. “We’ll see you in fifteen minutes, Dewey.”
Dewey hung up the phone.
“Now that wasn’t too bad,” said Dewey, taking the walkie-talkie. “I can see why you’re such a good general.”
Yong-sik shook his head.
“So, do you have senior officers you trust?” said Dewey.
“Of course.”
“And ones you don’t?”
“Yes, those too.”
“I’ve been through a couple of these before,” said Dewey. “Change in government. For what it’s worth, some advice. You’re going to need some support. Get the ones you trust over here.”
“And the ones I don’t?”
“They need to be locked up,” said Dewey. “You can let them out later if you want. When you assume power you need to immediately start thinking about preservation of power. That means right now.”
Slowly, Yong-sik extended his hand to Dewey. He shook Dewey’s hand. “Thank you for saving my country.”