Page 63 of Never
‘You remember I told you that the General had agreed to support President Green’s UN resolution about arms sales?’
‘Yes – you said Nick was very pleased.’
‘The General came here to say that he’s changed his mind.’
‘Shit. What brought that on?’
‘Nick kept asking that question, and the General kept giving evasive answers.’
‘Has President Green done something to offend the General?’
‘We’re trying to figure that out.’
Another guest came and thanked Shirley for the party. They were beginning to leave.
Karim approached Tamara. ‘Your gift suggestion was a big success!’ he said. ‘Thank you for your advice.’
‘You’re welcome. Everyone was so excited when the General arrived.’
‘I’ll see you later in the week. We have a date for coffee.’
He was leaving, but she stopped him. ‘Karim, you know everything that happens in this town.’
He was flattered. ‘Perhaps not everything…’
‘The General won’t vote for President Green’s UN resolution, and we can’t figure out why. He supported us at first. Do you know why he changed his mind?’
‘I do,’ said Karim, but he did not volunteer the explanation.
‘It would be so helpful to Nick to know.’
‘You should ask the Chinese ambassador.’
That was a clue. Karim had weakened a little. Tamara pressed the point. ‘I realize that the Chinese are against our resolution, of course. But what kind of pressure could China bring to make a loyal friend switch sides?’
Karim rubbed the thumb of his right hand across the fingertips in the international gesture for money.
Tamara said: ‘They bribed him?’
Karim shook his head.
‘What, then?’
Karim had to say something now, otherwise it would look as if he had only been pretending to know. ‘For more than a year now,’ he said carefully and quietly, ‘the Chinese have been working on a plan for a canal from the Congo River to Lake Chad. It will be the biggest infrastructure project in the history of the world.’
‘I’ve heard of it. And…?’
‘If we vote for the American resolution they will immediately drop the canal project.’
‘Ah,’ Tamara breathed. ‘That explains it.’
Karim said: ‘The General is very keen on the canal.’
As he should be, Tamara thought. It would save millions of lives and transform Chad.
But such projects could be used for political pressure. There was nothing wicked or even unusual about that. Other countries, including the US, would use their aid projects and foreign investments to strengthen their influence: it was part of the game.
But the ambassador needed to know.
