White Jade (The PROJECT)

by Lukeman, Alex

  "We can't do anything about that now. Selena, how far did you get?"

  "I translated all of the Sanskrit and I have good assumptions about some of the Linear A. It's an unbelievable story."

  "How so?"

  "The first part is a treatise on the immune system and circulation of the blood and has part of a formula for creating an elixir of immortality. Nothing we didn't know. Some information needed to complete the formula is missing. There's a reference to a second book called 'The Silver Garuda' that has the rest of it.

  "The formula isn't what's important. If the book is true, it changes history. It says the First Emperor isn't buried at Li Shan. It claims he was taken to Tibet, where an order of priests would give him the secret of immortality. The text says the secret is thousands of years old."

  "You're kidding," Carter said.

  "That's what it says. It has a map showing where the emperor was supposedly taken. It's near Mount Kailash in the Tibet Autonomous Region."

  Harker was toying with her pen again. "How do you evaluate the historical material? Is there any truth in it?"

  "I don't know, but if it's true the emperor isn't in Li Shan and someone found his real burial site, it would be a fantastic archeological and cultural discovery. Emperor Huang was obsessed with immortality. He would have done anything to obtain it. Maybe he built his tomb to throw his enemies off track.

  "One of the ingredients of the elixir is the powder of 'burning silver rocks'. The computer confirmed that those rocks must be very high grade uranium ore. Ore like that would impact China's nuclear weapons production."

  Harker's pen drummed away on her desk. "Yang might want the book to find out where those priests got their supplies. But how would he know that? We just translated it and no one read it before."

  "If he has the companion book," Carter said, "he'd know your book would have what he's looking for. Did you find out where these rocks came from?"

  Selena brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. "No. But directions can be found where the emperor was taken. That location is marked on the map."

  "How accurate is the map?"

  "The names of the landmarks are archaic and we'd need to find modern equivalents. Mount Kailash is unmistakable. It shouldn't be hard. That part of the Tibetan Plateau is fifteen thousand feet high and barren. There's not much there except yaks and a few villages."

  "We can pin down landmarks with satellite imagery and GPS," said Harker. She made a note. "We'll get that today. In the meantime, how shall we handle the FBI? Nick, you know Jordan. Is he our mole?"

  "I can't see that. He's dedicated. I don't think he's the one."

  "Then we need to bring him up to speed. We have to inform the FBI we think there's a leak. Steph, how are you coming with those risk scenarios?"

  "They'll be finished this morning."

  "Good. We'll meet with Jordan this afternoon. Anything else?"

  No one had anything to add.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  There was no sign of Cathy Chen. Selena, Ronnie, Stephanie and Nick were in the Director's office with Jordan. Harker told him about the theft of Selena's computer. She tossed out the conclusion there was a mole in the Bureau.

  "I don't believe it."

  "Do you have a better explanation? Someone passed the information to Wu. Your people and ours are the only ones who knew Nick and Selena survived. General Hood at NSA is in the loop now. It's not him and it's not one of us. It's got to be someone in the Bureau."

  "Am I a suspect, then?" Jordan was getting angry.

  "No."

  "I don't like what you're saying."

  "I don't like saying it. If I'm right, we have to find out who the informant is. If I'm wrong, I'll owe you an apology. What I want to know now is if I can count on you to help us sort this out."

  Jordan took a deep breath. "All right, Director. But I think you're wrong."

  "Then help us prove it."

  "I'm not sure where to start."

  "Communications," Carter said. "Our mole had to contact Wu. Run a trace on the phone numbers of people in your unit, cross reference Wu's numbers from our intercepts, see if there's a connection. NSA does this all the time."

  "I wouldn't call Wu or his contact from my own phone if I were the mole."

  "People get over-confident. They make mistakes. It's worth a try."

  Jordan nodded. "Okay."

  "Financial records." It was Ronnie. "We run checks on everyone in the Asian Criminal Enterprise Unit and see if someone's getting richer than they're supposed to be."

  "I can get authority for that," said Jordan. "All right, I'll do it. But I want to keep this internal. If one of ours is bad, then we have to be the ones to take him down. Agreed?"

  Harker nodded. "Agreed."

  Carter felt sorry for him. Who needs to hear someone you're working with might be a traitor?

  "Is there anything else, Director? I'm due back at headquarters."

  "No. I know this isn't easy."

  "No, it's not. I think you're wrong, but you're right about one thing, we have to know one way or the other." Jordan got up, annoyed.

  Stephanie escorted him out. When she returned, the Director went on with the meeting.

  "We will no longer involve the FBI in what we're doing, until we know who tipped off Wu. I didn't want Jordan to hear the next part of our discussion. Stephanie, what do the scenarios indicate?"

  "As we thought. High probability of a conspiracy to take over control of China. The computer factored in the defector interviews, all the rest of the intelligence we've been getting from China in the last few months, the FBI's concern about the Triads, Wu's actions, everything.

  "Selena was curious about a reference to burning rocks. The computer confirms it refers to high grade uranium ore, over ninety-seven percent probability. The process described in the book is the same as what we use today to produce yellowcake. That gets refined into uranium oxides. You put that through centrifuges to get the enriched uranium you need for bombs. You can get yellowcake from low grade ore but it's tedious. High quality ore yields a lot more for the same effort."

  "That would explain the passage in the text about changing from silver to yellow or gold," Selena said.

  The Director set her pen to the side. "What about the immortality elixir? What does the computer say about that?"

  Stephanie adjusted the gold bracelets on her wrist. "The computer doesn't have the bias we do about the existence of an elixir of immortality. It projects the elixir may be discovered."

  "What's the probability of success?"

  "For finding the complete formula and the place where it was manufactured, eighty-six per cent. The same for finding the location of the uranium. Regarding the coup, that's more hopeful. At best, there's about a fifty-fifty chance Yang can pull it off."

  "What happens if he doesn't find the elixir?"

  "Still fifty-fifty. They're not related."

  Carter said, "Does the computer back up our ideas about the Triads?"

  Stephanie nodded. "Provide a distraction while Yang brings up the tanks. I was careful not to program in our conclusions. The computer was analyzing the same intel we have and its conclusions are similar. The scenario indicates high probability for West Coast targets in the Bay Area, but we could be looking at attacks on a national level. The emphasis is on disruption of basic infrastructure, including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, the transportation system, water supply and especially power sources."

  "What do you think will happen, if we're right?" Carter tugged at his ear.

  Harker picked up her pen. "It could lead to war."

  "Let me see if I've got this right, Steph," said Ronnie. "If there was a big terrorist attack here there'd be plenty of speculation and talk, right? World attention?"

  "Yes."

  "And that would keep the Chinese government and everyone else preoccupied?"

  "Yes."

  "So while the world is looking the other way, Yang makes
his move and takes over."

  Stephanie nodded agreement. "That's about it."

  Harker tapped her upper lip with her pen. "The big question is when? It must be soon, or why move on Connor and grab his accounts? Nick, if you were doing this, when would you do it?"

  "I'd pick a time when our guard was down, when people were thinking about something else. Like a holiday."

  "The Fourth of July." It was Selena. "That's five days from now. It's the only holiday coming up anytime soon. Big crowds for fireworks, traffic jams, lots of confusion. If they're going to try something soon, I'd bet on that."

  "That makes sense." Tap, tap, tap on her desk. "I'm going to have to give a heads up to Homeland Security. I can't go to the President yet."

  "But how much can we tell them," Nick said. "Whatever we give them is bound to leak. Yang will find out we're on to him."

  "I only have to tell them enough to get them to raise the security watch. I can do that without giving away the store. The main thing is to get them on it. This is going to get complicated."

  Elizabeth dreaded the nightmare of Washington bureaucracy. If the various agencies started putting in their two cents they'd argue about what to do and how to do it and who would be in charge and form a joint task force. It would be next year before anything happened. There wasn't time for that.

  She made up her mind. "It's Homeland Security's job to be on the lookout for an attack. We can alert them, but that's all we can do and all we have to do. We've got mobility the others don't and we need to take action. I want something to back up our analysis."

  "How do we get that?" Carter reached under his jacket and adjusted his holster. He felt a headache start. He knew what was coming.

  "Right from the start everything has centered on the book. Yang wanted what's in it and now he has that. He has the same directions and information we do. His best chance at finding out anything more is to look for the place where the emperor was taken. That's in Tibet. We need to get there before he does, document anything we find and block Yang from getting it."

  "That area is pretty remote," Carter said. "We could get in with minimal risk of detection, but how long will it take to find this place? We don't even know for sure it exists."

  "We'll run satellite images and cross reference with the map in the book. If we can get a good idea where, we'll go in."

  "Who's going?"

  "Don't worry, Ronnie, you're on the team."

  "You need me along," Selena said.

  "You don't know what you're asking," Carter said.

  "You don't think a woman can do the tough stuff?"

  "That's not what I mean."

  "What do you mean?"

  "We'll have to jump in. It's rugged terrain and high altitude. If the Chinese are there it could get bad, fast."

  "I've been skydiving for years, I'm qualified. I have over seventy jumps. None of you speak the languages and you couldn't make sense of any writing you might come across. You need me."

  "It's not a goddamned farmer's field. It's the Himalayas, for Christ's sake."

  Selena just looked at him.

  Harker said, "Anyone on that team has to be armed, Selena."

  "Guns don't bother me."

  "They're not guns, they're weapons. How do you feel about shooting someone? You think you could do that?"

  Her heart started pounding. She took a deep breath. "If I had to."

  "You have a point about the language barrier." Tap, tap.

  There was silence. After a moment Carter said, "How would we go in?"

  "I think a B-1B modified for Special Ops, out of Dyess. That plane is perfect for high altitude penetration. Chinese radar won't pick it up. With a small team we can give you a vehicle, supplies, everything you need. How many personnel do you want?"

  "Fewer is better," said Ronnie. "If we run into opposition, more bodies won't get us out of trouble and we lose mobility with more. Keep it small."

  "Nick?"

  "I agree with Ronnie. One vehicle, weapons, a few days of supplies. In light and out as fast as we can. But I want to know exactly what we're getting into before we get on that plane."

  "We'll get as much intel as we can." Harker's pen tapped, went still. "Selena, I'm willing to put you on the team but I want Nick to get you familiar with the weapons you'll have to carry."

  "That's fine by me."

  "Wait a minute," Nick said. "Selena's not combat trained."

  "Then I guess you'd better get her up to speed. She goes. We don't have a lot of time. Yang and his people are going to get there as fast as they can. We have to beat them to it."

  "You're putting us at risk."

  "She goes." Harker's voice had an edge in it. Carter had heard it before. It was her don't-fuck-with-me voice.

  He gave in. "When do we leave?"

  "We have to set up transport and supplies and get a clear location. If it's a go, tomorrow night. That gives you time to work with Selena on the range. Ronnie, you get on logistics. Make sure nothing points back to us and that you've got plenty of whatever you need. Better add climbing gear. It'll be cold weather and thin air. Lay in oxygen."

  "What about radiation equipment? If there's anything there, we need to know it."

  "Good point. Take a counter and dosimeters for everyone."

  "Are you going to tell the President?" Carter asked.

  "No. Not yet. He needs to be able to deny it."

  She didn't say what they were all thinking. If Rice had to deny it, something would have gone wrong. Big time wrong.

  Like that, they were on their way to Tibet.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Colonel Wu made the call on his encrypted satellite phone.

  "Yang."

  "Sir. I am pleased to report success. I have a complete copy of the book in my possession."

  "You are sure it is the correct book."

  "Yes, sir."

  "Is it the original?"

  "No, sir, it is a computer transcription with a complete scan of the original and translation. After this call I will transmit it to your private terminal."

  "Where is the original?"

  "As far as I can determine it is inaccessible."

  "What is the status of your negotiations with the Triads?"

  "Everything has been agreed to as you wished. They are ready to carry out Summer Wind on the American holiday. I offered four hundred million American dollars and full independence, with mutual security agreements, for Taiwan. As you predicted, the money by itself would not have been enough. Offering Taiwan was irresistible. The bosses are all what the Americans call high rollers. Gamblers. They could not refuse to gamble for stakes on the world's table."

  "It is a gamble they will lose. Very good, Senior Colonel Wu. You will return home immediately."

  Wu flushed with pride. Senior Colonel! The hard jump in the military hierarchy.

  "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

  "You've done well, Wu. When you arrive, report directly to me."

  "Yes, sir. Do you have any other instructions?"

  "None at the moment. Transmit the information." Yang ended the call.

  A few key strokes on his computer and the information was on its way. Wu got out a suitcase and began packing. There was a plane leaving in four hours.

  In Beijing, General Yang set the phone down and allowed himself a moment of satisfaction.

  The Elixir of Immortality. The goal of thousands of years of Chinese tradition. It could be his. But it was probably just another old recipe that brought death, not life.

  A raid in Tibet had turned up a Sanskrit text on the First Emperor, called "The Silver Garuda". It was known that Yang collected anything about the First Emperor and his search for immortality. The book had found its way to him.

  The elixir of immortality was a defining element in the life of Emperor Huang. Yang thought of the Emperor as a kindred spirit, a model to be emulated and surpassed. Huang had taken a vast land ruled by feuding warlords and beset by bar
barian enemies and forged it into an empire. He had started China on the path of greatness. Anything remotely related to him was of interest.

  When Yang read the translation he'd seen the possibilities. It was clear the formula used potent radioactive materials. According to the text, directions to the source of those materials could be found in a second book, the one now residing on his computer.

  The quality of China's uranium made refinement time-consuming and expensive. With the location of superior deposits he'd have what he needed to bring hundreds of the new warheads on line. Lighter, more deadly. The designs were in place.

  That made him think of Deng, the treasonous little dog. It was annoying that Deng had defected. Sooner or later Deng would be eliminated. Meanwhile, others carried on his work.

  It would take time to ready the missiles. Perhaps two years, but Yang was patient. As for the elixir, once he had the complete formula, he'd test it on prisoners. The book was found in Tibet. He'd use Tibetans for the trials. The corners of his frog like mouth turned upward in a smile.

  He went to his computer and opened the message. Yang was shocked to learn the emperor was not at Li Shan, more so when he saw where he had been taken. The site was marked on the map in the book. When Colonel Wu returned, Yang would send him there.

  His thoughts turned to the plan. The American holiday was close. It was time to activate Summer Wind, the operation that would change the destiny of China forever. A new Dynasty would be born.

  Yang picked up his phone and began calling the others. Mixed in with inconsequential conversation was the same message each time. Spring has ended, summer is upon us. The planes would remain on the ground unless he released them. The tanks were ready. The submarines with their missiles would be his. So would the ICBMs targeted on the West. That would keep the Americans and other foreign dogs at bay. The railroads would shut down. Divisions commanded by members of the Society and trusted officers under them would occupy Beijing.

  He'd arrest the entire Politburo Standing Committee of the Party and the President, cut off the head of the current leadership and replace it with himself. China would become the most powerful nation that had ever existed and step into her rightful place. Yang was certain the First Emperor would understand his ambition, if he were alive today.