Angels of Vengeance: The Disappearance Novel 3 by John Birmingham

such measures were tried out was back during the time of Lincoln with former Confederates. It didn’t work all that well back then, and it probably wouldn’t work well in the here and now.’
    Aside from the notion that it would do no good, in Culver’s estimation, this was just the sort of thing the Seattle press would sink their teeth into and not let go of. He figured it was best to steer Kipper away from that path.
    ‘You know that’s not what I’m talking about, Jed,’ the President replied. ‘Let me make myself understood: I’m not in favour of sending thousands of women and children, who themselves have done nothing wrong, back into the wastelands they used to call home . . .’ Kip held up his hand like a traffic cop to head off any further interruption. ‘And before anybody says anything, I am well aware that some of these people originally set out from Europe, not the Middle East – I do actually read your briefing papers, you know. In those cases, I am open to the argument that they should be repatriated.’ He smiled now. ‘I doubt Chancellor Merkel or President Sarkozy will want them back, but you’ll be pleased to know, Jed, I don’t much care.’
    Culver took the ribbing in good faith as Ronnie ghosted in through the door to see if anybody needed a refill on the coffee. He lifted his cup and waggled it at her while Kip spoke again.
    ‘Bottom line, anyone who can prove refugee status, by demonstrating they came from one of the countries nuked by Israel – and my understanding is that quite a few of them did – well, in those cases I am open to the possibility of our accepting them in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.’
    For Jed, the urge to groan was almost too strong to stifle. He could already imagine how Blackstone was going to play this, and while Admiral Ritchie may’ve been on board, Culver suspected that many of the rank and file in the military were not going to be pleased. The lack of pay, poor treatment in Seattle and the winding back of benefits were loaded onto a platter already overloaded with heavy losses in New York City. Those who remained in the much-reduced US armed forces would not require many more incentives to head to Texas.
    ‘But I am not a soft touch,’ Kipper continued. ‘I like the idea of some of these characters being made to earn our trust out on the frontier. And I think ten years is a heavy enough sentence to levy on them for the crime of serving in Pharaoh’s army. Admiral, I’m happy to take your advice on how we might structure that program, including how we tweak it in such a way that, for them, getting back into the settled areas to see their family is incentive enough to stay on the straight and narrow. For the non-combatants, the women and children – well, the women, I guess – we really need some way to use them productively, to make them understand that they could have a future here. But that it’s our future, the one we envision, not some medieval theocracy they might’ve signed up for a year or two back. I’m not even going to pretend I know how to go about doing that, but then I don’t have to. That’s your job, Sarah. And yours, Jed.’
    ‘What?’
    He nearly snorted fresh, hot coffee out through his nose. Humboldt looked just as surprised.
    Kipper regarded him with a grin that was positively malign. ‘I can see they caught you with your pants down on this, buddy,’ he said. ‘And I know without even looking at you that you think the idea sucks dog’s balls. Excuse my French, Sarah.’
    ‘That’s okay, Mr President,’ she shot back. Ms Humboldt was still unsettled by the revelation that she’d be working with Jed Culver.
    ‘I know you’re already being tortured by nightmares about Mad Jack using this against us,’ Kipper resumed. ‘That’s why I want you to oversee the program for me. I have no doubt, Jed, you’ll come up with some way of making it look as though allowing these prisoners to stay is a punishment