The statue's transformation
Allies? Information?
France had far too many allies. Every member of the European Union qualified, and thanks to NATO, its members counted as allies too, naturally including the United States. There were also plenty of countries, large and small, around the world with which France had signed alliances.
It wasn't just France. Almost every major power was in much the same position.
"Uh, Minister, which ally?"
"Minister, what information?"
Henry and Kodel asked one after the other, each focusing on something different.
The defense minister's hair was already completely white. Had he held any position other than his lofty post in the Ministry of Defense, he would already have been due for retirement.
Without keeping them in suspense, the old minister, Francois, reached back and gestured for his subordinates to turn on the conference room's electronic display. They had been standing to one side throughout the senior officials' argument, trembling and not daring to speak.
Then he calmly took a USB drive out of his suit pocket.
"The Brits did us a favor this time!"
The old minister didn't sound happy. If anything, his tone carried a hint of gravity.
As the display lit up, he plugged the drive into the conference table's USB port. Someone beside him hurriedly opened the only folder on it, a collection of materials centered on a slideshow.
The first slide showed an enormous flowering plant. Its blossoms were especially vivid, and everyone in the room except the old man silently marveled at its beauty.
But the second image plunged their admiration straight into the abyss.
The instant the picture appeared, goose bumps raced over everyone's skin.
It was still the same flower, but this photograph showed a wider area than the first, including its roots.
Corpses. A vast number of corpses!