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The Truth About Lying
"If you intervene," Volkov said, reciting his script, "I will authorize a nuclear strike."
"I don't believe you," the President blurted out. "You have a dacha in Sochi. A mistress. A yacht.
“You don't want to die. You aren't a martyr. You're a politician."
Volkov tried to deny it. He gagged.
"I do enjoy the yacht."
"So there it is. I am a coward. You are a hedonist. I'm not going to be the person who ends the human species. Turn the boats around."
Volkov sighed. He looked relieved. "I cannot afford a war. My economy is in ruins."
"Then we stop," Bailey Matthews said. "We just stop."
It should have ended there. In a world of lies, it would have. But the Mandate was absolute.
Volkov looked down at his own wrist monitor. It was flashing red.
"I can’t turn them around," Volkov whispered. "Why not? We just agreed!"
"I declared intent.
”You intervened.
“if I don’t strike, I’m a liar,” Volkov said, tears filling his eyes. "The Mandate recorded my threat: 'If you intervene, I
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