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Page 293
"She has some damage control to do in New York before the NSC meeting in" Caidin had glanced at his gold Rolex, brushing back a boyish lock of hair. "twenty-seven minutes." Judging from Caidin's frequent looks at wall clocks or his wristwatch, these particular heads of state were operating on a tight schedule. And the President had the appearance of an impatient and impulsive man being forced to move much more slowly than he wished.
Vincent Kellner, the President's National Security Adviser and John Morgan's master, was the tall man at the end of the table.
Ian Halloran, the Canadian Prime Minister, had been sitting across from Anna on Cole Caidin's right. Anna had seen him several times, always at large environmental gatherings. Halloran was a bull of a man, built like an athlete, with powerful sloping shoulders. However, his speech and manners were more those of a Cambridge don, Anna thought, even when he is in the midst of an argument. At least he looks like a person, not like a slightly used clothing store dummy.
One of the ambulatory aides had entered, whispered something urgently in Halloran's ear, gotten an expletive-filled answer, and then left. Immediately, Halloran had gotten up, beckoning to Caidin to come with him. Then they signalled for the young man who was Caidin's aide and Vincent Kellner to join them at the opposite end of the room, theoretically out of earshot. Now all except Kellner were shouting at each other and gesticulating, red faced and full of frustration.
"What do you mean, the Ministry of Health knew about this as early as the twenty-ninth? And the assholes didn't tell anybody?" Caidin stalked over to the desk and threw himself down in his chair, the others following, continuing to argue. "send our Seals" Caidin said, but Halloran shook his head vehemently. ''our turfunder our command"
Anna blinked her eyes, uninterested in their quarrel, trying to clear her vision. She felt as if she'd had three drinks before dinner, and a bottle of wine with it, she thought longingly.

 
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