Black wind

our two men in America,” Tongju said, his eyes narrowing on Dirk.
    Dirk nodded in mute satisfaction. It was as he suspected, the clear connection between the salvage efforts on both Japanese submarines, as well as the murder attempt on Vashon Island.
    “A small world,” Kang replied.
    “Too small for mass murderers like you,” Summer hissed in a low voice, her anger taking rise.
    Kang ignored the comment. “A pity. The men in Seattle were among Tongju’s top agents.”
    “A tragic accident, really,” Dirk replied. “You must learn to recruit employees with better driving skills,” he added, his cold glance at Tongju met by an equally frigid stare back.
    “Fortuitous indeed, as we otherwise may have lost your generous assistance in salvaging the I-411,” Kang said. “I am most curious as to what led you to the submarines.”
    “Luck, mostly. I discovered that an earlier Japanese submarine had launched a few cyanide shells at the Oregon coast and wondered if someone had recovered some similar shells and used them in the Aleutians. It wasn’t until I dove on the I-403 and discovered the remains of the aerial biological bombs that it became evident that there was something more afoot.”
    “A shame that the bombs were damaged during the vessel’s sinking,” Kang said. “They would have been much easier to recover than those from the I-411.”
    “But you did recover one bomb canister intact, which you discharged in the Aleutian Islands.”
    Kang showed a hint of surprise at Dirk’s remark. “Of course,” he replied. “Rather interesting how the Japanese combined a chemical and biological agent in one weapon. Our test release revealed that the efficacy of the biological agent was hampered by the dual release, although the chemical component was more potent than we anticipated.”
    “Potent enough to kill two U.S. Coast Guardsmen,” Summer commented.
    Kang shrugged. “How did you come to have such a focus with the death of two sailors in the Aleutians? Were you there?”
    Summer shook her head in silence. Then Dirk spoke up.
    “I was piloting the helicopter that your ‘fishing trawler’ shot down.”
    Kang and Tongju looked at each other with suspicious eyes. “You are rather a resilient man, Mr. Pitt,” Kang finally stated.
    Before he could respond, a side door swayed open and two men in white waiter’s jackets glided over to the table hoisting large silver trays above their shoulders. A colorful array of seafood dishes was spread before each place setting, followed by a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne. Dirk and Summer, having not eaten a full meal in days, calmly attacked the food as the probing conversation continued.
    “Your government… is rather displeased with the Japanese, I suspect,” Kang prodded.
    “Your shady activities under the guise of the Japanese Red Army was a clever ruse but uncovered for what it was by my government. Your two flunky hit men were easily traced to Korea,” Dirk lied, grinning at Tongju. “I suspect the authorities will be banging on your door any minute now, Kang.”
    A brief look of agitation on Kang’s brow suddenly softened. “A commendable effort. But the truth is that the two men had no idea themselves who their employer was. No, I think it is apparent that you know nothing of our intent.”
    “The long-standing animosity of Korea toward Japan for their many years of brutal colonization is well known,” Dirk said, continuing the pretext. “It would be no surprise to expect the warped minds possessing these type of weapons to use them on a historical adversary, which in your case is the Japanese.”
    A thin smile crossed Kang’s lips and he sat back in his chair with satisfaction, less from the meal than from Dirk’s words.
    “A nice bluff, Mr. Pitt. The fact that your NUMA vessel was neither armed nor escorted during the salvage operation tells me that your country did not think much of your discovery on the I-403. And your presumptive guess as to the operative use of the biological weapons is quite off the mark.”
    “What exactly is your … intended use of the weapons?” Summer stammered.
    “Perhaps your own country,” Kang teased as the color drained from Summer’s face. “Or perhaps not. That is neither here nor there.”
    “The smallpox vaccine is readily available in the United States in quantities sufficient to vaccinate the entire population,” Dirk countered. “Tens of thousands of health workers have already been