The babies were on the plane, each one being cared for by a separate nurse. They were fine. Only Ramon was still nursing, because the two with Bean's syndrome were eating more-or-less solid food now. So Petra sat down and fed him, while Rackham sat down opposite them in the luxury jet and, as the plane took off, began his explanation.
"We had to get you out of there now," he said, "because the airport at Yerevan is going to be blown to bits in an hour or two, and we need to be out over the Black Sea before it happens."
"How do you know?" demanded Petra.
"We have it from the man who planned the attack."
"Alai?"
"It's a Russian attack," said Rackham.
Bean blew up. "Then what was all that kuso about distracting the Turks!"
"It all still applies. As soon as we see the attack planes take off from southern Russia, I'll let you know and you can give the word to launch your attack on Iran."
"This is Vlad's plan," said Petra. "A sudden preemptive strike to keep the FPE from doing anything. To neutralize me and Bean."
"Vlad wants you to know he's very sorry. He's used to none of his plans actually being used."
"You've been talking to him?"
"We got him out of Moscow about three hours ago and debriefed him as quickly as possible. We think they don't know he's gone. Even if they do know, it's no reason for them not to go ahead with their plan."
The telephone beside Rackham's seat beeped once. He picked it up. Listened. Pressed a button and handed it over to Petra. "All right, the rockets have launched."
"I assume I need the country code?"
"No. Put in the number as if you were still in Yerevan. As far as they'll know, you are. Tell them that you're conferring with Peter and you'll rejoin them with the attack in progress."
"Will we?"
"And then call your mother and tell her you're all right and not to talk about what happened."
"Oh, that's about an hour too late."
"My men told her that if she called anyone but you until she heard from you again, she'd be very sorry."
"Thank you for terrifying her even more. Do you have any idea what this woman has been through in her life?"
"It always turns out all right, though. So she's better off than some."
"Thanks for your cheery optimism."
A few minutes later, the strike force was launched and a warning was given to evacuate the airport, reroute all incoming flights, evacuate the parts of Yerevan nearest the airport, and alert the men at all possible military targets inside Armenia.
As for Petra's mother, she was crying so hard--with relief, with anger at what had happened--that Petra could hardly make herself understood. But finally the conversation ended and Petra was more pissed off than ever. "What gives you the right? Why do you think you--"
"War gives me the right," said Rackham. "If I'd waited till you could come home and get your babies and then meet us at the airport, this plane would never have taken off. I have my men's lives to think of here, not just your mother's feelings."
Bean put a hand on Petra's knee. She accepted the need for calm, and fell silent.
"Mazer," said Bean, "what's this about? You could have warned us with a phone call."
"We have your other babies."
Petra was already emotional. She burst into tears. Quickly she controlled herself. And hated the fact that she had acted so...maternal.
"All of them? At once?"