14一场外交游戏6

14.ADiplomaticGameTheambassadorwasbackatfourintheafternoon.ToavoidpressnoticehehadbeentakenintotheTreasurybuildingacrossthestreetfromtheWhiteHouseandbroughtthroughaconnectingtunnelwhichfewknewexisted.Thepresidenthopedthathehadfoundthisunsettling.Pelthustled1intobetherewhenArbatovarrived.“Mr.President,”Arbatovreported,standingatattention.Thepresidenthadnotknownthathehadanymilitaryexperience.“Iaminstructedtoconveytoyoutheregretsofmygovernmentthattherehasnotbeentimetoinformyouofthis.Oneofournuclearsubmarinesismissingandpresumed2lost.Weareconductinganemergencyrescueoperation.”Thepresidentnoddedsoberly3,motioning4theambassadortoachair.Peltsatnexttohim.“Thisissomewhatembarrassing,Mr.President.Yousee,inournavyasinyours,dutyonanuclearsubmarineisapostingofthegreatestimportance,andconsequentlythoseselectedforitareamongour