White Jade (The PROJECT)

by Lukeman, Alex

  The bearers came to a bleak hilltop. In the following panels a pyramid roofed building and houses were constructed. It was the temple site above.

  The style of painting changed, the work of a different artist. Figures dressed in garments of the early days of the Chinese empire surrounded a large golden palanquin with closed curtains, borne on the shoulders of straining, bare backed slaves. The procession was entering the temple complex on the hilltop.

  In the next panel figures bent over a Chinese man dressed in elaborate robes, lying on a white table. Men in orange and women in white, one in blue, stood on a platform lined with blazing sconces, arms raised and faces uplifted in supplication. Behind them the great golden bird soared with its rider. The painting mirrored what Nick could see with his own eyes.

  The last panel was a detailed map. Carter recognized India, China and Mongolia. It was marked with Minoan and Sanskrit writing.

  The murals told the tale of the end of the Minoan civilization. They confirmed the story in the book about taking the First Emperor of China to a secret place.

  This place.

  "I need pictures." Selena took out her camera. Her hands trembled.

  "See if the writing can tell us anything we need to know. We'll take a look at the building."

  Two V-shaped channels lined with white stone paralleled the steps going up to the building, ending at square openings on each side of a rectangular white slab in the center of the platform.

  Ronnie and Nick walked around the slab. They climbed the steps and entered a large, square room. Their footsteps sent a fine cloud of gray dust into the air. Ronnie sneezed. He wiped his nose on his sleeve.

  Tables covered with metal caldrons, tools and glass containers lined the sides of the room. A fire pit with iron rods and grates positioned over it took up one corner. Against one wall was a large closed chest of dark metal. Hanging above the chest was a long pair of tongs. Except for the thick dust, everyone could have downed tools and left a few minutes before.

  "This reminds me of my old high school science class. Beakers, bottles, fire. I was bored in that class. Once I unscrewed a Bunsen burner on the lab bench and lit it. The flame was three feet high."

  Ronnie laughed. "How'd the teacher handle that?"

  "I got three days detention. Messed up football practice, Coach was really mad."

  "What do you think is in that chest?"

  "What's it made of?"

  "I'm not sure. Some kind of metal."

  Ronnie pulled his Ka-Bar and scratched the surface. A dull sliver of gray peeled away, leaving a shiny line under the point of the knife.

  "It's lead."

  The lid was designed to slip down around the sides of the chest. There were no hinges.

  "What have we got, Nick, Pandora's Box?"

  "I've got an idea."

  He took a counter from his pack. The readout showed higher than normal radiation, but not dangerous.

  "Let's open it up and take a look."

  The lid was heavy. They lifted it and Nick felt his back spasm. They set it askew across the box. The chest was half full of black rocks. The counter reading climbed toward the red and the alarm went off.

  "Back on."

  "Right."

  They got the lid back on in a hurry. Nick checked his dosimeter. Still okay.

  "I guess we found what Yang is looking for."

  "How'd the priests keep themselves from getting cooked?"

  "You've got me, Ronnie. How did they know lead would protect them from radiation, or that there was any radiation in the first place? How did they build this place?"

  "Nick, look over here."

  A man dressed in orange robes stood in a corner alcove, arm outstretched, holding something white in his hand.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Wu was stiff and sore from jolting over the rough road. The convoy had been on the road since morning, headed for the village of Moincer. From there it was still hours to the objective. Sergeant Choy rode with him in the command car.

  Thirty soldiers commandeered from the 53rd Mountain Battalion in Lhasa rode in the three trucks behind. They weren't elite troops but they were used to the terrain and the altitude. Wu wasn't sure what he would find at the ruins. He'd need manpower to remove anything of interest there. The trucks would transport it back.

  The General's instructions had been concise. Yang had spread a composite satellite photo on the table and placed his finger on a spot in the west of Xizang, formerly Tibet.

  "Senior Colonel Wu."

  "Sir."

  "This is the monastery of Gurugem. Fifty kilometers north is a cluster of ruins. The directions in the book you procured lead there."

  Yang placed his finger on the photo. A blurred image of regular shapes and fallen walls indicated an ancient compound.

  "The nearest town is here, where the coal mines are located. There is a road to the monastery. From there you will make your way up this valley to the ruins. There is no road. Be sure you have adequate transport."

  "Sir."

  "Take men with you. Bring back anything you find of value."

  "Sir, what am I looking for?"

  "Sonar scans show a chamber under the ruins. You will find a way into this chamber. Look for artifacts of any kind. There may be maps. Look for anything that refers to the First Emperor. If there are records, collect or photograph them and bring the information back to me. Take radiation detection equipment. There may be a stockpile of radioactive materials, especially ore. If you find it, bring back a sample. If it is there, look for anything that shows where it was mined."

  "What if the Americans have discovered this site?"

  Yang looked unconcerned. "If any foreigners are there, interrogate and eliminate them. Find out everything they know. Dispose of the bodies and any equipment they might have. That should be easy in this remote area."

  "Yes, sir. I 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. While 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 leads 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 re
gion inferior. They drove past a man herding goats toward the market. People 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 patches of snow lingering 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 would be too late to make any difference, but Wu needed to pacify him. Juggler was nervous. Wu decided his usefulness was over. There would be no more payments, but Juggler didn't need to know that.

  "Excellent, Juggler. There will be a bonus this time. Continue to keep me informed of any developments, but there should be no more confusion after the demonstrations take place."

  "I have to go. Someone's coming."

  Juggler ended the call.

  Wu stood in the early morning mountain cold and thought about what to say to General Yang. He walked away from the vehicle. Choy made to follow and Wu waved him back. He called Yang.

  "Yes."

  "Sir, I have just received a call from an asset in America."

  "Yes?"

  "The Americans have learned we plan something using the Triads. They suspect the existence of Summer Wind."

  Silence. Wu waited.

  "What is the reliability of this asset?"

  "Very high, sir. He is embedded in their Federal Bureau of Investigation."

  "This changes nothing. We will continue as planned. What is your current status?"

  "We are starting up to the objective. I estimate three or four hours until we arrive. We found tracks and I believe the Americans are here ahead of us."

  "Meddlers. Find and eliminate them. You have your orders."

  "Yes, sir."

  "Report when you have more information." Yang ended the call.

  Wu turned and walked back to where Choy waited.

  "Let's go, Sergeant."

  The convoy began the climb to the ruins. Wu checked his pistol, put it back in his holster. With luck he would take the Americans by surprise. There couldn't be many of them, there were only tracks for one vehicle. He rubbed his forehead, trying to ease the pounding headache that had started. Damn this thin air. He coughed and spit out a wad of phlegm. Maybe it was time to cut back on his smoking.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  "Selena, come look at this." Nick called her over.

  The three of them stood in front of the mummified figure.

  "What's holding him up?" Ronnie held his torch close. The skin was old and brown and pulled tight over the bones of the skull. The eyes were black hollows in the face.

  "Must be propped up, under the robe."

  "It's one of the priests, like in the paintings. That's a piece of white jade in his hand." She stepped closer. "It's a carved figure of the emperor."

  Carter remembered his dream of a robed figure in darkness, holding something white out toward him. The hair stirred on the back of his neck..

  "What do you think they were doing in here?" He held his torch up. The flame reflected off the glass containers on the tables.

  "Caldrons, fire, glass—it's a laboratory. I think they were trying to make an elixir of immortality," said Selena.

  "It's beginning to look like it. You have any luck with the writing on the walls?"

  "It's the linguistic discovery of a lifetime. The writing is a narrative and each panel has something written underneath about the painting above."

  "Sort of an illustrated book." Ronnie said.

  "Yes. This priest with the jade was part of a cult of eternal life. You saw that mural at the end, where everyone is standing around and raising their hands to heaven? The writing says the body was prepared for eternal existence. Immortality to these people meant you came back after death, and you had to have a body to do it. No body, no immortality."

  Nick sat on a stone bench, trying to take stress off his back. "Belief in eternal life has been around since the cavemen. Lots of cultures put personal things like food and dishes in the grave for the dead person to use after death."

  "The Minoans did that," said Selena. "Archeologists have found personal objects in Minoan tombs. They might have picked up on the idea from the Egyptians."

  Carter tugged on his ear. "If the Minoans were leaving things in the tombs, they must have thought the body needed those things after death."

  "But the Minoans didn't preserve bodies." Selena brushed a wisp of hair away. "They buried the dead in collective tombs and kept using the tombs over and over, pushing everything into a corner until it got full. These murals present something radically different. First you die, the body's preserved, then you come back in the same body and live forever. That's a huge divergence from what we know about Minoan and early Vedic civilization. The Indians cremated their dead. They still do."

  "What's the elixir for?" Ronnie asked.

  "I think they wanted to create a real formula for staying alive forever."

  "Why here in Tibet?"

  "The story on the walls says the priests started from here, went to Crete and then returned. It doesn't say when or why or how they could have known about the Minoans. The part about the emperor is clear enough. Huang was brought to this spot, to receive the elixir. That would have been in 210 B.C.E."

  "I wonder what they did with him? We haven't seen anything that looks like a tomb." His back was stiffening up. Time to get back to work.

  Ronnie looked at the mummy. The priest grinned back. "What's next, Nick?"

  "Selena gets videos of everything. You and I look for anything that might interest Yang. Selena, if you record all of the writing we can translate it later. Once you've got your pictures we'll get out and blow the entrance. I don't want Yang down here poking around."

  "You want to blow up that statue?"

  "We don't have a choice. We got in easily enough. Whoever Yang sends will have the same information we have. We'll just seal the top. In the future someone can re-open it, if th
at's the right thing."

  She shook her head. "I never thought I'd be part of destroying the archeological find of the century. I'd better finish getting my pictures."

  Carter reached out to take the piece of white jade from the mummy's hand. It didn't move. He tugged on it and the arm came up as the jade came free. As he turned to give it to Selena the floor shook under their feet.

  Something was happening deep under the stones. The room started to shake. Bits of mortar and trails of dust fell from the ceiling. A glass bowl slipped from one of the tables and shattered.

  Taking the jade figure of the emperor had triggered some ancient mechanism. They ran out of the room, down the steps and into the great outer chamber. A thick silver fluid gushed into the channels cut along the sides of the steps and flowed down into the openings by the white slab on the platform.

  "That looks like mercury," Selena called above the rumble of moving stone.

  It was mercury, a hell of a lot of it. They stood at the foot of the steps and watched a rectangular white block slowly rise in the center of the platform. After a minute the flow of mercury in the channels slowed to a trickle. The rumbling vibration died away.

  They walked over to the block. It was chest high and illustrated with elaborate scenes of life in ancient China. Selena ran her hands over the carvings.

  "This entire container is made of white jade. I think it's a crypt, or a sarcophagus."

  Carter stood next to her. "What do you think is inside?"

  "Not what, who. I think the First Emperor of China"

  "Still alive, you think?"

  "Smartass. You want to take a look?" She trained her video camera on the sarcophagus.

  "Give me a hand, Ronnie." The lid was sealed with a sticky resin. They used their knives to dig it out.

  They fumbled for a handhold and moved the lid away from one corner. Inside Nick saw a foot wearing an elaborate brocaded slipper. A foul smell seeped from the crypt.

  "Phew." Ronnie turned his head away.

  "No place for the stink to go after they sealed him up"

  "Slide the lid further over, Nick."