فصل 36

36

Welcome Aboard

Hatch had Captain Shool escorted up to his office on the second floor.

“How is business?” Hatch asked the captain.

Captain Shool smiled. “Business? Do you call war business?” “War is big business,” Hatch said. He brought the bottle of Karuizawa out of his liquor cabinet and held it up for the captain to see. “Imagine, this liquid costs more per ounce than gold.” He opened the bottle and poured liquid into two shot glasses.

“Admiral-General . . .”

Hatch held up his hand to stop him from talking. “Please. Enjoy this moment. Such pleasures are far too rare.” Both men lifted their glasses and drank.

“Magnificent,” Hatch said. “Worth every penny.”

“Indescribable,” Captain Shool said.

“Then let me pour you another.” Hatch refilled the captain’s glass, then his own. After they had drunk the second glass, Hatch’s face had a red glow. “Did you know that the distillery where this nectar was produced was on the slope of an active volcano?” “No, Admiral.”

“Unfortunately, it is no more. The distillery was closed more than a decade ago, which makes this magnificent liquid all the more valuable. Life is like that. The most precious things are fleeting. Do you agree, Captain?” “Yes, I agree.”

Hatch again lifted the bottle to top off the captain’s glass.

“Thank you, Admiral, but I think I’ve had enough.”

Hatch smiled and poured the glass anyway. “Can you have enough heaven?” He laughed. “I think not.” He filled his own glass again. “So, as I asked before, how is business?” “It is well, mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“You know. I’m a soldier, not a politician. The politics are as capricious as the sea.” “I understand,” Hatch said. “I have a solution for that. I would like to make you a proposition.” “A proposition?”

“Yes, Captain. I have recently lost my best ship captains.” “How could you lose them all, sir?”

“Very unexpectedly,” Hatch said, lifting his glass. “What do you know of these criminals you brought me?” “I was not told much, except that they were terrorists.” “Terrorists,” Hatch said. “Indeed. They were involved in a suicide bombing that destroyed most of my army.” He put the top back on the bottle of Karuizawa. “My point in telling you this, Captain, is that I am looking to hire.” Hatch took a slow sip as he studied the captain’s face. “I don’t know what you know about the Elgen Corporation, but we are poised to become not only the largest and most profitable corporation in the world, but also the most powerful. If we were a country, our GNP would make us the twelfth most profitable in the world, somewhere between Australia and Mexico.” “That is remarkable, Admiral.”

“Yes, it is. I am, by trade, a scientist as well as a businessman. Which means I don’t assume anything. I hypothesize, then prove. I research. And I’ve researched your career, Captain. You are from Quezon City, the most populous city in the Philippines. Your father was a bureaucrat, your mother, who is Vietnamese by birth, was a professor of international law. You have never been married; you have been quoted as saying that you are married to the navy.” Captain Shool smiled. “That is all true, Admiral.”

“You were also the captain behind one of the most controversial operations in all of Philippine history, as you put down the president’s rival with a significant number of civilian casualties.” Captain Shool downed the rest of his glass. “I was following orders.” “Exactly,” Hatch said. “Exactly. Which makes you precisely what I am looking for. I’m impressed with what you have accomplished. I’m impressed with your obedience in following unpopular orders. I’m impressed by your attention to detail and precision, and how successfully you carried out this mission. As such, I would like to offer you the position as head of the Elgen Navy.” The captain looked stunned. “Sir . . .”

“Before you answer, consider this. You will have a life of power, privilege, and, most important, purpose. I will quadruple your current salary and give you a million-dollar signing bonus if you agree right now. That is in American dollars, or the equivalent of a million dollars in any currency you wish. But my proposal is only good if you accept it now, before you leave this room.” Captain Shool was quiet for a moment, then said, “I cannot abandon my crew here. I would need to sail back and inform my superiors.” Hatch smiled. “See, exactly why you are perfect for the job. Of course, Captain. I would expect that. But before you go, I do have a favor to ask, one that may benefit your crew.” “What is that, sir?”

“The coup that took place in our nation is not completely put down. The rebels have taken refuge inside our national gold depository just sixty kilometers from here. Unfortunately for us, I built the depository to withstand any land assault.” “Of course you would,” the captain said.

“Being indestructible is, of course, only of value if you have control of the building. But, currently, I do not. I could use a battleship right now to . . . correct the situation.” “I understand, Admiral. But to engage in battle I would have to have the permission of my superiors.” Hatch took the top back off the bottle of whiskey, then said, “Unless, of course, it was only a training exercise. It’s not often you get the opportunity to engage in a real-life shelling of infrastructure. Far too costly.” Captain Shool thought for a moment, then said, “It could be done.” “Excellent,” Hatch said. He poured another two glasses of Karuizawa and handed the first to the captain. “If you will accept my offer, please celebrate with me with a toast.” “I will,” Captain Shool said, and took the new glass.

“To my new chief admiral of naval operations. Welcome aboard, Elgen.”