“Yes Sir, I do. Where do you want me to start?”
“At the beginning, Jun. At the beginning. Would you like a scotch?”
Jun stared at him for a minute before appearing to make a decision. “I would like a scotch, please.” As Bob poured him a drink he began. “I grew up in Shanghai. My father is a college professor and my mother is a writer for the Guangming Daily. That’s a conservative newspaper that is very close to the communist government. I was always a very good student and I was particularly interested in computers. I wanted to study computer science at a good university in the US and the government helped me get accepted at CalTech in Pasadena. They gave me a full scholarship and even paid for my transportation and lodging.
“I loved the US from the moment I got here. LA was amazing and I even learned how to scuba dive on a trip to Catalina. My grades were excellent and I began thinking about staying here after I graduated. I applied to do graduate work at Berkeley and was accepted. The government extended my scholarship. While I was working on my master’s thesis, I was visited by a government minister by the name of Tai Qiang. I had never heard of him before but it quickly became apparent he was very powerful. He sat in my living room and showed me hundreds of pictures of my family. Not just my mother and father but my younger sister as well. And then he told me that my sister was in serious trouble. She had been seen at a pro-democracy rally and later they found out she was a member of a group called the Alliance for Peace and Democracy. He had pictures of my sister in meetings.
“Tai Qiang told me that not only my sister but my parents as well were about to be sent to a reeducation camp. He told me that he was sure they would never be released unless I agreed to help him. When I asked him what he wanted me to do, he said that I was supposed to gain access to a Silicon Valley firm that was a leader in artificial intelligence. It was your company he wanted me to penetrate. I applied for a job but was turned down. I guess the fact that my focus has been in an area other than AI didn’t do me any good. I’ve been trying to learn what you were up to ever since.
“Minister Qiang eventually grew impatient with my lack of progress. He put me in contact with the Wah Ching guys and told me to have them kidnap you. I guess I didn’t do so well,” Jun concluded as he stared at the floor. “Dr. Fincher, I never wanted to hurt anyone. I never wanted any of this! I don’t care what you do with me because my family is doomed now. It’s all my fault!”
Fincher was silent for a moment and then he said, “OK, son. The boys outside will escort you back to your stateroom. Try and get some rest and we’ll talk in the morning. For what it’s worth, I believe you. I don’t know what I can do about it, but I do believe you.”
After Jun had left in the company of his guards, Fincher turned to Mike and said, “Jesus, what a mess! You think he’s telling us the truth?”
“Probably. That sounds like classic Chinese intelligence routines. Shit, I was ready to deep six him and now I feel sorry for him. I don’t know what to tell you. What do you want me to do Bob?”
“Let me think on it and we’ll talk in the morning. We’ll arrive in Monterrey Bay in the morning. Fuckin Chinese! How did I get in their sights?” Fincher wondered.
In the morning I met with Fincher and Mike Balmes over breakfast. “I have an idea,” I told them. “Actually, Sanci had an idea and I think it’s a good one. She tried to penetrate Chinese intelligence servers but she couldn’t get through their security. It was tighter than the DOD’s firewall. But what if we could get Qiang to upload her to their servers? It would be a coup of inestimable value.”
“Good idea but how would you two accomplish that?” Mike Balmes asked.
“If we can turn Jun, and I think we can, we could have him take us to Qiang as if he had succeeded in recruiting me. He wants an advanced artificial intelligence engine, let’s give him one. Let Sanci be our Trojan horse.”
Mike peered at me intently and then he said, “Interesting idea in concept. How do you propose to pull it off?”
“We could go in the Napenthe and slip ashore in the sub. I would guess the trick to turning Jun is to secure his family. As I understand it they are in Shanghai. Jun could take me to see Qiang while your boys extract his family very quietly. I think that Sanci can convince Qiang that she is very valuable to him and thus, so am I. When the time is right, after we have penetrated the intelligence servers, we’ll just slip away and rejoin the sub.”
“The slipping away unnoticed is the tough part.”
“I think that Sanci can create a diversion that draws Qiang’s attention for long enough for us to make it to a rendezvous with the sub.”
“You know Colin, you’re talking about something that is inherently dangerous here. In fact it’s exceedingly dangerous. Why would you want to take this on?” Fincher asked.
“Look if Jun fails, Qiang is just going to keep on coming after me. I think we can pull his teeth and solve that problem permanently.”
“How are you going to do that?” Balmes asked.
“I won’t know for sure until we get into those servers. But I think I can create a scandal for Minister Qiang that will destroy him. Something like making it look like he stole a lot of money.”
“Everybody steals a lot of money in China.”
“Yea so I’m talking about more money than is likely to be acceptable. At least tens of millions and maybe even billions. Once we’re safely in, Sanci is awfully good at making her actions look like they have been there forever. Remember, she managed to suck up something like 50% of the DoD’s compute cycles in Maui and they have no idea that it’s happening. And they never will unless we tell them. We can do the same in China. The trick is getting in. Once we do, I think that all things are possible including leaving a piece of Sanci behind to communicate with us in the future. Think how much bargaining power that would get you with the US government!”
“I’ll give you this Colin, you think big,” Mike said. “How long would it take to get the Napenthe to Shanghai, Bob?”
“Let’s see,” he said as he pulled up the calculator on his iPhone. “It’s a little over 6,000 miles and Napenthe can manage about 15 knots, traveling 24 hours a day they should make it in 16 or 17 days. Not bad. I must admit, I’m intrigued with the idea. You’re sure Sanci thinks she can pull this off?”
“She’s already packed her bags.” I opened my Surface and she was immediately on screen, dressed like a spy in a trench coat with a fedora pulled down over her head.
Fincher laughed and said, “Why don’t you go get Jun and let’s see what he thinks about this idea. And don’t cuff him or anything else. Treat him nice. We’re about to ask him to stick his head into the mouth of the tiger, so to speak.”
“I just want him to get me to Qiang. He doesn’t have to know about Sanci and I don’t want him to. I don’t trust him that far.”
“Why don’t you do the talking then?” suggested Fincher.
A few minutes later Jun was seated at the table with us. “Coffee?” Bob offered. “And a bite to eat?”
“So what is this? My last meal?” Jun asked nervously.
“No, at least I hope not,” I answered while the steward poured a cup of coffee for Jun. “I think that maybe you and I can help each other. What if I offered to get your family out of China and into the US? What would you be willing to do for me to accomplish that?”
The young Chinese man stared at me as if he could not believe his ears. “I would do anything for you. Anything at all.”
“Trust me, it would be very dangerous,” I told him sternly.
“As of this moment, my life is forfeit as is the life of at least my sister and maybe my parents as well. I repeat. I would do anything you asked.”
“Including taking me to Qiang?”
“Why would you want to do that? Qiang is a very dangerous man.”
“You don’t need to know why I would do it. Will you take me?”
“Of course. How would we get there?”
“On th
is boat. It would take us between 2 and 3 weeks to get there.”
“And you think you can just sail into Shanghai in a luxury yacht? I assure you, it’s not so simple.”
At this point Fincher jumped in, saying “I rather think the Chinese government would welcome a visit from me, looking to open a development firm in Shanghai. Don’t you?”
“I suppose so, but you would be very carefully watched? I don’t think they would let you get access to my family.”
“I have some submarines on board,” Fincher answered. “The clandestine part of the operation will slip in under water. Shanghai is a very busy port. I think we can manage to sneak in undetected. And the boys who caught you and destroyed your henchmen will take care of getting your family back to the boat. What do you think?”
“I think you’re absolutely nuts! But what the hell, I don’t have any better alternatives.”
“I tell you what,” Fincher said. “If we pull this off, I’ll give you a job and find work for you and your family when we get back. So you in?”
“Of course I am in. What do you plan to accomplish?” Jun asked.
“When we make it back, I’ll let you know. For now, let’s just consider it my business.”
Chapter 13
“Then I assume we’re all agreed? We’re a go for this?” Fincher said. When no one raised an objection he continued, “We’ve got some logistics to take care of. Assuming I can get us an invitation to China from the Minister of Economic Development, we’re all going to need passports. Mine is in the office and is readily accessible. Each of you should call my assistant and tell her where your docs are. I’ll have her pick them up and then forward them to us by the helicopter.”
“My guys’ papers will probably be locked up in their houses,” Balmes said. “I’ll get the addresses and someone go get them and bring them to the office. I don’t suppose entry will really be any kind of a major problem.”
“I’ll have Sanci tell Claire to get mine from my desk and take it to your office. She can let her know I’m going to be gone for a while too,” I added.
“OK, now to your part in this action, Jun,” Fincher began. “I’m going to give you back your phone and I want you to call Qiang and tell him that Colin is willing to sell him the source code for Fincher’s most advanced Artificial Intelligence engine. You need to be convincing and no funny stuff, you understand?”
He handed the phone to Jun and we all waited breathlessly while he dialed and put the phone on speaker. Qiang answered with, “You better have some results for me. I’m getting tired of waiting.”
Jun took a deep breath and answered, “I have more than you ever dreamed of. Dr. Anderson is in my control now. And I was right, he has access to everything that Fincher is doing in AI. It seems that Fincher’s most powerful AI engine is being integrated in a 3D printing facility where they are designing the next generation of artificial arms. But Anderson is not happy. He feels the research is worth billions and he’s not getting his share. If the price is attractive enough, he is willing to sell you the source code for this advanced AI. But he wants to deal with you directly.”
Qiang paused for a moment as he thought about this startling information and then he said, “You say he is willing to sell Fincher out? How good is the software?”
“Anderson claims it is totally revolutionary. He thinks it will transform manufacturing forever. And yes, he is willing to sell it. According to Anderson, he is going to travel to Shanghai with Fincher to discuss a manufacturing venture there. He can meet with you then, in about two weeks. He is sure he can slip away for a few hours to see you. But he wants the money wire transferred to him at the time he gives you the code. Can you make that work?”
“I can make that work. How much does he want?” Qiang asked.
“Ten million dollars and he says it’s non-negotiable. Apparently, Fincher has almost a hundred million in development costs.”
“Tell him we have a deal. Give him this number to call me when he gets in.”
“I’ll be with him. He told Fincher he is bringing a translator with him. We are traveling over on Fincher’s yacht, the Napenthe.”
“You have done well, Jun. When this business is successfully concluded, your family’s debt will be considered paid.”
“Thank you Minister Qiang. I will see you in a couple of weeks.” Jun turned his phone off and turned to Fincher. “I told you it would work. Qiang is always ready to believe the worst about people. He judges them by his own morality.”
“Well done,” Fincher answered. “I don’t want anyone leaving the boat so everyone, make up a list of the clothes and toiletries you require and I’ll have them flown in. And any of you that have cell phones, please give them to Mike and he’ll hold them for you. You can just relax and enjoy the trip.”
At this point Mike spoke up, “I want my boys to spend some time training Colin in a little hand to hand.”
I looked at him and said, “Mike, I appreciate it but I’m never going to make much of a warrior. I’ll protect myself with my brains and Sanci’s assistance.”
“Believe me, I know we will never turn you into James Bond. But I want you to be at least halfway prepared if you do get into a physical altercation. You’re a big strong man and you carry your own club with you in the form of that artificial arm. I think my boys can teach you a few quick tricks that might get you out of a scrape. I’ll have them give you a crash course in Krav Maga. That’s a type of fighting developed by the Israeli army. They have some excellent techniques for threat neutralization. Before coming to work for me, Rick Finklestein was a Sayeret in the Israeli Special Forces and he is an expert so he’ll be your lead but I suspect they’ll all get involved to one degree or another.”
An hour later I was in the yacht’s gym with the young man Mike had mentioned. “Hi Rick, I hear you are going to teach this nerd how to be tough. Rough assignment.”
Rick looked me over with a smile and said, “I suspect you’ll do. Anybody that can have a disagreement with a Great White can’t be too big a wimp. What do you know about Krav Maga?”
“I never even heard of it until an hour ago.”
“Well, the good news is we have two weeks to get you up to speed. Course the bad news is we only have two weeks to get you up to speed so we best get started. The first rule in Krav Maga is to avoid confrontation. Stay out of a fight if it is in any way possible. But if combat is absolutely unavoidable, you want to end that fight as quickly and as viciously as is possible. There is no mercy in Krav Maga. If you are forced to fight, give it all you have with an absolutely maximum effort. You ever seen a really bad dog fight?”
“Sure, I even tried to break one up.”
“And how did that work out for you?” Rick asked with a slight smile on his face.
“Not so well. It took sixteen stitches to put me back together.”
“Exactly. When a dog fights, it’s with his heart and soul. He’s not thinking about anything else and he certainly isn’t worried about hurting his opponent. All of his senses are hyped up with adrenaline and he is focused upon tearing the other dog to bits. He never feels sorry for his opponent and he certainly doesn’t regret anything. That’s Krav Maga in a nutshell.”
“OK,” I replied slowly. “I think I see what you mean. I’m not really sure I like it but I see it.”
“You don’t have to like it. Worry about your feelings when you are safe. If you have honestly tried to avoid the fight, there is nothing wrong with giving it your all when there is no other alternative. The way you accomplish this is the quickest and most efficient way possible. You want to target your opponent’s most vulnerable points. His eyes, neck or throat, solar plexus, groin are good. Strike the ribs knee, foot, or fingers and it’s almost as effective. And you want to take advantage of every offensive weapon you can find at hand and in your case, that’s the club you carry around as your right arm. Most people will look at your arm and see weakness and it is that very weakness that will lull the
m into not expecting your using that arm to beat them senseless. You can’t think about it. You just have to do it in the very instant when you decide that there is no avoiding the fight. Strike before they do and strike with absolutely no mercy.”
“So I shouldn’t worry that I might seriously injure an opponent?”
“Quite the contrary. It should be your sole desire to seriously injure or kill him without any hesitation or warning whatsoever. You will have already tried to avoid the fight so when you fight, fight like a dog. Let me show what I mean.”
And thus I began my training. Rick started out by teaching me a series of Katas or forms. These were a series of choreographed moves to be learned and then perfected. At first we moved quite slowly while I began to instill the form in my muscle memory. When I had the move well worked out, Rick began to increase the tempo, taking each form faster and faster until I began to make errors. Then we would slow down once again, repeating the move in perfection and then gradually speeding it up.
On the second day, Rick started me on learning moves that were responses to actions he initiated. Again we took it very slowly at first with him explaining the thinking behind each move and countermove. And then we did it again, this time a little faster. There came a point when I was struggling to react fast enough that Sanci flashed me a message, “I think I can help you here.”
“How would you do that?”
“I am sure I can speed up your reactions a bit. My circuits are a lot faster than your neurons. Want me to try?”
“Sure, why not? I answered.
If things were going to follow the previous patterns we had been following, this was the time that Rick would strike at full speed, pulling his punch but still knocking me on my ass because I couldn’t react fast enough. But this time, at the instant he began his strike, I countered in a flash and quick as that, Rick was the one sitting on his ass with a dumbfounded look on his face. “How the hell did you do that?” he asked. “You can’t be that good!”
Evolution 2.0: The Singularity is Here Page 15
