The Arab cut the cigar with the ease of an experienced aficionado, lit it, and exhaled smoke off to the side. "This is not as simple as you would suggest, General. Indonesia and Pakistan are different nations."

"Not so fast, my friend." Perkasa flung his hands in the air. "I suggested nothing. And I by no means proposed or suggested the assassination of Santos."

"Of course you did not, General," the Arab said. "I was addressing the great geographic and political differences between Indonesia and Pakistan."

"Very well," Perkasa said, having set the Arab straight. Not that he would mind seeing Santos dead, but no one would ever be able to say that an assassination was his idea. "Please proceed."

"As I was saying," Al-Fadil nodded, "unlike Pakistan, Indonesia controls, or at least has the potential to control, the most strategic sea lanes in the world. Your islands stretch across the waters from east to west in a distance greater than New York to Los Angeles. Your country, unlike any other Islamic country in the world, has all that is necessary to become the world's first Islamic superpower." The Arab took another drag from the Cuban stogie. "Except for one thing . . ."

General Suparman Perkasa let that sink in. "And that would be?"

"Leadership," Al-Fadil said, without hesitation. "And related thereto, courage and vision."

Perkasa flicked a segment of white ashes into the silver tray. The Arab was correct. "Look, you know that I am no admirer of our president, or you wouldn't have gotten me here. But as you have pointed out, Mr. Al-Fadil . . ."

"Please, General, call me Farouq," Al-Fadil interrupted.

"Very well," Perkasa continued, "as you have pointed out, Farouq, Indonesia, because of her geography, possesses a greater geo-strategic importance to the world than Pakistan. Control of those sea lanes means billions of dollars to America. You cannot do in Indonesia what you did in Pakistan. The Americans did not step in there. Here, if you moved against Santos, they would send their navy. Perhaps their marines. They would use force. And remember that President Williams likes to play John Wayne with the US Navy." His cigar had gone out. With a single flick, a blue-and-orange flame leapt from the lighter.

"Ahh, the all-powerful Americans." The smiling Arab sipped more wine. "Good. Our thinking is congruous." He put the glass down and motioned for more. "What if I told you, General, that we have a plan for Mack Williams and the Americans? What if I told you that we have a plan to make you the most powerful Indonesian in the world? And what if I could show you a plan that will work to make Indonesia the first Islamic superpower, with you at the historic forefront of this great awakening?"

Perkasa glanced at Dr. Budi, who was raising an eyebrow and sipping a glass of water.

He looked back at the Arab.

Silence.

"You know, Farouq," Perkasa said, "you have succeeded in piquing my curiosity. I will have that drink now. Red wine will be fine."

"Excellent," Farouq said, motioning the servants to attend to the general's request. "Let us drink, General, to a new alliance . . . a new strategic alliance that will change the history of the world."

"That," General Suparman Perkasa said, "I will drink to."

Copyright © 2010 by Don Brown
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Don Brown is the author of Treason, Hostage, and Defiance, and Black Sea Affair, a submarine thriller that predicted the 2008 shooting war between Russia and Georgia. Don served five years in the U.S. Navy as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps gave him an exceptional vantage point into both the Navy and the inner workings of "inside-the-beltway" as an action officer assigned to the pentagon. He left active duty in 1992 to pursue private practice, but remained on inactive status through 1999, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He and his family live in North Carolina, where he pursues his passion for penning novels about the Navy.  For more information, please visit www.donbrownbooks.com.