Shadow of the Hegemon, the - Book 2 (Ender)

had obviously not been found, whoever was writing the official reports from the Chakri's office must have been part of the plot.
    "I can understand someone wanting to kill Borommakot," said Suriyawong. "But why would anyone want to kill me?"
    The soldiers laughed. Bean smiled.
    Patrols returned and went out, again, again. No movement toward the barracks. The news carried the initial response from various commentators. India apparently wanted to cripple the Thai military by eliminating the nation's finest military mind. This was intolerable. The government would have no choice now but to declare war and join Burma in the struggle against Indian aggression.
    Then new information came. The Prime Minister had declared that he would take personal control of this disaster. Someone in the military had obviously slipped badly to allow a foreign penetration of the high command's own base. Therefore, to protect the Chakri's reputation and make sure there was no hint of a cover-up of military errors, Bangkok city police would be supervising the investigation, and Bangkok city fire officials would investigate the wreckage of the exploded building.
    "Good job," said Suriyawong. "The Prime Minister's cover story is strong and the Chakri won't resist letting police onto the base."
    "If the fire investigators arrive soon enough," said Bean, "they might even prevent the Chakri's men from entering the building as soon as it cools enough from the fire. So they won't even know we weren't there."
    Sirens moving through the base announced the arrival of the police and fire department. Bean kept waiting for the sound of gunfire. But it never came.
    Instead, two of the patrols came rushing back.
    "Someone is coming, but not soldiers. Bangkok police, sixteen of them, with a civilian."
    "Just one?" asked Bean. "Is one of them a woman?"
    "Not a woman, and just one. I believe, sir, that it is the Prime Minister himself"
    Bean sent out more patrols to see if any military forces were within range.
    "How did they know we were here?" asked Suriyawong.
    "Once they took control of the Chakri's office," said Bean, "they could use the military personnel files to find out that the soldier who sent that last email was in this barracks when he sent it."
    "So it's safe to come out?"
    "Not yet," said Bean.
    A patrol returned. "The Prime Minister wishes to enter this barracks alone, sir."
    "Please," said Bean. "Invite him in."
    "So you're sure he's not wired up with explosives to kill us all?" asked Suriyawong. "I mean, your paranoia has kept us alive so far."
    As if in answer, the vid showed Chakri driving away from the main entrance to the base, under police escort. The reporter was explaining that Naresuan had resigned as Chakri, but the Prime Minister insisted that he merely take a leave of absence. In the meantime, the Minister of Defense was taking direct personal control of the Chakri's office, and generals from the field were being brought in to staff other positions of trust. Until then, the police had control of the command system. "Until we know how these Indian agents penetrated our most sensitive base," the Minister of Defense said, "we cannot be sure of our security."
    The Prime Minister entered the barracks.
    "Suriyawong," he said. He bowed deeply.
    "Mr. Prime Minister," said Suriyawong, bowing noticeably less deeply. Ah, the vanity of a Battle School graduate, thought Bean.
    "A certain nun is flying here as quickly as she can," said the Prime Minister, "but we hoped that you might trust me enough to come out without waiting for her arrival. She was on the opposite side of the world, you see."
    Bean strode forward and spoke in his not-bad Thai. "Sir," he said, "I believe Suriyawong and I are safer here with these loyal troops than we would be anywhere else in Bangkok."
    The Prime Minister looked at the soldiers standing, fully armed, at attention. "So someone has a private army right in the middle of this base," he said.
    "I did not make my meaning clear," said Bean. "These soldiers are absolutely loyal to you. They are yours to command, because you are Thailand at this moment, sir."
    The Prime Minister bowed, very slightly, and turned to the soldiers. "Then I order you to arrest this foreigner."
    Immediately Bean's arms were gripped by the soldiers nearest to him, as another soldier patted him down for weapons.
    Suriyawong's eyes widened, but he gave no other sign of surprise. The Prime Minister smiled. "You may release him now," he said.