With his eyes studying the scene for clues only a professional spy can see, James moves towards the ashes. There is one more explosion, bigger than all the others. In the lacing light debris falls back to earth in slow motion. The Uzi lands with its barrel stabbed into the earth, the stock quivering back and forth. The sun rises in the sky and a very small crowd gathers at the fringes of the fire-broached clearing.
People glance nervously at the crater remaining, and shift to get into the rear of the crowd.
Two Generals and a chicken colonel for each get out of a limo. A long convoy of battle-geared troops pull to a halt behind them. One of the Generals lifts his foot and pushes against the Uzi's stock so that it swings back and forth. He nods to the others and they go back to the limo, open the door and wait as a slightly built high school senior in a rumpled suit emerges. He stands for a moment, peering uncertainly all around him.