The Project 01 - White Jade

understand. May I ask a question? "
    Yang looked at Wu from under hooded eyes and nodded. For an instant it reminded Wu of a cobra, but he put the thought from his mind.
    " Sir, may I ask the status of Summer Wind? "
    " You may. Summer Wind is on schedule. We begin in two days, as planned. The Americans will be angered by events carried out by the Triads . Their anger will confuse them. The Chairman and the Standing Committee will be in Beijing . W hile they argue about how to respond to the Americans I will neutralize them. Then I will placate the Americans, blame the Committee and provide the scapegoats the American president will need for his people. Dead scapegoats in Beijing. The Triads in America. "
    " Sir, your vision lead s us back onto the true path of our destiny. I wish I could be in Beijing when it happens. "
    Yang dismissed the flattery with a quick gesture, but looked pleased. " Your mission is crucial for our future . Do not fail me. "
    " Never, sir. I will start at once. "
    " Very good. Keep me informed. "
    Wu had saluted, turned on his heel and marched from the room.
    Now, grinding through the darkness of western Xizang , Wu felt a glow of pride remembering Yang ' s praise. His reverie was shattered by the gunshot sound of a tire blowing out. The driver wrestled the vehicle to a stop. The convoy halted behind.
    " Quickly, Sergeant. "
    " Sir. "
    Choy was out cursing, yelling orders. Wu stood smoking by the side of the road while the soldiers worked, fuming at the delay. It took twenty minutes before the wheel was changed and they were moving again. Two hours later, the yellow lights of the village of Moincer appeared.
    They drove past neat rows of low houses built of whitewashed earth and stone, roofed with red tile. A few strings of prayer flags blew in the never-ending wind. Large, painted Buddha eyes stared out from some of the older buildings. They passed the ugly cement block that was Party district headquarters.
    Tea carts and shops were open and crowded, even at this early hour. Wu would have liked tea, but there was no time to stop . Besides, he thought the tea in this region inferior. They drove past a man herding goats toward the market. P eople looked away as the Chinese convoy drove past.
    The road out of town was smooth and they made good time. The lights from the vehicles revealed a stark landscape of treeless hills and p atches of snow linger ing in dark places untouched by sun . They passed a herd of yaks, black shapes humped like basalt rocks in the night. The night was fading and the valley was filled with deep, cold shadows.
    They passed the monastery, a multi- tiered, whitewashed structure built into the side of a hill. Wu consulted the map. " Turn here. Stop. "
    Wu got out. A broad valley led north into the mountains. Choy stood behind him.
    " Look here, Sergeant. What do you see? " He pointed at faint impressions in the fragile earth.
    " Tire tracks. A wide wheel base, maybe a truck. Someone went this way, not too long ago. "
    " The tracks are not deep enough for a truck. I think the Americans are here before us. "
    " How would they get here with a vehicle, without us detecting them? "
    " Who knows? When we find them, we ' ll ask them. Put the troops on alert, lock and load weapons. If the Americans are here, they will be armed. "
    " Yes, sir. "
    Wu ' s satellite phone buzzed in his pocket.
    " Wu. "
    " This is Juggler. "
    Damn. What was this going to be? Wu had enough to think about. He forced his mind to English.
    " Go ahead, Juggler. "
    " The government here has learned something is planned for July Fourth. They know the Triads are involved and are raising the alert status. "
    " What else? " Wu waited for the satellite delay.
    " There is speculation regarding a military takeover in your country. Are you planning a coup? "
    Wu drew in a breath. How did they learn of this?
    " No, nothing like that is being considered. Your government is paranoid. "
    " What is going to happen on the Fourth? Are you planning an attack? Because I don ' t want to be anywhere near here if you are. "
    " What possible advantage would that give us? Of course not. " The lie came easily. " The Triads are being mobilized against the Dalai Llama and the Tibetan Revisionists, that ' s all. Large demonstrations will take place. They will be forceful but peaceful. We will achieve maximum exposure by protesting on your independence day. You should not be worried. "
    By the time Juggler realized Wu was lying it