"I just fell asleep," she said.
"You've got to get up," the president said.
"You really do, ma'am. Right now," Smith said.
"Oh, my god," said the president's wife, covering herself with covers as she sat up with night-blinders on.
"Come quickly," said Smith. The president led her by the hand out of the bed. Smith nodded them toward the door to the hallway, and shut their bedroom door. It was 6 A.M. exactly.
Smith knew the door was very good because it stayed on its hinges as the blast went off behind it. The floor shook.
"My god," said the black Secret Service agent. He lowered the Uzi.
"That was close," said the president. His voice was almost cheerful.
Smith had never seen anyone barely escape death and still exhibit such charm. "Are you all right, sir?" he asked.
"You bet," the president said. "I just started the day a bit earlier."
"How can you be smiling, sir?" Smith asked.
"I'm just imagining how disturbed the press corps is going to be when they find out someone missed again."
"Eeeeek," screamed the president's wife. The agent stepped back as though punched by her scream. Smith looked dumbfounded. Only the president was calm.
"You," she screamed at the president. "You and your frigging good nature. Will you hate, damn you? They almost killed us."
"But they missed," said the president with a smile. He looked around for a jelly bean.
"Hate," she shrieked. "Hate someone. Hate anything. Dammit, will you hate?"
"If it will help you, sure, dear. I'll hate whoever you want me to hate."
65
"Anyone, damn you," she screamed. Veins bulged in her neck as she turned to Smith. "I've had to live with this damned good nature for thirty years now. Vilification in the press. Daily attacks and now bombs, and that . . . that . , . that whatever-it-is won't hate."
The shift supervisor finally made it down, and there was a confusion of men and guns and walkie-talkies. With the president's consent, Smith took charge.
"Sir, there is no time as safe for you as the next few minutes. Please get dressed. I would like to meet with you and your one most trusted advisor."
"I trust them all," the president said.
"Wouldn't you know?" said his wife. "And you," she said, pointing to Smith. "Why is now so damned safe?"
"Because they've just missed. They think the president is dead, tie is safe until they find out he is still alive. Then it becomes dangerous again because they'll try again."
"Good," said the First Lady. "That's something I can deal with. At least there are some reasonably vicious people around. Good. I can hate them."
"You can't blame her," said the president. "It's lousy getting awakened in the middle of the night."
"Yes sir," said Smith.
The man the president chose to accompany him to the meeting with Smith was his secretary of the interior. A bald man who also had a good nature. Smith was grim.
"First, let me thank you for giving me authority here in the White House, but I am going to have to leave you."
"Why?" asked the secretary.
"Because if I stay here, the president is definitely going to die. Eventually, one of these attempts will work. This is not some nut somewhere with a fast shot in a crowd. This is a determined methodical attempt on the president's life."
"Another government?" asked the president.
66
"I don't know yet. But until we put them away, you are not safe."
"How do you know it's even an organization?" asked the secretary of the interior. "How do we know we're not dealing with one nut?"
"Because they have a communications network. And because we found the person who planted the bomb. She was the chambermaid who made the bed."
"And she said there were others?"
"Most eloquently," Smith said drily. "Her throat was cut by a not too sharp instrument."
The good nature left the face of the president. The secretary of the interior shook his head.
"How can you be sure you can get them before they strike again?" asked the president.
"I can't."
"Then I'm still vulnerable. Other people could get hurt around here if this keeps up," the president said.
"1 have a plan to deal with that. Go abroad," Smith said.
"What will that do?" asked the secretary.
"That will get the host country's secret service in charge of the president's safety."
"You mean the president has to leave the country because it's not safe for him to stay here?" the secretary of the interior asked. It was not so much a question as a statement.
"Exactly," said Smith.
"Well, that is one piece of garbage," said the secretary.
"Yes," Smith agreed.