Executive War

Day 5

Vice President Samuel Kurke was notified shortly after Carcamo was found.  He took office while she was recovering in the hospitol.  When he heard of what had happened to the President, he pressed his lips tightly together and closed his eyes.

The day before, Hsiao had been dropping his neice off to school.  By the time he went to work, the news spread rapidly.  Hsiao was speechless.  He could not believe that any of it had happened.

            Carcamo's eyes fluttered open.  The lights hurt her eyes.  She felt strange and groggy.  The walls were white.  She realized where she was.  Shortly after she woke up, a man in a long, white coat approached her.  "Madame President, you have suffered a high loss of blood and some major tissue damage in the abdominal area.  You are very lucky to be alive."  The doctor calmly stared at the President.

            Carcamo gazed soberly at the doctor.  After he gave her another sedative, Hsiao appeared.  "They sent me to check on you." He reported.  Carcamo smiled her usually brief smile.  "That was nice of them."  Hsiao took a chair that was nearby and placed it near the hospitol bed.  He stared deeply at Carcamo.  "Kurke is covering for you until you recover.  That may be a while."  Carcamo replied, "I know."

Hsiao stared at the woman whom he was used to seeing in professional matter, not in tubes and blankets.  "I heard that there was a little boy who showed them where you were.  He apparently said that were a superhero."  Carcamo smiled weakly and laughed.  "Glad to know that he made it."

            Carcamo's smile subsided.  "But it's terrible that all the other people didn't."  Hsiao sighed.  "The Smithsonian was also attacked in the same manner.  An embassy is currently being held hostage."  Thyra's eyes widened.  "Hsiao, help me up.  I need to get to the White House.  I need to-"

"Thyra!"

Carcamo froze.  The reserved and calm man had spoken.  In a way she never heard him before.  "You can't go anywhere.  You have to stay here.  Even if you were well enough to walk, you're heavily sedated.  I don't have long to keep talking to you.  In about fifteen minutes, you'll be out.  You have to stay.  I'm sorry, but there's nothing that can be done about it."

            Hsiao got up and began to walk out the door.  As predicted, she was out.