accept your offer if there are any strings attached. Yes, we treat children and noncombatants, but no one is asked at the door which side they’re on, so there’s every possibility we would be treating those fighting against you. You must understand that the staff at the hospital has taken an oath to provide medical care in the areas we serve to all in distress. Therefore, we must remain neutral, impartial, and ethical. Will that be an issue for you?”
A muscle clenched in Gunnar’s jaw before he nodded. “Point taken. I appreciate your honesty and expect you to continue to speak your mind on this subject. I’ll admit that I’m not surprised you would say that, but you can’t blame me for trying to increase the odds of my team surviving operations in the area.”
Of course, she couldn’t fault him for not wanting to help the hospital to treat and heal the very people who might cause the death of him or someone on his team.
Perhaps she could appease him somewhat. “What if we focus on the equipment and supply needs in the pediatric, obstetrics, and gynecological wards?”
He grinned. “Anything to lessen the chances of your staff inadvertently healing someone who can later go out and blow up students or teachers at Heidi’s school or attack the members of my team would be greatly appreciated.”
“Lessen is the best I can offer, but there are no guarantees and no way to quantify how successful our efforts are. Naturally, we also can’t prevent the patients we treat from growing up and joining enemy forces.”
He sobered. “Believe me, I know women and children can hide explosives and weapons just as easily, probably even better with women and girls wearing chadris or burqas. Those layers of clothing can conceal an arsenal.” He paused a moment. “But, in addition to easing some of the suffering, this is about winning over hearts and minds. Perhaps if someone at the facility is saved due to the staff or equipment provided by American and other coalition forces, we’ll be able to stem the rising hatred of Americans there.”
“You can’t imagine the relief in the faces of parents when their children are saved with modern surgeries and medicines,” Pamela continued. “Hopefully, they will tell them the story of how the doctors came and treated them without question of political loyalties.”
He nodded. “Let’s hope so.” He turned to his cousin. “Kris, you need to track down whatever she says is needed and make sure we can get it at competitive prices from the sources. Whatever you have to do to stretch the budget, I want as much bang for my buck as possible.”
“Not a problem,” Kristoffer responded.
“Good.” They spent the next two hours discussing the parameters of the project, both financial and logistical.
Gunnar began to wrap up their meeting. “I see no reason for you to meet on this here, since you both live in the Denver area. But for the next few weeks, perhaps you could drive out here once a week and update me with your progress.” He sat back in his chair. “I’m going to leave it to you two to explore every possibility.”
Kristoffer cleared his throat. “Gunnar, before we break, you and I should go over my recommendations on the academy I toured last night.”
Pamela’s face grew warmer, but she refused to make eye contact with either man. Did Gunnar know what Kristoffer had seen last night? Well, if not, he certainly wouldn’t hear any details from her. What the two cousins chose to talk about now she didn’t care to hear.
She closed her laptop and stood. “I guess I’ll head back to the city if there’s nothing else.” As an afterthought, she asked to borrow Kristoffer’s pad of paper. “Let me jot down my cell phone so that you can reach me to arrange for future meetings.” She might not want to see him again anytime soon, but she wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize what might be the best thing that had ever happened to the facility she’d
A muscle clenched in Gunnar’s jaw before he nodded. “Point taken. I appreciate your honesty and expect you to continue to speak your mind on this subject. I’ll admit that I’m not surprised you would say that, but you can’t blame me for trying to increase the odds of my team surviving operations in the area.”
Of course, she couldn’t fault him for not wanting to help the hospital to treat and heal the very people who might cause the death of him or someone on his team.
Perhaps she could appease him somewhat. “What if we focus on the equipment and supply needs in the pediatric, obstetrics, and gynecological wards?”
He grinned. “Anything to lessen the chances of your staff inadvertently healing someone who can later go out and blow up students or teachers at Heidi’s school or attack the members of my team would be greatly appreciated.”
“Lessen is the best I can offer, but there are no guarantees and no way to quantify how successful our efforts are. Naturally, we also can’t prevent the patients we treat from growing up and joining enemy forces.”
He sobered. “Believe me, I know women and children can hide explosives and weapons just as easily, probably even better with women and girls wearing chadris or burqas. Those layers of clothing can conceal an arsenal.” He paused a moment. “But, in addition to easing some of the suffering, this is about winning over hearts and minds. Perhaps if someone at the facility is saved due to the staff or equipment provided by American and other coalition forces, we’ll be able to stem the rising hatred of Americans there.”
“You can’t imagine the relief in the faces of parents when their children are saved with modern surgeries and medicines,” Pamela continued. “Hopefully, they will tell them the story of how the doctors came and treated them without question of political loyalties.”
He nodded. “Let’s hope so.” He turned to his cousin. “Kris, you need to track down whatever she says is needed and make sure we can get it at competitive prices from the sources. Whatever you have to do to stretch the budget, I want as much bang for my buck as possible.”
“Not a problem,” Kristoffer responded.
“Good.” They spent the next two hours discussing the parameters of the project, both financial and logistical.
Gunnar began to wrap up their meeting. “I see no reason for you to meet on this here, since you both live in the Denver area. But for the next few weeks, perhaps you could drive out here once a week and update me with your progress.” He sat back in his chair. “I’m going to leave it to you two to explore every possibility.”
Kristoffer cleared his throat. “Gunnar, before we break, you and I should go over my recommendations on the academy I toured last night.”
Pamela’s face grew warmer, but she refused to make eye contact with either man. Did Gunnar know what Kristoffer had seen last night? Well, if not, he certainly wouldn’t hear any details from her. What the two cousins chose to talk about now she didn’t care to hear.
She closed her laptop and stood. “I guess I’ll head back to the city if there’s nothing else.” As an afterthought, she asked to borrow Kristoffer’s pad of paper. “Let me jot down my cell phone so that you can reach me to arrange for future meetings.” She might not want to see him again anytime soon, but she wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize what might be the best thing that had ever happened to the facility she’d
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