Never

This section of the novel has two main narratives. One follows the mounting global tensions as tit-for-tat retaliatory incidents increase in number and players involved, with a focus on events in China. The second narrative is the growing romantic relationship between Kiah and Abdul, who have successfully escaped captivity from the terrorists in Libya. Connected to this second narrative is President Green’s growing awareness of her romantic feelings toward Gus as her own marriage is falling apart. These narratives speak to Stereotypes of Women and Power, as the women become increasingly involved in romantic relationships in this section. While the situations increase in danger, the women show increased skill and wisdom in navigating them; but they also become further enmeshed in their romantic relationships. The novel then engages in stereotypes about women in power, as it implies that they cannot simply fulfill their professional obligations without becoming involved in romantic relationships with men. As the situations become more dangerous, the women only become more involved with men, and while Kiah does subvert the formula in a way and shows agency as a 20-year-old widow, Pauline becomes increasingly involved with Gus while dealing with international relations crises as president of the US.

There are reasonable actors in both China and the US like Pauline and Kai who wish to avoid an escalation to WWIII. For Kai, the repeated refrain is to find a response that is a retaliation and not an escalation. Pauline shows humility and concern about the decisions she is taking in the present and might have to take in the future. She recalls her conversation with her daughter on the topic: “Her choices brought people wealth or poverty, fairness or injustice, life or death. She did her best but she was never 100 percent sure she was right” (598). When the North attacks the South, even though the missiles are devastating and contain chemical weapons (but not biological agents as first feared), the US administration is relieved that they can classify them as retaliatory rather than an act of war. President Green is firm in her judgment: “‘That settles it,’ said Pauline. ‘This is retaliation’” (601). A few moments later she announces, “Ladies and gentlemen, that was not the outbreak of war” (604). Still, she raises the level of readiness to DEFCON 3, which is a standby level and the highest possible during peacetime. These events speak to Globalization and the Threat of Nuclear War in the 21st Century. The events of the novel lead closer and closer to nuclear war, and the globalized nature of the world only increases this threat as military actions involve many different nations and motivations. Each act involves a number of countries, and as each one becomes angrier, so do all of its allies, leading to an increased threat and dread of nuclear catastrophe.

Kai is an important member of the Chinese spy agency and communist royalty because of his father’s position in the party, and he should be in a position of strength to promote less aggressive responses in China and North Korea. He acts as a free agent at times to promote this moderate approach, for example by sharing information with Neil from the US Embassy that he does not have clearance to provide. President Green worries that he is “freelancing” rather than speaking as an official member of the Chinese government (627). She thinks this might be because he is worried about what the North Korean leader might do next and also worried that some in Chinese leadership are not taking the situation seriously enough (627). This is not only an accurate assessment but also foreshadows upcoming events. It is revealed that infighting for a soon to be available position has caused a rival to accuse Kai’s wife of pro-Western behavior. Another moment of foreshadowing occurs when Pauline thinks of the nuclear football and the possible end of the world (645). Again, the novel investigates The Ethics and Counterproductivity of Diplomacy and International Relations. Kai and China find themselves as part of a large ally network in the world, but this ally network only seems to increase the threat of danger and nuclear war. None of Kai’s or China’s actions diffuse this threat, and the same can be said for the US and Pauline. Diplomacy seems to only strengthen one side against the other and works to worsen the standoff and tribalism rather than to lessen them.

The second narrative focuses on the budding romance of Kiah and Abdul. While some critics have found this to be a distraction for the main plot, it does serve to slow down its action. This abrupt slow pace builds tension, as the reader must wait to find out what happens next.